July 5 2020
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
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The Week in Review
For the most part, the City of Markham celebrated Canada Day virtually this year. Thanks to the City of Markham Canada Day committee for their efforts! They made the best of a difficult situation.
I'm very pleased to share a picture of one of the new Unionville Main Street banners designed by Unionville High School students. See below. Check out all the banners by visiting Main Street.
My wife and I biked the new "
Villages and Valley" route this weekend. It connects the two Main Streets of Markham and Unionville using both on road and off road travel. Thanks to David Rawcliffe for this suggested route. He together with Councillor Keith Irish are working on a route within Thornhill and we are looking for Councillor Isa Lee to submit a proposal for Milliken.
I've received some emails strongly supporting and strongly opposing the Mayor's mandatory mask motion that will come to Regional Council this
Thursday. I think that since Toronto and Peel Region already have a bylaw in place, then York Region will likely follow suit.
The Terry Fox Run is still on for September. Please see below for details regarding the change in format.
Try to stay cool and hydrated through this heat wave.
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.
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In this issue
- Happy Highlights
- Happy Canada Day - part 2
- YR COVID-19 Dashboard
- Protecting Lake Ontario
- Program Registration - July 6
- MBC Webinar
- Beat the Heat
- The Finalists Are!
- Terry Fox Run 2020
- MGA Update
- Villages and Valley Loop
- Pop-Up Park Program
- Thirsty Trees
- Downtown Markham Input
- MPL from Home
- Smart Commute
- Recycling Updates
- Fire Services
- 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.
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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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Happy Highlights
Well done and thank you to Unionville High School's Art Department for the artwork on the beautiful new banners on Main Street Unionville.
The team of talented students led by grade 12 student Grace Choi and Art Department Head Shane Clodd designed bright and colourful new banners that represent the true character and spirit of Unionville.
We are fortunate to have a cooperative relationship with Unionville High School. Well done!
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With
Canada Day falling in the middle of the week this year, I didn't get a chance to include these in last week's DME.
Hope your Canada Day was a good one.
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Over 300 voices came together virtually to help celebrate Canada Day!
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What does being Canadian mean to you?
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When going outside to enjoy the perfect summer weather, it is important to stay safe from the sun and be mindful of the public health measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Click here
for more information on staying safe outdoors.
Your actions can have a direct impact on the health and well-being of your community and your loved ones. Community transmission of COVID-19 is still occurring in York Region. Do your part to stop the spread by practicing physical distancing, washing your hands thoroughly and wearing a 2-layer non-medical mask when physical distancing may be a challenge.
Stay informed, visit
york.ca/covid19.
York Region Public Health has information specific to our area -
details here
. T
he information is broken down based on where the cases have been identified, how people have been infected, trends, testing facilities and more. Most specifically you can see how Markham has been impacted by COVID-19.
Facts and figures
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When you flush your toilet, do you know what happens to the wastewater and where it goes?
We all have a role to play to keep our water safe.
In York Region, most likely your wastewater travels down the drain, through a network of sanitary sewers, through the York Durham Sewage System, and ends up at
Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant for treatment before being discharged back to Lake Ontario.
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The plant is located on the shore of Lake Ontario in the City of Pickering. and is operated as a partnership between York Region and Durham Region. The plant is a highly engineered system of tanks, pipes and specialized equipment and buildings, covering the equivalent of 400 football fields. It receives more than 317 million litres of wastewater (equivalent to 127 Olympic-sized swimming pools) each day from residents, businesses and industries located in communities.
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More information about the plant including seven facts you may not know about Duffin Creek Plant can be found
here.
Our lake and our waterways are our shared responsibility to help protect:
- Use phosphate-free household cleaners, laundry and dishwasher detergents and don’t use lawn fertilizers
- Carefully pick up litter and debris and properly dispose of it
- Pick up and properly dispose of your pet’s waste in your green bin
- Eliminate the use of plastics where possible; as plastics breakdown, they become micro plastics and become smaller and smaller, but still take decades to decompose
- Get involved in stewardship programs and community cleanups
Following these tips will help reduce the amount of phosphorus, litter and pollutants entering our lakes, rivers and streams.
Learn more
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The City is offering a variety of fun, educational, creative and active virtual programs, workshops, and camps for children and adults to enjoy all summer long.
More information
- general recreation programs
- fitness and dance classes
- aquatic leadership and home pool safety programs
- multidisciplinary programs such as computer programming, junior firefighters, martial arts
- theatre camps
- museum camps
- art gallery programs including camps
- library camps
While the programs, workshops, and camps may look a little different this season, you can expect the same great quality experience you've had in years past.
As a reminder, virtual fitness classes remain free until July 19. To join all you have to do is
click
, register and stay active from home.
Details here. Also, have you checked out the City's
Commit to Fit Youtube channel?
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Join them for the Tourism and Hotel Industry - Slow Road to Recovery event.
Learn about innovative steps being taken by this hard hit industry as they adapt to new standards and work to restore business activity.
Register here
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We have been experiencing a stretch of hot weather and it appears that it is going to continue for at least awhile longer. Daytime temperatures are expected to be above 30 degrees Celsius plus the humidex with nighttime temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius.
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Unfortunately in order to practice effective physical distancing, the City is unable to provide designated cooling centres. It is important to take precautions to avoid suffering heat-related illnesses.
Stay cool and safe this summer. More tips on how to stay cool and to reduce your risk of heat related illness can be found
here.
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As outlined in the
Markham bylaw
, water on odd or even-numbered days, depending on if your house is odd or even-numbered and b
etween 6am and 9am or 6pm and 9pm but not both
with a 2 month grace period for new sod and seed.
Non-residential properties also follow the odd/even rule and can water for 3 hours between midnight and 6am.
The water use bylaw is in effect from June 1 to September 30.
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Over a three-week period from May 26 to June 17 during the COVID-19 crisis, the community in Markham was challenged to share their creativity in a variety of disciplines: exhibit design, creative writing, performing arts and visual arts.
The challenge was accepted – Markham delivered with 165 submissions across all disciplines! The quality of submissions across the board gave the jurors in each category the difficult task of selecting only five finalists. The creativity displayed by these artists was amazing.
The 20 finalists will also get the special opportunity to be mentored in their field by professional artists.
Find out more
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The 40th Terry Fox Run on Sunday September 20 will be a virtual one: One Day. Your Way. If you have participated in past years, please consider doing so again this year and if you have never done a Terry Fox Run why not this year? Details about this year's run in Markham-Unionville can be found
here
including how to register for this year’s event.
T-Shirts - There are a couple of different ways to get your 2020 Terry Fox Run T-shirt this year:
- register online for the 2020 Virtual Terry Fox Run, purchase your shirt and have it shipped directly to you - details
- a limited number of shirts that can be picked up in Markham (from the Markville Mall area) in early August. If interested, please fill out this form by July 7th
Lawn Signs - If you are interested in posting a lawn sign promoting the run, please submit
this form
.
Volunteers are needed to help spread the word to get people to register and fundraise. Please follow/join the Markham-Unionville Terry Fox Run group on
Facebook
,
Twitter
or
Instagram
. It is also not too early to start thinking about 2021 and anyone interested in taking on an organizational role (media relations, local donations/sponsorship, volunteer coordinators, route coordinators) for next year’s run, please contact them by
email
.
Details about the Thornhill Terry Fox Run can be found -
here
.
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The Markham Creates Visual Arts Finalists have been announce and MGA is pleased to offer a one-year membership to each of the five finalists of the visual arts category of the
Markham Creates Community Challenge
. Congratulations to Carter Tam, Celeste Cameron, Linda Kalianteris-Picerno, Philippa Hajdu, and Suki Zhang.
Open Juried Show - coming in August - MGA is inviting artists from Toronto and the GTA to submit paintings to
WINDOWS OPEN 2020
an Open Juried Virtual Show opening August 15 to September 5. With so many art shows and exhibitions cancelled due to COVID-19 distancing rules, instead of a members only juried show, MGA wants to give local artists an opportunity to show and sell their work on their online gallery. The Call For Entry will be posted in early July on the MGA
website
.
Free Bi-weekly Peering In-Zoom Critiques Continue - You are invited to sign up for the MGA Zoom peer critique sessions held at 7:30pm on Wednesday, July 8. Open to members, past members, and other artists in the Markham and surrounding areas, you can share what you have been working on and get some helpful suggestions from other artists.
Email
your contact details if you would like to participate.
Free Plein Air Continues on Thursdays -
The art of Plein Air (painting on site by direct observation) is one of the best ways to improve your art skills. MGA is offering a series of Plein Air opportunities for artists of all skill levels. Respecting physical distancing, they are meeting every Thursday at 10am (weather permitting). Landscape, botanical or even abstract approaches are welcome, along with all mediums.
Locations will be posted on their
Instagram
,
Facebook
and
website
.
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On the suggestion of Thornhill resident and CPAC Chair David Rawcliffe, the City is establishing a biking route called the Villages and Valley Trail.
This new active transportation loop connects Main Street Unionville to Main Street Markham, making it easier and safer for cyclists and pedestrians to get to these popular and iconic village hubs through part of the Rouge Valley Trail system, Carlton Road and Raymerville Drive. The City w
ill soon be posting special signage along the trail sections of the route. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and neighbourhoods of our city along the 12 km long loop. Places of interest along the route:
Did you know that there are over 400 km of on and off road bicycle routes and trails in Markham? Maps can be
found here
.
Markham Cycles More
- Set a summer cycling goal, bike to local Markham landmarks and win prizes! This scavenger hunt on two wheels is a great way to stay active and explore the city this summer. Every two weeks, a new theme will be announced, with a new set of locations to visit and a new chance to win. Registration and the first theme launches on July 8. Subscribe to the Markham Cycles
newsletter or
check out
markhamcycles.ca
for updates.
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To accommodate the increasing number of residents engaged in active transportation and to support transportation initiatives such as Markham Cycles, the City is closing Enterprise Boulevard from Andre de Grasse Street to Main Street Unionville on Sundays and statutory holidays from Canada Day to Labour Day. On Canada Day the route, that I have affectionately named the Desert Ride, was empty and the businesses in Downtown Markham complained about a decline in revenue. The City may need to reevaluate this closure.
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The Pop-Up Park program is coming to a park near you starting July 13. In response to the pandemic, the City's Recreation Department is now offering this new program. It will provide a safe, convenient and fun programs in your local park for kids 6 to 12. The programming will vary by day and time as well as weather conditions and ability of participants. Some of the activities will include active games, sports drills, brain games and creativity challenges.
Registration is open and required for the program. Details can be
found here.
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On average, young new trees should be watered twice per week, using approximately 6 gallons of water each time. This is the equivalent 3 full watering cans twice per week or using a hose with no nozzle on a very slow trickle for approximately 15 minutes, twice per week. If in doubt, check the soil under the mulch. If the soil feels damp and cool your tree should be good for another day, but if it feels hard and dry, run for the water. Make sure to check your trees even if it has rained.
For older trees (3 or more years after planting), water as needed from spring through fall. Check the soil in the root area weekly (as described above). This is particularly important during the dry summer months and the weather we have been having recently.
Never use a sprinkler to water your tree as wet leaves can be prone to fungal disease. Make sure not to over-water your trees. If the soil is already wet or there is standing water under or near your tree reduce your watering. This is particularly relevant for heavy clay or compacted soils like we have in many areas of Markham.
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You can help shape the future
Markham Centre is the City's mixed use area and will become Markham's downtown area. To ensure it continues to grow as a complete and integrated community, the City is updating the Markham Centre Secondary Plan and your input is requested.
Last year, several pop-up events were held across the City to
find out what the community thought
of Markham Centre. Comments were made about the shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and building design to wishing there were more parks, public gathering spaces, affordable housing, and community services.
Now the City is embarking on the next phase of engagement. Working on a vision and development options for the future of Markham Centre. You are invited to participate further and give your input on what you want to see in your downtown.
On July 28 the City will be hosting the first
virtual event
to gather further public input into Markham Centre, one of the fastest growing places in the GTA. All members of the public and stakeholders are welcome to participate.
Register here
.
In the meantime, check out a new
short video series
about the Secondary Plan and Markham Centre's evolution, achievements, and opportunities. Want to share your thoughts on the future of Markham Centre? There will always be opportunities to provide your feedback through the tools on this
webpage
.
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The Library continues to offer
many programs
, suggested reading lists, tutoring, virtual meetups and other resources for both kids and adult
s. Here's a sampling of what's going on:
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Starting July 6 you can pick up the holds you had before the closure with contactless
curbside service
at three MPL locations during dedicated hours. Starting July 15, you can place holds on items and arrange for curbside pickup. You can also return most of the library items you have at home. All of the returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours before another circulation so you can read without worrying about the virus.
More information here
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Discover the Digital Library
- Caring for Seniors 101 -
Tending to the people who used to look after us can be unnerving. As most baby boomers are now retired, care giving has now shifted to children caring for their ageing parents. This course will cover topics from understanding the challenges and responsibilities of senior care, as well as the day-to-day challenges of providing a safe and senior friendly environment. Start
this free course
or discover
other courses
available on Universal Class -
details here
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You are invited to participate in a series of webinars, complete an active travel trivia game and participate in an open transportation design contest for a chance to win prizes. Give yourself and your family the tools to travel safely during the pandemic and explore sustainable transportation modes. Adjust to your ‘new normal’ with helpful webinars on active travel and productivity while working remotely. Get
more information
on the upcoming webinars which will include:
- Productivity while working from home
- Getting Set up for Cycling
- Cycling Safety and Basic Maintenance
- Tips for Everyday Biking
- Stay Active by Walking
A newly-developed “
Navigating the New Normal
” guide provides workplaces, employees and residents with tips and guidance for adapting to the new normal while traveling from point A to B by public transit, carpool, cycling, walking or teleworking.
They are also offering another two-part upcoming webinar series with useful information and resources for commuters preparing to “return to work” using sustainable modes of travel safely to their destinations.
Register here for these webinars:
- Public Transit and Carpooling – Wednesday, July 15 at 1:30pm
- Cycling, Walking and Telework – Wednesday, July 22 at 1:30pm
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Blue Box and Green Bin purchases and exchanges are now available at City Recycling Depots.
Here’s what you need to know before you go -
details
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Starting July 13, the Unionville Recycling Depot will re-open to the public.
Here’s what you need to know before you go -
details
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Fire Services Update
Earlier this year there was a motion brought forward at York Region Council to review amalgamating the fire services across the Region. It was recently announced that this study will not be moving forward.
Regional Council
received an update
indicating four of the Region’s nine cities and towns, one of which was Markham,
do not support
proceeding with a study to review the potential amalgamation on York Region’s eight local fire services.
York Region currently has eight local fire departments serving its nine cities and towns with Central York Fire servicing both the Town of Aurora and the Town of Newmarket.
As a study of a potential Regional Fire Service is not currently supported by a sufficient number of local municipalities to represent a triple majority, York Region will not proceed further. Individual municipalities can continue to explore opportunities for shared coverage and training services.
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Upcoming Meetings
- July 6 - General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
- July 9 - Special York Region Council Mask Meeting - details
- July 13 - Development Services Meeting - 9:30am - details
- July 14 - Council Meeting - 1pm - details
- July 28 - Downtown Markham Secondary Plan - 7pm - details
- July 30 - YR Special Council Meeting - details
All meeting are now being conducted electronically and Council members along with staff are participating remotely. All facilities remain closed. As always, m
embers 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 by phoning 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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We have been holding all meetings virtually including York Region Council meetings and live streaming details can be found
here
. Details of upcoming YR meetings and past session information is available
here
.
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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.
I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters. Please forward the details to
dhamilton@markham.ca
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Working together to make Markham better!
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