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
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2 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2021 MARKHAMREVIEW.COM
COMMUNITY
Help York Region celebrate golden anniversary
York Region’s first regional council. Photo courtesy of York Region.
The year was 1971. Pierre Elliott
Trudeau was prime minister, bell bottoms
and disco reigned supreme, and Apollo 14
landed on the moon. It was also the year the
Regional Municipality of York was established.
Fast forward five decades and the
Region has launched York Region Turns
50, a retrospective that invites you to enjoy
an online tour of York Region archives,
including a decade-by-decade photograph
collection on Flickr.
“Like many events over the past year,
York Region had to re-think how to celebrate
a remarkable first 50 years,” Chairman
and CEO Wayne Emmerson says. “We
wanted to create a celebration worthy of
our remarkable history – in the safest way
possible. To do this, we are opening our
archives for an online anniversary celebration
highlighting key moments and achievements
over the last 50 years.”
Residents are encouraged to like, share
and comment on #YRturns50 social media
posts, which include then and now photos
and York Region facts. Add to the celebration
by sharing your best memories from the
last five decades on Twitter, Facebook and
Instagram using the hashtag #YRturns50.
Submit your photos for a chance to win a
$50 gift card from a local business. Search
for York Region Turns 50 contest at york.ca
for full contest details.
The Regional Municipality of York
was established following a decade of fast
growth across the province. The system of
local government hadn’t evolved since it
began in 1849 and smaller municipalities
were struggling to keep pace with fiscal and
administrative responsibilities as demand
for sewage and water services, recreational
facilities and social services grew.
In the late 1960s, York County proposed
a regional government to address those challenges
and condensed 14 municipalities into
the nine that make up York Region today.
Since then, York has grown from 169,200
people to more than 1.2 million residents and
54,000 businesses with 650,000 employees.
Its first approved budget was $18.7 million.
This year’s approved budget of $3.3 billion
oversees 15 regional services, including
transportation, environmental, community
and health, corporate, legal and court, and
finance.
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 third-place finish in the men’s 4×100-metre
relay at the Tokyo Olympics on August 6.
De Grasse also made Olympic history
two days earlier after winning back-to-back
medals in the men’s 100m and 200m competitions
at two consecutive summer Olympic
Games.
That marked the first time since Amsterdam
1928 that Team Canada won gold in the
200m sprint and since Atlanta 1996 for a gold
medal in sprinting.
To celebrate the historic moment, the
City of Markham proclaimed August 4 ‘Andre
De Grasse Day’ and lit the gateway sign
at Steeles Avenue and Markham Road in gold.
“On behalf of Members of Council and
the entire community, we send our congratulations
to Andre for these outstanding accomplishments
and thank him for representing
Markham and Canada with pride,” Mayor
Frank Scarpitti says.
De Grasse has won a medal in every
Olympic race in which he has competed. He
made history at his Olympics debut at the Rio
2016 Olympic Games by becoming the only
Canadian to win medals in all three sprint
events at a single Games. To celebrate his
accomplishments there, the City of Markham
dedicated Andre De Grasse Street to the
sprinter in 2018. He’s also featured at the
Markham Pan Am Centre as part of a series
Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse.
of 12 paintings of top local athletes, created
in collaboration with students at Bill Crothers
Secondary School, Markham’s athletic-based
high school.
Once a promising basketball player, he
was convinced by a friend to give track a try
when his high school was unable to field a
basketball team in his senior year. “De Grasse
laced up a pair of borrowed spikes, donned
some baggy basketball shorts and raced to
a second place finish at the York Region
Championships without the benefit of starting
blocks,” his official website says.
Tony Sharpe, himself an Olympic medalist
for Canada at the 1984 Olympics, was in
the stands that day in 2012 and immediately
took De Grasse under his wing. By the next
summer, De Grasse had set a new Canadian
junior record of 10.25 in the 100m.

MARKHAMREVIEW.COM SEPTEMBER 2021
Markham prepares for Next Generation 9-1-1
3 MARKHAM REVIEW
The City of Markham is preparing
for the evolution to Next Generation 9-1-1
(NG9-1-1), which will provide callers with
new ways to access emergency services from
multiple devices and platforms, including
text, location, pictures and video.
Under a new shared service agreement,
Barrie Fire & Emergency Services (BFES)
will provide 24/7 emergency call-taking and
dispatch service to Markham Fire & Emergency
Services (MFES) by the end of this
year.
“By being proactive, both cities will
benefit from this partnership and be ready to
fully leverage the capabilities of NG9-1-1,”
MFES Chief Adam Grant says. “Markham is
working to modernize all aspects of fire protection
service delivery and this is a major
step towards achieving this vision.”
Currently, 9-1-1 dispatchers ask callers
for their location. Though landlines are
tied to a physical address, cellphones don’t
provide that information. A process known
as ‘triangulation of cell towers’ can provide
a caller’s approximate location to the nearest
road intersection but response times could
McHappy Days are here again!
be hindered if cellphone callers don’t know
where they are or are unable to speak or
hear.
In 2017, the Canadian Radio-television
and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC) directed all telephone and mobile
wireless companies to update their networks
in order to be ready to provide NG9-1-1
services under a new internet-based system.
Essentially, every connected phone will
have an Internet Protocol (IP) address, which
will be cross referenced with a database that
comprises every street address in an area and
the entry location of buildings, allowing the
9-1-1 system to accurately pinpoint the location
of a caller.
Eventually, Canadians will be able to
stream video from an emergency incident,
send photos of accident damage or a fleeing
suspect, and send personal medical information,
including accessibility needs, which
could greatly aid emergency responders,
reports the CRTC.
It regulates the telephone and mobile
wireless companies that carry 9-1-1 calls to
emergency call centres. Call centres and the
emergency responders they dispatch, such
as fire, police and ambulance, fall under the
jurisdiction of municipalities, provinces and
territories.
The agreement between Markham and
Barrie will help offset capital and operating
costs associated with maintaining Barrie’s
emergency communications and dispatch
centre while allowing MFES to improve
responsiveness and modernize emergency
services, the City of Markham reports.
The BFES Communications Branch will
serve 21 municipalities, including Barrie and
Markham, its largest client municipality. In
2020, BFES dispatched more than 21,250
emergency incidents.
Local dignitaries will be out September 22 for McHappy Day to help raise needed funds for the
Ronald McDonald Family Room at Markham Stouffville Hospital. (Pre-COVID-19 photo supplied).
After a one year hiatus, McHappy Day
will return with a focus on Drive-Thru, Curbside
and Delivery Guests.
Local McDonald’s owners Marcia and
Todd Finlayson are thrilled to be welcoming
back the Markham community to McHappy
Day on September 22.
“There are many ways the community
can get involved to raise funds for the
Ronald McDonald Family Room at Markham
Stouffville Hospital,” Marcia explains.
“Guests will be able to purchase new Digital
Hearts, Round -Up their purchase to the next
dollar and purchase promotional items, all
this, in addition to 10 per cent of their purchase
being donated to this great cause.”
Throughout the year, Marcia and Todd
also raise funds by donating 10 cents from
every Happy Meal sold, five cents from every
cookie sold and significant funds from the
‘Fries for Good’ campaign that runs a couple
of times per year. These campaigns add up to
over $50,000 per year.
“In addition to our day to day fundraising,
the McHappy Day campaign itself will
raise $165,000 with $120,000 of this coming
from the work of the Community Fundraising
group operated by wonderful members of the
Stouffville and Markham communities,” Todd
says. “We are also thrilled to have corporate
sponsors this year with Markville Ford being
a Platinum sponsor. These corporate relationships
offer a real ‘leg up’ in our fundraising
efforts each year.”
“We hope everyone marks their calendar
for September 22 and comes out to support
this wonderful cause,” Marcia urges. “The
need for help has never been greater with
costs to operate these facilities up significantly
and critical fund-raising events almost
non-existent throughout the course of the
pandemic.”
To make a donation, visit www.rmhccanada.ca/fundraisers/4301.
Funds to help keep
vulnerable people safe
The Ontario government is providing
more than $13 million to help York Region
deliver critical services, create longer-term
housing solutions and keep vulnerable
people safe.
“Through the Social Services Relief
Fund (SSRF) our government continues
to help protect the health and safety of
Ontario’s most vulnerable people during
COVID-19,” MPP Billy Pang said. “I’m
pleased that $13,000,800 has been invested
to York Region to further support our communities
by helping to end homelessness,
and to ensure resources are available in case
of potential outbreaks in the future.”
This announcement is part of the province’s
additional $307 million investment to
help municipalities and Indigenous community
partners respond to COVID-19. This
investment builds upon the $765 million
dollars of Social Services Relief Funding
announced in 2020- 2021, for a total support
to communities of over $1 billion.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,
our government has been working closely
with local service providers to ensure that
Health Minister Christine Elliott.
the most vulnerable members of our community
are safe and have access to critical
services,” Health Minister Christine Elliott
said. “(This) announcement of $13 million
for the Regional Municipality of York will
further support these efforts and our goal of
building strong, healthy communities.”
Municipalities and Indigenous community
partners can use the funding to protect
homeless shelter staff and residents, add to
rent banks, build affordable housing, and
support plans to prepare for potential future
outbreaks and/or emergencies.

4 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2021 MARKHAMREVIEW.COM
Ready, set, vote!
BY DUNCAN FLETCHER
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.
It also may be hard for the average voter
to get excited about a summer writ drop
while they are still trying to enjoy the hot,
sunny weather and forget that fall is around
the corner.
But there are a bunch of political types
that are eating this up and campaigning
down the streets of your community in support
of their candidates as you read this.
Markham–Stouffville
Locally in Markham Stouffville, Ben
Smith, a long-time resident of the area and
a Public Relations strategist, will carry
the mantle for the Conservatives this time
around. He’ll take on Helena Jaczek, the
well-liked former provincial cabinet minister
and now Liberal MP for the area.
Smith points to his grounding in the
community when he’s asked why local residents
should vote “blue” this election.
“I’m proud to be a product of Markham-
Stouffville,” he said. “It’s where I was born
and raised, grown my business and served
my neighbours.
“I believe our community deserves a
leader that will work hard for Canadians
while creating good jobs, unleashing innovation,
investing in mental health and making
it easier to afford a home and start a family.”
Jaczek, the political veteran who served
in provincial cabinets of the Kathleen Wynne
and Dalton McGuinty provincial Liberal
governments, was recruited in 2019 to battle
former Liberal member for the area, physician
Jane Philpott who, after being turfed
from the federal Liberals, ran as an independent.
Jaczek is also a physician, although
not practicing, and has been active in the
administration of health care over her political
career, most recently serving federally as
part of the Standing Committee on Health
during the recent COVID-19 crisis.
Now her attention will be focused on
explaining how her government has served
the people of Markham-Stouffville and why
an election is needed.
“I’ve been working hard to serve the
people of Markham-Stouffville, as York
Region’s commissioner of public health, as
the Member Provincial Parliament and, since
2019, as the federal Member of Parliament,”
Jaczek said. “I have experienced firsthand
the strengths of this community and the
challenges we face, and it is that experience
and leadership that I bring to the table as
your Liberal candidate.
“The decisions the government makes
right now will define our children’s future.
We believe Canadians deserve a say in shaping
those decisions and that future.”
(continued on page 9)

MARKHAMREVIEW.COM SEPTEMBER 2021
Ontario rolls out vaccine clinic on wheels
5 MARKHAM REVIEW
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.
Two GO buses have been temporarily
retrofitted to serve as mobile vaccine clinics
as part of the province’s last mile strategy to
target those who have yet to receive a first or
second dose.
The first GO-VAXX bus hit the road in
early August, with its first stop at Canada’s
Wonderland on August 7 and August 8 for
guests with reservations to the park, as well as
Canada’s Wonderland staff.
“This innovative partnership with
Metrolinx will ensure Ontarians have even
easier access to a first or second dose of the
COVID-19 vaccine,” Solicitor General Sylvia
Jones said. “By bringing vaccines directly to
the people, we are helping more residents get
the protection they need for themselves, their
families and their communities.”
The GO-VAXX buses will travel to
malls, festivals, community hubs and events
throughout the summer and fall across the
Greater Golden Horseshoe Region. No appointments
are needed, and anyone aged 12
Two GO buses have been temporarily retrofitted to serve as mobile vaccine clinics as part of
the province’s last mile strategy to target those who have yet to receive a first or second dose.
(Metrolinx twitter photo)
and over can get their first or second dose
while supplies last. The mobile clinics are
fully accessible and will be administering the
Pfizer vaccine.
Each bus is expected to be on the road
six days a week. The province will work with
local public health units and municipalities to
determine specific sites based on local data
and needs. The weekly GO-VAXX schedule
can be found at www.ontario.ca/vaccinebus
Markham recognized for
building smart cities
The City of Markham has been recognized
once again for its work in helping
create ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive communities
of the future.’
For the second consecutive year, it
received the ISO 37120 Platinum-level
certification from the World Council on City
Data (WCCD) as part of the three-year Data
for Canadian Cities Pilot Project funded
by Canada’s Ministry of Infrastructure and
Communities.
“Cities are at the core of global transformation
and have the opportunity to shape
a better, more inclusive and sustainable
world,” Mayor Frank Scarpitti says.
The WCCD was founded in Canada
in 2014 and helps communities of all sizes
worldwide to embrace standardized, independently
verified and globally comparable
city data to become more sustainable, resilient,
prosperous, inclusive and smart.
ISO 37120, the first ISO standard
developed especially for cities, contains 104
fully numeric indicators across 19 themes,
and measures city services and quality of
life. Markham is among more than 100 cities
across 35 countries that are collecting, sharing
and using city data to measure quality
of life and service delivery using a common
international standard.
Member municipalities share local
experiences and provide insights into how
cities around the world are tackling similar
issues, learn about practices and policies
that have the biggest impact, and access the
expertise and experience of leading global
experts and municipal peers.
Markham can assess service delivery
and quality of life against baseline data
established in the first year of the project.
“We are confident that other municipalities
will greatly benefit from our successful
sustainability initiatives and we in turn look
forward to learning from others especially in
areas such as infrastructure and rapid transit
development,” says Scarpitti.
“Markham’s participation in the Data
for Canadian Cities Project and commitment
to data-driven decision-making once again
underlines the dedication of Mayor Scarpitti,
City Council and the entire city staff
to a more vibrant future for the residents of
Markham,” says WCCD President and CEO
Patricia McCarney.
and will be updated weekly.
As the province’s vaccine rollout
progresses, targeted strategies such as the GO-
VAXX bus will play a vital role in reaching
communities with lower vaccination rates.
The province is working with public
health units to make it easier and more convenient
for individuals to get vaccinated through
multiple targeted strategies, including mobile
clinics and community-based pop-ups, dedicated
clinic days for families with people with
disabilities, townhall meetings in multiple
languages, and services such as transportation,
translation services and drive-through clinics.
“With over nine million Ontarians now
fully vaccinated, we are seeing the benefits of
the strong protection provided by the CO-
VID-19 vaccines,” Health Minister Christine
Elliott said. “The job is not over yet, and the
GO-VAXX bus is another way our government
is making it easier and convenient for
more Ontarians to receive their vaccine.”
“We are excited and pleased to help plan
and deliver this innovative approach linking
vaccination and transit together,” said Phil
Verster, President and CEO, Metrolinx. “Our
bus drivers jumped at the opportunity to be
part of this incredible initiative and will be
operating the GO-VAXX bus.
“Metrolinx has supported on site clinics
for our staff and the public, and the GO-
VAXX bus is another great next step to make
it even more convenient for people to get
protected.”
Anyone wishing to take advantage of
the GO-VAXX bus to receive their vaccine is
reminded to bring your health card. If you do
not have a health card or your health card is
expired, bring another form of governmentissued
photo identification such as a driver’s
license, passport, Status card, or birth certificate.
Each bus operates as a fully functioning
vaccine clinic with the necessary supplies and
trained staff to provide assistance to people
and ensure vaccines are administered safely.
All COVID-19 safety precautions will be
followed on board, including the required prevaccination
screening and post-vaccination
monitoring.
GO-VAXX is a walk-in clinic and does
not offer appointments.
Individuals can call the Provincial Vaccine
Booking Line number at 1-833-943-3900
for information about booking an appointment.
For general inquiries, individuals can
call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line
number at 1-888-999-6488.
Appointments can also be scheduled directly
through public health units that use their
own booking system, and through participating
pharmacies.

6 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2021 MARKHAMREVIEW.COM
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Keep yourself & others safe
Follow public health
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before & after your vaccine.
EVERY ACTION COUNTS
September 2021
GETTING TWO DOSES OF A
COVID-19 vaccine offers your
BEST PROTECTION AGAINST
THE VIRUS AND ITS VARIANTS
A first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine provides
protection after approximately 14 days.
All approved COVID-19 vaccines are very
effective at preventing infection, serious
illness, hospitalization and death.
Book your COVID-19 vaccine at:
york.ca/COVID19Vaccine
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8 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2021 MARKHAMREVIEW.COM
The Markham Fair returns, with a few changes, for 2021!
BY JEFF JONES
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.
As people in Markham, and all over the
world, wonder what the future of our events,
gatherings, and traditions will look like, organizers
like Markham Fair’s President, Amanda
King are putting plans into action.
“We are very excited to provide an event
for our community!” explains King. “Last
year was the first time in 176 that we didn’t
have an event-it was a very difficult decisionso
we’re very excited to be back.”
It might not entirely be the Fair you
remember, however.
“It’s called Markham Fair in a Flash,”
explains King. “It’s going to be a very similar
event but different.” Markham Fair in a Flash:
Farming Our Way Back is the full name of
this year’s event and fair goers should expect
a socially distanced walkthrough event.
The intent is to go back to Markham’s
agricultural roots and feature things like farming
implements, tractors, combines old and
new, lots of animals, a small homecraft section
(featuring a chance for locals to compete), and
a farmer’s market and some concessions.
One of the longstanding features of the
fair is live entertainment and this year is no
different. This year however, performers will
work busker style to entertain as guests make
their way through. Larger concerts are not
possible to plan for because of concerns about
numbers, but King expects them to return next
year.
“Beyond having a wonderful fair, our
biggest concern is safety for our community,”
continues King. “We are an event run by 800
Fair organizers get ready for the return. (L-R) Phil Redshaw, Amanda King, Wendy Harris, Todd
Silverman, Scott Redshaw.
volunteers in addition to our guests. We have
to be responsible.”
This year’s fair has been through many
meetings and stages dating back to January of
this year. They initially started with the idea
of a virtual event but as things looked more
and more possible, a drive through event was
planned in some detail.
“Everything changes daily and weekly
and that’s been, I guess, the hardest part for
us to plan,” King says. “So we started with a
drive-thru; and then as the stages started opening
up we said, ‘You know what, we can do a
walk-through’. If we can be outside, we can
be back together…at least socially distanced.”
Back together is a wonderful goal these
days, especially for a tradition that is a cornerstone
of community and social gathering for
so many in Markham.
“In my younger years, the fair was a time
to hang out with friends, stay out later than we
were usually allowed, and maybe toy with the
idea of getting into innocent trouble,” says Jen
Kee who was born and raised in Markham but
now tours the world as a professional singer.
“The fair just transported me to another world
that was so far removed from my suburban
upbringing, it’s what I look forward to every
year.”
“It’s totally about being a Markhamite,”
says Larrisa Halko, now a high school teacher
with the YRDSB. “Even as Markham became
less rural, the fair became about Markham
identity. It’s a place to be with friends and
family.”
Of course, one of the best ways to get
involved with the Fair is to enter one of its
many competitions and this year is no different.
Interested potential competitors should
go to www.markhamfair.ca to get details for
entry and submissions.
“There’s a lot of art, building, and
creative categories for people to enter,” explains
King. “From Largest Pumpkin to Best
Flower Arrangement, there are many areas
for people to compete and participate in. We
want to engage the community.”
King says that those coming to the fair
this year should expect about a 90 minute
walkthrough of exhibits and that tickets this
year are being sold for the greatly reduced
price of five dollars each.
“We want to be a good community
partner and offer the best, affordable event
we can for our community,” King says.
The trick this year is that tickets will be
for a specific time in order to maintain proper
social distancing. Keep this in mind when
planning your trip to the Fair this year!.
Markham Fair in a Flash: Farming Our
Way Back runs from September 30th through
October 3rd. Tickets are $5 and available at
www.markhamfair.ca
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MARKHAMREVIEW.COM SEPTEMBER 2021
(from page 4)
Markham–Unionville
In Markham-Unionville, Paul Chiang
has taken up the Liberal charge to unseat
Conservative incumbent Bob Saroya, who
has served in two parliaments. Chiang has
been on the phones and doing old-fashioned
City wins award for AI project
to detect potholes
The City of Markham has been recognized
as one of the most “innovative and
forward-thinking” municipalities in North
America thanks to a pilot project that sniffs
out and automatically reports potholes using
artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
It earned the award from the IDC
Government Insights’ fourth annual Smart
Cities North America Awards (SCNAA)
in the Connected & Autonomous Vehicles,
Public Transit, Ride-hailing & Ride-sharing
category.
Markham launched the pilot project last
year in collaboration with Visual Defence, a
Richmond Hill-based technology company,
to mount a Rover app-enabled smartphone
to a patrol vehicle’s windshield. The AI finds
potholes automatically using a smartphone’s
camera and machine learning, and then
uploads the information to the cloud. City
staff regularly review the recorded incidents
through a browser and send crews to conduct
repairs.
Pothole reporting has improved 200 to
400 per cent as a result of the pilot project,
the City reports. That allows City staff to address
potholes before they become a hazard
to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The pilot
project has saved money in repairs and has
been expanded to five City-owned vehicles.
“The City of Markham is honoured to
be recognized with a SCNAA for our innovative
data-focused approach to ensuring
our road infrastructure is monitored and
maintained,” says Mayor Frank Scarpitti.
“We have worked alongside Visual Defense
to implement their ROVER AI app to
quickly and thoroughly identify deficiencies
and execute timely improvements.
door-to-door canvassing blitzes since before
the election was called.
A well-liked former York Region police
sergeant with the Diversity and Cultural
Resources unit, Chiang speaks an impressive
eight languages which is always handy in a
diverse riding like Markham–Unionville.
Chiang will run the Liberal record front
and centre in his pitch to voters.
“We lowered taxes on the middle class
and small business, we are making Canadawide
accessible and affordable childcare a
reality, and we are investing $2.5 billion into
affordable housing for working Canadians of
all backgrounds, including young families,”
he said.
“As a former police officer, I was
pleased that our Liberal government took
concrete action on gun control by banning
assault rifles.”
Photo of a Rover-enabled smartphone detecting
potholes is from the Visual Defence
website.
“The City of Markham is committed
to driving innovative change and leveraging
technology to improve operations and
services.”
“The winners of our fourth annual
SCNAA represent the most innovative and
forward-thinking municipalities across North
America, dedicated to making cities more
livable and uncovering new ways to offer
services and economic opportunities for
all its citizens,” said Ruthbea Yesner, Vice
President, IDC Government Insights and
Smart Cities and Communities Strategies.
“We are proud to shine a spotlight on these
successful smart city initiatives and encourage
the next generation of changemakers for
the greater good of our communities.”
IDC Government Insights’ SCNAA
recognizes the progress of North American
municipalities in executing Smart Cities
projects and provides a forum for sharing
best practices. Winners, including New York
City, Arizona State University, Las Vegas
and Philadelphia, will be honored at Smart
Cities Connect in October.
Chiang, though, will have a tough go
against Saroya who has twice defied the red
wave and has proven to be a capable and determined
campaigner. The personable Saroya
is at his best in one-on-one conversation and
has worked that strength personally canvassing
practically every house in the riding last
election.
Saroya will be taking the Liberals to
task on their record.
Markham–Thornhill
9 MARKHAM REVIEW
In Markham–Thornhill, long-time Justin
Trudeau ally Mary Ng, who served the last
parliament as Minister of Small Business,
Export, Promotion and International Trade,
will be a formidable foe for Conservative
newcomer Melissa Felian.
Felian, interestingly, is a career civil
servant serving currently as the Senior
Program Officer for the Universal Broadband
Fund with Innovation, Science and Economic
Development. She holds a Masters degree in
Public and International Affairs.
But Ng has a high public profile and
deep political roots, working in the backrooms
of power after attaining a politics
degree before jumping into the fray in 2018
as a candidate.
“Our Liberal team has a proven track
record of being there for families by improving
access to affordable childcare, supporting
diverse entrepreneurs with the right tools to
succeed, and creating safe and accessible
communities through strong gun control and
transit investments like the Yonge North Subway
extension,” Ng said. “We have the right
plan, the right team and the proven leadership
to finish the fight against COVID-19.”
Paul Sahbaz, a DC comic enthusiast
and avid progressive who studied politics at
Ryerson, will carry the NDP banner this election
while Mimi Lee, a financial analyst, will
try to gain some votes for the Green Party.

10 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2021 MARKHAMREVIEW.COM
HEALTH & SPORTS
Exceptional patient experience in orthopaedic care at MSH
BY MICHELLE LEE HOY
In December 2020, Kerry Young, a
professional dog walker, was out on a daily
walk with her clients when she slipped and
fell.
Upon returning home, she knew something
was seriously wrong. She felt intense
pain in her left arm, which she could see was
also misshapen, and her complexion was going
pale. Her husband called the ambulance
and Kerry was taken to her local hospital
where it was determined her radial bone had
broken in half and a closed reduction was
performed.
Young was seen at a fracture clinic in
the days and weeks following her injury to
monitor her recovery progress. However, it
was soon identified that while calcification
had begun and her bones were healing, they
had shifted and as a result, her arm was visibly
shortened and it was becoming painfully
uncomfortable.
Young was advised that she would
require surgery to repair her arm.
Having heard of Markham Stouffville
Hospital’s (MSH) surgical reputation, she
inquired with MSH and was referred to
the fracture clinic in the Orthopaedic Joint
Assessment Centre (OJAC) for consultation
with orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Evan Watts and
his team, then booked for surgery the next
morning with Dr. Crystal Smith, the division
head for orthopaedic surgery.
I cried from relief that
I was so quickly able
to be seen and
scheduled for surgery
“I cried from relief that I was so quickly
able to be seen and scheduled for surgery,”
Young recalled. “The level of detailed explanation
I received about my break and what
the surgery would entail made me feel like
I was in good hands. It was really important
and I needed to hear all of that at that point.”
Young underwent an open reduction
internal fixation, which required Dr. Smith
to break up all healing bone, and lengthening
of her arm to get the bone back to original
MSH patient Kerry Young.
length. She was able to go home later that
day to begin her recovery.
The rapid access clinic (RAC) model
that OJAC operates under offers quick
consultations – usually within one to two
weeks after a referral is received – with a
skilled advance practice physiotherapist who
can assess if the individual is a candidate for
surgery.
Through this model, MSH’s ability to
prioritize urgent and emergent surgeries
gave Young the relief, both mentally and
physically, that she needed. She felt seen
and heard and received the care she needed
in order to return to the quality of life she
depended on.
Young continued to see Dr. Smith on
her road to recovery to ensure that her healing
went smoothly as she returned to the
quality of life she desired personally and
professionally. She is grateful for the dedication
of MSH’s OJAC and surgery staff for
delivering an exceptional patient experience.
A 178 Main Street, Suite 306, Unionville, ON
E contact@markhamreview.com
Ph (416) 884-4343
21-MSHF Community Giving_1025x5375 FA v2.indd 1
2021-08-18 2:47 PM

MARKHAMREVIEW.COM SEPTEMBER 2021
Hometown hero makes Canada proud
BY KRISTINA HALLQUIST
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.
Smith and Sevick became the first Canadian
duo in 25 years to qualify for the finals
in the women’s double sculls at the Olympics,
rowing their way to a sixth-place finish.
The last time a Canadian female pair
qualified in the double sculls event was at the
Atlanta Olympics in 1996- two years after
Smith was born. In those Games, Canadians
Marnie McBean and Kathleen Heddle would
go on to win the gold medal.
Smith and her partner had an off start at
their first heat in Tokyo, but quickly powered
through the 1,000 km Sea Forest Waterway
at an astonishing 38 strokes per minute,
finishing second and heading straight to the
semi-finals.
The Canadian duo placed second
again, pushing through to the finals using an
increased rate of 39 strokes per minute, and
rowing at approximately 17 kilometres per
minute throughout the heat.
In their nail-biting final race, they capped
off an impressive Summer Games performance
by finishing sixth among 13 rowing
teams.
As an anaerobic athlete, Smith prefers a
strong and powerful start, and she sits in the
bow of the boat, providing that power and
making calls for the duo. Her incredible focus
and passion for the sport have been part of
Local Terry Fox Run organizer
has big fundraising goals
Markham’s Gabrielle Smith put on a memorable showing in rowing for Team Canada at the 2020
Tokyo Olympic Summer Games. Photo courtesy of Rowing Canada.
her since she first started rowing at the age of
18 when discovered at her lifeguarding job at
Toronto’s Cherry Beach.
She kept up a vigorous training schedule
while simultaneously completing her Bachelor
of Science in Life Sciences (Cellular
Biology) at McGill University in Quebec,
before moving to Victoria British Columbia
and rowing full-time with Rowing Canada
Aviron.
Smith’s hard work and determination
11 MARKHAM REVIEW
also helped her get healthy enough in 2014 after
suffering three fractured ribs to compete in
the World Championships, World Cup events,
and Olympic qualifications and performances.
Post-Olympics, Smith will return to academia
and start a Master’s Degree in Water
Science, Policy and Management across the
pond, at Oxford University in England.
The Markham rower is an incredibly
hard-working, dedicated, and intelligent athlete,
with a philanthropic and generous spirit.
Her wicked sense of humour and infectious
smile make her well-liked by everyone she
meets, and her resilience, kindness and drive
inspire others.
When asked about what she will always
remember from her Olympic journey, she reflected
on the strange circumstances of Tokyo
2020 and the lack of fellow Canadians in the
stands. However, the incredible support and
well wishes she received from friends, family,
and fans is something she will never forget.
“Knowing how many people from home
were watching and wishing me the best was
huge!,” she said.
Her performance representing Canada
at Tokyo 2020 was incredible to watch, and
Markham, and the rest of Canada, could not
be prouder.
The 2020 Markham-Unionville Terry
Fox Run hit the finish line in impressive
fashion.
The local event finished as one of the
top 25 sites in Ontario for fundraising dollars.
When the final totals were added up,
money raised came in at over $65,000.
That’s just under the 2019 total, which is
quite a feat considering last year’s event was
all done online.
This year’s 2021 run is virtual and the
Terry Fox Foundation is piloting TipTap
Machines for donations and are currently
asking businesses if they would be interested
in having the machine outside their place of
business to support the local Terry Fox Run.
As always, Terry Fox T-Shirts will be
sold again this year.
This year’s tshirt celebrates
Terry’sMétis heritage, with illustrations of
traditional Métis floral beading created by
Métis artist Mal Blondeau (the Métis are
known as the Flower Beadwork People.)
The flowers chosen honour the land
where Terry Fox’s ancestors lived: the prairie
crocus of Manitoba and the wild prairie rose
of North Dakota.
The foundation’s mission – to fund
Local Terry Fox Run organizer Lilly Ing hopes this
year’s fundraising will surpass last year’s $65,000.
cancer research – is written in English,
French and the Métis traditional language of
Michif, as is the phrase “Try Like Terry,” in
honour of his remarkable effort. The back of
the shirt includes a mouse track beadwork
border with the Métis infinity symbol.
Registration is now open for the
Markham-Unionville sites and people are
being encouraged to sign up now for the
September 19 event.
Volunteers are needed to help spread the
word to get people to register and fundraise.
For questions, contact local run organizer
Lilly Ing at terryfoxmarkhamunionville@
gmail.com.

12 MARKHAM REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2021 MARKHAMREVIEW.COM
The world loses
one person to
suicide every
40 seconds.
It claims 800,000
lives every year.
That’s more
deaths than war
and homicide
combined.
Over 75% of all
suicide deaths
are men.
For women, the
attempt rate is
3 to 4 times higher.
Transgender and
gender diverse
people are at
greater risk than
those who are
cisgender.
Suicide is the
2nd leading cause
of death for people
aged 15–24.
Lesbian, gay, and
bisexual youth are
more at risk than their
heterosexual peers.
Among First
Nations, the
suicide rate is
3 times higher
than the general
population.
These are the stats.
And it’s time we change them.
In Canada,
4000 people
die by suicide
every year.
For each person
we lose, at least
7 to 10 others are
deeply affected.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are deserving of help and
can call 1-833-456-4566. If you require immediate, in-person emergency
care, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency department.