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

Turning the tree lights on This Friday (Nov. 16) will officially mark the start of the holiday season in Oakville with a couple of tree-lighting ceremonies and some special entertainment. The Downtown Oakville BIA will celebrate with an evening marked by the official lighting of the Christmas tree in Towne Square. Santa's ambassadors will be treating all who attend with free hot apple cider and hot chocolate, as they enjoy a concert put on by The Salvation Army Band and St. Andrew's Children's Choir, as well as a downtown Oakville Christmas carol sing-along with the Appleby College Choir, followed by Holiday Jazz. Entertainment begins at 5 p.m. with the Christmas sing-along at 7 p.m. in Towne Square (George Street and Lakeshore Road East), followed by the lighting of the tree at 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Kerr Village will host its 18th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, also Friday, in Heritage Square (at the corner of Florence Drive and Kerr Street) from 6-9 p.m. Sponsored by the Kerr Village BIA and Kerr Community Consultation Committee, there will be musical entertainment by Redman Live and Tia McGraff, and food samplings from neighbourhood restaurants, while Santa Claus will also be on hand to take some early wish-list requests. In addition, the Kerr Village BIA has once again partnered up with the Halton Regional Police Service as supporters of the Toys for Tots program. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be made at the tree-lighting ceremony -- merchant drop-off locations within Kerr Village will be available starting Dec. 1. All the toys collected will be distributed to local families in need -- last year, the Kerr Village BIA donated almost 1,000 toys. For information, visit www.kerrvillage.ca. The annual tree lighting in Bronte Village is set for Saturday, Nov. 24 in Centriller Square (front of Denninger's Foods of the World). For information, visit www.brontevillage.net. 15 · Wednesday, November 14, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Please join us for our 18 Annual Christmas Tree Lighting th 6:00 to 9:00 pm Friday, November 16 Heritage Square (Florence & Kerr) Musical entertainment provided by Redman Live and Tia McGraff. Visit with Santa Claus! Enjoy a Taste of Kerr Street! This joyous family event is proudly sponsored by the Kerr Community Consultation Committee and the members of the Kerr Village BIA. Knowledge. Applied. A great education isn't just about gaining knowledge. It's about being able to apply it in the real world in creative and innovative ways. At Sheridan, you'll learn to solve problems, generate ideas, and stand out in a competitive job market. Sheridan offers bachelor's degrees, diplomas, certificates, post-graduate programs and continuing education options. Admission is Free! Don't miss the Sheridan Open House November 17, 2012 . Register online now! Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to the tree lighting ceremony. All collected toys will be distributed to local families in need. w w w. k e r r v i l l a g e . c a sheridancollege.ca BRAMPTON | MISSISSAUGA | OAKVILLE