January 2 2022
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
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Happy New Year 2022!
I've never been one to dwell on the past but the start to 2022 seems to be "déjà vu" all over again. The number one topic of concern was COVID in 2021 and the number one topic of concern continues to be COVID in 2022. Take a look below for the most up-to-date rules and regulations.
You have a couple of options if you have a natural Christmas tree to dispose of. You can put it out curbside and it will be picked up (along with any bagged yard waste you may have accumulated - it will be the last chance until Spring) or you may take a more natural approach. See the short article below.
There are many very important unresolved provincial, regional and local matters to be dealt with in the coming months: The Upper York Sewage System, Highway 413, the Bradford bypass, Yonge North Subway Extension, the Shouldice property, Markham Centre Secondary Plan, Langstaff Transit Oriented Community (TOC) and more!
If you happen to see politicians you haven't seen or heard from in three years, that's because 2022 is a Provincial and Municipal election year. Be ready! Is it time for change?
NOTE: As cases of the Omicron variant increase, new restrictions are being introduced. It is possible that new measures have been introduced since the DME was written which could mean that items noted have changed or have even been cancelled.
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In this issue
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- The Rules Have Changed
- Rapid Test Positive Result?
- Calling All Seniors
- Christmas Tree Collection
- Explore the YRF
- Winter Wonderland Walks
- Holiday Donation Drive
- Winter Maintenance
- The Studio is Waiting
- Now Hiring
- Celebrate Markham
- Keep Wildlife Wild
- Lose the Blues
- Other Items
- Upcoming Meetings
- York Region Update
- Community Happenings
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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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We've all heard the news to get our COVID vaccines as soon as we can. It has been a challenge to get an appointment and as Omicron cases increase everyone is eager to get their vaccines and boosters. There are appointments but it may take several attempts to track one down.
York Region Public Health and its partners continue to work to expand clinic capacity and new appointments are added regularly. Residents are encouraged to check back often. Be patient and keep trying especially if you are trying to book a third dose appointment. You may also want to try vaccine-gta.ca to find available appointments, sometimes even same day.
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Ontario is now prioritizing PCR testing and the details for those eligible can be found here and include :
- vulnerable individuals with significant medical issues and at risk of severe illness
- workers and residents in highest risk settings (hospitals, LTCs, retirement homes and congregate living settings)
- others who may be eligible for a test can be found here.
If you have symptoms and are not eligible for a PCR test, you should consider yourself a positive case and isolate according to the province’s updated guidelines. If you test positive using a rapid antigen test, you do not need a PCR test and should immediately isolate. York Region Public Health (YRPH) is reminding anyone who is feeling unwell and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (even if you are vaccinated) to please stay home and self-isolate.
Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 can help reduce transmission to others by visiting York Region’s COVID-19 Positive page for information on what to do next, including how to isolate, notify your contacts, monitor your symptoms and when your self-isolation will end.
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Wondering what to do if you’ve tested positive on a rapid antigen test?
Any individual who receives a positive result from a rapid antigen test must self-isolate immediately. Complete the short Positive Rapid Antigen Test Survey to help York Region Public Health understand more about your specific situation while also giving you the information you need to keep those around you safe from COVID-19.
Ideally, a positive rapid antigen test would be followed up with a PCR test but given the recent testing changes announced by the Province you should consider yourself to be a positive case. Please follow the isolation guidelines and complete the Positive Rapid Antigen Test survey - find it here.
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York Region is holding 2 virtual open houses this week to seek input on the Region's plan for seniors. Attend one of these events to share your thoughts on how York Region can support seniors.
- Wednesday January 5 at 11am
- Wednesday January 5 at 6:30pm
These online sessions are scheduled to be 1 hour in length. You can find out more information and register here. |
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or perhaps leave your Christmas tree in your backyard as a 'Small Act of Conservation' - read more
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Being outdoors enjoying fresh air and connecting with nature is good for your body and mind.
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Winter in the Rouge National Urban Park offers clearer sight lines and views than any other season. Combined, the Park boasts over 35 kilometers of trails covering meadows, forests, wetlands and farmland landscapes making it an ideal place for winter hiking, bird watching, snow shoeing and cross country skiing. Learn more about the hidden gems and best winter hiking trails - details.
Please make sure to exercise caution when visiting the RNUP as trails as they are not maintained in the winter months and you may encounter icy and snowy conditions. Please be safe by following these simple tips:
- check the forecast and dress accordingly with warm layers and a waterproof outer layer
- wear appropriate insulated boots with traction and grip
- bring your own water and snack. Please take all of your trash home with you too.
- if venturing out solo, tell someone where you will be and what time you are expecting to be back
- bring a fully charged cell phone
- skating is not recommended on any frozen bodies of water in RNUP. If you choose to do so, please be responsible and educate yourself about ice safety.
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Let’s help make sure no Markham family goes hungry.
If you are able, please donate non-perishable, unexpired food (including unexpired pet food) and personal care items for this year's drive. Food donations will be collected at any Markham Fire Station until January 10th for the Markham Food Bank .
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Check the progress of snow clearing on Markham roads and sidewalks on the Winter Maintenance App and follow @Markham_Ops on Twitter for snow clearing updates. Learn more at markham.ca/winter.
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Have you read the City's Winter Maintenance Newsletter?
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The studio at the Varley Art Gallery is open and ready to offer classes both in-studio and online starting in January. Join an art class or a workshop and get inspired. Learn more and register - here. |
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The City of Markham is now hiring temporary workers to fill non-clinical positions to support York Region's vaccine clinic at the Aaniin Community Centre.
For more details or to apply, visit markham.ca/jobs under Current Opportunities. |
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Do you work with a not-for-profit organization in Markham? Do you run events or programs that encourage community inclusivity or promotes Markham as a destination for visitors?
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As a friendly reminder, please be mindful of your food waste and garbage disposal. Green bins should be put out for pickup on the morning of your collection day and not the night before. Also, please do not dispose of your household waste in garbage cans that are found in parks or other locations around the City. Household garbage should be put out on your regular collection day.
While coyotes prefer to catch their own food, they will become dependent and lose their fear of humans if food is left out. The City has introduced a new $615 fine if you are found to be feeding wildlife.
Please do your part to keep wildlife wild and please don’t feed them. Learn more at markham.ca/wildlife.
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Good health starts in the kitchen and the York Region Food Network's new program, Lose the Blues, is designed for anyone felling blue, especially elders and those living alone.
Join the YRFN in their virtual kitchen and your dining room for this 6 week practical program to bust those blues. The program will run on Thursdays starting on January 13th. For more information or to register, please email davidl@yrfn.ca.
YRFN works to promote food security and provide resources for a healthy, accessible and sustainable food system in York Region. Their programs include virtual programs such as the one noted above and their community cooks series, community meals, community gardens and their popular Good Food Box. Learn more about the YRFN. |
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Winter is here!
Find out how you can be prepared for and during a Winter storm event, what to wear and more general safety tips.
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Winter can be unpredictable.
Are you ready?
Have an Emergency Car Kit in your vehicle so you are prepared for the unexpected.
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Ward 1 Councillor Keith Irish published his latest newsletter that was delivered by Canada Post to Thornhill residents.
If you didn't receive your copy or you don't live in Thornhill, have a look at Ward 1 News as it provides updates on a number of local projects including development applications in the Bayview and John area and the Yonge North Subway Extension. You can read it here. |
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Ward 4 Councillor Karen Rea published her latest eNewsletter just before Christmas but after I had sent out the last edition of the DME.
Even if you don't live in Ward 4, you may want to have a look at her update as she covers a number of other happenings in the City. You can read it here. |
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Their brief 5 question survey will help them understand how York Region residents feel about housing. You can find the survey here.
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York Region Council approved the 2022 budget just before the Holiday break. The tax rate will increase 2.96% increase including a 1% Rapid Transit Levy to help fund the Yonge North Subway Extension. Additional details:
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If you have a sewer grate in front of your house, please help keep it clear of snow, ice and debris, so water can drain and flooding is minimized.
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The overnight winter parking restrictions are in effect until April 15.
During a winter storm please don't park on City streets as the City's plows can't easily move around parked cars making it difficult to clear roads.
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In an emergency, every second counts and your efforts can save time and save lives.
If there is a snow-covered fire hydrant near your home, please clear it for easy access and visibility during emergencies.
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Grab your skates and hit the ice at the Markham Civic Centre outdoor ice rink which is open daily, weather permitting, from 10am to 10pm except Thursday 12pm to 10pm. Skate rentals are also available. More information is available here - markham.ca/skating.
The City will also construct and maintain five new outdoor natural ice rinks at Huntington Park, Victoria Square Park, Milliken Mills Park, Markham Museum and Milne Dam Park. A flag system at each location will signal when the ice is safe to use. Onsite parking is available at all locations.
There's no tradition more Canadian than ice skating. Learn more about lessons, indoor skating, ice rentals and more at markham.ca/skating.
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As a reminder, once the cold weather is here and the ponds, rivers and storm water management ponds are frozen please stay off the ice. While the ice may look safe, there is no guarantee that it is. We receive requests every year but the City does not monitor or maintain any of the ponds for skating. |
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The Markham Jazz Festival has started planning for the 2022 event that they are hoping will be in-person this year. They will need to wait and see how the pandemic evolves but let's hope by then things will be back to live performances.
Their Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Sunday January 9 at 1pm on Zoom. They will start with a short AGM to review financials and elect 2022 directors and then follow with a kick-off committee meeting. If you want to learn more and get involved, plan on joining the meeting. You can do so by sending an email to contactus@markhamjazzfestival.com with the title “I would like to join the TDMJF AGM” and a link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to you.
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Proposed new rule: Dogs remain on-leash at all times, in all York Regional Forest tracts, except in designated areas:
- Option A: One to three tracts where dogs are permitted to be off-leash
- Option B: One to three tracts where dogs would not be permitted (except for service dogs)
- Option C: One to two additional fenced dog off-leash area(s), in addition to the existing area at the Bendor and Graves Tract
In addition to the survey, there were 3 virtual information sessions were held for the public to learn more about the proposed new rules and options and ask questions. Results are now available in the Phase 2 report Options for Dogs in the York Regional Forest: What You Said in 2021.
Phase 1 and 2 survey results, as well as feedback from external partners (including cities and towns in York Region, conservation authorities and the York Regional Forestry Advisory Team) will inform a recommended approach for managing dogs in the York Regional Forest to be presented to York Regional Council in early 2022.
Stay informed through updates in York Region's Greening e-Newsletter. If you are not yet registered for the e-Newsletter, you can sign up here. For more information visit york.ca/dogsurvey.
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The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to learn something new. Maybe learn a new language, improve your cooking skills, discover genealogy. Not sure where to start?
MPL wants to hear from you about their technology. Is their technology helping you? Take their short survey to provide some feedback - find it here. |
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The City of Markham's Economic Development Department publishes a monthly eNewsletter outlining a number of programs, seminars, grants and other resources that may be of interest to business owners in Markham. Many of these events are free. You can read the recent eNewsletter here. |
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Upcoming Meetings
- YR Committee of the Whole - January 13 at 9am - details
- YR Education Session - January 13 at 1pm - details
- General Committee Meeting - January 17 at 9:30am - details
- Housing York - January 20 at 9am - details
- YR Audit Committee - January 20 at 1pm - details
- Development Services Meeting - January 24 at 9:30am - details
- Council Meeting - January 25 at 1pm - details
- YR Regional Council - January 27 at 9am - details
- General Committee Meeting - January 31 at 9:30am - details
- Markham Committee Meetings - details
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York Region Council meetings and live streaming details can be found here.
Details of upcoming YR meetings and past sessions are available here.
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Community Meetings and Events
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YR Seniors Open House - January 5 11am or 6:30pm - details
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Unionville Residents Association - January 10 at 7pm - details
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MBT After 5 Networking - January 20 from 5pm - 7pm - details
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MBT Business Excellence Awards - February 10 - details
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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