August 30 2020
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
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No Salary Increases in 2020
As mentioned in previous DMEs, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the City and its finances. We continue to identify strategies to mitigate the financial and operational impacts we are facing. Some of these measures will impact our staff and members of Council.
At the August 25th Council meeting, it was resolved to maintain March 2020 salary rates for all non-union staff and Council Members until at least December 31 2020. As public servants we have an obligation to be financially responsible to the community we serve especially during this time of fiscal hardship.
Don't miss your bus! Be sure to check the YRT service changes coming September 6th as listed below.
There is assistance and advice available for "Agile Business Planning" for small businesses. See details below for an upcoming YRBiz event.
I'm pleased to see the return of the Unionville Residents Association monthly meetings on September 14th on Zoom. This great community organization deserves your support and for their next meeting you don't even need to leave your home to participate.
As a reminder, I am happy to highlight other community groups and meetings. Please send me the details and I will include it in a future edition of the DME.
This week I was able to see the preliminary plan for a new student housing building being proposed by Rockport Developments on the current Amica-Unionville parking lot site. This is intended to serve the needs of York University students. More on this from Ward 3 Councillor Reid McAlpine and likely at a future URA meeting.
Have a safe and productive week.
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In this issue
- Back to School
- URA Update
- YRT Service Changes
- Fall Outdoor Programs
- Fall Virtual Fitness Classes
- A Little Bit of Good News
- Fall Outdoor Fitness Classes
- Fall Swimming Lessons
- Markham Public Art
- Keep Safe When Nature Calls
- COVID Alert App
- Drive-In Movie #1
- Trees Myth Busters
- Drive-In Movie #2
- Markham Jazz Revisited
- Ready When You Are
- Website Maintenance
- Fight the Bite
- Masks and the C19 Dashboard
- Rooming Houses
- Protecting Our Water
- Agile Business Planning
- Markham Board of Trade
- 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. |
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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As students, parents and educators prepare for the return to school, you may have questions about how to keep your child and your family safe and healthy. To support a safe return to school, here is information and resources to keep parents and students informed.
Students can reduce the risk by practicing proper physical distancing and wearing masks. For more information visit york.ca/SafeatSchool.
The Markham Public Library is hosting a Back to School information session for York Region parents in both English and Mandarin on Thursday at 3pm. With the impact of COVID-19, back to school is not what it used to be. New regulations and information are in place to ensure safety for students and staff. This workshop will introduce the important changes to schools made by both York Region District School Board and York Catholic District School Board, so as to ensure a smooth, safe return for students and staff. Register here.
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Learn basic bike safety, maintenance, rules of the road and what your student should know before getting ready to ride back to school. On Wednesday, join the virtual workshop hosted in partnership with Markham Cycles and the York Region District School Board - details here.
Whether back to school is in class or online this year, MPL is bringing a comprehensive tutoring platform that will set your student up for success during the school year. It provides one-on-one tutoring assistance everyday, practice tests and other learning materials. Whether learning a new language, writing essays, or preparing for a math test, learn more about this online resource.
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Summer daylight hours are shortening and fall is in the air which means that URA member meetings are back on track.
Here is a link to their August newsletter. They are also looking for your feedback on the important issue of changes to Main Street Unionville. Please let them know how you feel about these proposed changes.
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The September member meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. Further details and an invitation will be available soon.
Date: Monday September 14
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Venue: Online Zoom meeting (login details to follow)
As well, they are excited to introduce a new special membership offer. The details are outlined in their newsletter and it will benefit Markham Stouffville Hospital. Join URA or renew your membership between now and the end of September and they will donate $5 to MSH.
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York Region Transit (YRT) service changes will take effect on Sunday September 6 to adjust for changing customer demand including:
- reinstatement of all High School Special and Express routes
- reinstatement of select routes previously suspended due to COVID-19
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adjustments to some Mobility On-Request (MOR) services; MOR is a ride-sharing service allowing travellers to access transit when and where they need it; to learn more visit yrt.ca/mor
Due to the continued impacts of COVID-19, many YRT services are either not operating or on a reduced schedule which will continue until further notice. Travellers should visit yrt.ca/servicechanges prior to travelling to review changes that may affect their plans.
YRT continues to monitor updates from York Region Public Health to ensure the safety of all travellers and staff and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Safety measures include:
- mandatory face mask or covering for all travellers while on public transit
- front-door boarding and requiring travellers to exit the middle/rear doors to create a one-way flow
- increased cleaning and disinfection of buses and facilities
- barrier shield installation on buses to provide protection between passengers and drivers
- face masks, sanitizers and other personal protective equipment provided to all drivers and front-line staff
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encouraging riders to use contactless forms of payment including PRESTO and the Pay App
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registration starts August 31
Join an outdoor program in a park near you. The City continues to adapt programming in response to COVID-19 and is pleased to offer a variety of offerings including:
Archery, Chimo Park Rangers,
Dance, Frisbee Golf, Guitar, Shaolin Kung Fu, Soccer, Soccer Baseball and Tennis
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registration starts August 31
This Fall choose from 13 to 14 week cardio, strength training, mind & body and total body classes.
All classes are facilitated via Zoom allowing participants to interact with each other and the certified fitness instructor. Options are also available to turn off your audio and video.
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The Varley Art Gallery will re-open to welcome visitors for self-guided tours by appointment, Wednesdays to Fridays, beginning Wednesday September 16, and for timed visits between 12-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, starting September 19. Walk-in visitors will be accommodated if capacity limits are not met for scheduled appointments or timed visits. All fall 2020 registered programs and facility rentals at the Gallery and McKay Art Centre have been cancelled.
Starting Monday September 14, the Markham Museum will begin accepting appointments for visits to the museum’s outdoor grounds, Wednesdays to Fridays, beginning Wednesday September 23. Visitors can enjoy self-guided outdoor tours around the Museum’s buildings and gardens and use their mobile devices to activate QR codes on signs at the site to learn more about several heritage structures. Unfortunately all fall 2020 registered programs and facility rentals have been cancelled.
Recreation staff are now planning a controlled reopening of the Aaniin, Angus Glen and Thornhill community centres for limited registration only programming. However, for the same cost as before the facilities will be able to be accessed by fewer people (about 20% of previous capacity). It is unknown how comfortable people are with returning to community centres and Staff will need to adapt the offerings depending on demand.
No pools, other than the one at the Pan Am Centre, will be reopened this fall as they are too expensive to operate at reduced capacity. To accommodate the needs of some competitive clubs, leagues and sports camps, the Pan Am Centre and some skating rinks are open on a full cost recovery basis with safety protocols. Staff are also investigating the reopening of fitness centres. The City's website remains the best place to check on what's open.
Doors Open Markham is moving online. More information will be available here soon with videos and details from locations in Markham and other Ontario communities.
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Outdoor fitness classes have been popular and will continue through the fall. Registration is required to participate and physical distancing protocols will be followed.
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registration starts August 31
Swimmer 4+ private lessons will be offered at Morgan Pool and are ideal for those working on skills to advance to the next level. Instructors will be teaching from the deck to ensure proper physical distancing.
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This open competition invited professional artists to submit public art concepts for sites chosen by the public and the project’s production team. From the 45 proposals that were received, a jury composed of leading professionals in the field selected the 10 shortlisted projects. Each of the 10 shortlisted artists received $1,000 to further develop their ideas into renderings, as a way to analyze the site and test the proposed form of rendering. Finally, jury members each chose their favourite project and provided an explanation for their choice. All proposals remained anonymous to the jury throughout the entire process. To see images of the shortlisted projects and to read about the jury’s thoughts on their selections, visit the Varley Art Gallery's Instagram page. Delimit is part of Online, a digital initiative for public art that has unfolded throughout the summer of 2020. More information including details on the finalists can be found here.
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Use these tips to stay safe from COVID-19 if you need to use a public washroom:
- Wear a face mask or covering
- Avoid using crowded washrooms
- Comply with posted signage
- Be mindful of what you touch
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- To dry your hands, turn off faucets and open doors use paper towels
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The COVID Alert app is a free, voluntary app that can notify you if you may have been exposed to COVID-19.
The app does not collect, store or access any personal data or health information. The more people who use app, the more effective it will be in helping to protect each other and our communities.
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Looking for something to do Friday night?
The Lavazza Drive-In that has been popping up in locations across the GTA is coming to the Markham Fair Grounds.
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Tree care tips and tricks that spread by word-of-mouth are often accepted as common knowledge over time. However, as theories and tree care practices evolve, new knowledge is not so quick to spread among the general public. As a result, many of today’s common tree misconceptions actually stem from outdated practices or theories. Because these misconceptions can do more harm than good, it’s important to get to the bottom of the truth.
This article outlines these five common misconceptions about trees:
- Myth #1 - Tree roots cause cracks in underground pipes and foundations
- Myth #2 - It is important to add new soil and chemical fertilizers when planting a tree
- Myth #3 - Newly planted trees should always be staked
- Myth #4 - Mulch volcanoes benefit trees
- Myth #5 - A tree’s root system is a mirror of its canopy
Armed with this new knowledge, are you ready to start planting? Learn more about LEAF's subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program offering native trees, shrubs and garden kits for homeowners, businesses and multi-units. Visit LEAF's Tree Care page for up-to-date, reliable tree care tips and guidelines.
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While the Markham Jazz Festival didn't take place this year, the music will continue in a different fashion. The Festival is pleased to announce that they will bring together jazz lovers, musicians and the community through a series of monthly concerts from September 2020 to March 2021.
Canadian jazz stars will perform in select venues around Markham and will be live-streamed and recorded for viewing later. If and when health protocols safely allow, they will offer a limited number of tickets.
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Y ork Region's tourism strategy has launched a new campaign ReadywhenYR.com to highlight dining options, experiences and attractions that have reopened and are ready when you are. York Region is currently in Stage 3 of the provincial government’s framework for re-opening. This means that residents can enjoy indoor dining at restaurants, attend indoor gatherings of up to 50 people, outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people. More information
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There will be service interruptions for system updates on the City's website from 11pm on September 1 to 8am the following morning. The services affected:
- Interactive forms and services
- on-line payments
- EZ-Reg
- ePLAN
- ePropertyTax
- Mimsy/Mobius
- maps
- ParkSmart (after 2am on September 2)
Other sections of the website will not be impacted.
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Did you know West Nile virus can spread through the bite of an infected mosquito?
There are West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes in York Region.
There are some simple steps you can take to prevent bites and reduce your risk.
Learn more about protecting yourself from West Nile virus.
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Curious about where you need to wear a face covering? They are now required in all indoor spaces except your own home. Please remember wearing a mask is not a replacement for physical distancing, hand washing and monitoring your own health. City related information can be found at markham.ca/covid19 and York Region issues such as public health and social services can be found at york.ca/covid19.
The York Region Public Health COVID-19 dashboard provides 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. You can see how Markham has been impacted by COVID-19. Facts and figures
Looking for more COVID-19 information? Public Health Ontario has a new interactive data tool providing epidemiological summaries of COVID-19 activity across the Province - details here. |
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Rooming Houses - Report Them, They're Illegal!
Shared rental houses, rooming houses, illegal suites ... no matter what you call it the issue is becoming more prevalent in Markham. With the development of the York University campus in Markham Centre this issue will become a bigger challenge as students look for a place to live. While a new student residence is likely being built by the private sector next to the Amica building across from the Pan Am Centre, there will still be a demand of additional accommodation. Stakeholders need to be involved in proactive discussions to explore safe, legal and well maintained housing for students near the campus. Have something to say on this topic? Send me an email and also your local Councillor too .
The City continues to receive complaints about possible rooming houses and other improper use of homes in Markham. The City takes these complaints seriously as they impact the character and livability of our neighbourhoods. There have also recently been some reported cases of fraudulent rentals which have been turned over to York Regional Police.
If you suspect there may be a property on your street that is operating as a Rooming House, please notify the City's Contact Centre at 905.477.5530 and also let your local Ward Councillor know too. Once a complaint is received, the City will notify Fire Prevention who will commence an investigation.
Learn more about City of Markham By-Laws - here.
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We all play an important role in protecting York Region’s underground and lake water drinking water sources. Clean and safe drinking water starts at the source. York Region works with the community to ensure that our drinking water sources and the activities around are safe to ensure clean drinking water for generations to come. Learn more
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Thursday September 17th from 12-1 pm on Zoom
The pandemic has created massive disruptions in how businesses operate, how consumers buy and has turned whole industries upside down. With uncertainty comes opportunities for those businesses who are quick to recognize them and are able to adjust their businesses to capitalize on them. Being agile is more of a competitive advantage than ever before. This YRBiz session will give you:
- strategies and tools to adopt agile business planning
- insights and first hand experiences from business owners who have leveraged agile planning in restaurants, retail, tech and more
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MBT would like to welcome you back to their first Breakfast Networking event since March on September 10 at Angus Glen Golf Club. They cannot wait for members to get back to networking at a new time. Register here
Do you know a Markham company that's exceptional? Nominate them today for the 2020 MBT Business Excellence Award. The deadline has been extended until September 30. Details here.
Have you ever needed something notarized and not know where to go? The Markham Board of Trade offers documentation services for members and non-members - details here.
Help the MBT as they prepare for a presentation to the City's Economic Development Committee in September. Complete this short 3 question MBT survey about your business' current challenges and any suggestions that you may have.
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Upcoming Meetings
- September 2 - Housing York - 9am - details
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September 4 - MPL Trivia Night - 8pm - details
- September 8 - General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
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September 10 - York Region Committee of the Whole - 9am - details
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September 14 - Development Services Committee - 9:30am - details
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September 15 - Council Meeting - 1pm - details
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September 17 - York Region Council Special Meeting - 9am - details
- September 21 - General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
- September 22 - Development Services Public Meeting - 7pm- details
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September 24 - York Region Council Meeting - 9am - details
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September 29 - Development Services Meeting - 9:30am - details
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September 30 - Council Meeting - 1pm - details
All meetings are now being conducted electronically and Council members along with staff are participating remotely. All facilities remain closed. As always, members 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 phone 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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York Region Council meetings and live streaming details can be found here. Details of upcoming YR meetings and past session 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.
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Working together to make Markham better! |
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