January 30 2022
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
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Under Homes or Under Yonge Street?
This Thursday is an important day for Thornhill residents. It will likely be the day that York Region Council decides to support or not support the GO-Metrolinx plan to have the Yonge North Subway Extension travel under homes, schools and condominium buildings.
In my opinion, the current alignment is all about satisfying future residents and Langstaff development interests, over the rights and wishes of current Thornhill residents. Would you want a subway travelling under your home?
At a meeting of Markham Council, Mayor Scarpitti, RC's Heath and Hamilton said YES to the subway travelling under Yonge Street while RC's Jones and Li said NO.
Who will support their Thornhill residents and who will not when the vote is taken at Regional Council?
On a brighter note, I wish all residents celebrating the Lunar New Year a year of health, happiness and prosperity.
Have a safe week.
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In this issue
- Public Health Measures Easing
- Working to Keep Schools Open
- Recycling Depots are Opening
- Help Wanted
- Age Friendly Design Challenge
- Virtual Varley Programs
- Dogs in the Forest
- Views from My Walks This Week
- Other Items
- Upcoming Meetings
- York Region Update
- Community Happenings
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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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The Lunar New Year is the most important day on the calendar for many Markham residents. This week on February 1st they will celebrate the New Year and pray for good fortune in the year ahead.
Each year is associated with the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac and this year is the Year of the Tiger. People born in the year of the tiger (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022) are said to be brave, competitive and strong. What Zodiac sign are you? Find out here. Do the personality traits noted accurately describe you?
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Public Health Measures Easing
The provincial government will gradually ease public health measures starting tomorrow, Monday January 31. Restrictions will be cautiously lifted in phases with 21 days between each step. Capacity limits will be reviewed and adjusted between each phase and restrictions are scheduled to further ease on February 21 and again March 14 if indicators continue to improve.
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Although the updated health measures are positive news, residents must continue to remain cautious and vigilant to help decrease the surge of the Omicron variant. The best way for individuals to protect themselves against COVID-19 and its variant is to:
- Get fully vaccinated and seek a third dose when eligible
- Screen for symptoms of COVID-19 daily, stay home and isolate even if symptoms are mild
- Keep social gatherings limited to the number recommended for each phase of reopening
- Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with and wear a mask in indoor spaces
- Consider curbside pick-up, delivery or alternate hours for shopping, especially if you are at a higher risk for illness
- Clean your hands frequently
York Region COVID-19 vaccination clinics will continue to accept walk-ins for both first and second doses for all eligible individuals age five and older (must be at least five years old on the date of immunization).
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Schools across York Region have reopened to in-person learning and it's vitally important that all students, teachers, school staff and visitors self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before going to school. Use the provincial school and child care screening tool to assess your child or yourself for symptoms. If your child is age five or older, also make sure to get them fully vaccinated as soon as possible by making an appointment at york.ca/covid19vaccine or walking in to a York Region Public Health vaccination clinic. Vaccines are safe and effective for kids and are an extremely important tool in our fight against COVID-19 - learn more here.
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While many kids who get COVID-19 experience mild illness, some get very sick, require hospitalization and experience serious long-lasting effects. York Region Public Health advises that getting your child vaccinated will reduce the risk of severe outcomes to your child and their schoolmates. YRPH recommends your child receives their second vaccine dose at least eight weeks after their first, though they can get it as soon as 21 days after their first with informed consent. Clinics are now offering walk-ins for first and second doses to anyone 5+ york.ca/COVID19Vaccine.
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As of January 31, the Markham Recycling Depots will re-open with COVID-19 health and safety measures in place:
- Open for material drop off only
- Purchases and exchanges of Green Bins and Blue Boxes are temporarily suspended.
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Hours can be found here
Drop off procedures and safety measures continue to be in place:
- Only person per car will be permitted inside the depot for drop off. Please note that snow clearing may have limited parking availability and longer wait times may be incurred.
- Residents must answer standard COVID-related questions before entering
- Residents must remain two metres from attendants and other patrons
- Depots will close for one hour in the middle of each shift to clean and disinfect surfaces (approx. four hours into each shift)
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Review all guidelines prior to visit - details here
Depot attendants are committed to serving residents safely and respectfully and visitors may require patience and understanding as the depots will likely be very busy as everyone drops off the items that have been accumulating in all the garages across Markham.
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Help Wanted
Even though the Markham Public Library is re-opening this week, they will continue to offer many programs online. Have a look here at some of the upcoming classes.
Also, they are hiring for the following positions:
- Summer Camp Coordinator
- Summer Camp Supervisor
- Page
- Library Services Associate
There are also a number of positions available currently at the City including seasonal positions for students - have a look. There are also positions available at York Region too - details here.
Here is another opportunity. Destination Markham is seeking an Ambassador to provide hands-on dedicated business advisory support to entrepreneurs in the identified "main street" location at First Markham Place, First Markham Centre and the surrounding business area. Interested? Learn more.
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The City of Markham is developing a set of Age Friendly Design Guidelines to help make Markham a more inclusive and accessible community for everyone, regardless of their age or abilities. More information can be found here. As a part of this review, you can provide your input through this survey. The data gathered will be used develop a set of practical, relevant and achievable design guidelines that will help shape future residential and public space development in the city. The survey is available until February 14 and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You can find it here.
You can also participate in the Age-Friendly Design Guidelines 0-99 Ideas Challenge by posting an picture or providing a comment highlighting how you would make Markham a more age-friendly place - in your home, in your building or in your neighbourhood. You can post as many ideas as you like or contribute by liking other people's ideas that you support. Have your say here.
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Registration for the Varley Art Gallery's February 2022 Virtual Education Programs is now open. They provide free, easily accessible, online education activities for grades K to 8.
In their hands-on virtual workshops, instructors will show Kindergarten to Grade 8 students how to draw step by step, while also introducing them to some new artistic skills, terminology, and concepts. Workshops are one hour in length with a short break in the middle. All necessary materials for each workshop are listed in the brochure and should be prepared beforehand.
Varley's virtual education programs are free and hosted on Zoom. Participants must pre-register and details about the programs can be found here.
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Last Summer, York Region conducted a survey to share a proposed new rule and collect visitors' thoughts about dogs in the York Regional Forest.
Results are now available in the Options for Dogs in the York Regional Forest report - find it here. Survey results and feedback from external partners including Cities and Towns in York Region, conservation authorities and the York Regional Forestry Advisory Team, will inform a recommended approach for managing dogs in the York Regional Forest to be presented to Regional Council in early 2022 - learn more here.
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Views From My Walks This Week |
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This is your chance to answer questions posed by police leaders and inform them of policing priorities in the community.
They want to hear from you.
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This week the City of Markham was named one of Canada’s Best Employers for 2022 and the best City employer by Forbes for the second consecutive year. The City of Markham is ranked in the top two for Government Services and 15th among the 300 employers on the list, advancing from 18th place in 2021 - read more.
York Region was also named on this list and ranks within the top 5 best Canadian employers - read more. |
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This week the City of Markham will re-open various services and facilities in accordance with the Provincial guidelines.
The specifics of what's opening and what's still closed, the hours and more details - read more here. |
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In honour of the Lunar New Year that is being celebrated in Markham during the beginning of February, the Varley Gallery will be one of the locations for LunarFest GTA.
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The Region is home to Canada's second largest tech hub and York Region Council has made an investment into the ventureLAB Hardware Catalyst Initiative. This effort will help create jobs, attract talent and continue to position York Region as a global destination of choice for investors and entrepreneurs - learn more here.
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Just a friendly reminder that scammers continue because there always seems to be someone that falls prey to their schemes. Don't let it be you. Be vigilant and protect yourself against fraud.
- Never send money to someone you don't know
- Do not give out personal or financial information
- Report all suspected fraudulent calls
- Don't let a repair person or service technician into your home unless you were expecting them
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Is the fire hydrant on your street free of snow like this one from Councillor McAlpine's Twitter feed. Well done Councillor McAlpine on the snow shovelling and clearing your hydrant!
I've seen lots of snow covered hydrants while out walking this week. If one of them is near your home, please clear it for easy access and visibility during an emergency. The home you save might be your own.
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This virtual event will help you learn about programs and services available to you as a newcomer. The Canadian Mental Health Association will also speak about newcomers’ mental well-being and health and provide appropriate resources and tools to create a healthy community.
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The TTC and YRT are working to develop a 5-Year Fare Policy and 10-Year Fare Collection Outlook. This is project will work to improve customer experience and create a consistent fare system for both systems. Learn more about providing your input and participating in the virtual town hall.
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York Region Food Network Good Food Boxes offer quality veggies and fruit. It's an affordable way to eat healthy and support local.
The YRFN works with local suppliers and farmers to purchase fresh produce at wholesale and pass that price on to you. Order before February 9 for the next pickup on February 16. More information is available here.
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Upcoming Meetings
- General Committee Meeting - January 31 at 9:30am - details
- Development Services Public Meeting - January 31 at 7pm - details
- Development Services Committee Meeting - February 2 at 9am - details
- YR Special Council Meeting - February 3 at 9am - details
- Development Services Committee Meeting - February 7 at 9:30am - details
- Council Meeting - February 8 at 1pm - details
- YR Committee of the Whole Meeting - February 10 at 9am - details
- General Committee Meeting - February 14 at 9:30am - details
- Special Development Services Meeting - February 15 at 9:30am - details
- Development Services Public Meeting - February 15 at 7pm - details
- YR Accessibility Advisory Committee - February 16 at 4pm - details
- YR Housing Affordability Task Force - February 17 at 9am - details
- Community Information Meeting - Yonge Corridor Land Use and Built Form Study - February 17 at 6:30pm - details
- Development Services Meeting - February 22 at 9:30am - details
- YR Council Meeting - February 24 at 9am - details
- General Committee Meeting - February 28 at 9:30am - details
- Development Services Public Meeting - March 1 at 7pm - details
- YR Committee of the Whole - March 3 at 9am - details
- Markham Committee Meetings - details
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York Region Council meetings and live streaming details can be found here.
Details of upcoming YR meetings and past sessions are available here.
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Community Meetings and Events
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Unionville Residents Association - February 7 at 7pm on Zoom - details
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MBT Business Excellence Awards - February 10 - details
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Opening doors for York Region Newcomers - February 17 at 10am - details
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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