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Follow us on our social media accounts @smartcommutemrh
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Fall 2017
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Thank You For Participating In Smart Commute Month!
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Thank you to our Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill Champions and workplace employees who participated in Smart Commute Month!
Between September 11 and October 6, we asked employees at our SCMRH workplaces to tell us how they commute to and from work by taking the Smart Commute Annual Travel Survey. SCMRH organized
21 outreach events at our workplaces to promote the survey and help employees explore travel options.
We are pleased to announce that the SCMRH network submitted 927 responses (15% increase from 2016)! Thank you to all our Champions and workplace employees who completed the survey! Your responses will continue to help us create and deliver sustainable travel programs to Smart Commute workplaces.
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| Photos: Town of Richmond Hill employees (top left), students from Seneca College (top right), Mackenzie Health employee (bottom left), and employees at Cole Engineering (bottom right) |
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| Photos: WSP Canada employees (top left), AMD employees (top right), Honda Canada employees (bottom left), and IBM Innovation Space employees (bottom right). |
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Congratulations to our Top 10 Workplaces with the most responses for the Smart Commute Month Survey for the Markham, Richmond Hill network: AMD, AECOM Richmond Hill, City of Markham, Cole Engineering, Honda, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Qualcomm, Seneca College - Markham Campus, Town of Richmond Hill, and WSP Cochrane Drive.
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Smart Commute Month: Social Media Contest
SCMRH launched their first Social Media Contest during Smart Commute Month. SCMRH encouraged employees to submit a photo/video and follow/like SCMRH on all social platforms.
The Social Media Contest garnered 5 new page likes and follows and 30 photos were taken/submitted with the social media photo frame and props throughout Smart Commute Month
. Three winners were selected through a random draw,
who were awarded a $25 Cineplex movie gift card for their submissions. Thank you to all our workplace employees who submitted a photo/video for the contest!
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| Photo: Jonathan Law of Cole Engineering having fun with our social media photo frame and props |
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| Photo: Employees at Honda Canada striking a pose with the social media photo frame and props |
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| Photo: Cole Engineering employee having fun with the social media photo frame |
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Congratulations to our winners:
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Follow/Like Us on Social Media
Want to receive the latest news on sustainable commuting options and Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill right at your fingertips?
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| Clockwise from top left: Samantha Maurice from SCMRH and Erica Fraser from the Markham Board of Trade, Myles O'Brien from the Town of Richmond Hill, and Nawid Fatahi from WSP Canada. |
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Sustainable Superstar Series
Meet our Sustainable Superstars: Nawid Fatahi, Erica Fraser, and Myles O'Brien!
Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill presents the first
Sustainable Superstar
series featuring tips, insights and motivation from our workplace employees on their sustainable modes of commuting!
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First Annual Workplace Champions Workshop
Pictured above
(from left to right): Workplace Champion guest speakers Sonia Singla from WSP, Darryl Young from York Region, Ryan Mallany from Honda Canada, Richard Wizemann from YRT/Viva, and Dave Richardson from WSP Canada
On Thursday, September 14, Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill hosted the 1st
Annual Workplace Champions Workshop (previously named Breakfast of Champions) at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel. Guest speakers Ryan Mallany (Honda Canada) and Sonia Singla (WSP Canada) from our top workplaces shared their experiences being a Smart Commute Champions. Other guest speakers included Richard Wizemann (YRT/Viva), who provided transit updates, and Darryl Young (York Region) with Regional TDM updates.
SCMRH would like to thank everyone who attended the workshop. We look forward to connecting with everyone at future workshops and outreach events.
For more information about our Workplace Champions Workshop, click here.
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Project Updates
Workplace Travel Planning Project
Throughout July to October, SCMRH staff delivered
12 one-on-one route planning sessions
and 59 individualized marketing packages, which included cycling maps, transit guides, and information about the Smart Commute Online Tool to
five SCMRH workplaces.
Two cycling 101 workshops and a CAN-BIKE session
were delivered to
employees who participated in the project. SCMRH continues to survey participants to assess behavioural changes and deliver additional requested resources.
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| Photo: One-on-one route planning |
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| Photo: IBM employees with Master CAN-BIKE instructor Jacqueline Snyder for a Cycling 101 workshop. |
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Transit Project
As of October, all
24 PRESTO reload sessions
were completed for
42 participants
. The pilot resulted in 679 transit trips logged on the Smart Commute Online Tool, which is
an increase of 26% with 30 new members registering on the tool. Moreover, 34 additional trips were taken beyond the $15 PRESTO cards provided. A follow-up survey is currently underway, and a final survey which will be launched in November. Early observations and responses from the follow-up survey show that all participants had a positive experience when taking transit and found the PRESTO card convenient and efficient to use. All participants had a positive experience with the Smart
Commute Online Tool.Moreover, the Transit Pilot has been a successful
with 58% of participants stating that they would participate in the Transit Pilot again
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| Photo: PRESTO reload session at AECOM Richmond Hill |
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GO Station Access
In May and June, SCMRH staff was onsite at Langstaff, Mount Joy, and Unionville GO station to survey riders on their modes of accessing the station and to promote alternative commuting options. As of October, all requested materials and resources such as York Region Cycling maps, carpool to GO information, York Region Transit schedule, and the Smart Commute Online Tool have been distributed to riders from all three stations. The purpose of GO station access is to aid in the first and last mile option.
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Photo: Samantha Maurice and Sonya DeVellis at Unionville GO station promoting the GO Station survey.
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Cycling Promotion on Highway 7
The Cycling Promotion on Highway 7 project provides SCMRH Workplace employees with knowledge and safety training to increase their cycling confidence and skills. With the help and knowledge of MASTER CAN-BIKE instructor Jacqueline Snyder, SCMRH delivered Cycling 101 workshops to answer questions and provide insight on cycling safety, bike maintenance, and all other cycling related information. SCMRH created a Bicycle User Group (BUG) Guide
, to provide tips and resources to help workplaces start a commuter bike group. SCMRH Social Media/Administrative Coordinator, Samantha Maurice, interviewed five workplace employees from the Markham, Richmond Hill workplaces who cycled to work for first our Cycling Superstar series.
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| Cycling Superstars: Leila Oozeer (top left), Mark Siu (top center), Andrew Roberts (top right), Sonia Singla (bottom left), and Justin Cao (bottom right) |
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| Photo: SCMRH Bicycle User Group (BUG) Guide |
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Out and About in Markham and Richmond Hill
The Great Commuter Challenge
On Wednesday, July 26,
York Region embarked on the first Great Commuter Challenge. SCMRH helped coordinate the challenge and encouraged three employees from our workplaces to commute from the Markham Civic Centre to the Town of Richmond Hill municipal offices by cycling, transit and carpooling. Leila Oozeer (cyclist), Luxmi Shanmuganantha (transit rider) and Reena Mistry (driver/carpooler) experienced the dedicated bike lanes, transit rapid ways and six road lanes on Highway 7 during the peak hours of the morning commute. We'd like to congratulate all three participants on their valiant efforts and thank them for participating in the Great Commuter Challenge!
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| Photo (from left to right) at the Town of Richmond Hill: Leila Oozeer (Town of Richmond Hill), Luxmi Shanmuganantha (Lea Consulting), and Reena Mistry (City of Markham) |
City of Markham's Employee Appreciation Day
On Tuesday, September 12, SCMRH staff attended City of Markham's Employee Appreciation Day. The event was hosted at the Markham Museum, where SCMRH kicked off the first outreach event for Smart Commute Month (September 11 - October 6). City of Markham employees were encouraged to take the Smart Commute Month survey and participated in the SCMRH Smart Commute Month Social media contest by taking photos with the social media photo frame and props for a chance to win a $25 Cineplex movie gift card.
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City of Markham employees having fun with the SCMRH social media photo frame and props at City of Markham's Employee Appreciation Day
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Mayor's Annual Business Address and Luncheon
On Friday, September 15, SCMRH staff attended the Mayor's Annual Business Address and Luncheon. Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow addressed the business community about sustainability initiatives within Richmond Hill. SCMRH interacted with members of the local business community and SCMRH workplaces, while promoting services and programs.
Photo (from left to right): SCMRH staff members Sidra Mukhtar, Wincy Tsang, Sonya De Vellis, Calvin Cheung, and Samantha Maurice attending the Richmond Hill Board of Trade's Mayor's Luncheon.
Photo courtesy of Merk Photography |
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| Metrolinx's Smart Commute Strategy Day
SCMRH joined many other Smart Commute Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) in the GTHA, at Metrolinx's Smart Commute Strategy Day on October 25, to share best Transportation Demand Management (TDM) practices regarding custom projects, discussed strategies to encourage behaviour change, and engaged in the planning of potential custom projects for 2018. Metrolinx presented the results of the 2017 Annual Travel Survey, which highlighted that
14% of Smart Commute workplace employees are less likely to drive alone than any other GTHA commuter. SCMRH will join and meeting other TDM professionals at the
ACT Canada Sustainable Mobility Summit
(Oct 29 -Nov 1) to continue building upon these strategies to create lasting commuter behaviour change.
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Photo: Smart Commute TMAs from the GTHA at Metrolinx's Strategy Day.
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| Photo courtesy of Metrolinx |
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Transit/Metrolinx Updates
Join Metrolinx and York Region on November 8, from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., at the Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Hall in their upcoming Public Roundtable regarding the Draft 2041 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).
Want to have your say? Review the 2041 RTP and tell Metrolinx what moves you! To complete the survey,
click here
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| Photo courtesy of York Scenes |
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Register for York Region's Forest Walks and Events!
Join York Region staff and local volunteers for York Region's Forest Walks and Events! The FREE walks are great fun for people and families of all ages and provide participants the opportunity to explore different parks, forests, and trails of the Region. Also, don't forget to enter the York Regional Forest photo contest! Capture your best photos in the forest for a chance to be featured in the Forests of York Region 2018 Calendar.
Click here
to register for York Region's Forest Walks and Events.
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News and Interesting Reads
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- There's an app for that! A new app, created by the University of Toronto, will capture transit-use data that can be used by provincial and local governments for future transit planning and funding decisions. Read here to learn more about the app.
- The dominance of cars is being challenged and it's having a profound effect in Toronto. Find out how cycling and walking is changing how people choose to commute in the downtown core. Read.
- Check out the hydrogen-powered train that emits only water.
- PRESTO just got a makeover! Read BlogTO's article on the new makeover, how the rebrand will change the way you look at transit and where you can purchase them.
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OUR ANNUAL CORPORATE SPONSORS
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OUR ANNUAL FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
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What is Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill?
Smart Commute is a sustainable transportation program of the municipalities of Markham and Richmond Hill, York Region and Metrolinx. We help local employers and commuters, like you, explore different commute choices like carpooling, cycling and transit.
Our goal is to ease gridlock, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while making your commute less expensive
and more enjoyable.
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Markham Board of Trade
3600 Steeles Avenue East
Markham, ON L3R 9Z7
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Richmond Hill Office
Richmond Hill Board of Trade
376 Church Street South
Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9V8
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info@smartcommutemrh.ca
Tel: 289-844-3026
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