November 1 2020
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
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Lest We Forget
As your Deputy Mayor and former local Ward 3 Councillor, it has always been my sincere honour to attend the Unionville Cenotaph Remembrance Day Service on November 11th. This year because of COVID restrictions the wreaths that would normally be placed on the morning of the 11th, will be available from November 7th to the 14th so that you may stop by and pay your respects to those that gave so much so that we can enjoy our freedom today. Please stop by and place your poppy on a wreath. More details below.
Tomorrow (Monday) at 8:30am, York Region Council will have a special meeting to discuss how to safely return to Stage 3. I can tell you that COVID has had catastrophic consequences for businesses all over York Region and business owners are truly angry with the the forced closures they have faced. The "one size fits all" closure approach that has been taken by the Province and supported by York Region has been a dismal failure at reducing new COVID cases. We need to find and target spreaders and get our businesses back to making a living.
Markham Council recently received an update on the City's financial status and the impact of COVID on the City's Budget. While the Operating Budget has benefitted from grants from both the Provincial and Federal governments, it is the Capital Budget that is still running at a deficit. Each year the City Budget Committee spends considerable time and energy discussing the annual City budget and this year these discussions will be more important than ever. The 2021 budget meetings take place over the next several weeks and you are encouraged to participate in the process. More information can be found here.
I am including below a Ward 1 and Ward 3 update from the local Councillors. Check out the very nice video on parks by Councillor Irish!
Please be extra careful driving, walking and biking this week as we transition from daylight savings time to standard time.
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In this issue
- Lest We Forget
- Be C19 Aware
- City Budget 2021
- URA AGM
- AWRA AGM
- UVA Metrolinx Meeting
- Union Villa Golden Celebration
- Property and Water Tax Budget
- Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week
- YR Looks to Safely Reopen
- November is CPR Month
- Update from MP Bob Saroya
- Ward 1 Update
- Ward 3 Update
- York Region Forest Survey
- YRP - Don't Drink and Drive
- C19 Symptoms in Children
- LEAF Updates
- Small Business Program
- MGA Update
- Fight the Bite
- Markham C19 Report
- YR C19 Dashboard
- Upcoming Meetings
- York Region Update
- Community Meetings and Events
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Please forward this update to anyone that may find it of interest. |
Looking for more information?
Any of the blue text, blue buttons and most of the graphics have links to further detail.
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Click here to read the previous edition of The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.
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COVID has caused changes to Remembrance Day plans this year as we pay respect and honour all those who have served. There will be no traditional November 11th ceremony, service or indoor social gatherings.
The City will be hosting a virtual Remembrance Day event. Details are currently being finalized and I will provide more information in next week's DME.
The small and solemn event that I normally attend on Main Street Unionville, this year will be changed to Remembrance Week from November 7 to November 14. Wreaths will be placed at the Crosby Cenotaph on the morning of November 7 and you are invited to add a poppy to a wreath anytime before sunset on November 14. The flag at Crosby will fly half-mast on November 11 and the Crosby Cenotaph siren will sound at 11am that morning.
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Get the latest City news and emergency alerts delivered right to your inbox.
Protect yourself and others. Every action counts. Help stop the spread of COVID-19.
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It’s been a challenging year.
Are you wondering how your tax dollars will be spent?
Join the 2021 Budget discussion by attending one of the City's virtual meetings or listen online.
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The Unionville Residents Association will hold their Annual General Meeting on Monday November 2 at 7pm on Zoom. In addition to their AGM, there will be Councillor updates and local MPP Billy Pang will be the guest speaker.
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AWRA Annual General Meeting
Are you a resident of the Aileen-Willowbrook area? (Highway 7 on the north; Bayview Avenue on the west; the railway line on the south; Maple Valley Park on the east). Aileen-Willowbrook Residents Association is your neighbourhood's voice to all three levels of your government. They will be holding their virtual Annual General Meeting this week. Thornhill Ward 1 Councilor Keith Irish will be in attendance.
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The Unionville Villagers Association has arranged a special Zoom meeting with Kareen Awadalla, Community Relations and Issues Specialist with Metrolinx. Kareen will outline future plans for Metrolinx in the area. The meeting will also be an opportunity to ask questions and provide your input.
The meeting will take place on Thursday November 5 at 7pm.
Trains are now moving through the community without horns. Metrolinx has future plans for expanded local service. Find out the details. Do they include more trains, double tracks, electric trains replacing diesel, sound barrier walls? Kareen will answer your questions.
If you would like to join UVA on this Zoom call, email Lake Trevelyan, UVA President, at laketrevelyan@gmail.com to receive a Zoom invite.
UVA has not been able to return to their usual meetings at the Unionville Train Station and it might be a while yet until they can. They are looking at the best way to conduct their upcoming meetings and will likely have their Annual Meeting on Zoom later in November.
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As Union Villa celebrates 50 years of dedicated service to the senior residents of our community, the gala looks a lot different than they had initially planned. Like many things this year their annual fundraising Dinner Party has needed to move online as a virtual event. While it won't be as much fun as the events from years past, they are trying their best to raise funds to enrich the lives of their residents.
There are many ways to participate to support our local seniors including the virtual silent auction which is live now and their 50 hours of giving which launches November 4 - have a look. It may be a great time to start some holiday shopping while supporting this beloved community organization. |
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Did you know?
The 2021 Property Tax and Water Budget supports City operations and more than 40 services!
Learn more
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November 1 to 7. More information and tips on how to keep you and your family safe from “the silent killer” can be found here.
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York Regional Council will hold a special meeting Monday November 2 at 8:30am to allow Council to receive advice from York Region’s Medical Officer of Health pertaining to the potential re-opening of businesses in York Region. Watch the livestream at york.ca/live.
The Ontario Government placed York Region under Modified Stage 2 COVID-19 restrictions for a minimum period of 28 days which will end November 15 at 11:59pm.
While York Regional Council and York Region Public Health remain committed to protecting the health and safety of the 1.2 million residents, we cannot ignore the financial and personal impacts these restrictions have on our community, including the economic impact on large, medium and small businesses alike.
The COVID-19 global pandemic is unlike anything we have ever experienced. York Region Public Health has developed a task force to review feedback received thus far from the business community and studying measures which could be put in place to allow businesses, including restaurants and health facilities, to safely re-open following the 28-day Modified Stage 2 period.
Early findings of the task force will be shared with members of Regional Council in a public meeting on Thursday November 5. Discussion will begin at 9am. You are able to watch the livestream at york.ca/live. Following this discussion, York Region Public Health will finalize measures businesses would need to implement in order to safely re-open. The plan will be provided to the Province to advocate for a safe re-opening strategy for York Region.
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Do you know what to do if someone goes into cardiac arrest? Learn how to protect yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic and help save a life. Visit York.ca/CPRMonth for more information.
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As the COVID pandemic has made it more difficult to meet with constituents in person to discuss issues, Bob will hosting a virtual fall open house on November 12 at 7pm. Any resident of Markham-Unionville is welcome to attend. Bob will be sharing an update on his work in Ottawa and will answer any questions you may have. Register here - more detail including the Zoom passcode will be sent out closer to the date.
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Reid will be hosting several community information meetings about upcoming projects in Ward 3. If you are interested in attending, please email his assistant Marina at mantonoglou@markham.ca. Reid publishes a monthly newsletter and you can subscribe here.
- York University is planning a virtual town hall meeting for all residents of Markham on November 16 at 7pm. University President and Vice Chancellor Rhonda Lenton will make a presentation and participate in a question and answer session. To register email Marina and provide your name and email address.
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Community Information Meeting about a proposed seniors residence on the Hildebrand site, beside St Justin Martyr Parish Catholic Church on Highway 7. The meeting will be on Zoom November 18 at 7pm. Email Marina to receive the Zoom link.
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Have you had a chance to get outside and enjoy one of the any York Region Forests? We've been out several times this fall and it really is a great way to spend an afternoon.
YR Forest wants to hear from you regarding your forest experience. Survey responses are encouraged from all Forest users - share your feedback. |
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YRP - Don't Drink and Drive
Once again the community has come through showing that impaired driving will not be tolerated.
York Regional Police responded to calls from concerned citizens and got this impaired driver off our roads before he killed someone. Always call 9-1-1 if you spot a suspected impaired driver.
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Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in school communities begins at home. Most parents have built a morning routine for their children before they head out the door to school for the day and this school year that includes screening your child for symptoms of illness.
Daily screening helps parents determine if their child should attend school or should be kept home to avoid potentially exposing classmates and teachers. Knowing what symptoms to watch for in your children is essential to keeping schools safe for everyone. Screen for COVID-19 every day before going to school by visiting COVID-19.ontario.ca/school-screening.
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What to consider before planting a tree? LEAF has made this short video about the secrets behind healthy and thriving mature trees. Apparently it's as simple as planting the right tree in the right place - watch. |
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The best way to see swallow tail butterflies and other pollinators in your yard is to plant pollinator friendly trees and shrubs now. Learn more from LEAF about species that will provide essential habitat for urban pollinators. |
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The Markham Small Business Recovery and Digital Resilience Program is a training, education and business advisory program designed to help Markham based, brick-and-mortar, small businesses shift their business practices and build resilience towards sustainable recovery. With emphasis on digital strategies and enhanced virtual/online presence. In addition, for selected participants, there is an opportunity to be selected for a grant of up to $5,000 to assist with implementation related expenses.
Eligible participants will also receive fully-subsidized access to training on leading edge digital marketing topics such as Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, Metrics and more. For information and eligibility requirements, click here and scroll down to the section “Markham Small Business Recovery and Digital Resilience Program”.
The Markham Small Business Centre provides multiple resources to the local business community including events, seminars and workshops - details here.
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Join the Markham Group of Artists for their upcoming Zoom workshops. A Zoom link will be emailed to you upon registration. Please reach out to MGA with any questions at markhamartists@gmail.com. -
Portraiture - November 4 from 7-9pm - Learn to draw the human face or practice skills you already have. You will use proportions to draw the face in realistic representation, cartoons and caricatures - details.
MGA's current art show, Plein Air Inspirations, is now online until November 14. After weeks of isolation, it was a joy for local artists to meet safely, enjoy nature and stretch their creative muscles with Plein Air painting sessions. MGA is celebrating this popular new initiative with an online art show featuring the wonderful work from this year's outdoor sessions. Artists were out and about in various locations in Markham painting the lovely scenes. Have a look for yourself and see if you can recognize any of the locations in their online art show.
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As we move into the cooler temperatures of autumn, you may be breathing a sigh of relief that we no longer have to contend with those pesky summer mosquitoes. However you should continue to take precautions when outdoors as blacklegged ticks that can transmit Lyme disease and will remain active as long as temperatures are above 0 degrees Celsius and there is no snow.
Blacklegged ticks are found in natural wooded or brushy areas and there is a chance of being exposed to Lyme disease almost anywhere in Ontario. If you are heading outdoors or visiting any woodland habitats, take the following steps to avoid being bitten by ticks:
- Cover up exposed skin when outside. Wear light coloured, long-sleeved shirts or jackets, long pants and socks with closed-toed shoes
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin and apply it according to the manufacturer’s instructions
- Walk in the middle of trails
- Search your body for ticks after spending time outdoors and remove attached ticks from your body as soon as possible
- It is also important to check your pets regularly for ticks. While they cannot spread Lyme disease, dogs and cats may bring infected ticks into your home.
Free tick identification services are available through etick.ca. Ticks removed from both animals and humans can be submitted to see if they are blacklegged ticks, the species that can carry the Lyme disease bacteria. Learn more about how to fight the bite and protect yourself against ticks.
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and the City of Markham Executive Leadership Team.
More information about Markham's response to COVID-19 can be found here. |
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Upcoming Meetings
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November 2 - YR Special Meeting - 8:30am - details
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November 2 - General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
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November 3 - Budget Committee Meeting - 9am - details
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November 3 - Development Services Public Meeting - 7pm - details
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November 4 - Housing York - 9am - details
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November 5 - YR Committee of the Whole Meeting - 9am - details
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November 6 - Budget Committee Meeting - 9am - details
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November 9 - Development Services Meeting - 9:30am - details
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November 10 - Budget Committee Meeting - 9am - details
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November 10 - Council Meeting - 1pm - details
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November 12 - Water and Waste Water Rate Public Mtg - 6:30pm - details
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November 13 - Budget Committee Meeting - 9am - details
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November 16 - General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
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November 17 - Budget Committee Meeting - 9am - details
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November 17 - Development Services Public Meeting - details
All meetings are now being conducted electronically and Council members along with staff are participating remotely. All facilities remain closed. As always, members of the public are encouraged to participate in these meetings. Written deputations can be sent by email to clerkspublic@markham.ca. If you would like to make a virtual deputation you can register here or phone the Clerk's office at 905-477-7000 x3638. All meetings can be viewed online by clicking the details noted above.
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York Region Council meetings and live streaming details can be found here. Details of upcoming YR meetings and past session is available here.
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Community Meetings and Events
As new events are scheduled they will be added to the list.
- Markham Public Art Summit - Tuesday weekly to December 8 - details
- URA AGM - November 2 at 7pm - details
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Aileen-Willowbrook AGM - November 5 at 7pm - online - register
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UVA Hosts Metrolinx Meeting November 5 at 7pm
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Main Street Unionville Walking Tours - Sundays until November 8 - details
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Union Villa Golden Gala - November 4 to 6 - details
- York University virtual town hall - November 16 at 7pm
- Markham Housing Summit - November 18 at 9am - further details TBA
I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters.
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Working together to make Markham better! |
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