Click here to read the previous edition of The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.

The Province is again making a supply of Rapid Antigen tests available at pop-up sites across Ontario.

These tests will be available starting tomorrow for pick-up at Markville Mall at 9am from Monday January 10 to Wednesday January 12. There is no specifics about the location at the Mall.

More information can be found at ontario.ca/holidaytesting.

As of Monday January 10th at 8:30am, York Region is expanding booster dose eligibility to individuals 18+, if at least 84 days have passed since their last dose. Approximately 30,000 appointments will be available to be booked. You can check your eligibility and book an appointment at york.ca/covid19vaccine. Residents who wish to book an appointment by phone can call Access York at 1.877.464.9675 and interpretation services are available. Booster doses are offered by appointment only.

Currently Moderna is being provided to all individuals 30 years of age and older at York Region clinics. Adult Pfizer will be provided at select clinics for individual ages 18 to 29. Visit york.ca/COVID19Vaccine for details.

York Region Public Health is offering prioritized appointments for education staff, including educators, custodial staff, administrative staff, school bus drivers and licensed child care centre staff. Approximately 10,000 appointments will be available at York Region Public Health led clinics on Saturday January 15th and Sunday January 16th with other clinics being planned. York Region is working directly with school boards and licensed child care centre operators to book appointments.

Even with this announcement of new appointments, it may take several attempts to track one down:

Health Canada has determined all the vaccines currently approved are effective at reducing serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. For this reason, there is no need to delay or wait for one vaccine over another when seeking your third booster dose.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada. Both of these vaccines offer strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants. As recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, both are safe and effective to be used interchangeably.

Vaccines administered at York Region Public Health led COVID-19 clinics are based on the availability of vaccine supply, as distributed by the Federal and Provincial governments. Due to the high demand for third doses, there is currently limited supply of the adult (12+) Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available in Canada. As a result, York Region Public Health is currently offering Moderna vaccine for residents age 30 and older to prioritize Pfizer-BioNTech for residents age 12 to 29, based on the guidance of Ontario’s Ministry of Health.

It is important to get vaccinated with a first, second and booster dose as soon as the vaccine is offered to you. Don’t put yourself at greater risk waiting for a particular brand. More information on vaccine safety is available in our FAQs at york.ca/COVID19VaccineInfo.

By now I'm sure we are all too well aware of the new COVID-19 restrictions were introduced earlier this week. We are now in a modified Step 2 of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen. Additional public health measures are in place including reduced social gathering limits, reduced capacities and several closures. Learn more at york.ca/preventcovid19.

All of the specifics for Markham can be found here.

If you have symptoms, you should consider yourself a positive case and isolate according to the province’s updated guidelines. 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.

Any individual who receives a positive result from a rapid antigen test must self-isolate immediately. Also, please complete the short Positive Rapid Antigen Test Survey to help YRPH understand more about your specific situation while also giving you the information you need to keep those around you safe from COVID-19. Please follow the isolation guidelines.

More information is available at york.ca/covid19positive including details on what to do next, including how to isolate, notify your contacts, monitor your symptoms and when your self-isolation will end.

The City of Markham has many ways to stay active this winter.

Get outside and skate on one of the 6 outdoor ice rinks, there are 9 outdoor courts to play tennis, 95 maintained pathways to go for a walk, along with other outdoor recreation activities, virtual fitness, online culture programs and more. More information can be found at markham.ca/getactive.

On Saturday, I stopped by Milliken Mills Park to check out the new outdoor rink. While it was a cold day, it was great to see a group of young kids playing a game of pickup hockey with their Dads. They were having a great time! Now's the time to go for a skate and enjoy one of these new outdoor rinks.

The outdoor refrigerated rink at the Markham Civic Centre is open daily and skates are available to rent. The Milliken Mills Park rink along with ice surfaces at Huntington Park, Markham Museum, Milne Dam Park and Victoria Square Park are the 5 new natural ice surfaces that the City has set up this year. Please check the flag system at each location to determine whether the rink is open and the ice is safe to skate on. More information can be found at markham.ca/skating.

As a reminder, please stay off the ice on ponds, rivers and storm water management ponds when they are frozen. While the ice may look safe, there is no guarantee that it is. The City does not monitor or maintain any of the ponds for skating.

If you had a natural Christmas tree this year, this is the last week that you can place it out by the curb by 7am for pick up on your garbage collection day. The trees will by recycled into mulch and used at various locations across the City in the Spring.

You can view your collection schedule and find the handy "what goes where" tool at markham.ca/collectionschedule.

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?

The City is now accepting applications for a Celebrate Markham Grant - learn more.

Ward 1 Councillor, Keith Irish, has recently published his latest eNewsletter.

You can read it here.

Ward 3 Councillor, Reid McAlpine, has recently published his latest eNewsletter.

You can read it here.

Ward 8 Councillor, Isa Lee, has recently published her latest eNewsletter.

You can read it here.

The Markham Group of Artists winter holiday art show and sale is still running. Have a look and consider making a purchase to support local artists. There is a wide range of painting styles including landscapes, florals, figures and non-representational art. The show is running until the end of the month and can be viewed here.

Main Street Unionville's Business Improvement Area team is hiring. The position is for a Main Street Business Advisor to assist with Business Recovery and it's a full time 12 month contract.

Please visit unionvilleinfo.com/careers for more information. Applications are being received until January 21.

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

Details of upcoming YR meetings and past sessions are available here. 

I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters.

Please forward the details to dhamilton@markham.ca