May 30 2021
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
Snow in May?

May is almost gone and the June calendar appears to be chuck full of meetings. Did I see snowflakes outside my window last week?

At tomorrow's General Committee meeting we will have a presentation from Coyote Watch. More and more wildlife is being dislocated by new development and we are trying to find ways to co-exist. Newmarket had a bear sighting this week. We have feral cats, rats, squirrels, raccoons, deer, coyotes, fox and more all living in close proximity to our neighbourhoods. You might want to listen in!

I've had many seniors call and email me, so I'm happy to report that residents 80+ years of age can move their COVID-19 second dose date forward starting tomorrow. If you need help booking or rebooking an appointment or if you need a ride to the clinic, you can contact PinkCars. See details below.

Join local Councillor Keith Irish and me at the rally next Saturday against having the Yonge subway go under Thornhill residents homes. It should go under Yonge Street as originally planned. If you can't make the rally, please send an email to all Members of Markham Council at mayorcouncillorsandc.a.o@markham.ca to let them know that the subway extension should NOT go under peoples homes. More details below.

It's National Accessibility Week. I proudly serve on the York Region Accessibility Committee along with a devoted group of Committee members.

In recognition of the 215 children's bodies that were discovered buried in a mass grave on the grounds of a residential school, the City will be lowering its flags to half mast for 215 hours. This is a horrific discovery and there needs to be accountability even though it took place many years ago.

Have a pleasant week.

In this issue
- C-19 Vaccinations - 2nd dose
- 3 Step Roadmap
- Keep Subway on Yonge Rally
- Open Streets Markham 2021
- Summertime Fun
- I Count
- Splash Pads Open
- Protecting Your Trees
- URA Meeting
- Mount Joy Meeting
- Household Garbage
- Call Before You Cut
- It's Road Construction Season!
- Other Items
  • Flood Control Program
  • Markham Centre Meeting
  • Markham Library
  • Markham Group of Artists
  • Main Street Unionville Market
  • Repurposed Ambulances
  • Rain Barrel Sale
  • Home Efficiency Workshop
  • YR Progress Report
  • Coyotes
  • Shouldice Lands Public Meeting
- Markham COVID-19 Report
- YR COVID-19 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.

Well done York Region! As of this week, more than 70% of eligible York Region adults have now received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccine. As a result residents 80+ now have the option to re-book their second dose appointment to an earlier date - details here. Previously booked second-dose appointments will be honoured and will not be cancelled unless a new and earlier appointment is confirmed.
Vaccines continue to be administered by appointment only and the most current information can be found at york.ca/covid19vaccine. COVID-19 eligibility continues for anyone age 12+ living, working or going to school in York Region - details. There also now some second dose eligibility for those that received AstraZeneca vaccine. Appointment availability continues to be limited by vaccine supply which is the responsibility of the Federal government.

There are a variety of clinics where you can go so please review the "who can book" details to ensure you are selecting the most appropriate - details here. Should you need help booking an appointment, please call the number listed under the clinic location.

For questions about eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine, call Access York at 1.877.464.9675. For questions about whether the vaccine is right for you, speak with your family doctor or primary care provider.
  • York Region is hosting youth friendly COVID-19 vaccine clinics that offer a family friendly environment so you can get vaccinated together as a family.

  • If you are looking to book an appointment check york.ca/covid19vaccine often as new appointments can appear on short notice and sometimes even on the same day.

  • You can see currently available vaccines in real time at vaccine-gta.ca to assist in booking an appointment.

  • Vaccine Hunters have also been very active in tracking down vaccine availability on short notice.

  • As a reminder, please cancel your clinic appointment if you were able to get vaccinated elsewhere.

  • Prepare for your COVID-19 vaccine appointment by wearing a loose-fitting shirt and bringing proof of age and residence. Learn how to prepare and what to expect at york.ca/covid19vaccinebeforeyougo
  • No stress for seniors as PinkCars.ca is already reaching out to all those that they have previously booked and they are offering to re-book their 2nd appointment earlier. PinkCars is available to help any seniors that are struggling to get appointments or may have a language barrier. They also offer free rides to and from the vaccination centres should you need one. They have already helped well over 3,000 Canadians get vaccinated. More information is available on their website, by calling 905.479.8880 or emailing info@pinkcars.ca.

We will soon be done with the Provincial the current Stay-at-Home Order and there will be a loosening of the current restrictions.
The new framework will be a three-step Roadmap to Reopen that will guide a gradual reopening and the safe lifting of public health measures. The Province will remain in each step for at least 21 days and move forward only if vaccination rates meet targets and key public health indicators improve. Public health and workplace safety measures will continue to apply, including maintaining physical distance, capacity limits and wearing face coverings in indoor spaces and whenever physical distancing is a challenge. The Province expects to enter Step One of the Roadmap the week of June 14
Stay home, stay safe. Limit interactions with those outside your household. More information about current public health guidelines, restrictions and closures can be found online at markham.ca/covid19 and york.ca/covid19.

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

With the Stay-at-Home order ending on June 2 plans are being made for a rally next weekend to keep the future subway extension under Yonge Street not under peoples homes.

Your presence is needed to help achieve the goal to stop the Metrolinx plan from diverting the Yonge North Subway Extension from Yonge Street to go under homes in the Royal Orchard neighbourhood in Thornhill.

  • Date - Saturday June 5 (rain date on Sunday June 6) 
  • Time - 1pm to 3pm
  • Location - Along the east side and west side of Yonge Street from Royal Orchard to Baythorn Drive

The objective of the rally is to get the message out to the greater community and to the media. The more people that can attend, the better. The community is stronger if everyone works together.

More information about the rally can be found here. If you are planning on attending the rally, please indicated your intention here.

Would you want a subway underneath your home?

There is more detail about the Yonge Street Subway Extension project along with more information about the Rally on Ward 1 Councillor Keith Irish's site markhamward1.ca - learn more and get involved.

To further support the City’s Active Transportation Master Plan, the City is closing and/or restricting traffic on two street segments this year - creating cycling and pedestrian friendly routes designed to help keep people active in exploring different parts of Markham. This year’s two segments include:
When - Daily until late September 

Where - the length of Main Street Unionville from Carlton Road to Fred Varley Drive 
When - Sunday and Canada Day, Civic Holiday and Labour Day

Where - on Middlefield Road from Highglen Avenue to Denison Street 

Again this summer, the City will be offering programs to help keep you active and engaged while staying safe - learn more.
  • outdoor and virtual fitness classes 
  • outdoor swimming lessons 
  • pop-Up park program for kids 
  • outdoor and virtual recreation programs 
  • virtual art camps - details
  • virtual theatre camps - details
  • virtual library programs and camps - details

On June 1, York Region and the United Way of Greater Toronto will be conducting the 2021 icountYR survey to better understand the experiences of people experiencing homelessness to help prevent, reduce and end homelessness in York Region. Learn more at york.ca/icount.
Great news!
Most of Markham's splash pads are now open. It is a great way to beat the heat and enjoy Markham's parks and public spaces. Have you been to one outside your local neighbourhood yet? See all the locations here.
Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar dispar - LDD) caterpillars are starting to hatch. Keep an eye out around your property for this invasive pest.

Help protect your trees by wrapping them with burlap (video) or contacting a licensed tree care company - learn more.

The Unionville Residents Association has recently published their latest newsletter - read here. This edition includes details on the upcoming Unionville Main Street Market, the redevelopment application for the Hilton Hotel at Highway 7 and Warden, managing growth to 2051, the McCowan Road environmental assessment and more.

Their next members and subscribers meeting (the last one until the fall) will be held on Monday June 7 at 7pm on Zoom. Their guest speaker will be Margaret Wouters, Senior Manager from the City's Planning and Urban Design Department. The meeting will focus on land use planning including the planned use of white belt - further detail.

Session 3 of the community information meeting for the Markham Road - Mount Joy Secondary Plan Study will take place on June 3rd at 6:30pm.

This interactive virtual session will introduce the Interim Report and present the draft demonstration plan for the secondary plan area, and include multiple opportunities to provide feedback.

Links to join the meeting via Zoom or view the YouTube livestream will be posted one hour before the meeting starts on the project webpage.
Your household garbage should be put out by the curb in front of your house on garbage collection days. It shouldn't be disposed of in park trash receptacles.
If you wish to cut down any trees in Markham with a trunk diameter of 20 cm (7.8 in) or more, please remember to apply for a permit - details
It's Road Construction Season! 🚧

It must be almost summer as road construction season is about to start.

York Region will begin road work in the following locations in early June. The microsurfacing work is being done to extend the life of the road surface.
Kennedy Road from Stouffville Road to Major Mackenzie Drive - details.
Woodbine Avenue from Highway 7 to 16th Avenue - details.
Another section of Woodbine - details.
More extensive road work is being done with year on along 16th Avenue which will include microsurfacing, repaving a section and intersection improvements at 16th Avenue and Kennedy Road. Construction is expected to be completed by Fall and the road will remain open during the work - details.
There will be a temporary road closure on Major Mackenzie Drive at the railway tracks located 500 metres east of Markham Road from Friday June 18 at 9 pm to Sunday June 20 at 5am - details.

Metrolinx will be making improvements to the railway crossing and York Region will be paving the road near the crossing. There will be a detour plan in place while the work is being done.
Other items

As part of Markham’s Flood Control Program, City Staff will be hosting a public meeting to present the findings of the Markham Village and Unionville Flood Control Study on June 24 at 7pm. Further detail about the meeting can be found here.

Through the study, drainage systems built prior to 1980 in Markham Village and Unionville were reviewed to assess the existing risks and causes of basement flooding. Options were reviewed in each area to determine the best method of reducing flood risk, and future work has been prioritized based on the existing risk and construction logistics, with a proposed plan for designing and constructing the upgrades spanning 2022 – 2032.
 
In addition to the long term plan, the City also has a plumbing rebate program that allows homeowners to install backflow preventers and complete other improvements to the private portion of the drainage system that will provide an immediate reduction to the flood risk associated with a property. 
 
Learn more about the project and provide your feedback here.
The City of Markham continues to explore the potential directions and ideas for Markham Centre as part of the Secondary Plan Update.

Join the online meeting on June 10 or complete our survey to provide your input.

For more information visit yourvoicemarkham.ca/YourMarkhamCentre
The Markham Public Library continues to provide programs to the community while their physical locations remain closed.
  • MPL is now offering a virtual children's info desk. It's a resource to help with research for homework and school projects, recommendations on children's reading materials and more. MPL staff are available over Zoom to help Sunday to Thursday from 3pm - 5pm - more information. They have also relaunched their kids page with curriculum support, reading lists and more.
  • MPL and Markham Cycles will be hosting the following online events: how to fix a flat, where to ride in Markham and safe cycling 101 - register here.
  • Summer library programs - details here.
  • MPL continues to offer a full calendar of online events, courses and classes - have a look, their grab and go service and curbside pick-up.
The Markham Group of Artists continues to keep busy. At some point soon, we will see these local artists out in the community painting and enjoying the summer weather.

In the meantime, MGA is running Viewpoints, an online art show. Viewpoints are not only about perspectives, but also the times and places in which we experience transition, the moments we pivot and reground in new realities or remember what we’ve left behind. See how MGA artists have captured these shifts over the past year in their online Viewpoints show which will run until June 30.
Main Street Unionville Market is launching on Sunday June 6.

The first 100 people to visit on Sunday will receive a FREE Unionville tote.
St. John's Ambulance and Wounded Warriors Canada were both recipients of decommissioned ambulances as a part of Paramedic Services Week - details.

York Region removes ambulances from active service when they reach an established lifecycle of five years or approximately 250,000 kilometers.
Want to save money on your water bill? Conserve water by using a rain barrel. 🌧️

Order online by June 1 and save rainbarrel.ca/markham. Curbside pickup available June 5.

Proceeds will benefit The Frontline Fund in support of our healthcare heroes.
Homeowners can learn how to improve your home’s comfort and save money too by joining the free virtual Home Efficiency Retrofit Orientation workshop on June 3 at 6:30pm. This session is in partnership with the City, Humber College and Enbridge Gas. Learn more and register here.
This week York Region Council received the 2020 Progress Report on the 2019 to 2023 Strategic Plan.

In 2020, 74% of the plan's performance measures trended in the right direction - details.
Coyotes can become distressed when protecting their young. It shouldn't need to be said but DO NOT approach a coyote den to take pictures or see pups.

Negative interactions between humans and wildlife can lead to unnecessary relocation or destruction of animals.

For tips on co-existing with wildlife visit markham.ca/wildlife.
There will be a Statutory Public Meeting on June 15 at 7:00pm regarding redevelopment of Thornhill’s Shouldice Hospital land on Bayview Avenue north of John Street. Details of the meeting can be found here including how to speak at the meeting.
as of May 28, 2021 at 11am - click title or on chart for full report
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 COVID-19 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

  • May 31 - General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
  • June 1 - Development Services Public Meeting - 7pm - details
  • June 2 - Housing York - 9am - details
  • June 3 - Markham Road - Mount Joy Secondary Plan - 6:30pm - details
  • June 7 - Development Services Meeting - 9:30am - details
  • June 8 - Council Meeting - 1pm - details
  • June 9 - YR Audit Committee - details
  • June 10 - YR Committee of the Whole Meeting - 9am - details
  • June 10 - Markham Centre Meeting - 7pm - details
  • June 14 - General Committee Meeting - 9:30am - details
  • June 15 - Development Services Public Meeting - 7pm - details
  • June 17 - Regional Council Special Meeting - 9am - details
  • June 21 - Development Services Meeting - 9:30am - details
  • June 23 - YR Accessibility Committee - 4pm - details
  • June 24 - Regional Council Meeting - 9am - details
  • June 28 - Development Services Public Meeting - 7pm - details
  • June 29 - 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.
Community Meetings and Events


  • Markham Road - Mount Joy Secondary Plan - June 3 at 6:30pm - details
  • Keep Subway on Yonge Rally - June 5 - 1pm to 3pm - details
  • Unionville Main Street Market - June 6 - 9am - 2pm - details
  • Unionville Residents Association meeting - June 7 at 7pm - details
  • Markham Centre Meeting - June 10 at 7pm - details
  • Markham Village Music Festival - June 18-19 - details
  • Vintages at the Varley - June 23 at 7:30pm - details
  • MBT After 4 Networking on Zoom - June 24 at 4pm - details
  • Markham Flood Control Meeting - June 24 at 7pm - details
  • Canada Day 2021 🍁- 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!