March 14, 2021
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange - 100th Edition
Happy Centennial to the DME!

Not that anyone else has been counting but this is the 100th edition of the DME. I thank my IT and creative team for their hard work and I thank you the readers for your loyalty. I am the only member of Markham Council to put out a weekly eletter to keep residents better informed - first edition. So far, so good. We will carry on!

The big COVID NEWS this week is that people waiting for the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine will likely have to wait a little longer. Seems that the thinking is that it's better to have more people vaccinated with a first dose that is 92% effective (after 2 weeks) than to give the second dose to those people already vaccinated, which would bring their effective protection up to 94%. This is the information that Dr. Kurji provided to York Region Council. Once the supply of vaccine is more plentiful, this will become a moot point. It's the Fed's that procure the vaccine, the Province that distributes it and the Region that administers it. See below for the booking information as 19,000 new doses have just been allotted to York Region.

On a positive business note, it was my pleasure, along with MP Bob Saroya and MPP Billy Pang, to attend the Grand Opening of the beautiful new Lemonwood womens clothing shop on Main Street Unionville. We wish owner Christine much success!

Get that garden cleaned up! The City will begin collecting yard waste on April 6th this year. Details below.

If you like classical music, join the KSO on March 20 for their next virtual concert.

Happy St Patrick's day ☘️ to all our Irish friends including Councillor ☘️Keith Irish! ☘️

Stay positive - test negative.

In this issue
- Booking C19 Vaccine Appointments
- Know Before You Go
- Red Zone Continues
- Happy Pi Day
- Yard Waste Collection
- Congratulations to Lemonwood
- Walkable Neighbourhoods
- Spring Into Fun
- Water Quality Reports
- Fraud Prevention Month
- Wellness at MPL
- MGA Online Art Show
- Transit to Vaccine Clinics
- York Region Accessibility
- Spring Tree Planting
- Call Before You Cut
- Check Your Detectors
- KSO Online Concerts
- In Arrears Due to C19?
- Other Items
- Markham C19 Report
- YR C19 Dashboard
- Upcoming Meetings
- York Region Update
- Community Meetings and Events
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.
Click here to read the
previous edition of 
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.

By all reports, this week the registration and vaccine administration has run smoothly and the initial hiccups seem to have been resolved.

As York Region continues to administer vaccines under Phase 1 of the Provincial Vaccine Distribution plan, many York Region residents are anxious to know when it's their turn. As the distribution plan continues to rollout, all the information about locations (Aaniin Community Centre will be added soon) and who is eligible to review a vaccine will be updated at york.ca/covid19vaccine.

Currently, York Region residents born in 1941 or earlier and very high and high priority health care workers can book an appointment online for their COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more at york.ca/covid19vaccine.
On Friday, York Region announced that 19,000 additional COVID-19 vaccine appointments at 6 clinics would be available for booking on Monday March 15 at 8:30am. These vaccines will be administered to York Region residents 80+ and priority health care workers. Appointment can be booked here.

Tip - It is best to check the online registration portal throughout the day as there can be cancellations and more supply may become available. You can also stay informed by following York Region on Facebook and Twitter.
With the arrival of AstraZeneca vaccines, select pharmacies will be administering vaccinations to adults aged 60 - 64 (birth years 1957-1961). More information is available at ontario.ca/pharmacycovidvaccine to find participating locations and how to book an appointment.

COVID-19 vaccines are being administered to eligible residents in York Region. If you have booked a COVID-19 vaccination at one of five clinic locations in York Region currently operating, there are some important things you should know before arriving at a clinic.

Find out all the details you should be aware of at york.ca/covid19vaccinebeforeyougo.
Learn what to expect and how to prepare for your COVID-19 vaccine.

Markham along with the rest of York Region continues in the Red-Control zone of the COVID-19 Response Framework. The situation continues to change and we all need to continue to do our part to keep one another safe. Details about current public health guidelines, restrictions and closures can be found at markham.ca/covid19 and york.ca/covid19.

As always should you require any assistance, please reach out to the City's Contact Centre at 905.477.5530 or email at customerservice@markham.ca. Please also remember that your local Ward Councillor is also available to assist if you don't know where to turn.

Back to my old days as a Math teacher, March 14 (3.14) is noted as Pi Day.

Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant - the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter - which is approximately 3.14159. Learn more and take the Pi quiz to see if you're a Pi expert.

Leaf and yard material collection starts April 6
Safely store material on your property until your regular bi-weekly collection begins.

Find out when collection starts in your area here or download the Access Markham mobile app.
Vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect you and those around you from Covid-19. Avoid misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine by relying on credible sources.

Vaccines in Markham are by appointment only for residents 80+. No walk-ins. 

I was happy to join small business owner Christine Peters on the Grand Opening of the new Unionville Main Street location of her clothing boutique Lemonwood on Saturday. Be sure to drop by and welcome them to the neighbourhood. It is great to see a new store opening on the street. I wish Lemonwood great success at their new store.

The opening is the first event that I have attended in person in well over a year. I am hopeful that this is the first of many events to take place in the City as we move towards returning to our new normal.

Walkable neighbourhoods are well-connected places where you can access your favourite bakery, coffee shop, restaurant, local park and daily needs within a 15-minute walk from home.

Let York Region know what places or amenities you would like to walk or cycle to in your neighbourhood. The deadline to participate is March 26 and your anonymous response will help York Region plan for diverse needs in our existing and new communities. Learn more and take the survey here.

The City of Markham continues to offer virtual programs to keep you active and engaged while being safe. Some of the programs include:
  • fitness classes - commit to fit with the Markham fitness team. From yoga to cardio dance to muscle conditioning. There are over 35 different classes offered each week.
  • learning and educational programs - from French to computer programming to science exploration - learn new skills this spring
  • active programs - learn to dance ballet, hip hop or K-pop and have fun learning basic techniques and rhythm. Practice some martial arts in the Karate or Taekwondo programs.
Learn more and register here.
York Region’s water is safe to drink. The 2020 Annual Water Quality Reports are now available here along with lots of other information about our municipal water supply.

It is unfortunate that we still need to have a month to highlight that scammers are still at work in the community and people are still being caught up in these frauds. There continue to be online and email scams, investment scams, romance scams to name a few and now it is even worse that scammers are now running COVID-19 frauds and scams.

If the situation feels suspicious, trust your instincts and avoid it.

More information and resources on Fraud Prevention can be found on the York Regional Police website - here.

Health is a top priority for everyone and the Markham Public Library is ready to help. Whether you want to learn how to use meditation to reduce your stress or how to create a healthy menu for your family, they have the resources and programs to help you at markhampubliclibrary.ca/wellness.

MPL continues to offer many other resources while their branches remain closed. More information can be found here.
 
Let’s celebrate the coming of Spring. View MGA’s Artists’ Choice paintings in the first Markham Group of Artists show of 2021. The Artists’ Choice Show will be exhibited on their social media accounts and their website’s online gallery on March 15 - April 30. All the paintings are available for sale. For more information, visit markhamartists.org.

Like most community based organizations MGA needs volunteers. Are you able to lend a hand as a Show Assistant, a Social Coordinator, perhaps help with communications or maybe you have other talents to offer? If you are interested, please send MGA an email to MarkhamArtists@gmail.com.

As MGA celebrates their 40th year, they are looking to plan for 2021 and beyond. They are looking for input and there’s no better time for you to tell them what you are looking for in a community visual arts group. Why not take a few minutes to complete this survey to let them know how they can serve you better. By completing the survey you will have a chance to win a $50 Tim Horton’s gift card. Reach out to MGA at markhamartists@gmail.com if you have any questions.

If you require transportation to your COVID-19 vaccination appointment, in addition to PinkCars, York Region Transit's Mobility on Request (MOR) service is also available.

MOR can be booked to take you to the closest vaccination clinic from your home. More information is available here.

As a member of the York Region Accessibility Committee, I work to ensure that all York Region residents feel seen, heard and included. Check out the 2020 York Region Accessibility Report to learn about the actions completed by York Region and York Regional Police to prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the report here and learn more at york.ca/accessibility.

Are you a Markham resident that is starting to think about planting some trees on your property this Spring? If so, you can benefit from a City of Markham partnership with York Region that offers deeply discounted trees through Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF). Pay only $50 for each evergreen tree and $100 for each deciduous tree chosen from a select species list. The fee also includes tree delivery and, if the resident chooses, full-service tree planting.

There are two options with LEAF, the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Tree Planting or full services planting. The DIY Program offers customers a virtual consultation with an arborist and contactless delivery of the tree so they can plant it themselves - learn more.
As a reminder, if you wish to cut down any trees in Markham with a trunk diameter of 20 cm (7.8 in) or more, you will need a permit.

More information and permit details can be found here.
We just moved our clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time but did you remember to also check expiration dates, test and replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? If not, now is a great time to do so.

On March 20, the Kindred Spirits Orchestra will present a classical music concert, streamed live at 8pm from the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

The concert will be approximately 90 minutes long without intermission and there will be an on-stage discussion. For more information and to book your private access weblink visit KSOrchestra.ca or call 905.604.8339. 

If you’re in arrears on your rent, mortgage or utility payments, financial relief is available to eligible York Region residents. The temporary COVID-19 Arrears Benefit Program can help residents receiving Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) who are in arrears due to COVID-19.

While there is currently a moratorium on evictions, arrears will need to be paid once the moratorium is lifted and there is help available for you to pay overdue rent, mortgage payments, utility bills and more.

The COVID-19 Arrears Benefit Program is different from the Housing Stability Program (HSP) and eligible residents may be able to access additional financial support. More information about program eligibility can be found here. In addition, there is another program for rent and utility assistance - learn more.
Other items

  • City of Markham recognized as a global Smart Community of the second consecutive year - details
  • Listen Learn Act - As part of the City of Markham’s commitment to dismantling and disrupting racism, the City is offering their ‘Let’s Talk about Racism: An intro to anti-Black racism’ eLearning session to the public. We all have a role to play in combating racism in all its forms. Get started at markham.ca/LetsTalkAboutRacism.
  • The Markham Board of Trade's annual Women's Networking lunch has gone virtual this year. Register now to be a part of the event that will include a panel discussion and virtual networking. You don't want to miss this opportunity to be inspired by the panel of entrepreneurial female leaders and to lean about the business changes they faced on the road to success.
  • The Markham Flato Theatre continues to deliver performances to the community although the theatre remains closed. Looking to do something new from home? Check out their upcoming virtual events.
  • PinkCars, a local volunteer group has been established to assist seniors with online registration and transportation to clinics for their vaccine appointments. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to PinkCars. Also, PinkCars is also welcoming volunteer drivers
  • GO Electrification - Public Review period ends March 24 - As GO expands their services across the GTA, they are also working towards the electrification of their infrastructure. You can read more about this project and your feedback here. If you would like more context on where they're at in the process of electrification, read this story.
as of March 12, 2021 - click title or on chart for full report
These Markham specific COVID-19 details are provided by MFES
and the City of Markham Executive Leadership Team.
More information about Markham's response to COVID-19 can be found here.

York Region's COVID-19 dashboard now includes suspect and confirmed cases in schools. The interactive dashboard is updated seven days a week at 5pm and provides detailed information about C19 in York Region including a breakdown of specific Markham data. Details can be found at york.ca/covid19data.

More information about Markham's response to COVID-19 can be found here.
Upcoming Meetings

  • March 18 - Regional Council Special Meeting - 9am - details
  • March 22 - General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
  • March 23 - Special Development Services Meeting - 9:30am - details
  • March 23 - Development Services Public Meeting - 7pm - details
  • March 25 - Regional Council Meeting - 9am - details
  • March 31 - Council Meeting - 1pm - details

  • Upcoming Markham Committee Meetings - 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.

York Region Council meetings and live streaming details can be found here. Details of upcoming YR meetings and past sessions are available here
Community Meetings and Events


  • KSO Online Concert - March 20 - details
  • Building Brand Awareness - Intro to Google Ads - March 22 - details
  • MBT Women's Networking Luncheon - March 23 - details
  • MBT After 4 Networking - March 25 at 4pm - details
  • Varley Gallery Lunch and Learn - March 31 at 12:30pm - details

I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters.
Please forward the details to dhamilton@markham.ca
Working together to make Markham better!