May 18 2020
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
|
|
Reopening begins tomorrow!
The date we have all been waiting for has finally arrived. Residents are anxious to try and get back some normalcy in their lives.
At the time of writing I am not sure of what City services will be restored. At this point there have been no announcements of events returning that were previously cancelled, no camps reinstated and no details of how our City staff can return to the workplace. Maybe later this week there will be some more detail and positive news.
Locally, there was a devastating fire on Bur Oak yesterday affecting many units in a town house row. Nationally we lost a member of the Canadian Snowbird team in a crash. Everybody would welcome some good news!
Thank you to Emma Sneek, a grade 12 student, for connecting with me about a Bill Crother's Secondary School fundraiser for
Yellow Brick House.
Don't get a ticket for parking on Main Street Unionville. See the note below for details.
Stay in touch.
Click here
to read the previous edition of
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.
|
|
In this issue
- Happy Victoria Day
- Happy Highlights
- MPL from Home
- Markham Board of Trade
- LEAF Update
- Events from YRFN
- Virtual Varley
- YBH Fundraiser
- National Public Works Week
- Take the Challenge
- Need Help?
- Spring Clean Up
- New Parking Restrictions
- Upcoming Webinar
- Who Should I Contact?
- York Region Update
- Community Meetings and Events
- Q & A
|
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.
|
|
|
Ever wonder why we celebrate Victoria Day? Find out more about the history and significance of the Day -
more here.
Residents may discharge fire works today for Victoria Day with permission from the property owner. Permission is NOT granted for public property include roads, parks and school yards.
This year physical distancing rules must be observed but other factors to consider include wind direction, proximity to spectators and nearby structures.
|
|
Happy Highlights
As a part of an ongoing series, I am highlighting good news and events happening around the City.
If you have something to share, please
send me the details of your local initiatives and I will be happy to include them in future editions of the DME.
|
|
|
MPL continues to offer many programs, virtual meetups and other resources for both kids and adults.
Check out their Library at Home programming which includes circle time, parents social hour, STEAM activities, trivia night, infant sleep workshop and more.
|
|
Join the MBT guest experts from BDO Canada LLP to discuss updates to government subsidies, financial cash flow considerations, and wage and rent subsidies, as businesses begin to restart operations.
The speakers will include Justin Mastrangelo and Jennifer Lucier from BDO Canada LLP. Please submit your questions by
email by May 20.
The MBT is working to help local businesses with resources to
access updates and other information that you need to know. MBT has also set up a website
Are You Open?, to support Markham businesses. Use it to find out what's open and where you can buy locally.
|
|
LEAF has modified some of their offerings as a result of current restrictions to ensure the health and safety of their staff, volunteers, program participants and the wider community. They continue to offer their programming including their Backyard Tree Planting, tree sales, Young Urban Forest Leaders and Tree Tenders programs among many more.
Learn more
- from sleeping trees to green leaves - read more
- spring tree sale - native trees for $20 - details
- many programs go virtual - details
|
|
Join YRFN as they continue to offer virtual programming:
- Wednesday May 20 they will be hosting their lunch table - this week "Eggs-travaganza" Register
- on Friday May 22 at 11am for an online conversation in their new series "Food Stories". This week Chef Max Knight will take a culinary journey from pre-colonial African food to modern day Caribbean cuisine. Register
|
|
Isolation Creations - Week 2!
Visit the Varley to pick up your FREE Isolation Creation kit! Organized by the Varley Program team, these kits are suitable for ages 6+ to senior citizen.
This week create a one-of-a-kind water colour creation! Follow the instructions provided in your kit and learn how to paint using water colours. Make cards for your loved ones, or frame a finished piece with decorated Popsicle sticks! When you’re done, take a picture of your artwork and share it using #varleyartgalley.
Pick up is at the Varley Courtyard on Tuesday May 19 between 10am and 12pm (first come, first served). Please remember to practice physical distancing when picking up your kits. All materials are cleaned and sanitized before packaging.
Other programming includes:
- explore the current exhibits from home - view now
- virtual lunch and learn - May 27 - 12:30 pm - register now
- $1,000 Wallace Joyce Scholarship - Do you know a York Region high school student who will be graduating this year and going on to pursue post-secondary education in art, design or a related field? The Varley-McKay Art Foundation will be awarding a scholarship to one student - apply now - deadline to apply May 31
|
|
Yellow Brick House Virtual Fundraiser
Emma Sneek, a Grade 12 student from Bill Crothers Secondary School, is running a virtual fundraiser to support
Yellow Brick House
. The money will be used to support
over 50 women and children from York Region receiving services and support programs from the Yellow Brick House as unfortunately abuse continues. Also due to COVID-19 there are increased incremental costs for products like wipes and sanitizer that are needed to allow Yellow Brick House to keep their services open and available.
How you can help Emma help Yellow Brick House?
Donations can be
made here on the Yellow Brick House
COVID 19 relief site. Please use BCSS as the company name and a copy of your digital receipt can be sent to
bcssyellowbrickhouse@gmail.com to help with the tracking towards the goal. More Information is
available here.
|
|
The “
Rhythm of Public Works
" is this year’s theme for the 2020 National Public Works Week (May 17 - 23). Public service workers deliver essential services to keep our community moving.
Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, public works staff remain committed to delivering critical services such as well-maintained roads, reliable transit, operating state-of-the-art water treatment facilities, innovative and sustainable waste management and leadership in conservation, stewardship and forest management – all important services. Public works staff operate 24/7 behind the scenes in our day-to-day lives, keeping the City/Region’s services running smoothly and safely.
More information
|
|
Summer is coming and it is important to be safe in and around water. For this week's challenge (May 18 - 24), share a drawing, a skit or even a song about an important water safety rule using #MarkhamRecAtHome. It is time to get creative.
New #MarkhamRecAtHome challenges will be posted on
Instagram
,
Twitter
and
Your Voice Markham
every Monday. There will be a new winner every week. Post your picture or video completing the challenge. Tag @cityofmarkham and use #MarkhamRecatHome for your chance to be featured and entered into a random draw for a City of Markham recreation program. View complete contest rules and details
here.
|
|
211 Central
connects people living in Peel, York, Toronto and Durham to over 4,000 services such as financial help, mental health support, food, housing, shelters and childcare.
They offer a free, 24/7 confidential service in 150 languages.
211 is here to help. Call 2-1-1. Text 21166 to chat or check out their website at
211central.ca
.
|
|
Spring Clean-Up
The City's spring litter clean-up has started. The Operations Parks and Roads staff are working to ensure City parks, public spaces (trails, pathways, streets) are litter free.
Don't dump used gloves and masks in open spaces
. Used PPE goes in the garbage.
Do your part to keep Markham clean and safe.
|
|
Share the Road
The warm weather is here, and motorcyclists and cyclists are starting to return to t
he
roads. Even though traffic may be lighter, drivers need to remember that they need to share the road with smaller vehicles.
Help keep our roads safe for vulnerable road users by giving them appropriate space to travel.
|
|
New Parking Restrictions
There will be new parking restrictions in effect on Main Street Unionville. To allow for proper physical distancing parking is no longer permitted on either side of Main Street from Station Lane to Carlton Road.
Parking is still available in the designated parking lots in the area.
|
|
Tuesday May 19 - 9:30am
Learn the steps to take when employees return to work, how to create good mental health in the workplace and more. What will the workplace be like for my business and my employees?
Register here.
|
|
What level of Government can
help
?
False information continues to spread about COVID-19. Please use official sources to verify what you have heard or read. The best sources of official updates are noted below. The
City's page helps to decipher who to contact about various issues.
Below are some links mentioned - click on the
blue
text to access updates and resources
COVID-19 Assessment Centres
- check their website for specific hours
Federal or Provincial issues, please contact your local Member of Parliament or your Member of Provincial Parliament.
Upcoming Meetings
- May 19 - virtual General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
- May 25 - virtual Development Services Meeting - 9:30am - details
- May 26 - virtual Council Meeting - 1pm - details
- May 28 - virtual YR Council Meeting - 9am - details
|
|
We have been holding all meetings virtually including York Region Council meetings. Details of this and upcoming YR meetings and other information is available
here
.
|
|
|
- YR Opens Transitional Shelter - details
- COVID Myths and Facts - details
|
|
Community Meetings and Events
As it stands now, most upcoming events have been cancelled.
Once new events are scheduled they will be added to the list.
- Upcoming Markham Public Library Events - here
- Upcoming Varley Gallery Events - here
I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters. Please forward the details to
dhamilton@markham.ca
|
|
If you have a question, please email it to me.
|
|
Question:
With libraries, recreation centres and cultural venues closed, why is
n't the City rebating taxes or offering a discount?
Answer:
Even though community centres, libraries, the art gallery and museum are closed, staff are doing their best to provide interesting activities and programming for residents. Garbage, recycling and organic waste is picked up on schedule. Roads continue to be maintained and our fire services continue to provide protection. Most City staff are working from home.
|
|
Working together to make Markham better!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
