Markham Review, September 2021
Vol.10 Issue 9 September 2021 WWW.MARKHAMREVIEW.COM WHAT’S INSIDE Markham prepares for Next Generation 9-1-1 The City of Markham is preparing for the evolution to Next Generation 9-1-1, which will provide callers with new ways to access emergency services from multiple devices and platforms. SEE PAGE 3 Ready, set, vote! Ah yes, it’s that time again when we all do our civic duty and participate in an election supposedly no one wants, but everyone is going to get. SEE PAGE 4 Ontario rolls out vaccine clinic on wheels Anyone not vaccinated should hop on the GO-VAXX bus! The Ontario government is partnering with Metrolinx to offer a new, convenient option for people to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. SEE PAGE 8 The Markham Fair returns, with a few changes, for 2021! One day we will all look back on 2020 as the year the world suddenly stopped. With a little luck, and responsible citizenship, we’ll also see 2021 as the year we got to start it up again. SEE PAGE 5 Hometown hero makes Canada proud Markham’s Gabrielle ” Gabby” Smith and partner Jessica Sevick put on a memorable showing in rowing for Team Canada at the recent 2020 Tokyo Olympic Summer Games. SEE PAGE 11 COMMUNITY HEALTH & SPORTS Markham celebrates hometown hero De Grasse Hometown hero Andre De Grasse is now the most decorated male Olympian in Canadian history after anchoring Team Canada to a thirdplace finish in the men’s 4×100-metre relay at the Tokyo Olympics. McHappy Days are here again! After a one year hiatus, McHappy Day will return with a focus on Drive-Thru, Curbside and Delivery Guests. Local McDonald’s owners are thrilled to be welcoming back the Markham community to McHappy Day on September 22. Exceptional patient experience in orthopaedic care at MSH Kerry Young is grateful for the dedication of MSH’s OJAC and surgery staff for delivering an exceptional patient experience. SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 3 DISCOVER ALL THAT MARKHAM HAS TO OFFER WITH YOUR #MYMARKHAM PASS As you explore, take this Markham Savings Pass with you to enjoy discounts at hotels, restaurants, attractions, retailers, spas, and more. SEE PAGE 10 CHECK-IN TO WIN ONE OF 10 $100 GIFT CARDS! @visitmarkham @visitmarkham visitmarkham.ca/save 210103 DMC_Markham Review_10.25 x 1.25_June.indd 1 2021-06-18 10:35 AM
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Vol.10 Issue 9 <strong>September</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
WWW.MARKHAMREVIEW.COM<br />
WHAT’S INSIDE<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> prepares for<br />
Next Generation 9-1-1<br />
The City of <strong>Markham</strong> is preparing for the evolution<br />
to Next Generation 9-1-1, which will provide<br />
callers with new ways to access emergency<br />
services from multiple devices and platforms.<br />
SEE PAGE 3<br />
Ready, set, vote!<br />
Ah yes, it’s that time again when we all do<br />
our civic duty and participate in an election<br />
supposedly no one wants, but everyone is<br />
going to get.<br />
SEE PAGE 4<br />
Ontario rolls out vaccine clinic on wheels<br />
Anyone not vaccinated should hop on the<br />
GO-VAXX bus! The Ontario government<br />
is partnering with Metrolinx to offer a new,<br />
convenient option for people to receive their<br />
COVID-19 vaccine.<br />
SEE PAGE 8<br />
The <strong>Markham</strong> Fair returns, with a few changes, for <strong>2021</strong>!<br />
One day we will all look back on 2020 as the year the world suddenly stopped. With a little luck, and responsible citizenship,<br />
we’ll also see <strong>2021</strong> as the year we got to start it up again.<br />
SEE PAGE 5<br />
Hometown hero makes Canada proud<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>’s Gabrielle ” Gabby” Smith and<br />
partner Jessica Sevick put on a memorable<br />
showing in rowing for Team Canada at the<br />
recent 2020 Tokyo Olympic Summer Games.<br />
SEE PAGE 11<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
HEALTH & SPORTS<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> celebrates<br />
hometown hero De Grasse<br />
Hometown hero Andre De Grasse is now the<br />
most decorated male Olympian in Canadian<br />
history after anchoring Team Canada to a thirdplace<br />
finish in the men’s 4×100-metre relay at<br />
the Tokyo Olympics.<br />
McHappy Days are here again!<br />
After a one year hiatus, McHappy Day will return<br />
with a focus on Drive-Thru, Curbside and<br />
Delivery Guests. Local McDonald’s owners<br />
are thrilled to be welcoming back the <strong>Markham</strong><br />
community to McHappy Day on <strong>September</strong> 22.<br />
Exceptional patient experience<br />
in orthopaedic care at MSH<br />
Kerry Young is grateful for the dedication of<br />
MSH’s OJAC and surgery staff for delivering<br />
an exceptional patient experience.<br />
SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 3<br />
DISCOVER ALL THAT MARKHAM<br />
HAS TO OFFER WITH YOUR<br />
#MYMARKHAM PASS<br />
As you explore, take this <strong>Markham</strong> Savings Pass with you to enjoy<br />
discounts at hotels, restaurants, attractions, retailers, spas, and more.<br />
SEE PAGE 10<br />
CHECK-IN<br />
TO WIN ONE<br />
OF 10<br />
$100 GIFT<br />
CARDS!<br />
@visitmarkham @visitmarkham<br />
visitmarkham.ca/save<br />
210103 DMC_<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Review</strong>_10.25 x 1.25_June.indd 1 <strong>2021</strong>-06-18 10:35 AM
2 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong> MARKHAMREVIEW.COM<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
Help York Region celebrate golden anniversary<br />
York Region’s first regional council. Photo courtesy of York Region.<br />
The year was 1971. Pierre Elliott<br />
Trudeau was prime minister, bell bottoms<br />
and disco reigned supreme, and Apollo 14<br />
landed on the moon. It was also the year the<br />
Regional Municipality of York was established.<br />
Fast forward five decades and the<br />
Region has launched York Region Turns<br />
50, a retrospective that invites you to enjoy<br />
an online tour of York Region archives,<br />
including a decade-by-decade photograph<br />
collection on Flickr.<br />
“Like many events over the past year,<br />
York Region had to re-think how to celebrate<br />
a remarkable first 50 years,” Chairman<br />
and CEO Wayne Emmerson says. “We<br />
wanted to create a celebration worthy of<br />
our remarkable history – in the safest way<br />
possible. To do this, we are opening our<br />
archives for an online anniversary celebration<br />
highlighting key moments and achievements<br />
over the last 50 years.”<br />
Residents are encouraged to like, share<br />
and comment on #YRturns50 social media<br />
posts, which include then and now photos<br />
and York Region facts. Add to the celebration<br />
by sharing your best memories from the<br />
last five decades on Twitter, Facebook and<br />
Instagram using the hashtag #YRturns50.<br />
Submit your photos for a chance to win a<br />
$50 gift card from a local business. Search<br />
for York Region Turns 50 contest at york.ca<br />
for full contest details.<br />
The Regional Municipality of York<br />
was established following a decade of fast<br />
growth across the province. The system of<br />
local government hadn’t evolved since it<br />
began in 1849 and smaller municipalities<br />
were struggling to keep pace with fiscal and<br />
administrative responsibilities as demand<br />
for sewage and water services, recreational<br />
facilities and social services grew.<br />
In the late 1960s, York County proposed<br />
a regional government to address those challenges<br />
and condensed 14 municipalities into<br />
the nine that make up York Region today.<br />
Since then, York has grown from 169,200<br />
people to more than 1.2 million residents and<br />
54,000 businesses with 650,000 employees.<br />
Its first approved budget was $18.7 million.<br />
This year’s approved budget of $3.3 billion<br />
oversees 15 regional services, including<br />
transportation, environmental, community<br />
and health, corporate, legal and court, and<br />
finance.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> celebrates<br />
hometown hero De Grasse<br />
Hometown hero Andre De Grasse is now<br />
the most decorated male Olympian in Canadian<br />
history after anchoring Team Canada to<br />
a third-place finish in the men’s 4×100-metre<br />
relay at the Tokyo Olympics on August 6.<br />
De Grasse also made Olympic history<br />
two days earlier after winning back-to-back<br />
medals in the men’s 100m and 200m competitions<br />
at two consecutive summer Olympic<br />
Games.<br />
That marked the first time since Amsterdam<br />
1928 that Team Canada won gold in the<br />
200m sprint and since Atlanta 1996 for a gold<br />
medal in sprinting.<br />
To celebrate the historic moment, the<br />
City of <strong>Markham</strong> proclaimed August 4 ‘Andre<br />
De Grasse Day’ and lit the gateway sign<br />
at Steeles Avenue and <strong>Markham</strong> Road in gold.<br />
“On behalf of Members of Council and<br />
the entire community, we send our congratulations<br />
to Andre for these outstanding accomplishments<br />
and thank him for representing<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> and Canada with pride,” Mayor<br />
Frank Scarpitti says.<br />
De Grasse has won a medal in every<br />
Olympic race in which he has competed. He<br />
made history at his Olympics debut at the Rio<br />
2016 Olympic Games by becoming the only<br />
Canadian to win medals in all three sprint<br />
events at a single Games. To celebrate his<br />
accomplishments there, the City of <strong>Markham</strong><br />
dedicated Andre De Grasse Street to the<br />
sprinter in 2018. He’s also featured at the<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Pan Am Centre as part of a series<br />
Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse.<br />
of 12 paintings of top local athletes, created<br />
in collaboration with students at Bill Crothers<br />
Secondary School, <strong>Markham</strong>’s athletic-based<br />
high school.<br />
Once a promising basketball player, he<br />
was convinced by a friend to give track a try<br />
when his high school was unable to field a<br />
basketball team in his senior year. “De Grasse<br />
laced up a pair of borrowed spikes, donned<br />
some baggy basketball shorts and raced to<br />
a second place finish at the York Region<br />
Championships without the benefit of starting<br />
blocks,” his official website says.<br />
Tony Sharpe, himself an Olympic medalist<br />
for Canada at the 1984 Olympics, was in<br />
the stands that day in 2012 and immediately<br />
took De Grasse under his wing. By the next<br />
summer, De Grasse had set a new Canadian<br />
junior record of 10.25 in the 100m.
MARKHAMREVIEW.COM SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong><br />
<strong>Markham</strong> prepares for Next Generation 9-1-1<br />
3 MARKHAM REVIEW<br />
The City of <strong>Markham</strong> is preparing<br />
for the evolution to Next Generation 9-1-1<br />
(NG9-1-1), which will provide callers with<br />
new ways to access emergency services from<br />
multiple devices and platforms, including<br />
text, location, pictures and video.<br />
Under a new shared service agreement,<br />
Barrie Fire & Emergency Services (BFES)<br />
will provide 24/7 emergency call-taking and<br />
dispatch service to <strong>Markham</strong> Fire & Emergency<br />
Services (MFES) by the end of this<br />
year.<br />
“By being proactive, both cities will<br />
benefit from this partnership and be ready to<br />
fully leverage the capabilities of NG9-1-1,”<br />
MFES Chief Adam Grant says. “<strong>Markham</strong> is<br />
working to modernize all aspects of fire protection<br />
service delivery and this is a major<br />
step towards achieving this vision.”<br />
Currently, 9-1-1 dispatchers ask callers<br />
for their location. Though landlines are<br />
tied to a physical address, cellphones don’t<br />
provide that information. A process known<br />
as ‘triangulation of cell towers’ can provide<br />
a caller’s approximate location to the nearest<br />
road intersection but response times could<br />
McHappy Days are here again!<br />
be hindered if cellphone callers don’t know<br />
where they are or are unable to speak or<br />
hear.<br />
In 2017, the Canadian Radio-television<br />
and Telecommunications Commission<br />
(CRTC) directed all telephone and mobile<br />
wireless companies to update their networks<br />
in order to be ready to provide NG9-1-1<br />
services under a new internet-based system.<br />
Essentially, every connected phone will<br />
have an Internet Protocol (IP) address, which<br />
will be cross referenced with a database that<br />
comprises every street address in an area and<br />
the entry location of buildings, allowing the<br />
9-1-1 system to accurately pinpoint the location<br />
of a caller.<br />
Eventually, Canadians will be able to<br />
stream video from an emergency incident,<br />
send photos of accident damage or a fleeing<br />
suspect, and send personal medical information,<br />
including accessibility needs, which<br />
could greatly aid emergency responders,<br />
reports the CRTC.<br />
It regulates the telephone and mobile<br />
wireless companies that carry 9-1-1 calls to<br />
emergency call centres. Call centres and the<br />
emergency responders they dispatch, such<br />
as fire, police and ambulance, fall under the<br />
jurisdiction of municipalities, provinces and<br />
territories.<br />
The agreement between <strong>Markham</strong> and<br />
Barrie will help offset capital and operating<br />
costs associated with maintaining Barrie’s<br />
emergency communications and dispatch<br />
centre while allowing MFES to improve<br />
responsiveness and modernize emergency<br />
services, the City of <strong>Markham</strong> reports.<br />
The BFES Communications Branch will<br />
serve 21 municipalities, including Barrie and<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>, its largest client municipality. In<br />
2020, BFES dispatched more than 21,250<br />
emergency incidents.<br />
Local dignitaries will be out <strong>September</strong> 22 for McHappy Day to help raise needed funds for the<br />
Ronald McDonald Family Room at <strong>Markham</strong> Stouffville Hospital. (Pre-COVID-19 photo supplied).<br />
After a one year hiatus, McHappy Day<br />
will return with a focus on Drive-Thru, Curbside<br />
and Delivery Guests.<br />
Local McDonald’s owners Marcia and<br />
Todd Finlayson are thrilled to be welcoming<br />
back the <strong>Markham</strong> community to McHappy<br />
Day on <strong>September</strong> 22.<br />
“There are many ways the community<br />
can get involved to raise funds for the<br />
Ronald McDonald Family Room at <strong>Markham</strong><br />
Stouffville Hospital,” Marcia explains.<br />
“Guests will be able to purchase new Digital<br />
Hearts, Round -Up their purchase to the next<br />
dollar and purchase promotional items, all<br />
this, in addition to 10 per cent of their purchase<br />
being donated to this great cause.”<br />
Throughout the year, Marcia and Todd<br />
also raise funds by donating 10 cents from<br />
every Happy Meal sold, five cents from every<br />
cookie sold and significant funds from the<br />
‘Fries for Good’ campaign that runs a couple<br />
of times per year. These campaigns add up to<br />
over $50,000 per year.<br />
“In addition to our day to day fundraising,<br />
the McHappy Day campaign itself will<br />
raise $165,000 with $120,000 of this coming<br />
from the work of the Community Fundraising<br />
group operated by wonderful members of the<br />
Stouffville and <strong>Markham</strong> communities,” Todd<br />
says. “We are also thrilled to have corporate<br />
sponsors this year with Markville Ford being<br />
a Platinum sponsor. These corporate relationships<br />
offer a real ‘leg up’ in our fundraising<br />
efforts each year.”<br />
“We hope everyone marks their calendar<br />
for <strong>September</strong> 22 and comes out to support<br />
this wonderful cause,” Marcia urges. “The<br />
need for help has never been greater with<br />
costs to operate these facilities up significantly<br />
and critical fund-raising events almost<br />
non-existent throughout the course of the<br />
pandemic.”<br />
To make a donation, visit www.rmhccanada.ca/fundraisers/4301.<br />
Funds to help keep<br />
vulnerable people safe<br />
The Ontario government is providing<br />
more than $13 million to help York Region<br />
deliver critical services, create longer-term<br />
housing solutions and keep vulnerable<br />
people safe.<br />
“Through the Social Services Relief<br />
Fund (SSRF) our government continues<br />
to help protect the health and safety of<br />
Ontario’s most vulnerable people during<br />
COVID-19,” MPP Billy Pang said. “I’m<br />
pleased that $13,000,800 has been invested<br />
to York Region to further support our communities<br />
by helping to end homelessness,<br />
and to ensure resources are available in case<br />
of potential outbreaks in the future.”<br />
This announcement is part of the province’s<br />
additional $307 million investment to<br />
help municipalities and Indigenous community<br />
partners respond to COVID-19. This<br />
investment builds upon the $765 million<br />
dollars of Social Services Relief Funding<br />
announced in 2020- <strong>2021</strong>, for a total support<br />
to communities of over $1 billion.<br />
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,<br />
our government has been working closely<br />
with local service providers to ensure that<br />
Health Minister Christine Elliott.<br />
the most vulnerable members of our community<br />
are safe and have access to critical<br />
services,” Health Minister Christine Elliott<br />
said. “(This) announcement of $13 million<br />
for the Regional Municipality of York will<br />
further support these efforts and our goal of<br />
building strong, healthy communities.”<br />
Municipalities and Indigenous community<br />
partners can use the funding to protect<br />
homeless shelter staff and residents, add to<br />
rent banks, build affordable housing, and<br />
support plans to prepare for potential future<br />
outbreaks and/or emergencies.
4 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong> MARKHAMREVIEW.COM<br />
Ready, set, vote!<br />
BY DUNCAN FLETCHER<br />
Ah yes, it’s that time again when we all<br />
do our civic duty and participate in an election<br />
supposedly no one wants, but everyone<br />
is going to get.<br />
It also may be hard for the average voter<br />
to get excited about a summer writ drop<br />
while they are still trying to enjoy the hot,<br />
sunny weather and forget that fall is around<br />
the corner.<br />
But there are a bunch of political types<br />
that are eating this up and campaigning<br />
down the streets of your community in support<br />
of their candidates as you read this.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>–Stouffville<br />
Locally in <strong>Markham</strong> Stouffville, Ben<br />
Smith, a long-time resident of the area and<br />
a Public Relations strategist, will carry<br />
the mantle for the Conservatives this time<br />
around. He’ll take on Helena Jaczek, the<br />
well-liked former provincial cabinet minister<br />
and now Liberal MP for the area.<br />
Smith points to his grounding in the<br />
community when he’s asked why local residents<br />
should vote “blue” this election.<br />
“I’m proud to be a product of <strong>Markham</strong>-<br />
Stouffville,” he said. “It’s where I was born<br />
and raised, grown my business and served<br />
my neighbours.<br />
“I believe our community deserves a<br />
leader that will work hard for Canadians<br />
while creating good jobs, unleashing innovation,<br />
investing in mental health and making<br />
it easier to afford a home and start a family.”<br />
Jaczek, the political veteran who served<br />
in provincial cabinets of the Kathleen Wynne<br />
and Dalton McGuinty provincial Liberal<br />
governments, was recruited in 2019 to battle<br />
former Liberal member for the area, physician<br />
Jane Philpott who, after being turfed<br />
from the federal Liberals, ran as an independent.<br />
Jaczek is also a physician, although<br />
not practicing, and has been active in the<br />
administration of health care over her political<br />
career, most recently serving federally as<br />
part of the Standing Committee on Health<br />
during the recent COVID-19 crisis.<br />
Now her attention will be focused on<br />
explaining how her government has served<br />
the people of <strong>Markham</strong>-Stouffville and why<br />
an election is needed.<br />
“I’ve been working hard to serve the<br />
people of <strong>Markham</strong>-Stouffville, as York<br />
Region’s commissioner of public health, as<br />
the Member Provincial Parliament and, since<br />
2019, as the federal Member of Parliament,”<br />
Jaczek said. “I have experienced firsthand<br />
the strengths of this community and the<br />
challenges we face, and it is that experience<br />
and leadership that I bring to the table as<br />
your Liberal candidate.<br />
“The decisions the government makes<br />
right now will define our children’s future.<br />
We believe Canadians deserve a say in shaping<br />
those decisions and that future.”<br />
(continued on page 9)
MARKHAMREVIEW.COM SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong><br />
Ontario rolls out vaccine clinic on wheels<br />
5 MARKHAM REVIEW<br />
Anyone not vaccinated should hop on the<br />
GO-VAXX bus!<br />
The Ontario government is partnering<br />
with Metrolinx to offer a new, convenient<br />
option for people to receive their COVID-19<br />
vaccine.<br />
Two GO buses have been temporarily<br />
retrofitted to serve as mobile vaccine clinics<br />
as part of the province’s last mile strategy to<br />
target those who have yet to receive a first or<br />
second dose.<br />
The first GO-VAXX bus hit the road in<br />
early August, with its first stop at Canada’s<br />
Wonderland on August 7 and August 8 for<br />
guests with reservations to the park, as well as<br />
Canada’s Wonderland staff.<br />
“This innovative partnership with<br />
Metrolinx will ensure Ontarians have even<br />
easier access to a first or second dose of the<br />
COVID-19 vaccine,” Solicitor General Sylvia<br />
Jones said. “By bringing vaccines directly to<br />
the people, we are helping more residents get<br />
the protection they need for themselves, their<br />
families and their communities.”<br />
The GO-VAXX buses will travel to<br />
malls, festivals, community hubs and events<br />
throughout the summer and fall across the<br />
Greater Golden Horseshoe Region. No appointments<br />
are needed, and anyone aged 12<br />
Two GO buses have been temporarily retrofitted to serve as mobile vaccine clinics as part of<br />
the province’s last mile strategy to target those who have yet to receive a first or second dose.<br />
(Metrolinx twitter photo)<br />
and over can get their first or second dose<br />
while supplies last. The mobile clinics are<br />
fully accessible and will be administering the<br />
Pfizer vaccine.<br />
Each bus is expected to be on the road<br />
six days a week. The province will work with<br />
local public health units and municipalities to<br />
determine specific sites based on local data<br />
and needs. The weekly GO-VAXX schedule<br />
can be found at www.ontario.ca/vaccinebus<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> recognized for<br />
building smart cities<br />
The City of <strong>Markham</strong> has been recognized<br />
once again for its work in helping<br />
create ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive communities<br />
of the future.’<br />
For the second consecutive year, it<br />
received the ISO 37120 Platinum-level<br />
certification from the World Council on City<br />
Data (WCCD) as part of the three-year Data<br />
for Canadian Cities Pilot Project funded<br />
by Canada’s Ministry of Infrastructure and<br />
Communities.<br />
“Cities are at the core of global transformation<br />
and have the opportunity to shape<br />
a better, more inclusive and sustainable<br />
world,” Mayor Frank Scarpitti says.<br />
The WCCD was founded in Canada<br />
in 2014 and helps communities of all sizes<br />
worldwide to embrace standardized, independently<br />
verified and globally comparable<br />
city data to become more sustainable, resilient,<br />
prosperous, inclusive and smart.<br />
ISO 37120, the first ISO standard<br />
developed especially for cities, contains 104<br />
fully numeric indicators across 19 themes,<br />
and measures city services and quality of<br />
life. <strong>Markham</strong> is among more than 100 cities<br />
across 35 countries that are collecting, sharing<br />
and using city data to measure quality<br />
of life and service delivery using a common<br />
international standard.<br />
Member municipalities share local<br />
experiences and provide insights into how<br />
cities around the world are tackling similar<br />
issues, learn about practices and policies<br />
that have the biggest impact, and access the<br />
expertise and experience of leading global<br />
experts and municipal peers.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> can assess service delivery<br />
and quality of life against baseline data<br />
established in the first year of the project.<br />
“We are confident that other municipalities<br />
will greatly benefit from our successful<br />
sustainability initiatives and we in turn look<br />
forward to learning from others especially in<br />
areas such as infrastructure and rapid transit<br />
development,” says Scarpitti.<br />
“<strong>Markham</strong>’s participation in the Data<br />
for Canadian Cities Project and commitment<br />
to data-driven decision-making once again<br />
underlines the dedication of Mayor Scarpitti,<br />
City Council and the entire city staff<br />
to a more vibrant future for the residents of<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>,” says WCCD President and CEO<br />
Patricia McCarney.<br />
and will be updated weekly.<br />
As the province’s vaccine rollout<br />
progresses, targeted strategies such as the GO-<br />
VAXX bus will play a vital role in reaching<br />
communities with lower vaccination rates.<br />
The province is working with public<br />
health units to make it easier and more convenient<br />
for individuals to get vaccinated through<br />
multiple targeted strategies, including mobile<br />
clinics and community-based pop-ups, dedicated<br />
clinic days for families with people with<br />
disabilities, townhall meetings in multiple<br />
languages, and services such as transportation,<br />
translation services and drive-through clinics.<br />
“With over nine million Ontarians now<br />
fully vaccinated, we are seeing the benefits of<br />
the strong protection provided by the CO-<br />
VID-19 vaccines,” Health Minister Christine<br />
Elliott said. “The job is not over yet, and the<br />
GO-VAXX bus is another way our government<br />
is making it easier and convenient for<br />
more Ontarians to receive their vaccine.”<br />
“We are excited and pleased to help plan<br />
and deliver this innovative approach linking<br />
vaccination and transit together,” said Phil<br />
Verster, President and CEO, Metrolinx. “Our<br />
bus drivers jumped at the opportunity to be<br />
part of this incredible initiative and will be<br />
operating the GO-VAXX bus.<br />
“Metrolinx has supported on site clinics<br />
for our staff and the public, and the GO-<br />
VAXX bus is another great next step to make<br />
it even more convenient for people to get<br />
protected.”<br />
Anyone wishing to take advantage of<br />
the GO-VAXX bus to receive their vaccine is<br />
reminded to bring your health card. If you do<br />
not have a health card or your health card is<br />
expired, bring another form of governmentissued<br />
photo identification such as a driver’s<br />
license, passport, Status card, or birth certificate.<br />
Each bus operates as a fully functioning<br />
vaccine clinic with the necessary supplies and<br />
trained staff to provide assistance to people<br />
and ensure vaccines are administered safely.<br />
All COVID-19 safety precautions will be<br />
followed on board, including the required prevaccination<br />
screening and post-vaccination<br />
monitoring.<br />
GO-VAXX is a walk-in clinic and does<br />
not offer appointments.<br />
Individuals can call the Provincial Vaccine<br />
Booking Line number at 1-833-943-3900<br />
for information about booking an appointment.<br />
For general inquiries, individuals can<br />
call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line<br />
number at 1-888-999-6488.<br />
Appointments can also be scheduled directly<br />
through public health units that use their<br />
own booking system, and through participating<br />
pharmacies.
6 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong> MARKHAMREVIEW.COM<br />
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8 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong> MARKHAMREVIEW.COM<br />
The <strong>Markham</strong> Fair returns, with a few changes, for <strong>2021</strong>!<br />
BY JEFF JONES<br />
One day we will all look back on 2020 as<br />
the year the world suddenly stopped.<br />
With a little luck, and responsible citizenship,<br />
we’ll also see <strong>2021</strong> as the year we got to<br />
start it up again.<br />
As people in <strong>Markham</strong>, and all over the<br />
world, wonder what the future of our events,<br />
gatherings, and traditions will look like, organizers<br />
like <strong>Markham</strong> Fair’s President, Amanda<br />
King are putting plans into action.<br />
“We are very excited to provide an event<br />
for our community!” explains King. “Last<br />
year was the first time in 176 that we didn’t<br />
have an event-it was a very difficult decisionso<br />
we’re very excited to be back.”<br />
It might not entirely be the Fair you<br />
remember, however.<br />
“It’s called <strong>Markham</strong> Fair in a Flash,”<br />
explains King. “It’s going to be a very similar<br />
event but different.” <strong>Markham</strong> Fair in a Flash:<br />
Farming Our Way Back is the full name of<br />
this year’s event and fair goers should expect<br />
a socially distanced walkthrough event.<br />
The intent is to go back to <strong>Markham</strong>’s<br />
agricultural roots and feature things like farming<br />
implements, tractors, combines old and<br />
new, lots of animals, a small homecraft section<br />
(featuring a chance for locals to compete), and<br />
a farmer’s market and some concessions.<br />
One of the longstanding features of the<br />
fair is live entertainment and this year is no<br />
different. This year however, performers will<br />
work busker style to entertain as guests make<br />
their way through. Larger concerts are not<br />
possible to plan for because of concerns about<br />
numbers, but King expects them to return next<br />
year.<br />
“Beyond having a wonderful fair, our<br />
biggest concern is safety for our community,”<br />
continues King. “We are an event run by 800<br />
Fair organizers get ready for the return. (L-R) Phil Redshaw, Amanda King, Wendy Harris, Todd<br />
Silverman, Scott Redshaw.<br />
volunteers in addition to our guests. We have<br />
to be responsible.”<br />
This year’s fair has been through many<br />
meetings and stages dating back to January of<br />
this year. They initially started with the idea<br />
of a virtual event but as things looked more<br />
and more possible, a drive through event was<br />
planned in some detail.<br />
“Everything changes daily and weekly<br />
and that’s been, I guess, the hardest part for<br />
us to plan,” King says. “So we started with a<br />
drive-thru; and then as the stages started opening<br />
up we said, ‘You know what, we can do a<br />
walk-through’. If we can be outside, we can<br />
be back together…at least socially distanced.”<br />
Back together is a wonderful goal these<br />
days, especially for a tradition that is a cornerstone<br />
of community and social gathering for<br />
so many in <strong>Markham</strong>.<br />
“In my younger years, the fair was a time<br />
to hang out with friends, stay out later than we<br />
were usually allowed, and maybe toy with the<br />
idea of getting into innocent trouble,” says Jen<br />
Kee who was born and raised in <strong>Markham</strong> but<br />
now tours the world as a professional singer.<br />
“The fair just transported me to another world<br />
that was so far removed from my suburban<br />
upbringing, it’s what I look forward to every<br />
year.”<br />
“It’s totally about being a <strong>Markham</strong>ite,”<br />
says Larrisa Halko, now a high school teacher<br />
with the YRDSB. “Even as <strong>Markham</strong> became<br />
less rural, the fair became about <strong>Markham</strong><br />
identity. It’s a place to be with friends and<br />
family.”<br />
Of course, one of the best ways to get<br />
involved with the Fair is to enter one of its<br />
many competitions and this year is no different.<br />
Interested potential competitors should<br />
go to www.markhamfair.ca to get details for<br />
entry and submissions.<br />
“There’s a lot of art, building, and<br />
creative categories for people to enter,” explains<br />
King. “From Largest Pumpkin to Best<br />
Flower Arrangement, there are many areas<br />
for people to compete and participate in. We<br />
want to engage the community.”<br />
King says that those coming to the fair<br />
this year should expect about a 90 minute<br />
walkthrough of exhibits and that tickets this<br />
year are being sold for the greatly reduced<br />
price of five dollars each.<br />
“We want to be a good community<br />
partner and offer the best, affordable event<br />
we can for our community,” King says.<br />
The trick this year is that tickets will be<br />
for a specific time in order to maintain proper<br />
social distancing. Keep this in mind when<br />
planning your trip to the Fair this year!.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Fair in a Flash: Farming Our<br />
Way Back runs from <strong>September</strong> 30th through<br />
October 3rd. Tickets are $5 and available at<br />
www.markhamfair.ca<br />
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MARKHAMREVIEW.COM SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong><br />
(from page 4)<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>–Unionville<br />
In <strong>Markham</strong>-Unionville, Paul Chiang<br />
has taken up the Liberal charge to unseat<br />
Conservative incumbent Bob Saroya, who<br />
has served in two parliaments. Chiang has<br />
been on the phones and doing old-fashioned<br />
City wins award for AI project<br />
to detect potholes<br />
The City of <strong>Markham</strong> has been recognized<br />
as one of the most “innovative and<br />
forward-thinking” municipalities in North<br />
America thanks to a pilot project that sniffs<br />
out and automatically reports potholes using<br />
artificial intelligence (AI) technology.<br />
It earned the award from the IDC<br />
Government Insights’ fourth annual Smart<br />
Cities North America Awards (SCNAA)<br />
in the Connected & Autonomous Vehicles,<br />
Public Transit, Ride-hailing & Ride-sharing<br />
category.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> launched the pilot project last<br />
year in collaboration with Visual Defence, a<br />
Richmond Hill-based technology company,<br />
to mount a Rover app-enabled smartphone<br />
to a patrol vehicle’s windshield. The AI finds<br />
potholes automatically using a smartphone’s<br />
camera and machine learning, and then<br />
uploads the information to the cloud. City<br />
staff regularly review the recorded incidents<br />
through a browser and send crews to conduct<br />
repairs.<br />
Pothole reporting has improved 200 to<br />
400 per cent as a result of the pilot project,<br />
the City reports. That allows City staff to address<br />
potholes before they become a hazard<br />
to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The pilot<br />
project has saved money in repairs and has<br />
been expanded to five City-owned vehicles.<br />
“The City of <strong>Markham</strong> is honoured to<br />
be recognized with a SCNAA for our innovative<br />
data-focused approach to ensuring<br />
our road infrastructure is monitored and<br />
maintained,” says Mayor Frank Scarpitti.<br />
“We have worked alongside Visual Defense<br />
to implement their ROVER AI app to<br />
quickly and thoroughly identify deficiencies<br />
and execute timely improvements.<br />
door-to-door canvassing blitzes since before<br />
the election was called.<br />
A well-liked former York Region police<br />
sergeant with the Diversity and Cultural<br />
Resources unit, Chiang speaks an impressive<br />
eight languages which is always handy in a<br />
diverse riding like <strong>Markham</strong>–Unionville.<br />
Chiang will run the Liberal record front<br />
and centre in his pitch to voters.<br />
“We lowered taxes on the middle class<br />
and small business, we are making Canadawide<br />
accessible and affordable childcare a<br />
reality, and we are investing $2.5 billion into<br />
affordable housing for working Canadians of<br />
all backgrounds, including young families,”<br />
he said.<br />
“As a former police officer, I was<br />
pleased that our Liberal government took<br />
concrete action on gun control by banning<br />
assault rifles.”<br />
Photo of a Rover-enabled smartphone detecting<br />
potholes is from the Visual Defence<br />
website.<br />
“The City of <strong>Markham</strong> is committed<br />
to driving innovative change and leveraging<br />
technology to improve operations and<br />
services.”<br />
“The winners of our fourth annual<br />
SCNAA represent the most innovative and<br />
forward-thinking municipalities across North<br />
America, dedicated to making cities more<br />
livable and uncovering new ways to offer<br />
services and economic opportunities for<br />
all its citizens,” said Ruthbea Yesner, Vice<br />
President, IDC Government Insights and<br />
Smart Cities and Communities Strategies.<br />
“We are proud to shine a spotlight on these<br />
successful smart city initiatives and encourage<br />
the next generation of changemakers for<br />
the greater good of our communities.”<br />
IDC Government Insights’ SCNAA<br />
recognizes the progress of North American<br />
municipalities in executing Smart Cities<br />
projects and provides a forum for sharing<br />
best practices. Winners, including New York<br />
City, Arizona State University, Las Vegas<br />
and Philadelphia, will be honored at Smart<br />
Cities Connect in October.<br />
Chiang, though, will have a tough go<br />
against Saroya who has twice defied the red<br />
wave and has proven to be a capable and determined<br />
campaigner. The personable Saroya<br />
is at his best in one-on-one conversation and<br />
has worked that strength personally canvassing<br />
practically every house in the riding last<br />
election.<br />
Saroya will be taking the Liberals to<br />
task on their record.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>–Thornhill<br />
9 MARKHAM REVIEW<br />
In <strong>Markham</strong>–Thornhill, long-time Justin<br />
Trudeau ally Mary Ng, who served the last<br />
parliament as Minister of Small Business,<br />
Export, Promotion and International Trade,<br />
will be a formidable foe for Conservative<br />
newcomer Melissa Felian.<br />
Felian, interestingly, is a career civil<br />
servant serving currently as the Senior<br />
Program Officer for the Universal Broadband<br />
Fund with Innovation, Science and Economic<br />
Development. She holds a Masters degree in<br />
Public and International Affairs.<br />
But Ng has a high public profile and<br />
deep political roots, working in the backrooms<br />
of power after attaining a politics<br />
degree before jumping into the fray in 2018<br />
as a candidate.<br />
“Our Liberal team has a proven track<br />
record of being there for families by improving<br />
access to affordable childcare, supporting<br />
diverse entrepreneurs with the right tools to<br />
succeed, and creating safe and accessible<br />
communities through strong gun control and<br />
transit investments like the Yonge North Subway<br />
extension,” Ng said. “We have the right<br />
plan, the right team and the proven leadership<br />
to finish the fight against COVID-19.”<br />
Paul Sahbaz, a DC comic enthusiast<br />
and avid progressive who studied politics at<br />
Ryerson, will carry the NDP banner this election<br />
while Mimi Lee, a financial analyst, will<br />
try to gain some votes for the Green Party.
10 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong> MARKHAMREVIEW.COM<br />
HEALTH & SPORTS<br />
Exceptional patient experience in orthopaedic care at MSH<br />
BY MICHELLE LEE HOY<br />
In December 2020, Kerry Young, a<br />
professional dog walker, was out on a daily<br />
walk with her clients when she slipped and<br />
fell.<br />
Upon returning home, she knew something<br />
was seriously wrong. She felt intense<br />
pain in her left arm, which she could see was<br />
also misshapen, and her complexion was going<br />
pale. Her husband called the ambulance<br />
and Kerry was taken to her local hospital<br />
where it was determined her radial bone had<br />
broken in half and a closed reduction was<br />
performed.<br />
Young was seen at a fracture clinic in<br />
the days and weeks following her injury to<br />
monitor her recovery progress. However, it<br />
was soon identified that while calcification<br />
had begun and her bones were healing, they<br />
had shifted and as a result, her arm was visibly<br />
shortened and it was becoming painfully<br />
uncomfortable.<br />
Young was advised that she would<br />
require surgery to repair her arm.<br />
Having heard of <strong>Markham</strong> Stouffville<br />
Hospital’s (MSH) surgical reputation, she<br />
inquired with MSH and was referred to<br />
the fracture clinic in the Orthopaedic Joint<br />
Assessment Centre (OJAC) for consultation<br />
with orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Evan Watts and<br />
his team, then booked for surgery the next<br />
morning with Dr. Crystal Smith, the division<br />
head for orthopaedic surgery.<br />
I cried from relief that<br />
I was so quickly able<br />
to be seen and<br />
scheduled for surgery<br />
“I cried from relief that I was so quickly<br />
able to be seen and scheduled for surgery,”<br />
Young recalled. “The level of detailed explanation<br />
I received about my break and what<br />
the surgery would entail made me feel like<br />
I was in good hands. It was really important<br />
and I needed to hear all of that at that point.”<br />
Young underwent an open reduction<br />
internal fixation, which required Dr. Smith<br />
to break up all healing bone, and lengthening<br />
of her arm to get the bone back to original<br />
MSH patient Kerry Young.<br />
length. She was able to go home later that<br />
day to begin her recovery.<br />
The rapid access clinic (RAC) model<br />
that OJAC operates under offers quick<br />
consultations – usually within one to two<br />
weeks after a referral is received – with a<br />
skilled advance practice physiotherapist who<br />
can assess if the individual is a candidate for<br />
surgery.<br />
Through this model, MSH’s ability to<br />
prioritize urgent and emergent surgeries<br />
gave Young the relief, both mentally and<br />
physically, that she needed. She felt seen<br />
and heard and received the care she needed<br />
in order to return to the quality of life she<br />
depended on.<br />
Young continued to see Dr. Smith on<br />
her road to recovery to ensure that her healing<br />
went smoothly as she returned to the<br />
quality of life she desired personally and<br />
professionally. She is grateful for the dedication<br />
of MSH’s OJAC and surgery staff for<br />
delivering an exceptional patient experience.<br />
A 178 Main Street, Suite 306, Unionville, ON<br />
E contact@markhamreview.com<br />
Ph (416) 884-4343<br />
21-MSHF Community Giving_1025x5375 FA v2.indd 1<br />
<strong>2021</strong>-08-18 2:47 PM
MARKHAMREVIEW.COM SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong><br />
Hometown hero makes Canada proud<br />
BY KRISTINA HALLQUIST<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>’s Gabrielle ” Gabby” Smith<br />
and partner Jessica Sevick put on a memorable<br />
showing in rowing for Team Canada at the<br />
recent 2020 Tokyo Olympic Summer Games.<br />
Smith and Sevick became the first Canadian<br />
duo in 25 years to qualify for the finals<br />
in the women’s double sculls at the Olympics,<br />
rowing their way to a sixth-place finish.<br />
The last time a Canadian female pair<br />
qualified in the double sculls event was at the<br />
Atlanta Olympics in 1996- two years after<br />
Smith was born. In those Games, Canadians<br />
Marnie McBean and Kathleen Heddle would<br />
go on to win the gold medal.<br />
Smith and her partner had an off start at<br />
their first heat in Tokyo, but quickly powered<br />
through the 1,000 km Sea Forest Waterway<br />
at an astonishing 38 strokes per minute,<br />
finishing second and heading straight to the<br />
semi-finals.<br />
The Canadian duo placed second<br />
again, pushing through to the finals using an<br />
increased rate of 39 strokes per minute, and<br />
rowing at approximately 17 kilometres per<br />
minute throughout the heat.<br />
In their nail-biting final race, they capped<br />
off an impressive Summer Games performance<br />
by finishing sixth among 13 rowing<br />
teams.<br />
As an anaerobic athlete, Smith prefers a<br />
strong and powerful start, and she sits in the<br />
bow of the boat, providing that power and<br />
making calls for the duo. Her incredible focus<br />
and passion for the sport have been part of<br />
Local Terry Fox Run organizer<br />
has big fundraising goals<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>’s Gabrielle Smith put on a memorable showing in rowing for Team Canada at the 2020<br />
Tokyo Olympic Summer Games. Photo courtesy of Rowing Canada.<br />
her since she first started rowing at the age of<br />
18 when discovered at her lifeguarding job at<br />
Toronto’s Cherry Beach.<br />
She kept up a vigorous training schedule<br />
while simultaneously completing her Bachelor<br />
of Science in Life Sciences (Cellular<br />
Biology) at McGill University in Quebec,<br />
before moving to Victoria British Columbia<br />
and rowing full-time with Rowing Canada<br />
Aviron.<br />
Smith’s hard work and determination<br />
11 MARKHAM REVIEW<br />
also helped her get healthy enough in 2014 after<br />
suffering three fractured ribs to compete in<br />
the World Championships, World Cup events,<br />
and Olympic qualifications and performances.<br />
Post-Olympics, Smith will return to academia<br />
and start a Master’s Degree in Water<br />
Science, Policy and Management across the<br />
pond, at Oxford University in England.<br />
The <strong>Markham</strong> rower is an incredibly<br />
hard-working, dedicated, and intelligent athlete,<br />
with a philanthropic and generous spirit.<br />
Her wicked sense of humour and infectious<br />
smile make her well-liked by everyone she<br />
meets, and her resilience, kindness and drive<br />
inspire others.<br />
When asked about what she will always<br />
remember from her Olympic journey, she reflected<br />
on the strange circumstances of Tokyo<br />
2020 and the lack of fellow Canadians in the<br />
stands. However, the incredible support and<br />
well wishes she received from friends, family,<br />
and fans is something she will never forget.<br />
“Knowing how many people from home<br />
were watching and wishing me the best was<br />
huge!,” she said.<br />
Her performance representing Canada<br />
at Tokyo 2020 was incredible to watch, and<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>, and the rest of Canada, could not<br />
be prouder.<br />
The 2020 <strong>Markham</strong>-Unionville Terry<br />
Fox Run hit the finish line in impressive<br />
fashion.<br />
The local event finished as one of the<br />
top 25 sites in Ontario for fundraising dollars.<br />
When the final totals were added up,<br />
money raised came in at over $65,000.<br />
That’s just under the 2019 total, which is<br />
quite a feat considering last year’s event was<br />
all done online.<br />
This year’s <strong>2021</strong> run is virtual and the<br />
Terry Fox Foundation is piloting TipTap<br />
Machines for donations and are currently<br />
asking businesses if they would be interested<br />
in having the machine outside their place of<br />
business to support the local Terry Fox Run.<br />
As always, Terry Fox T-Shirts will be<br />
sold again this year.<br />
This year’s tshirt celebrates<br />
Terry’sMétis heritage, with illustrations of<br />
traditional Métis floral beading created by<br />
Métis artist Mal Blondeau (the Métis are<br />
known as the Flower Beadwork People.)<br />
The flowers chosen honour the land<br />
where Terry Fox’s ancestors lived: the prairie<br />
crocus of Manitoba and the wild prairie rose<br />
of North Dakota.<br />
The foundation’s mission – to fund<br />
Local Terry Fox Run organizer Lilly Ing hopes this<br />
year’s fundraising will surpass last year’s $65,000.<br />
cancer research – is written in English,<br />
French and the Métis traditional language of<br />
Michif, as is the phrase “Try Like Terry,” in<br />
honour of his remarkable effort. The back of<br />
the shirt includes a mouse track beadwork<br />
border with the Métis infinity symbol.<br />
Registration is now open for the<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>-Unionville sites and people are<br />
being encouraged to sign up now for the<br />
<strong>September</strong> 19 event.<br />
Volunteers are needed to help spread the<br />
word to get people to register and fundraise.<br />
For questions, contact local run organizer<br />
Lilly Ing at terryfoxmarkhamunionville@<br />
gmail.com.
12 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong> MARKHAMREVIEW.COM<br />
The world loses<br />
one person to<br />
suicide every<br />
40 seconds.<br />
It claims 800,000<br />
lives every year.<br />
That’s more<br />
deaths than war<br />
and homicide<br />
combined.<br />
Over 75% of all<br />
suicide deaths<br />
are men.<br />
For women, the<br />
attempt rate is<br />
3 to 4 times higher.<br />
Transgender and<br />
gender diverse<br />
people are at<br />
greater risk than<br />
those who are<br />
cisgender.<br />
Suicide is the<br />
2nd leading cause<br />
of death for people<br />
aged 15–24.<br />
Lesbian, gay, and<br />
bisexual youth are<br />
more at risk than their<br />
heterosexual peers.<br />
Among First<br />
Nations, the<br />
suicide rate is<br />
3 times higher<br />
than the general<br />
population.<br />
These are the stats.<br />
And it’s time we change them.<br />
In Canada,<br />
4000 people<br />
die by suicide<br />
every year.<br />
For each person<br />
we lose, at least<br />
7 to 10 others are<br />
deeply affected.<br />
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are deserving of help and<br />
can call 1-833-456-4566. If you require immediate, in-person emergency<br />
care, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency department.