Oakville will celebrate "Winterfest" on Saturday and everyone is welcome. Spokesperson Ashley Tully says this fun event gives folks a chance to get out of the house, see their neighbours, and visit with friends. Tully notes the whole idea behind Winterfest is to help build community as well as doing some fundraising for the new hall. She says things will kick off at 2 p.m. near the skating rink with a family skate from two to three o'clock, followed by "Sticks and Pucks" from three until four. Tully notes the outdoor activities also begin at 2 p.m. and will include a bonfire, a toboggan hill for the kids, and snow painting. She adds the chili cook-off starts at 5 p.m. at the old hall and they're excited to have twelve great contestants taking part.

Tully says while the rest of Winterfest is free of charge for everyone, the chili cook-off costs ten dollars for adults and five bucks for kids ages five to twelve. She notes their committee has already raised two hundred thousand dollars in pledges, adding the project's goal is two and a half million dollars over five years. Tully says a lot of that will come from grants and larger donations, including some very generous contributions they've already received from Newton Enterprises and Armwood Windows and Doors.

She adds this project is extremely important for Oakville, because if you don't have a hall you don't have a community. Tully says they have a number of wonderful community initiatives going on right now and they need a healthy, clean and attractive spot where all these things can take place.