November 7 2021
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange

Please take time this Thursday at 11am to remember all those who have fought and died for our freedom. Every year we gather at the Unionville Cenotaph at Crosby Arena to pay tribute to our war veterans. Due to COVID protocols, we will be conducting a scaled back version of the regular ceremony.

November is Hindu Heritage month in the City of Markham. I, along with Councillor Isa Lee, MP Mary Ng and MPP Logan Kanapathi attended an event at the Vedic Cultural Centre to kick off the month long celebrations. Thanks to the many dignitaries and participants for their warm welcome!

The York University building continues its rise into the sky at Enterprise Drive and York University Boulevard. For information on their coming virtual Open House please see below.

We always warmly welcome new businesses to Markham. This week Councillor Reid McAlpine and myself, along with newly elected MP Paul Chiang, cut the ribbon at Ensquare Academy on Highway 7. We wish you every success as you help educate our young students.

Have a great week.

In this issue
- Get Your Poppy
- Booster Doses and More
- Markham Remembers
- Fall Reminders
- November is CPR Month ❤️
- Are You a Resident of Ward 3?
- York U Markham Open House
- New Ops Yard Opens
- YR Transportation Network
- Other Items
- Upcoming Meetings
- York Region Update
- Community Meetings and Events
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.
Click here to read the previous edition of The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.

The 2021 Poppy Campaign is on. This year honours the Poppy's 100th anniversary. Who are you wearing your Poppy for?

Find out where to get a Poppy and how to donate to the Poppy Fund at legion.ca/remembrance/the-poppy-campaign.

York Region is continuing to deliver COVID-19 vaccines with more than 1.6 million doses administered date.

COVID-19 booster doses are now available for eligible individuals based on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for York Region. Booster doses will be given to the following vulnerable populations if at least six months (168 days) have passed since receiving their second dose:
  • individuals aged 70 and over (born in 1951 or earlier)
  • health care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings (including long-term care home and retirement home staff and designated caregivers) as identified
  • individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (two doses of the AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD vaccine or one dose of the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson vaccine)
  • First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members (16 years of age and older)
If you are eligible for a booster shot based on the above requirements, you can book an appointment at york.ca/covid19vaccine.

If you still need a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, walk-ins are available at most vaccine clinics and pop-up clinics. Further detail including locations and hours are available at york.ca/covid19vaccine.

Have you downloaded your QR code yet? This new personalized QR code system should make it easier to provide proof of vaccination in select settings where it is required. More information, including how to download your QR code, is available at covid-19.ontario.ca/get-proof.

Even after a COVID-19 vaccination, we must follow public health measures to keep everyone safe and healthy. Learn more about measures and enforcement on york.ca/preventcovid19.
It’s important to remember COVID-19 remains active in the community. We all need to continue to be mindful of how we're feeling and if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms, even mild, don’t wait to get tested. Stay home and seek assessment at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre as soon as possible. Even if you are fully vaccinated, it’s still important to get tested as soon as possible if you have symptoms, as there's still a chance you can contract and spread COVID-19. Reducing community transmission is everyone's responsibility as it helps support our continued progress. Learn more at york.ca/COVID19.

Remembrance Day honours and remembers all who sacrificed or who have fallen for our country and acknowledges the courage of those who still serve. For a second year, the City of Markham will mark November 11 virtually in order to protect our veterans and community from COVID-19.
 
From November 6 to November 14, the City of Markham sign will be coloured red to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Poppy as a symbol of Remembrance in Canada. First adopted by the Great War Veterans Association in July of 1921, symbolic use of the poppy continued after the group unified with other Veteran groups to form the Canadian Legion in 1925.
 
During this period of Remembrance, the City invites the community to contribute their memories to Markham’s virtual Book of Remembrance through the end of November. On Thursday November 11, the public is invited to watch the City’s virtual Remembrance Day video featuring original poetry readings by the winners of the City of Markham’s annual Remembrance Day Poetry Contest
 
To provide time to reflect and space to participate safely, the community is invited to place a poppy and pay their respects to our veterans at Markham’s memorial sites during Remembrance Week, from November 6 to 13:
  • Markham Village Veterans Square and Cenotaph on the southeast corner of Markham Road and Highway 7
  • Crosby Memorial Arena Cenotaph at 210 Main Street, Unionville

Please remember to follow physical distancing guidelines and to a wear mask if social distancing cannot be maintained.
Fall Reminders

Well I'm sure by now you have adjusted your clocks back 1 hour but it is also a good time to for these other fall reminders. Now is the time to:
  • check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and if you still have models that have batteries, it is also time to change the batteries
  • switch over to your winter tires to prepare for the snow that will be here before you know it. There's no business like snow business!

Are you ready? ❤️

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, an estimated 35,000 cardiac arrests occur each year in Canada with 85% of cardiac arrests occurring outside of hospitals in public places or home, where chance of survival is as low as 10%. These numbers can improve with your help.

One misconception is that heart attack and cardiac arrest are the same thing. This is not true. Do you know the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack? Learn the difference so you can help in a heart emergency.

This November, as part of CPR Month, learn to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest and how to perform hands-only CPR, so you can gain confidence and act quickly to save a life during a suspected cardiac emergency.

Even during COVID-19, you can still save a life while taking action to protect yourself. If you encounter a person who may be in cardiac arrest, you should follow these modified CPR steps:
  • Call 9-1-1 and shout for someone to retrieve an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) that can be found in many public places including offices, schools and shopping malls
  • Protect yourself and wear a mask or place a cloth or piece of clothing over the person’s mouth and nose
  • Provide Hands-Only CPR by pushing hard and fast in the centre of the person's chest and don’t stop until help arrives or the person begins to respond
  • Use an AED if available as they are very safe and simple to use

Learning CPR is easy and inexpensive. Search for an accredited CPR agency or visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. - here.

For more information, visit york.ca/CPRMonth.

Reid McAlpine, Unionville Ward 3 Councillor has recently published his monthly newsletter update. It highlights a number of programs, initiatives and updates that will likely be of interest even if you don't live in Ward 3. Below are two items of interest for Unionville residents. You can read the full newsletter here.
On November 24 at 7pm, Reid will host a community information meeting relative to the Scardred 7 (Peak Garden) proposal for an 11-story condo on the southern portion of the former Canada Computers site, on the north side of Highway 7. The developer's representatives will present their proposal and be available to answer questions. To obtain a Zoom link, please email his assistant Marina at mantonoglou@markham.ca
At the November 16 Development Services Committee public meeting a revision to the Official Plan and zoning will be considered to reflect revised flood mapping in the Unionville area. The changes to the "Special Policy Area" boundaries may impact what can and can't be built within the revised boundaries. They may also affect flood insurance availability and rates. In some places the new boundaries are more expansive; in others they are reduced. You can find out more about the process and review the revised maps at YourVoiceMarkam.ca.

On November 15 starting at 7pm York University’s President, Dr. Rhonda Lenton, will be hosting the 3rd Markham Campus Community Open House. 

This will be a chance for you to learn more about the new campus, how construction is progressing, the academic programs that will be offered and future opportunities associated with the campus. She will also be able to answer any questions you have.
 
More information about the event along with registration details can be found here at yorku.ca/markham/community-open-house.
 
On Friday the City officially opened the new East Markham Operations Yard near the northwest corner of Ninth Line and Major Mackenzie Drive. This 8.5-hectare facility will improve Winter maintenance response times across the entire City now and in the future.
 
The City now has two state-of-the-art operations facilities to better balance travel times to all areas of Markham which will improve service levels. This new facility will provide flexibility and efficiency by housing more than half of Road Operations’ resources. It will store 22,000 tonnes of road salt to guard against supply chain issues, 4,000 tonnes of sand and 50,000 litres of brine. There is also parking space for 30 Winter road vehicles as well as offices for Operations staff and Winter operations drivers.

It is strategically located to decrease the environmental footprint and increase the productivity of Road Operations, the facility reduces the current travel time needed to service the North and East parts of the City just in time for Winter. The new yard will support crews that maintain and clear Markham’s more than 2250 km of road and more than 1150 km of sidewalk to make our streets and neighbourhoods safe and moveable.

The latest Winter Maintenance Newsletter and access the Winter Maintenance App at markham.ca/winter.

Input from the community will help develop the vision and goals for walking, cycling, transit and road improvements over the next 30 years.

The Transportation Master Plan update will be presented to York Regional Council in 2022 with input gathered throughout 2021. Monday November 8th is the last day you can provide your feedback on this project through the online tool. Learn more at york.ca/TMP.
Other items
Have you seen the article in this week's Economist and Sun about the Markham farmland that has been irrevocably lost to development despite pleas from the public to stem urban sprawl?

It is an excellent article with comments and analysis from Unionville Resident Association leaders Mike Gannon and Peter Miasek. You can read it here.
The Markham Group of Artists November newsletter can be found here.

Don't forget to check out their online art show celebrating their 40th anniversary. You can view it here.
It's happening this year! Get ready to shop at the Heintzman House artisan craft show and sale which will take place November 13 and 14 from 10am to 5pm.

Space is limited and tickets are selling fast. More detail about the event and how to get your tickets can be found at theheintzmanhouse.ca.
Yikes! I guess it's that time of year again where we will soon see the snow start flying. ❄️

Learn more about the City's Winter operations and service levels in their latest newsletter.
As the clocks went back this weekend, it is the time of year when roads become more dangerous and collisions increase due to the reduced daylight.

Road safety is a shared responsibility among all travellers with special consideration when the skies are dark and there are poor weather conditions.

Here are some key safety tips to keep motorists, pedestrians and cyclists safer on the road - here.
Did you know that York Region uses Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe and groundwater sources to supply water to the Region?

Learn more about how your water dollars help to protect our water sources from contamination and overuse. More detail can be found here.
As the weather cools down and COVID restrictions have loosened, there's an increased interest in travel.

If you are travelling outside Canada or returning to Canada from international travel you can visit the Government of Canada's site travel.gc.ca/covid-19-travel or call 1.833.784.4397 for current travel related information.
Did you know that when a tree permit is issued that often the City of Markham will require replacement trees to be planted? The approved tree species will help increase the diversity of the tree canopy in Markham. The list provides a variety of options regarding size, species, flowers, fruit and fall colour.

More information including the list of trees approved by City can be found here.
Help protect Markham trees from another LDD invasion next year. This summer many trees around the City had their leaves eaten by the LDD caterpillars.

Each egg mass that can have up to 1000 eggs. By removing the egg masses now it will help to reduce the number of hatched caterpillars in the Spring. Learn more about LDD moths and how you remove the egg masses at markham.ca/lddmoths.
The Markham Village Music Festival is hosting a Pop-Up Event on Saturday November 20 at PaintLounge starting at 7pm. Tickets can be purchase through the link below. There are a limited number of in studio tickets and unlimited virtual tickets.

PaintLounge will have an instructor working with the participants. The MVMF has booked Broadtree, a wonderful duo, as the live music performance for the evening. The event will be live streamed on YouTube so that the virtual participants can follow along. The overall format of the evening is made up of instruction sessions and musical performance. More information about the event and the link to purchase tickets can be found here.
Check out 50 fun facts about York Region - read it here.

There are only a few days left to share a fun memory. Post a photo using #YRturns50 and enter to win a $50 gift card at York.ca/YRturns50 by November 9.
Upcoming Meetings

  • Development Services Meeting - November 8 at 9:30am - details
  • Budget Committee Meeting - November 9 at 9am - details
  • Council Meeting - November 9 at 1pm - details
  • YR Committee of the Whole - November 11 at 9am - details
  • General Committee Meeting - November 15 at 9:30am - details
  • Development Services Public Meeting - November 16 at 7pm - details
  • YR Education Session - November 18 at 9am - details
  • Water Budget Public Meeting - November 18 at 6:30pm - details
  • Development Services Meeting - November 22 at 9:30am - details
  • Council Meeting - November 23 at 1pm - details
  • Property Tax Budget Public Meeting - November 23 at 6:30pm - details
  • YR Accessibility Advisory Committee - November 24 at 4pm - details
  • YR Council Meeting - November 25 at 9am - details
  • General Committee Meeting - November 29 at 9:30am - details
  • Special Development Services Meeting - November 30 at 9am - details
  • Development Services Public Meeting - November 30 at 7pm - details

  • Markham Committee Meetings - details

York Region Council meetings and live streaming details can be found here.

Details of upcoming YR meetings and past sessions are available here
Community Meetings and Events


  • Unionville Villagers Association - November 8 at
  • MBT Connect Over Breakfast - November 11 at 7:15am - details
  • The Varley Lounge - November 12 at 1pm - details
  • York University Markham Open House - November 15 at 7pm - details
  • The Varley Lounge - November 19 at 1pm - details
  • MVMF Pop-Up Paint Night - November 20 at 7pm - details
  • MBT - After 5 Networking - November 25 at 5pm in person - details
  • The Varley Lounge - November 26 at 1pm - details
  • The Varley Lounge - December 3 at 1pm - details

I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters.
Please forward the details to dhamilton@markham.ca
Working together to make Markham better!