The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 17 ,2 02 2 | 22 Rediscover Ontario this summer. There's so much to do and see here. From wine tasting to scenic trails, nights at a family resort and everything in between. Get up to 20% back on your Ontario staycation. Find out more and plan your next overnight getaway at DestinationOntario.com Local restaurants who want to get a jump on patio season can now apply for a permit from the Town of Oakville. Installation of approved patios can begin after Wednesday, April 13, in time for the Easter long weekend. However, any food or drink establish- ments wishing to open a pa- tio for the April to Novem- ber 2022 season must com- plete an application. Information on applying for a patio permit, the on- line forms and other details are available on the 2022 Pa- tio Applications page on oakville.ca or by contacting ServiceOakville at 905-845- 6601. Town staff noted that to support local businesses impacted by COVID-19, the town's Commercial Recov- ery Initiative was extended for 2022. The extension allows businesses to temporarily install patios, bistros, and merchandising on public and private lands, with fee waivers for permits and li- censing. "Many of our local eat- ing and drinking establish- ments were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Oakville Mayor Rob Bur- ton. "Following the immense success and popularity of the pilot patio program in the last two years, and as we emerge from the pandemic, we know our local busi- nesses will benefit from the patio program extension." Town staff approved 112 permits for patios in 2021, an increase of 20 per cent from the previous year. Staff said they would as- sess the success of the 2022 patio season, including the uptake by restaurants and any potential challenges, to develop a Seasonal Patio Strategy for patios on pub- lic and private lands. PERMIT APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR PATIO SEASON Bars and restaurants can now apply for patio permits for the April to November 2022 season. Graham Paine/Metroland NEWS