CORE is a membership-based program that offers community groups and organizations support in delivering their services to the community.

There are three membership options:

• General - for groups who meet all of the criteria under the CORE Applicants section and whose primary focus is delivering community support, educational or recreational activities (including casual sports groups).
• QEPCCC Cultural Group - for structured groups who meet all of the criteria under the CORE Applicants section; operate under the authority of a volunteer board or executive committee comprised of no less than five (5) duly elected members; and offer programs or activities in performing, visual, media, graphic, and/or literary arts; music; or cultural heritage. This membership is required to participate in the volunteer hour bank at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (15 hours minimum are required) to qualify for preferred cultural room and storage rates at QEPCCC and the ability to propose and sponsor exhibitions in the corridor galleries at QEPCCC. For more information about the QEPCCC benefits and requirements of this membership, please contact the Special Events/Scheduling Coordinator at 905-815-5979 ext. 4683 or email qepbookafacility@oakville.ca.
• Sport Group - for structured groups and organizations that operate competitive and non-competitive streams and utilize significant facility time, who meet all of the criteria under the CORE applicants section; operate under the authority of a volunteer board or executive committee comprised of no less than five (5) duly elected members who must all be residents of Oakville; hold an annual general meeting where the board or executive is elected from the general membership through a democratic process and has written by-laws or operating guidelines; is a member in good standing with a Provincial and Multi Sport Organization specific to the sport it pursues, where one exists; has been operating for at least one year and can provide, upon request, financial statements for the previous year and a budget for the next operating year, signed by two authorized signing officers or an independent certified accounting firm. Groups with expenditures over $100,000 can provide an audited financial statement.

CORE membership allows groups to utilize Oakville-based school board facilities and receive priority status for facility access as outlined in the Facility Allocation policy. For youth organizations, CORE membership provides preferred rental rates for arenas, pools, and sport fields. QEPCCC Cultural Group membership provides preferred rental rates for cultural rooms at QEPCCC.

All CORE members receive the following benefits:

• free group listing in the Parks, Recreation and Culture program guide.
• direct link to member sites from town website.
• promotional opportunities at reduced rates.
• Community Use of School access.
• priority status of ice, fields and school rentals.

CORE applicants

All applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

• provides recreational/leisure, cultural, educational, or volunteer services.
• is volunteer-based and not-for-profit.
• is Oakville/Halton-based and a minimum 85% of your members are Oakville residents. Requests for exceptions must be made in writing to the Recreation and Culture department on an annual basis. A detailed "Declared Non-Residents List" must be provided.
• can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the town that it can carry out its objectives and financial obligations.
• adheres to the Ontario Human Rights Code and makes membership available to all residents of Oakville without restriction.

Additional information may be requested at any time to confirm a group's eligibility.

Memberships are valid April 1 to March 31 of the following year
Community groups must apply for CORE membership annually. If you are interested in applying for a CORE membership, please complete the CORE application form (pdf, 88 kB) and submit it with the documentation and payment required to: 

CORE
Recreation and Culture
1225 Trafalgar Road
Oakville, ON L6H 0H3

CORE advertising

CORE memberships must be up-to-date in order to qualify for the special rates offered to not-for-profit advertisers. For more information about corporate advertising opportunities, please visit the Sponsorship & Advertising page.

Advertising in the Parks, Recreation and Culture program guide
The Recreation and Culture department will begin accepting advertising submissions for the 2014 Spring/Summer program guide in October. Download the CORE Brochure Advertising Rate Sheet (pdf, 92 kB).

Advertising in our facilities
The Recreation and Culture department is pleased to offer CORE groups special rates to advertise on arena boards and digital screens in our facilities. Whether you are looking to advertise your upcoming registration dates, membership information or special events, we have an advertising option for you! Download the CORE Arena Advertising form (pdf, 94 kB) or CORE Digital Sign Advertising form (pdf, 160 kB) for more information. 

Questions?
Please call 905-845-6601, ext. 3147 or email core@oakville.ca.