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Stephen Dasko

Get ready to drop in: APIK Mississauga returns with epic skiing, snowboarding and much more in downtown Mississauga

By Events

Come and watch nearly 100 athletes compete for $100,000 in prize money at a three day winter action sports festival this weekend.

January 27, 2026

For one weekend only, downtown Mississauga will again become an urban winter playground as APIK Mississauga takes over Celebration Square from January 30 to February 1, 2026. Made possible by Visit Mississauga, the free three‑day festival features a custom-built ski hill, elite skiing and snowboarding competitions, DJs, food trucks, activations and a full weekend of family‑friendly programming.

This year’s event features nearly 100 athletes from across the GTA, Canada, and around the globe, all competing for a $100,000 prize purse—split equally between men and women. First-place winners in ski and snowboard will each take home $10,000.

What’s new for APIK Mississauga 2026

A bigger and more technical custom-built urban snowpark, including:

  • 45-foot-tall structure (eight feet taller than 2025)
  • 292 feet in length (almost the size of a football field)
  • Eight rail features designed for high-performance tricks
  • 3,500 cubic meters of snow (approximately 350,000 shovel loads)
  • 800+ staff hours and 12 days of build time

Celebration Square will also host live DJs, interactive activations, pop‑ups, Visit Mississauga game zones, free snowskate lessons and an outdoor winter beer garden. A full weekend webcast will be hosted by Craig McMorris, with ski specialist Kim Lamarre joining on Saturday and snowboard specialist Mikey Ciccarelli on Sunday.

Featured athletes

APIK Mississauga welcomes standout local, national, and international competitors, including:

  • Liam Brearley (Ontario) – snowboard judge and ambassador
  • Dani Brown (Ontario, snowboard)
  • Ben Patterson (Ontario, skateboard)
  • Etienne Geoffroy-Gagnon (Yukon, ski)
  • Raph Détienne (Quebec, skate and snowskate)
  • Taylor Brooke Lundquist (United States, ski) – 2025 champion and 2026 ambassador
  • Jackson Karsteter (United States, ski) – 2025 ski champion
  • Bella Bacon (United States, ski)
  • Andreas Hatveit (Norway, ski)
  • Andy James (Australia, snowboard)
    …and many more to be announced.

 Golden Ticket recipients (Visit Mississauga and TRIBU initiative)

  • Maria Esteban (Spain, ski)
  • Ryan Buttars (United States, ski)
  • Nick Fox (United States, snowboard)
  • Mia Langridge (Great Britain, snowboard)

Additional Wildcards

Alais Develay (France), Mathieu Dufresne (Quebec), Sofia Bruck (United States), Callen Hwang (United States), Christian Brenny (United States)

Event schedule

Friday, January 30, from 5 to 10 p.m.
• Snowskating Best Trick (Ambitions Snowskate)
• Skateboarding Best Trick session
• Snowskate lessons available all weekend (on-site registration)

Saturday, January 31, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Skiing competition – Best Trick and podium presentation

Sunday, February 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Snowboarding competition – Best Trick and podium presentation

Event details

What

APIK Mississauga

Where

Mississauga Celebration Square
300 City Centre Dr.,
Mississauga, ON

When

Friday, January 30 to Sunday, February 1, 2026

Cost

Free

The full schedule will be released online and on social soon so be sure to follow @VisitMississauga and @Apikfest for all event updates. For more information, please visit apik.tribu.co/en/Mississauga.

How to get there and where to park

Celebration Square is located in the heart of downtown Mississauga at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road West and Duke of York Boulevard. Just a short walk from City Centre Transit Terminal, visitors can reach Celebration Square through many local and regional transit routes.

Free weekend parking is available in the Civic Centre and Central Library underground parking lots (entrance on Duke of York Boulevard). On-street parking spots are available on Burnhamthorpe Road West.

Peel Region appoints Nick Stravropoulos as Auditor General

By Announcement

BRAMPTON, ON (January 26, 2026) Peel Region is proud to announce the appointment of Nick Stavropoulos as Peel Region’s first ever Auditor General, effective March 2, 2026. This historic appointment follows the official establishment of the independent Office of the Auditor General by Peel Region Council in 2025.

As an independent Officer of Council, the Auditor General will provide objective oversight and accountability for Peel Region programs and services. This role is a cornerstone of Peel’s commitment to strengthening financial controls, ensuring value-for-money, and maintaining public trust in the management of its $6.2 billion annual budget.

Role and responsibilities

Under the Municipal Act, 2001, the Auditor General operates independently of the Peel Region administration and the Chief Administrative Officer. Key responsibilities of Peel’s Auditor General will include:

  • Performance audits: Conducting value-for-money audits to ensure regional departments operate efficiently.
  • Financial oversight: Assessing the quality of stewardship over public funds.
  • Annual audit plan: Reporting directly to Peel Region Council with an annual plan and findings.
  • Accountability: Uncovering opportunities for cost savings and operational improvements across Peel’s vast infrastructure and social services.

About Nick Stavropoulos

Mr. Stavropoulos brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having served more than 25 years in the public sector, including 24 years with the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario. During his tenure, he held progressively senior leadership roles such as Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Auditor General, Deputy Auditor General, and Acting Auditor General. He has overseen a broad range of public and broader public sector audits, delivering practical recommendations to improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of government programs.

He has served on and led committees of the Canadian Council of Legislative Auditors as Chair and Vice-Chair, actively shaping the advancement of best practices in audit across Canada. Most recently, Mr. Stavropoulos served as Chief Financial Officer for Supply Ontario, where he set the strategic direction and priorities for the agency’s finance, audit and risk management, facilities management, and Freedom of Information compliance, while overseeing a $350 million budget and leading multidisciplinary teams to drive efficiency and innovation.

Peel Region joins other major Canadian municipalities, including Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, in adopting this independent model to bolster public accountability.

 

Region of Peel Severe Weather Event and Service Impacts

By Announcement

This is an update on the severe weather event that continues to impact our community and Regional services on January 26, 2026.   Since yesterday, our staff have been actively responding to the situation to ensure continuity of essential services and to support resident safety. At this time, the following service impacts have been identified:

  • Adult Day Services: Open, clients will not be charged for cancellations today.
  • Child care and EarlyON sites: Closed.
  • Community Recycling Centres (CRCs): Opening at 11 a.m.
  • Community paramedic clinic: Open.
  • Human Services counters: Opening at 12 p.m.
  • PAMA: Closed.
  • Peel Public Health clinics: Closed.
  • Service Peel: Open. We are focused on maintaining safe access to primary parking areas, walkways, and building entrances for residents and staff at 10 Peel Centre Drive and 7120 Hurontario Street.
  • TransHelp: Operating on reduced service. There are no cancellation fees today.
  • Roads: Severe weather event declared – It may take longer than usual to restore the Regional Roads back to normal.
  • Garbage and organics collection: Peel’s Waste Collection contractors will attempt to service as many homes as possible today. We do expect delays and missed collection due to weather conditions. Residents with garbage and organics collection today should expect delays. If their bins are not collected, they can leave them at the curb to be collected as a priority on Tuesday.

All other services remain operational. We continue to monitor the weather and snow accumulations closely and coordinate response efforts to address issues as they arise. Further updates will be shared as new information becomes available or if service levels change.

 

Peel Regional Council extends and broadens Development Charges Grant Program to accelerate housing and address affordability including purpose-built rental

By Planning & Development

BRAMPTON, ON. (Jan. 23, 2026) – Peel Regional Council has taken bold action to support housing construction and affordability by approving significant updates to Peel Region’s Development Charges Grant Program. These changes, endorsed by Council on January 22, 2026, demonstrate Peel’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure funding and expediting the delivery of homes throughout the region.

Building on Council’s June 2025 decision to modernize infrastructure funding and accelerate the delivery of housing, these latest changes aim to further reflect the realities of large, complex development projects and ongoing pressures in the housing market.

Program updates approved by Regional Council include:

  • Extension of grant-in-lieu program: The development charge grant-in-lieu initiative is extended to November 13, 2026, allowing additional time for projects to benefit from program incentives and advance toward construction.
  • Greater flexibility: Subdivision applications will now maintain eligibility as long as a building permit for footings and foundations is issued by November 13, 2027.
  • Support for purpose-built-rentals: Peel Region will provide 100% development charge grants for 1-bedroom plus den, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom purpose-built rental units until November 13, 2026, helping to deliver more affordable and family-sized housing.
  • Program framework continuity: All changes and extensions remain subject to the current program framework and requirements, as most recently updated by Council.

These changes enable Peel Region to facilitate the construction of a broader range of housing, including affordable purpose-built and family-oriented units, while assisting developers in navigating a challenging economic climate. The enhanced program is expected to help more projects advance and support the growing needs of the Peel communities.

Supporting the homeless through the winter

By Resources

The Region of Peel to work with local municipal staff and community agencies to support the unsheltered homeless in the winter. We have capacity in our shelter system to bring people out of the cold as the Region has a “no turn away policy”.

The shelter intake line is 905-450-1996.

In addition to our shelters:

  • SacredHand Canada provides women 16 years or older with breakfast and dinner, private showers, basic toiletries and personal hygiene kits, on-site laundry facilities, lockers for personal belongings, clothing, Wi-Fi access, and a common room with TVs.
  • The new Malton Community Drop-In program started on October 27 which will operate until March 31, 2026. This program is being operated by Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS) and offers individuals experiencing homelessness in the community the opportunity to find shelter, take a shower, do laundry, and enjoy a warm beverage and a nutritious meal in a safe environment.
  • The Compass food bank in Mississauga provides meals, shower facilities, computer and phone access, and other agency supports to postal codes L5G, L5H, L5E and L5J.
  • Mississauga Library’s Open Window Hub is a resource and information centre supporting and empowering people experiencing homelessness or mental health issues within the City of Mississauga.
  • Mississauga’s help for the homeless supports people at-risk of or experiencing homelessness in Mississauga including hot meals and showers at community centres.
  • Regeneration provides meals, shower and laundry facilities, clothing, computer and phone access, and other supports to residents experiencing homelessness in Brampton.
  • Street Help Line number is 1-877-848-8481 and is available 24/7 to help direct support services to those in need.

Information about all supports to the homeless is available on our website.

Peel Public Health is helping improve youth mental health through community partnerships

By Resources

Proportion of Peel students in grades 7 to 12 reporting positive mental health declined by approximately 20% between 2013 and 2023.

BRAMPTON, Ont. – January 22, 2026. Peel Region is inviting community organizations to register for the new Youth Wellness Champions program, a peer-led initiative designed to help youth develop knowledge and skills related to mental health. After running this program in schools for several years, Peel Public Health is bringing the program opportunity to community organizations.

The program was developed by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario  and adapted by Peel Public Health. It is designed for use within community organizations and schools to help youth develop leadership skills while empowering them to support and promote positive mental well-being in their schools and communities.

In recent years, there has been a decline in positive mental health and an increase in mental illness diagnoses among Canadian youth. The proportion of Peel students in grades 7 to 12 reporting positive mental health declined by approximately 20% between 2013 and 2023.  Most people living with a mental illness see their symptoms begin before age 18.

The Youth Wellness Champions program will raise awareness about mental health, reduce stigma, and support youth and community well-being. Youth who volunteer in the program will receive training and develop skills to become community ambassadors for youth mental health.

“The Youth Wellness Champions program is an opportunity for organizations and agencies in Peel to support youth mental health and youth leadership development. Peel Public Health is proud to partner with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario to provide training for this program in support of Peel’s strategic priority to promote mental well-being in Peel, and our commitment through the Community Safety and Well-being plan to promote mental wellness and positive relationships between youth and families.”

Dr. Monica Hau, Acting Medical Officer of Health, Peel Region

Interested community organizations can register for the program with Peel Region. Public health nurses will support training for adult leaders and youth champions, who will use these leadership skills to develop youth-focused activities in their local communities.  These activities could include community volunteer days, digital wellness challenges, monthly group physical activity outings, collaborative art projects and much more.

Organizational leaders who would like more information about the Youth Wellness Champions program can visit https://peelregion.ca/health/safety-well-being/youth-wellness-champions or call 905-799-7700.

Key facts on the Youth Wellness Champions program in Ontario

  • Since the outset of the program, there have been more than 14 provincial partners, including public health units, health organizations and more than 167 schools.
  • Across the province, there are more than 3,600 youth champions developing leadership skills, reducing stigma around mental health and promoting positive mental well-being in their communities.
  • Youth participating in the program have implemented more than 2,400 activities focusing on stress management and physical and mental wellness in their communities. These activities include art, music and yoga classes, school clubs and physical activities.

Embrace the cold on two wheels: Join the Winter Bike to Work Day ride

By Announcement, Events

The City of Mississauga invites you to celebrate International Winter Bike to Work Day by joining a free, guided ride throughout downtown on Friday, February 13.

January 22, 2026

Don’t let the winter weather stop you from participating in your favourite outdoor activities. This International Winter Bike to Work Day, the City of Mississauga is hosting a free ride in the city’s downtown on Friday, February 13. Dust off your bicycles and join this fun ride that encourages a sustainable and active commute. Everyone is welcome, regardless of biking experience.

International Bike to Work Day is a great reminder that staying active during winter and choosing a sustainable commute is an easy way to boost your well-being while reducing your carbon footprint.

International Winter Bike to Work Day graphic

Event details:

What

This International Winter Bike to Work Day, the City of Mississauga is organizing a free ride for all ages to take up cycling in the winter.

This 30-minute, eight-kilometre ride will take you on a journey through cycle tracks and multi-use trails. You’ll travel along Living Arts Drive, Rathburn Road West and Burnhamthorpe Road West. After the ride, cyclists can warm up and enjoy a complimentary breakfast with hot refreshments.

You can bring your own bike or reserve one of Lime’s winter-equipped e-bikes – these are complimentary with limited availability. Remember, dress warmly and come prepared for the weather. Don’t forget your helmet. Register for the ride by Thursday, February 5.

When

Friday, February 13 at 8 a.m.

Where

The ride starts at Mississauga City Hall, north-west entrance at Princess Royal Drive and Living Arts Drive.

You can get to City Hall by biking, driving, or taking MiWay transit. If you take the bus, you can use the bike rack at the front.

To register and learn more, visit Winter Bike to Work Day Mississauga.

If you’re not able to join this ride, you can still be active and cycle during winter. Use the City’s cycling map to plan your route.

Learn more about cycling in Mississauga.

Project # 22-2255 – Traffic Impacts Notice – Feb 9, 2026

By Construction, Ward 1

Temporary traffic impacts will be required on Queensway East and Stanfield Road to complete work for the watermain and wastewater construction project, PROJECT # 22-2255. These traffic impacts will occur on February 9, 2026 until the Summer of 2027, weather permitting.

More details are available in the attached notice for affected residents and businesses, which will be posted online at Project 22-2255 – peelregion.ca within the next few days.

Please send any questions to construction@peelregion.ca. This will allow our customer service team to direct the inquiry to the relevant staff and log it to inform future service enhancements.