September 15 2019
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
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An Apple a Day ...keeps the doctor away! At least that's what my mother used to say! If you like all things apple (the edible not the electronics kind), visit the Markham Museum for
Applefest on September 28th to celebrate Markham's 225th anniversary. It features all kinds of things apple including apple cider and apple fritters (made by our
City Historian Lorne Smith). There will be lots to see, do and eat!
I received an email from a resident who was scammed into repairing her driveway. The money was given but not all of the work was done. Please watch out for these con artists as they are professionals at relieving you of your money.
Markham Cycling Day is coming on Sunday September 22nd at the Civic Centre. This is a great day for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
We had a great turnout for the
Terry Fox run/walk/ride earlier today. Congrats to Lilly Ing and Ryan Armitage who have taken over the organization of the Markham / Unionville run location from Marissa Hill. These local residents and their team of volunteers deserve a huge round of applause for their community involvement. I understand the event in Thornhill was equally successful.
Join me at
Andrea's Walk at Milne Park on September 22nd at 10am as we raise funds for research for a cure to food allergies. This is a great cause and is deserving of our support. Rain or shine, I will be there.
The City's Budget Committee will be starting its annual deliberations soon. As always, it is my goal to maintain taxes at or below the rate of inflation.
Click here
to read the last edition of
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.
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In this issue
- Markham Cycling Day
- YorkSafe
- York Region Arts
- Be a Part of the Conversation
- Updates for YREA
- Event Launch
- Rebate Update
- Rouge National Park
- Congratulations to MATM!
- Be Aware
- Yellow Fish Road
- Rabies in York Region
- Emergency Preparedness
- C-INFO York Region
- Seeking DMC Directors
- Community Meetings and Events
- Q & A - Municipal Government
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Please forward this update to anyone that may find it of interest.
Make sure you are on the list for future updates.
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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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Join the fun at York Region’s largest public cycling event -
Ready. Set. Cycle!
Date:
Sunday September 22
Time:
8am to 3pm
Location:
Markham Civic Centre
Hit the road for a 10km, 15km, 30km or 60km ride on the Tour de Markham – right here in Canada’s most diverse city.
Have a young cyclist in the family? Sign up for children’s bike races (ages 3 to 10).
Markham Cycling Day offers a safe, fun and educational experience that encourages people of all ages and skill levels to get out and get active, while enhancing their passion for cycling.
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Find the current listing provided by YorkSafe health inspections
here. Again there are some Markham establishments on the list.
You can review all locations in York Region
here.
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Between back to school and the start of pumpkin spice latte season, it's no wonder that September is a month to remember and that is no different at
YRAC
. They have some programs that you might be want to check out.
- Applications are currently open until September 22nd for our Youth Committee
- Artists in Residence program and events
- Artrepreneur - a business accelerator program designed for creatives who want to start or grow an arts-related business
Check their
website
for more information about YRAC and upcoming programs.
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Just a quick reminder about the Building Markham's Future Together Open House at the Markham Civic Centre on September 23. More information is available
here
.
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This update is provided directly from the York Region Environmental Alliance
A good year for bees and butterflies -
Although
Texas
weather this year is getting credit for the upsurge of Monarch populations, it is heartening to see more local naturalized gardens and roadsides being left unmowed. This, along with the growing number of
bee cities
and
regenerative agriculture
have contributed to the increased number of pollinators spotted this year. Letting up on our compulsive need to dominate nature will further the pollinator cause. Spotting migratory Connecticut Warblers feasting on thistles and ragweed helps us to see first hand how even these much maligned plants serve a purpose.
Organic lawn care that won't cost the Earth -
If your lawn needs sprucing up, fall is a great time to do some overseeding. Check out the downloadable
lawn care workshop
for organic lawn info. There are more then 18,000 lawsuits pending against Monsanto/Bayer due to cancer contracted from the use of Roundup. Some cities are looking to ban
Roundup / glyphosate
but until we can take these chemicals off the shelves of retailers, the unwitting continue to put themselves, their families, pets and the environment at risk. Please go organic.
Time to ban coal tar sealants -
In YREA's
spring 2018 news
attention was drawn to the increase in paving for more parking space and its contribution to the urban heat island (UHI). Exacerbating the UHI and polluting our environment unnecessarily is the retarring of driveways. These toxic sealants contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are known carcinogens. They increase the risk of a wide range of cancers. Scientists estimate that PAHs released to the atmosphere each year from applications of coal tar driveway sealants are similar to or greater than annual PAH emissions from vehicles. Contaminating our waterways, these chemicals adversely affect aquatic life and reduce the number of species able to survive. A US report found coal tar sealants to be responsible for half the hazardous chemicals in 40 lakes - spurring several states to ban their use. What of the clean up costs? What of the human health costs? Isn't it time municipalities in Ontario and Canada looked to similar bans? Learn more about the health hazards and
dangers of coal tar sealants
.
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What is Compassionate Community Markham?
- It is a network of businesses, not-for-profits, community groups and social service agencies all seeking to offer greater support for seniors in our midst
- It is an opportunity to find a meaningful place to volunteer
- It is a place to find support, care and compassion
- It is a movement of compassion, care and neighbourliness
Date:
Saturday October 5
Time:
10:30am - 2pm with presentations starting at 11:30am
Location:
Unionville Presbyterian Church 600 Village Parkway
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Muncipial Election Rebate Update
The City’s Finance Department is currently processing and finalizing the rebate amounts. The initial timeline advised that the cheques wouldn't be mailed until at least the end of August. It is the expectation that the cheques should be in the mail within the next 10 days.
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There's always lots to do in the Rouge National Park and fall is no exception. Here are some of the upcoming events:
As the days are getting shorter, plants are preparing for winter and animals are either getting ready to migrate to their winter homes or finding an ideal wintering spot here. It is an excellent time to get out and explore this new National Park right in our own backyard.
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As a proud sponsor of Markham at the Movies (MATM), I would like to offer my congratulations to their committee as they recently received the 2019
Flato Markham Theatre
Award for Community Group of the Year.
Have you ever attended a MATM film showing? It is one of Markham's best kept secrets. Their new season starts on September 24. Find out more details on the
upcoming films and dates
.
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I recently received an email from a Markham resident who unfortunately got caught up in a driveway repair scam. She wanted me to warn others in the community to be aware about these activities and I thought it appropriate to reference the
York Regional Police resources. The comments below are directly from their fraud prevention resources.
Whether it's internet or mail fraud, deceptive telemarketing or identity theft, fraud is a serious problem. York Regional Police want to prevent you from becoming a victim through education and awareness. Thousands of Canadians lose millions of dollars every year through frauds. Learn how to identify a scam and keep yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.
There are always new and inventive scams criminals come up with to try to steal your money and identification. Educate yourself so you know what to do if you're approached. There are a number of ongoing scams including: Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Scam, Credit and Debit Card Fraud, Home Repair/Service Call Fraud, Financial Fraud, Romance Scams and Emergency Scams. Learn more about these and other scams
here
.
Additionally, make sure to check your credit history by contacting a national credit-reporting agency in Canada (
Equifax
or
TransUnion Canada).
Additional Resources and more information can be found at:
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The City of Markham has partnered with Trout Unlimited Canada once again to present the Yellow Fish Road Program. This free, interactive event is a great way to learn about the importance of source water protection and preventing stormwater pollution as anything and everything that enters the stormwater sewers flows directly into local rivers, streams, and lakes and can be harmful to the environment.
Space is limited.
Registration required
.
Date:
Sunday October 6
Time:
12pm - 3pm
Location:
Centennial Community Centre
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Media Release - September 10 2019 - Newmarket –
The Regional Municipality of York has received confirmation a skunk has tested positive for the rabies virus in the Township of King. This is the second confirmed rabies case in York Region in 2019. A bat tested positive for rabies
earlier this year
. There was no human involvement in both cases.
While the percentage of rabies-infected animals in Ontario is considered low, people should avoid approaching or coming into contact with wildlife and do not keep wild animals as pets in or near your home.
The rabies virus affects the central nervous system of warm-blooded mammals, including humans, and is transmitted through a bite, lick or scratch from an infected animal. While most reported cases involve wild animals such as bats, foxes, raccoons and skunks, dogs and cats are also at risk. Infection with the rabies virus is usually always fatal. A post-exposure vaccine is available for people who come into contact with a rabid animal.
York Region Public Health investigates all animal exposure incidents. If you have been bitten, scratched or had contact with an animal, immediately wash the wound with soap and water for a minimum of 15 minutes, seek medical attention and report the incident to York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653. For more information about rabies control visit
york.ca/rabies
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Information has been provided by York Region
A new school year is the perfect time to refresh your family’s emergency plan. Including your child in developing or refreshing your emergency plan is a great way for them to not only feel involved but to understand what to do in an emergency situation. York Region’s
Emergency Preparedness Guide
is a comprehensive resource that teaches residents about the most likely types of emergencies to occur in York Region. This guide outlines some practical steps you can take to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere.
- Get your Kit Ready - Each family should have an emergency preparedness kit to take care of themselves for a minimum of 72 hours. Many of the items you need should already be available in your home; it’s a matter of gathering and storing them together in an easy-to-access backpack. Not sure what to include in your emergency kit, here is a list of the items you need to get your kit started.
- Stay connected - Get emergency notifications direct to your phone. We encourage you to opt-in to the alerts provided by York Region. Simply download York Region’s app from the Apple Store or Google Play. Then, turn on emergency notifications in the notification centre. Once activated, emergency notifications will alert you to significant issues and events in real-time.
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York Region's
C-INFO
tool is an online resource that utilizes
demographic, social and economic data to provide information on area communities. It has recently been updated with the most current stats.
C-INFO can be used to find information about things like resident income and education levels, the number of homeowners and renters in York Region and the number and types of employers. You can develop custom reports, export data and review easy to use charts. If you need some help getting started, check out this
series of instructional videos
.
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The City of Markham is seeking seasoned professionals and tourism-related business leaders to serve as Directors for the Destination Markham Corporation (DMC). The application deadline is October 1
st
.
More information about this opportunity is available
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.
I'd be pleased to highlight other community meetings in future newsletters. Please forward the details to
dhamilton@markham.ca
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If you have a question that you would like answered, please send me an email with your question.
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Question: Why do we have both a local City and Regional government. Isn't one of them enough?
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Answer: This is a great question and one that Premier Ford and the Ontario provincial government are currently examining. It does seem like there are some redundancies having two levels covering much of the same territory. We will have to wait and see the results of the
regional governance review.
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Working together to make Markham better!
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