September 2 2019
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange
|
|
|
Back to School Edition
The CNE is over for another year, the weather has turned cooler and the "back to school" ads have been in the newspapers and displayed in the stores for over a month now. So that means that summer is just about over.
We are still awaiting a full report on the financial fallout from the Provincial Government's
Bill 108 and also what will happen with the Provincial report on
Regional governance.
People continue to use their hand held cellphones, text, put on makeup, drink coffee and otherwise "drive distracted" so caution your kids to be aware when crossing the street.
Walk for Andrea serves as a somber reminder of how devastating a simple allergy can be. Care to join in the walk?
Applefest is always a great time at Markham Museum and coming soon will be the annual
Markham Fair with this year's theme - Celebrate 175 Years.
There's always lots to do in Markham!
Click here
to read the last edition of
The Deputy Mayor's Exchange.
|
|
In this issue
- Reminder from YRP
- Doors Open Markham
- Markham at the Movies
- YRT Schedule Changes
- GO Transit Schedule Changes
- URA September Update
- YorkSafe
- Markham Sports Day
- Walk for Andrea
- MAC Upcoming Events
- Markham Public Library
- Markham Little Theatre Dinner
- Back to School Tips
- Applefest
- West Nile Virus Update
- Foster Families Wanted
- Markham Board of Trade Events
- Q & A - Building Permits
|
Please forward this update to anyone that may find it of interest.
Make sure you are on the list for future updates.
|
Looking for more information?
Any of the blue text, blue buttons and most of the graphics have links to further detail.
|
|
|
This week, thousands of students will return to school. Please do your part to ensure they make it to and from school safely.
Whether you're driving, cycling or walking in school zones, be alert and follow the rules of the road. YRP will be out on the roads too.
#OperationABC
|
|
Get ready to explore some of the unique locations in Markham on Saturday September 7.
Doors Open Markham
is a free day long community wide celebration that provides you with access to locations that aren't always open to the public. Some of the sites include art galleries, historic homes, community centres, temples, churches, a fire station and even rides on a carousel.
Find out more about Doors Open Markham
here
.
|
|
|
Congratulations to MATM as they start their
10th season
this year. I am proud to be a sponsor of this community based group whose focus is on bringing award-winning Canadian and international films to our own doorstep. MATM was recently awarded the
Flato Markham Theatre
Award for Community Group of the Year.
The first 3 films (click titles below to preview the trailer) of the new season have been
announced
along with the dates for the remainder of the season:
- September 24 - 2 shows - 1:30pm and 7pm - Wild Rose
- October 22 - 1:30pm - Papo Chulo
- October 22 - 7pm - Le Grand Bain (Sink or Swim)
- November 26 – 7pm - movie picked by audience from 3 earlier dates
- January 28 – 7pm
- February 25 – 7pm
- March 31 – 1:30pm and 7pm
If you haven't been to MATM, why not try it out? It is a chance to see movies that you might not otherwise see, at location close to home and at an affordable price. For more information, check out their
website
.
|
|
There will be some
schedule and route changes on YRT starting Septmber 1. Some of the changes are in Markham and include routes to local high schools. Find out more information
here.
|
|
There are several events in our community that UVA would like to take the opportunity to hightlight:
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Join in the fun for Markham’s signature sporting event that builds community, celebrates the power of sport, and strengthens our national spirit while facilitating healthy and active living.
Markham Sports Day takes place at Markham Pan Am Centre (16 Main Street, Unionville) on September 15 from 11am to 3pm. Admission is free and there are lots of free try-it sports for everyone!
|
|
Let's cure food allergies together:
- there is at least one child with a food allergy in every classroom
- contact with the allergen (usually by ingestion) could lead to breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness or even death
- the only way to prevent possible loss of life is a lifesaving injection of epinephrine with an Epi-Pen and a trip to the ER
- currently there is no cure
This is the 4th annual walk in remembrance of Andrea Mariano, and others like her, who have lost their lives due to Anaphylaxis.
Andrea was an 18 year Thornhill teenager who died in September 2015 during her first week at Queen’s University. She died within hours of consuming a drink that contained either dairy or peanut products, both of which she was severely allergic to.
Date:
Sunday September 22 - 10am
Place:
Milne Park - 8251 McCowan Road
All funds raised go to the SickKids Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis program. For more information,
click here
.
|
|
September is a busy month and the Markham Arts Council is no exception. They have a number of activities and events that you may want to consider. For additional information on these events and about MAC in general, you can check out their
website or contact the office at 905-947-9054.
- Photo contest - To celebrate 15th Anniversary of Markham Art Council, we will be hosting a photo contest themed "Fabulous Markham". Award details to be announced at a later date. They cordially invite you, your family, and friends to show us fabulous Markham. The submission deadline is September 20th
- Community Art Wall - MAC would like to call on all visual artists to donate a piece of artwork for display at the Aaniin Community Centre for a designated time (3-6 months). We are looking for pieces that will engage the community to think about what art is really about. Your artwork will be displayed with your name in public space. Help fill up this wall!
- Art for Seniors - Visual Art Workshops - MAC is hosting free visual art workshops for seniors at the Stiver Mill Community Centre on Tuesday, September 17th 11 am - 1 pm and more coming soon. For more information, please contact the MAC office.
- Walk with Art - Walk With Art is an initiative of the Markham Arts Council acquainting participants with their local artists and the story behind local art on display, heritage sites and local businesses. The next walk is set for Saturday September 21st For more information, please contact MAC office.
|
|
Back to school means back to routines and homework. There's lots going on at the MPL. Here's just a sampling:
- OverDrive - just recently announced, you can now have access to the collections not only at MPL but also at the Richmond Hill and Vaughan libraries too. Find out more here
- Borrow a bike with your library card - MPL has partnered with Markham Cycles to promote the benefits of biking.
- Have your say - MPL wants to hear your experiences and ideas to help plan and prioritize library services.
- Work at MPL - there are currently a few employment opportunities available at MPL. Details are available here
- Programs - Registration for fall programs is underway. There are programs available for all ages. Learn a new skill, discover a new passion and make informed choices. Whatever your interest, explore it at the library!
- Events - a listing of fall events at the libraries is available here including the popular Repair Cafe. Most of the events are free and just require you to register.
- The Lendery - It is like a library where you sign out things rather than books – things you need at the moment but don’t need to own.
|
|
On Thursday September 5 at 6pm, the Markham Little Theatre together with the Friends of
Markham Museum
invite you to a lively summer evening of entertainment at Markham Little Theatre’s Backstage Theatre located at Markham Museum. Enjoy a delightful dinner with wine followed by a live performance of
Hilda’s Yard
, a hilarious comedy by Norm Foster. Learn more -
here
Admission is $125 per person which includes dinner, wine and show. Please call the Box Office 905-305-7469 for more information.
|
|
Back to School Tips
York Region offers these tips to make the transition to school easier for parents and students
As we complete the last long weekend of summer, parents everywhere are likely rejoicing as students head back to school this week.
Along with packing pencils, notebooks and the hottest locker and dorm room accessories, these simple reminders are designed to make the transition back to school a snap!
- Pack a healthy lunch: Focus on packing a balanced lunch and follow the recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide to help make healthier lunch choices. Getting your kids involved in making lunches is one way to make them more excited to eat lunch. Get them to help choose foods from three or four food groups for lunch and one or two food groups for snacks. Brighten up lunch bags by packing at least one colourful vegetable or fruit with each meal and snack. For more tips on packing a healthy lunch, visit york.ca/nutrition
- Make clean up a breeze: Don’t want to have to empty your child’s garbage from their lunch box at the end of the day? Pack a litter-less lunch. Use reusable sandwich and snack containers for packing food and avoid the use of foil, plastic wrap and baggies. By not using single-use, disposable items you can reduce the amount of waste being generated and resources wasted. To find out more about how to reduce your waste at school and at home, visit york.ca/waste
- Travel with ease: Let York Region Transit (YRT) make your child’s commute to and from school simple. Visit yrt.ca for schedules, maps and to plan your trips. Download the official YRT app to get real-time service updates and the YRT pay app for mobile payment options.
- Know your walking route and plan ahead: The ring of the school bell means lots of excited kids (and parents) out on sidewalks and bike paths. Don’t wait for the first day to figure out where your child needs to go and how you are going to get there. Take some time to walk your child’s school route and familiarize yourself with the flow of traffic, intersections and crosswalks. Pedestrians and motorists both play a role in ensuring that everyone arrives safely. For more tips on how to stay safe on our roadways, visit york.ca/trafficsafety
- Establish a routine: Research tells us that children learn best when learning activities are embedded into their regular routines because they are repetitive, predictable and give children many opportunities to practice. Establishing a consistent routine at home and in the classroom is important for students. York Region’s Early Intervention Services programs focus on routines when working with children with special needs and their parents and caregivers. These programs, including a transition to school program, support parents and caregivers in enabling children with special needs to learn new skills that promote their development, participation, independence and social relationships. If you’re worried about your child’s development, York Region can help. Learn more at york.ca/specialneeds
- Pack a responsible frosh kit: College and university students can prepare for the new school year by ensuring their frosh kits include condoms. The most effective way to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections is to practice safe sex with consistent and correct use of condoms. York Region provides free condoms at residents of all ages and sexual orientation. Clinic services are available by appointment; a health card is not required. Visit york.ca/sexualhealth to learn more.
- Be prepared: 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. For more information, check out York Region’s Emergency Preparedness guide at york.ca/emergencies
|
|
Have you been to Applefest at the Markham Museum? This year's event will celebrate Markham's 225th Anniversary
Date:
Saturday, September 28 from 1oam to 4pm
Join the tastiest event of the year and Markham’s 225th anniversary celebration! Applefest offers access to several exhibitions, rides and games, live entertainment and family-fun activities for all to enjoy. Check out the Cider Mill, which is only open at Applefest – producing fresh apple cider for you to sample and purchase.
Enjoy a variety of tasty apple treats, food trucks, an assortment of interactive activities and much more!
Looking for a fun family activity? September means apple season and there are plenty of spots to pick your own apples across not too far from home. Learn more
here
|
|
York Region Health monitors West Nile virus activity by setting traps. There have been mosquitos trapped that have tested positive. West Nile Virus when passed to humans through a mosquito bite can cause serious illness. While the chance of being bitten by an infected insect is low, precautions still should be taken when outside especially in the early mornings and evenings.
To protect yourself and family from WNV, follow these simple steps:
Get rid of mosquito-friendly areas at home
- Clean up stagnant water found in bird baths, flower pots, swimming pool covers and clogged eavestroughs
- Ensure the window screens on your home are tight-fitting and in good repair
Cover up while outside
- Use insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin
- Wear protective clothing, including socks, long-sleeved shirts and jackets
- Dress with lighter colours as mosquitoes are attracted to darker colours
- Minimize outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
|
|
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is looking for foster families to provide loving homes for animals that need a little extra care until they're ready for adoption. They'll supply everything you need; you supply the love!
The foster program pairs caring families in our community with dogs and cats in need of temporary housing and care until they are ready for their forever homes. Fostering goes beyond providing love for an animal. Fostering benefits your community, your local animal centre, your family, and you! Learn
more
|
|
MBT is a non-profit organization which has been established to promote community, commercial and industrial growth, and to advocate on behalf of businesses with all levels of government. MBT has worked with the Markham business community for over 35 years to enhance the success of their members to help growth their businesses and expand their networks. They are hosting a number of upcoming events including:
|
|
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
|
|
If you have a question that you would like answered, please send me an email with your question.
|
|
Question: I'm going to start a renovation soon. Can you please let me know what permits or applications I need to make.
|
Answer: While many building projects do in fact require a building permit, some do not. It is best to check out the
City's website to determine whether a permit is required for the work that you are considering. If a permit is required, you can take the next steps on the site too. Even if a permit isn't required, there is other information and helpful tips provided. Details are available
here. Should you need help navigating the permit process, reach out to your
Ward Councillor or their EA for some assistance as s/he will be happy to help.
|
|
Working together to make Markham better!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
