March 8 2020
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
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Helping Our Vital Community Partners
Among the many work related events that Council members are pleased to attend include some of the many community fundraising events.
It was enjoyable experience both attending and contributing to the
Yellow Brick House gala last Friday evening. YBH has two residences in York Region where abused women and their children are cared for until they can get back on their feet.
Similar events are held each year for Evergreen Hospice, 360 Kids, Union Villa, Markhaven, Care First, Mon Sheong, Yee Hong and many others. And of course there are the many charitable golf tournaments held each year. Interested in getting involved? Contact me!
I was also pleased to attend with MPP Billy Pang and Councillor Reid McAlpine, the Lions Club YMCA Line Dancing extravaganza this weekend. What an incredible group of participants. Thanks to Markham YMCA's Beth Morgan for the invitation. Well done line dancers!
Don't forget that on March 14th we celebrate Pi day ... no not that kind of pie, this kind of Pi. It's a big day for mathematics teachers!
Have a sunshine filled week!
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In this issue
- YorkSafe Inspections
- Tree Maintenance Program
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Update
- Musical Instrument Library
- March Break Camps
- Markham Proud
- MPL Survey
- Work Here
- Did You Spring Forward
- National Pi Day
- Transit - Same System
- Backyard Tree Planting
- Pause to PLAY Challenge
- Markham Arts Council Update
- 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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Click here
to read the previous edition of
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.
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The listing of YorkSafe health inspections has been updated to reflect recent findings.
Click here to see if there are any Markham establishments on the list.
You can review all locations in York Region
here.
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A city-wide initiative to prune trees along selected City streets
The City of Markham is responsible for the planting, care, pruning and removal of all City owned trees. City owned trees are pruned through an ongoing tree maintenance program. Trees that have been deemed as a “hazard,” are pruned or removed immediately. In 2020, the City is launching a tree maintenance program which will result in all street trees across all 8 Wards being pruned on a cyclical basis, every 7 to 10 years.
All trees located on City streets will be pruned. Wondering if your street will be done soon?
Check here
.
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The risk to York Region residents continues to remain low and there is no evidence of community spread within York Region. Latest update on COVID-19 from York Region Public Health is available
here.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Visit
york.ca/covid19
or
Ontario.ca/coronavirus
for more information. You may also contact Telehealth Ontario at 1.866.797.0000 for medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Break the chain of transmission not only for COVID-19 but also from the common cold and the flu:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Sneeze and cough into your sleeve
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Stay home if you are sick
- Increase cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces like toilets, sink tap handles, doorknobs, counter tops and the like using regular household cleaners
- Avoid sharing toothbrushes, eating utensils drinks/water bottles and towels
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Further detail
can be found at the
Ministry of Health which is
translated into 19 different languages.
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The Musical Lending Library
will be opening in April at the Markham Village Library.
A collection of instruments will be available to be borrowed for free with a Markham Public Library Card. I
nstruments will include guitars including full size and ¾ and ½ size suitable for children, ukuleles, keyboards, xylophones, electric guitars and amps, violins and tabletop drum sets. Great way to drive your parents crazy!
More details about the program can be found
here
.
What instrument would you like to try?
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Looking to keep your kids busy durin
g March Break?
The City has March Break camps running from March 16 - 20. There will be fun, educational, creative and active camps for all ages and abilities. If you need a little extra time there is also before and after care available at most locations. More information is available
here.
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Markham Proud
The City's goal was to raise $90,000 for the United Way of Greater Toronto. The City ended up with a grand total of $110,000 collected, which is a new record for the City.
A special shout out goes to City staff members Sherry and Cassandra. They have collaborated to fund raise for the United Way since 2017 and last year hosted 20 United Way events.
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The
Markham Public Library is developing a new strategic plan that will determine the priorities they focus on over the next three years and beyond. They want to know was what is important to you.
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Come and join the City of Markham's award winning team in the Sustainability and Asset Management Department.
They are currently hiring:
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I am sure that by now everyone is well aware that
Day Light Saving
time began this weekend.
While we might think that it is just a simple change of the clock and loss of an hour on your weekend, studies have shown that there are real health impacts of the change. Read more
here
.
Along with the clock change, please use this as a reminder to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. Also, it is important to note that batteries are hazardous waste and need to be taken to a recycling depot for proper disposal.
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3.14159265359…. As a retired math teacher, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge
National Pi Day which is celebrated on March 14 (yes, that’s 3-14). It is a day that celebrates not only the special number but also the birthday of the great scientist and mathematician
Albert Einstein
.
More information can be found
here including this reminder that Pi
π
is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. The diameter of a circle is the distance from edge to edge (measured through the centre) and the circumference is the distance around the circle. After measuring objects for thousands of years, it has always been determined that a circle is a little more than 3 times its width around (3.14...) and because Pi
π is a constant number, it will always be the same for any circle. Learn more about this important irrational number in the
video below.
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It's true! Did you know that? Or is this news to you?
Conventional YRT routes serve local communities with more frequent, curbside stops. VIVA is designed to provide frequent service along York Region's major corridors. These services along with Express and Mobility On-Request work together to provide transit service in York Region. Learn more
here.
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Add more green to your property!
Endorsed by Markham's Trees for Tomorrow initiative, the
Backyard Tree Planting
program provides trees to Markham residents at a discounted price through the Full Service or Do-It-Yourself programs.
Markham residents now pay only $50 plus HST for evergreen trees and $100 plus HST for deciduous trees, from a select species list, for up to a total of 5 trees per property (space permitting). Be sure to plant an appropriate specie of tree in an appropriate spot on your property.
Learn more at
here
or call 1.888.453.6504.
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Spring is coming which means it’s time to
pause to PLAY
! The annual spring
pause to PLAY
Challenge is being held from Monday April 20 to Friday April 24 in York Region schools and it encourages students to put their TVs, gaming devices, smartphones, tablets and computers on “pause” for one full week and become more physically active through play. Parents can also join in with their kids at home.
Teachers and instructors can register their classrooms for the
pause to PLAY
Challenge with the chance to win prizes. More information including available resources and how to register can be found
here
. This year’s theme is ‘exploring the outdoors’.
Support your kids and pause to PLAY at home - challenge the whole family! Check out these tips on reducing screen time:
- Place limits on screen time - Tips to Reduce Screen Time
- Avoid using screen-time as reward or punishment
- Be a role model by following these tips yourself
- Create screen-free bedrooms
- Turn screens off during meals
- Offer fun alternatives to screen time - Tips for Active Play
- Know how often you should be moving
- Improve your physical literacy - details
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There are a number of upcoming events this spring sponsored by the Markham Arts Council including:
Showcasing Identity: "Soul" or "Theme" Collages
A seniors' art workshop to celebrate International Women's Day and to encourage creativity and interest in the arts on March 10th. Whether you are looking to be, inspired, empowered motivated or enlightened their "Soul" collage workshop will be exactly what you need to kick start your passion project.
Enjoy this addictive, easy-to-do, multi-leveled creative process to start your own collection of personal "soul" or "theme" collage cards. Refreshments and all materials are provided.
What:
"Soul" or "Theme" Collages - Pure Collage
Where:
Stiver Mill Cultural Centre, 9 Station Lane, Unionville
When:
Tuesday March 10 from 11am - 1pm
Reserve your seat:
Call Markham Arts Council 905.947.9054 or
email
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24 Hour Film Contest Screening Night
with
Markham Teen Arts Council
- Watch
the finalists’ films, hear from the panel of judges, vote for the People’s Choice Award, and reveal the winners of this year’s
competition
! The Screening Night will be an unforgettable evening of prizes and giveaways, food, drinks, and performances, so don’t miss out! Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.
Where:
FLATO Markham Theatre
When:
Monday March 16 from 6pm - 10pm
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- Menteur - Tuesday March 31 - 1:30pm - French with English Subtitles
Simon is a compulsive liar. His family and colleagues organize an intervention but it turns into a confrontation and Simon denies everything. The next day, he wakes up in a reality where all his lies are proven facts.
- Woman at War - Tuesday March 31 - 7pm - Icelandic with English Subtitles
Forty-something Halla declares war on the local aluminum industry to prevent it from disfiguring her country. She risks all she has to protect the highlands of Iceland, but the situation changes with the unexpected arrival of a small orphan in her life.
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At the
Yellow Brick House Fundraiser last Friday night with members of York Region Council
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Line Dancing Fundraiser with MPP Billy Pang and Ward 3 Councillor Reid McAlpine
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A calendar of York Region meetings and other information is available
here
.
More information about the items highlighted in the Council Highlights can be found
here.
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Community Meetings and Events
All City of Markham meetings are listed on the City's website at
Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings
. Unless noted differently on the link above, meetings are held at the Markham Civic Centre and are open to the public. If you aren't able to attend in person, meetings are live streamed.
The calendar of York Region meetings is available
here.
You can listen to meetings on line. The details from past meetings are available online.
- Upcoming Markham Public Library Events - here
- Upcoming Varley Gallery Events - here
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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