Markham Stouffville Review, November 2023

STOUFFVILLE
Vol.12 Issue 10 November 2023
WWW.STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM
WWW.MARKHAMREVIEW.COM
WHAT’S INSIDE
A lifetime of helping youth
Bonnie Harkness, chief operating officer of
360kids, describes the organization and shares
her experiences and impressions of young
people in Markham and York Region.
SEE PAGE 9
Local news the victim in government, big-tech battle
Mental Health First Aid course built
for veterans, supporters
At this time of year, thoughts often turn to our
veterans as we remember those who served and
sacrificed at home and abroad.
A great mix of shows this month
at Markham Theatre
Hub to provide accessible
seniors-focused programs
Exciting developments are underway in York
Region as plans for the Unionville Commons
Seniors Hub takes shape.
Markham-Stouffville Review General Manager Duncan Fletcher, seen here with print and online versions of the paper, says that
local media is being threatened by misguided government policy and combative tech giants. SEE PAGE 11
COMMUNITY
SEE PAGE 5
After a busy October with its Diamond Season
kicking into full swing, November and early
December find the Markham Theatre with another
packed schedule.
SEE PAGE 6
A Very Merry Motown Christmas
SEE PAGE 4
A Very Merry Motown Christmas takes you to a time
when the best holiday playlist was filled with the
unmistakable soul, rhythm, and groove of classic
Motor City cool.
SEE PAGE 8
MLT delivers a great mix of
mystery and comedy
Markham Little Theatre returns to the Flato
Markham Theatre stage for the first time this
season with The Game’s Afoot.
GivingTuesday encourages people
to help others
GivingTuesday started ten years ago as a
simple idea: encourage people to do good,
even if just for a day. This initiative quickly
picked up momentum globally.
Theatre launches free online
access for ‘Simply Series’
Markham Theatre has launched its live
stream of the 2022 Simply Series, a series
of ten intimate and uplifting evenings with
beloved Canadian artists.
You don’t have to miss out on local news and
information. Just check out markhamreview.com
and stouffvillereview.com for fresh, original articles,
updated daily. Did you miss a print edition?
Catch up with our replica e-paper, available
anytime on our website.
SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 3
SEE PAGE 10
A Next Generation
Leahy Christmas
Friday, December 15 // 8pm
flatomarkhamtheatre.ca / 905.305.7469
230110 FMT_Markham Review - 23.24 Season - Next Generation Leahy - NEW SIZE 10x1.75.indd 1 2023-10-18 1:49 PM

2 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2023
MLT delivers a great mix of mystery and comedy
BY JEFF JONES
Markham Little Theatre returns to the
Flato Markham Theatre stage for the first
time this season with The Game’s Afoot.
Equal parts murder mystery and comedy,
the play, written by award-winning playwright
Ken Ludwig, runs from November
15 to 18th.
“There is nothing like a good murder
mystery,” says show director Kerry Harman.
“We have period costumes, a fabulous
set with hidden goodies, lighting, sound and
weapons. We think you’ll love it.”
The play features a fictionalized version
of legendary American stage actor,
William Gillette. Gillette became a star
on Broadway in the late 1800s after he
persuaded Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to let
him adapt Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes for
the stage. Gillette then took the fortune he
earned and built a castle in Connecticut
that was apparently full of devices from
Sherlock Holmes stories like rotating walls,
two-way mirrors and secret passages.
In The Games Afoot, a retired Gillette
has invited former castmates and a surprise
guest to this same castle for the Christmas
holiday. The guests banter in quotes from
favourite plays as secret behind-the-scenes
drama is revealed, as you might imagine
from a room full of ageing and nostalgic actors,
until a murder turns the party to chaos.
“This show has it all,” says stage manager
Sarah MacDonald. “It’s a spoof and the
cast and crew are having a wonderful time
bringing it to life.”
The cast of The Game’s Afoot.
The cast is a mix of MLT mainstays
and folks new to the company. Gillette is
played by Imre Szabo with his guests being
portrayed by an ensemble that features
John Fetherston, Noah Bicknell, Michèle
Browne, Shelagh Carlini, Nicky Marsh, and
Katarina Matthiessen. The cast is rounded
out by Catherine Hughes as the inspector
who tries to make sense of the whole thing.
“Rehearsals are going very well,” says
Harman. We spent the first few weeks
working on characters; now we’re onto the
action. Just come prepared to laugh and
enjoy.”
The play is full of twists and turns,
thrills, and more than a little farce. Perhaps
the largest challenge for the creative team,
however, is the setting of a castle in the
1930s.
“Clothing and set design are key,” says
Harmon. “This is a big show to produce,
and we want it to reflect the ostentatious
glory of Gillette’s mansion. The set will
feature some Art Deco pieces, and the team
is already sourcing props.”
In addition to Harman and MacDonald,
the production team features Phil Mitchell
and Keith Pybus (with help from René
Vriends) collaborating on set design; Maria
Cerone designing costumes; an ambitious
sound design by Annie Clark; lighting design
by John Sellens; and Carl Gambacort
and Steve Birtles on props.
“The show will be big and beautiful,”
says Harman.
“We have a lot of fun with plays like
this one,” adds MacDonald. “Sound effects,
beautiful costumes, lighting effects, a great
set, and fantastic actors – it’s going to be an
exciting show.”
With 55 years of shows under
Markham Little Theatre’s collective belt,
these seem like predictions you can trust.
Founded in 1967, with its first production
performed at the local High School,
MLT is a volunteer army of Theatre creators
almost unmatched in Ontario. The group
has seen Markham through half a century
of changes and remained a constant.
Today, with a headquarters at the Markham
Museum and as regular tenants of the Flato
Markham Theatre, they continue to set the
standard for local arts in Markham.
“This play will bring you the best of
MLT,” says Harman. “What a fantastic way
to spend an evening.”
The Game’s Afoot will be presented at
Flato Markham Theatre from November 15
to 18.
All shows begin at 8 p.m., except the
18th at 2 p.m., with ticket prices starting at
$25.
Visit markhamtheatre.ca for more
information
Lest we forget
Remembrance Day
PAUL CALANDRA, MPP
Markham-Stouffville
Suite 400, 37 Sandiford Dr. Stouffville, ON L4A 3Z2
(905) 642 2588 • paul.calandra@pc.ola.org

NOVEMBER 2023
COMMUNITY 3 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
GivingTuesday encourages people to help others
BY GEORGE REDAK
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
GivingTuesday started ten years ago as
a simple idea: encourage people to do good,
even if just for a day. This initiative quickly
picked up momentum globally, and in 2013
CanadaHelps.org along with several other
partners brought GivingTuesday to Canada.
Today, the initiative is embraced
by foundations across Canada, with the
Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation
playing a key role in receiving donations
from the York Region.
In 2016 the MSH Foundation created
Bear Necessities, a program designed
Enbridge Gas receives funding
for hydrogen project
Enbridge Gas in Markham will receive
provincial funding that focuses on opportunities
for hydrogen to serve as a clean alternative
fuel for transportation and other uses for
a “groundbreaking project.”
It’s receiving about $1.787 million
through the new Hydrogen Innovation Fund
for a hydrogen-driven Combined Heat and
Power (CHP) facility that can also blend
hydrogen with natural gas to produce energy.
“Our groundbreaking project – the first
of its kind in North America – will demonstrate
the potential of using hydrogen, natural
gas or a range of blends to power a CHP system,”
says Enbridge Gas President Michele
Harradence. “The system can quickly switch
between energy sources, making it a reliable
and efficient way to reduce emissions.”
The project is one of the first six projects
that will receive a combined $7.5 million
in funding through the new Hydrogen
Innovation Fund, which is administered by
the Independent Electricity System Operator
(IESO). “As Ontario explores pathways to
achieve a low-carbon energy future, one of
the fuels that shows considerable promise is
hydrogen,” says IESO President and CEO
Lesley Gallinger.
Announced in February, the fund will
invest $15 million over the next three years
to kickstart and develop opportunities for
hydrogen to be integrated into Ontario’s
clean electricity system, including hydrogen
storage.
Premier Doug Ford’s government says
its Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy will position
Ontario as a clean manufacturing hub.
The strategy identifies innovative projects,
from hydrogen production and hydrogen
hubs to exploring electricity rate options for
hydrogen producers, to meet that goal.
“Our government is leveraging one of
our province’s clear strengths – our worldclass
clean, reliable and affordable electricity
system – to make us a leader in the growing
hydrogen economy,” says Minister of Energy
Todd Smith.
By 2050, the hydrogen economy could
create more than 100,000 jobs across the
province while reducing greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions by 50 megatonnes per
year. This reduction in GHG emissions
would be equivalent to about a quarter of
Ontario’s 2005 emissions or removing 15
million cars off the road, the province reports.
All the money raised from Bear Necessities will be used to expand MSH.
to create a comfortable environment for
patients at MSH. By 2018, the program
delivering teddy bears expanded to include
soft sleep sacks for infants as well as plush
blankets for patients. The initiative will
relaunch this fall for the first time since the
COVID pandemic began.
“Giving a bear hug allows our community
to provide comfort in a tangible way,”
says Suzette Strong, CEO of Markham
Stouffville Hospital Foundation. “Your
support this Giving Tuesday will support
some of our most vulnerable patients, from
our tiniest patients in the Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit to women fighting cancer
in our chemotherapy clinic, to our elderly
patients.”
All the money raised from Bear Necessities
will be used to expand MSH. By
2030, the goal is to be able to serve 500,000
patients a year. Expanding Emergency Care
and doubling the volume of cancer patients,
surgeries and mental health needs are of the
utmost priority.
The date for this year’s GivingTuesday
is November 28. This is the official global
celebration, however, the primary objective
of the movement is to highlight the value
and importance of generosity. The most successful
campaigns are a year-round effort.
Donations and volunteering are encouraged
on whatever days make sense for each
individual. In many ways, GivingTuesday
is not just about that one single day. It is
meant as a message to citizens of more than
80 participating countries to help, donate
and volunteer with any foundation that they
have a close connection to.
All GivingTuesday partners are responsible
for organizing their own GivingTuesday
campaigns and activities, allowing
communities across Canada to get involved.
There are no restrictions on who can participate,
and all are welcome to become a
part of this movement. From charities and
non-profits to small businesses, corporations,
schools and community groups,
GivingTuesday is about bringing everyone
together under one shared commitment: to
be generous and create positive change.
Visit lifesavinggifts.ca to purchase
a Bear Necessity and double your impact
thanks to Shahan and Aida Güler’s pledge
to match donations this Giving Tuesday on
November 28.

4 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2023
A lifetime of helping youth
Seneca grads can launch
medical careers in Grenada
BY ANDREW FUYARCHUK
Bonnie Harkness, chief operating officer
of 360kids, describes the organization
and shares her experiences and impressions
of young people in Markham and York
Region.
Harkness has worked with youth for
over thirty years and has been working with
them in York Region for over twenty-four
years, initially, at Youth Homes in Markham
in 1996. Since referrals were coming from
Richmond Hill, she became the director of
Home Base Drop-in Centre in Richmond
Hill. It is now known as Richmond Hill
Youth Hub. She also served as the director
of Big Brothers and Sisters in Durham
before joining 360kids.
360kids is dedicated to the long-term
success and well-being of low-risk to multibarriered
youth the latter of whom may be
homeless or at risk of homelessness. To that
end, they manage employment programs,
house young people on a broad spectrum,
provide family support and help to stabilize
those with possible drug addiction or
possible exploitation by human traffickers.
Their motto is “Every kid matters. No kid is
left behind.”
Harkness reflects on the youth today,
“In the past, trade schools were there to
help but when they were phased out, people
who ought to have been placed there were
channelled into academic streams. This
created anxiety for them.” She explains that
immersion in technology is also creating
problems. Young people benefit most from
healthy social interactions, but the technologies
they use today stand in the way.
Harkness adds that in addition to academic
pressures and the negative influence of technology
on social skills, youth are experiencing
stress at home. She explains that further
stress is added when middle-class families
are getting by paycheque to paycheque.
One of her memorable experiences
happened late at night at a bus stop in
Newmarket. She had just finished work and
recognized a man she remembered having
helped twenty years ago. He hugged her and
said, “I was thinking of you last week.” He
told her about his life and success. Harkness
reflects, “What we do today really matters
to their future.”
Harkness relates that there is poverty
in Markham. There are multigenerational
families living together, and some youth
in Markham are ending up on the streets.
“Kids left on the street are preyed upon by
drug dealers and pimps. That is our competition.”
Since support services in the city
are lacking, “360kids” partners with community
centres to help young people access
services.
As COO of 360kids, Harkness is
resilient. She solves problems and overcomes
obstacles to deliver the best service
possible. She concludes, “Our backyard is
their backyard. They have a right to live and
be successful in their own communities.”
A new partnership opens the door for
Seneca Polytechnic graduates to launch their
careers as medical doctors at a university on
the tropical island of Grenada in the West
Indies.
A new partnership with St. George’s
University will offer qualified Seneca students
fast-track status and expedited entry
into the five- or six-year M.D. programs at
the St. George’s School of Medicine.
“We are excited to offer this direct
pathway to M.D. programs,” says Marianne
Marando, Vice-President of Academic &
Students at Seneca Polytechnic. “This new
partnership will provide our students with
an outstanding opportunity to pursue further
studies in medicine and the long history of
excellent medical education at St. George’s
makes them an ideal partner.”
St. George’s draws students and faculty
from 140 countries to its programs in
medicine, veterinary medicine, public health,
science and business. Its School of Medicine
is accredited by the Grenada Medical and
Dental Council, which is recognized by the
World Federation for Medical Education.
Seneca students can apply for the
special admissions pathways to St. George’s
when applying to or while enrolled at the
polytechnic. In addition to completing all
required prerequisite coursework, they must
maintain a strong undergraduate GPA and
score competitively on relevant entrance
exams.
Seneca’s Arts and Science – University
Transfer diploma program graduates
who complete all required prerequisites
enter St. George’s five-year M.D. program.
Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced
Diplomas & Degrees certificate program
graduates who meet St. George’s admissions
standards enter the six-year program.
Students in the five-year track must
complete one year of preclinical coursework
in Grenada, while those in the six-year
track will complete two years of preclinical
coursework there. Students in both programs
can then complete their first year of medical
study in Grenada or at Northumbria University
in the U.K. Students will complete their
second year of medical study in Grenada and
their final two years in clinical rotations at
affiliated hospitals in the U.S. and the U.K.
Publisher
Nicole Fletcher
General Manager
Duncan Fletcher
Creative Design
Sam Pun
Editorial Contributors
Jeff Jones
Connor Simonds
George Redak
Andrew Fuyarchuk
Stephen Sweet
Nick Cagna
Rebecca Simkin
178 Main Street, Suite 306, Unionville, ON
nicolefletcher@rogers.com
(416) 884-4343

NOVEMBER 2023
COMMUNITY 5 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Mental Health First Aid course built for veterans, supporters
BY DUNCAN FLETCHER
At this time of year, thoughts often
turn to our veterans as we remember those
who served and sacrificed at home and
abroad.
They do a tough job, and sometimes
the price of duty is injuries that follow
them back into civilian life, both physical
and mental. Post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), also known as operational stress
injury, has become better recognized with
some supports already in place. Mental
Health First Aid (MHFA) – a course
supported by Veteran Affairs Canada – is
being offered locally at no cost to participants.
This program is designed for
veterans and those around them — family,
friends, supporters, health professionals,
and caring community members.
Ryan Mitchell, a Markham resident
and member of the Markham and District
Veteran’s Association (MDVA), has
been front and centre in the push for such
supports and is a point person for MHFA
locally. With 18 years of service, including
tours of duty in Bosnia, Croatia and
several domestic tours under his belt,
Mitchell had to confront the hard reality
that he was physically too damaged to
continue and was medically discharged in
2013. But he also discovered as he found
his way back to civilian life that he carried
emotional damage too and was diagnosed
with PTSD.
But while his recovery continued, a
new recognition hit home with him as it
Ryan Mitchell, kneeling centre-left, is one of the organizers of the MHFA course. Here he
poses with recent graduates of the course held recently at the Markham and District Veterans
Association.
has for many in his place, that the burden
of recovery lies not just on their shoulders
but those around them too and scant
attention has traditionally been paid to
those very important people in the lives
of vets who are often the core of their
support network. This is why Mitchell has
chosen to become a public promoter of the
program offered locally at the MDVA and
in cooperation with other Royal Canadian
Legions in York including Stouffville,
Aurora and Newmarket.
“The reason I am so involved (with
the program) is that I’ve seen a real difference
in people’s lives, including my
own and my family and the community
around me,” says Mitchell.
The course, taken over 13 hours, is
not meant to replace professional counselling
but rather to make people more
comfortable responding to emerging mental
health issues. Or, as the title suggests,
applying mental health first aid.
Topics covered include recognizing
common mental health issues like traumarelated,
psychotic, mood and substancerelated
disorders and best responses for
incidence of panic attacks, psychosis,
overdose or acute stress reactions. The
course is part of a bigger societal issue to
decrease the stigma and discrimination
around mental health.
This broader veteran’s support group
trained by MHFA now totals over 200,000
people nationally and about 500 so far in
York Region. The sessions at the MDVA
are offered quarterly. To register or find
out more about the course in the Markham
and Stouffville area, contact ryanmitchellcd@gmail.com
or markhamveterans@
rogers.com or visit www.mhfa.ca.
LJI funding
from the
Government
of Canada

6 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2023
A great mix of shows this month at Markham Theatre
BY JEFF JONES
After a busy October with its Diamond
Season kicking into full swing, November
and early December find the Markham
Theatre with another packed schedule. The
lineup features a mix of Diamond Season
offerings and work by local and independent
producers.
“We’re beyond excited with the great
start to our season,” says Flato Markham
Theatre general manager Eric Lariviere.
The lineup starts off with audience
favourite Classic Albums Live performing
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours on November 9 at
8 p.m. Rumours is one of the largest-selling
rock records of all time with over 40 million
copies sold worldwide. Despite the legendary
tumult within the band during its creation, the
album was instantly successful in 1977 and
has become a fixture in rock radio with an
influence that is difficult to overstate.
“They’re brilliant,” says Lariviere.
“Classic Albums gives our audience a chance
to enjoy their favourite artist’s studio work
and artistry in a live setting.”
Classic Albums Live treats the music of
legendary recordings like a modern chamber
orchestra might. Every part and every note
are faithfully and perfectly performed; with
an accuracy that the original artists themselves
rarely, if ever, matched. The second
half of the show features a greatest hits style
review of the band’s other important work.
Shifting from the Diamond Season to a
community producer, Markham Little Theatre
returns with The Game’s Afoot by Ken
Ludwig from November 15 to 18, with shows
at 8 p.m. through the 17th and at 2 p.m. on the
18th. This local company has been producing
theatre in Markham for more than half a
century and murder mysteries like this have
been a mainstay throughout its history.
“Our relationship to these groups is
absolutely essential to our mission,” explains
Lariviere. “It’s what makes us a whole community.”
Keeping with community producers, next
up is Markham at the Movies on November
21 at 8 p.m. The goal of this company is to
bring award-winning films from Canada and
the world to Markham. This month’s feature is
the Italian/Belgium film, The Eight Mountains
(Le otto montagne).
Following these shows is the unofficial
start of the holiday season at Markham
Theatre. A Very Merry Motown Christmas hits
the stage on November 23 at 8 p.m. Expect
the evening to dip into the surprising wealth of
seasonal hits from Motown history.
“We love celebrating the holidays at the
theatre,” says Lariviere.
The holiday season continues into the
Diamond season on December 1st at 8 p.m.
with Men of the Deeps: Christmas in the
Mine. This chorus of Cape Breton coal miners
is keeping their tradition alive from coast to
coast. The popular and iconic group returns to
the Markham Theatre with selections from its
first-ever solo holiday recording
“There’s something very beautiful
that just connects about this group,” says
Lariviere, “but it’s also the story of the artist
themselves; where they come from and where
they’ve been.”
The very next night, on December 2nd,
The Manhattan Transfer brings its Farewell
Tour to town for two shows at 3 p.m. and 8
p.m. This show is their only appearance in
the GTA as they celebrate an incomparable
career of pop and jazz hits while supporting
their 50th Anniversary and the release of their
new album, FIFTY. on this Farewell World
Tour.
“This show is about two weeks before
they finish, forever,” explains Lariviere. “We
are more than excited to add this show to the
best jazz series in the GTA.”
The legendary quartet have 21 Grammy
nominations and 10 wins, 29 albums, and
has been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall
of Fame. This legendary group choosing
Markham as their only local stop on their
final tour speaks volumes about the growth of
both the jazz program at the theatre and about
the vibrant scene in and around Markham
“To be able to host iconic artists like
The Manhattan Transfer is an honour that is
both affirming and humbling,” says Lariviere.
“We can’t wait for these shows.”
Finally, another perennial community
producer, The Markham Concert Band brings
their seasonal celebration to the theatre on
December 3rd at 2 p.m. The show features
the classic, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,
crowd favourite Xmas Swingin’ Collection,
and lots more. Sources have confirmed
at this time that Santa Claus himself is
expected for a surprise appearance.
Visit markhamtheatre.ca for more information.

NOVEMBER 2023
COMMUNITY 7 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Funding to help biotech company
develop COVID-19 therapies
Photo of the opening of the new paramedic response station in Markham courtesy of York Region.
New paramedic response station
opens in Markham
A new paramedic response station in support our region’s growing communities,”
Markham can accommodate up to six ambulances
and will have paramedics working There are currently 27 paramedic re-
Emmerson says.
around the clock to provide emergency and sponse stations located across York Region,
non-emergency services.
which is planning to build four additional
“York Region’s paramedics provide the stations over the next three years and upgrade
two existing stations to expand service
highest quality of care to patients in York Region
and this new station will support York capacity as part of the York Region Paramedic
Services Master Plan (2021-2031). As
Region Paramedic Services in continuing to
deliver critical and life-saving services,” says York’s population continues to grow and age,
York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson.
projected to increase to more than 163,600
the demand for paramedic services is also
The LEED silver certified station is calls per year by 2031, the plan reports.
located at 180 Cachet Woods Court. New “York Region is expected to add more
stations are strategically built within areas than 600,000 new residents by 2041,” says
experiencing a growth in population and help City of Vaughan Regional Councillor Gino
York Region Paramedic Services continue to Rosati, Chair of Community and Health Services.
“With the rapidly growing and aging
meet the needs of residents. “With more than
1.2 million residents calling York Region population, like many other services and infrastructure
pg Seminar projects, Ad 10/17/23 the need 8:57 for AM paramedic Page 1
home, 2nd Review it is important quarter pg we Seminar plan and Ad.qxp_Review prepare quarter
for the essential care and services required to services is also expected to increase.”
The federal government has given a
Markham-based biopharmaceutical research
and development company working to
develop therapies to treat the leading cause
of death in COVID-10 patients a shot in the
arm.
It will invest $23 million to accelerate
Edesa Biotech’s Phase III clinical study to
demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its
monoclonal antibody therapy (EB05) for
the treatment of acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19.
ARDS is a severe form of respiratory
failure characterized by widespread inflammatory
injury to the lungs. There are currently
few meaningful treatments for moderate to
severe cases of ARDS other than supplemental
oxygen and mechanical ventilation. The
mortality rate among patients is high.
Edesa focuses on developing and commercializing
novel clinical-stage drugs for
autoimmune and infectious diseases. “These
breakthrough medicines have the potential
to be important tools in both pandemic
preparedness and biodefence,” says Edesa
Founder and CEO Dr. Par Nijhawan.
In addition to accelerating its research
plans, the funding Edesa receives from
the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) for its
$61-million project will also allow it to reach
more hospitals and move another significant
step closer to commercialization, he reports.
The company’s Phase II trials were funded
by the SIF in 2021 and endorsed by the CO-
VID-19 Therapeutics Task Force.
The SIF provides major investments
in innovative projects that will help grow
Canada’s economy for the wellbeing of all
Canadians. The most recent SIF investment
reflects the federal government’s commitment
to medical innovation and economic
growth, says Minister of Export Promotion,
International Trade and Economic Development
Mary Ng, MP for Markham-Thornhill.
The funding will allow Edesa to add
34 new positions and hire 26 co-op students
to complement its existing workforce of 50,
“bolstering our clinical trial capabilities and
skills,” she adds.
The federal government earmarked $2.2
billion over seven years toward growing a vibrant
domestic life sciences sector and securing
pandemic preparedness in Budget 2021.
“Building a strong, competitive domestic life
sciences sector with cutting-edge biomanufacturing
capabilities is our priority,” says
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
François-Philippe Champagne.
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8 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY
NOVEMBER 2023
Community Health Clinic expands
as respiratory season approaches
Oak Valley Health is now offering
enhanced care services to help protect
the community this fall and winter during
what is anticipated to be a very challenging
flu and respiratory illness season. This
expansion builds on the early success of the
Community Health Clinic (CHC) located in
Stouffville.
Staffed by nurse practitioners, the CHC
offers same and next-day appointments for
patients seeking care. With the expansion
of services, the CHC is now able to provide
care to all patients six months of age and
older, as well as rapid access for paediatric
patients.
Along with in-person appointments at
the CHC, Oak Valley Health has partnered
with Ontario Health and the Eastern York
Region North Durham (EYRND) Ontario
Health Team (OHT) to offer virtual care.
This service operates after hours and is
available for those who require timely access
to care for urgent, non-life-threatening
conditions that can be addressed virtually.
This service is also appointment-based and
operates daily between the hours of 1-9
p.m.
Appointments for adult and rapid
access paediatric care, both in-person and
virtual, can be booked through oakvalleyhealth.ca.
“With the upcoming fall respiratory
season, we are grateful for this expansion
of the CHC. This is a step towards making
health care more accessible to everyone in
our community,” says Elena Pacheco, vice
president and chief operating officer. “Additionally,
the expansion will help ease the
burden for families and children and reduce
the strain on our busy Emergency Departments,
particularly as we expect to see a rise
in influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.”
In partnership with the EYRND OHT
and Well Plus Compounding Pharmacy, Oak
Valley Health opened the CHC in May 2023,
providing health care services for individuals
without primary care providers, allowing
patients to access immediate and follow-up
care when necessary and appropriate.
“At the CHC, we see a variety of family
medicine and care needs, most often related
to respiratory, viral, and gastrointestinal
illnesses,” says Terri Stuart-McEwan, vice
president, clinical programs and chief nursing
executive. “We welcome all patients to
see one of our practitioners for in-person
or virtual assessments, as well as followup
reassessments to ensure our patients are
improving.”
These enhanced services will support
the health of our community this respiratory
season, providing new options for patients
and families to access care. The CHC will
also work to relieve the Emergency Departments
of non-acute volumes.
A Very Merry Motown Christmas
A holiday tradition continues. Colourful,
engaging and full of fun. A Very Merry
Motown Christmas takes you to a time when
the best holiday playlist was filled with the
unmistakable soul, rhythm, and groove of
classic Motor City cool.
Enjoy hits from Aretha Franklin,
Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight
and The Supremes, and others, alongside
Christmas and Motown classics. Christmas
is a time for celebration and what could be
more festive than a holiday tribute to the best
from the legendary music powerhouse era of
Motown.
Performed by an all-star class of musical
talent, led by visionary musical director
George St. Kitts.
A consummate entertainer and versatile
vocalist, St. Kitts performed in Toronto’s
“The Lion King,” and as Sammy Davis Jr. in
“The Rat Pack Show.”
His musical talents have been showcased
on the international stage and on
numerous award shows.
St. Kitts, in harmony with Mondo Entertainment
Inc., has put together innovative
arrangements for these holiday classics that
are both familiar and refreshing.
This show provides holiday family
entertainment at its best. A Very Merry Motown
Christmas will light up your evening
on Nov. 23 at the Markham Theatre.
Visit markhamtheatre.ca for more information.

NOVEMBER 2023
COMMUNITY 9 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Local news the victim in government, big-tech battle
BY DUNCAN FLETCHER
Social media is about sharing. While
some arguably overshare frivolous details
of their lives, social media has become an
important platform to share fun and often
important community news and information.
But if you’ve tried to share a great article
from a local, regional or national news
outlet lately, you’ve undoubtedly found that
impossible. You can’t even share the URL.
Similarly, if you want to check out the
Stouffville or Markham Review’s latest post
on Facebook, sorry. You can’t do that either.
Either way, you’ve probably found a
message simply saying, “This content isn’t
available in Canada.”
But it’s not the news source preventing
you from seeing its content. We wish we
could share as much as possible with you.
In response to new, and some might
say, misguided federal government legislation,
the Online News Act will force
companies like Meta (Facebook, Instagram
and WhatsApp’s parent company), as well
as other large digital social outlets like
Alphabet (Google, YouTube) to compensate
traditional media for news they create and
then shared on social sites. In response,
Meta has gone nuclear and erased all hint of
news from its platforms – large and small.
Google has also said they will follow
suit shortly, erasing all search results for
Canadian news articles on their platforms.
The upshot of this legislative stand-off is
that your access to legitimate news content
will be severely curtailed, and news sites
will be unable to share even the most critically
important information except on their
site.
The backdrop to this story is a longrunning
erosion of advertising dollars from
“traditional media” to trackable digital platforms
over the last 15 years or so. Trackable
is a keyword here.
Facebook and Google have exceptional
data collection capabilities and know how
to use it. They know where you go on the
internet, what you like, when you are online
and where you’ll likely go. They see what
news interests you and where you go to
get it and use the data they get from your
behaviour and target ads your way and advertisers
pay to access you through various
means that the big two provide.
It’s been a resounding success. Over
80 per cent of all digital ads in Canada go
to the big two at the expense of traditional
advertising outlets — namely news sources.
Traditional media have tried to adapt by
putting all their content on websites and
gaining what meagre digital ad dollars
might trickle down to them, which isn’t
much – even for more prominent outlets
like the Toronto Star, CBC, CTV etc. Even
these outlets don’t have the power to drive
sufficient traffic on their own sites to live
off the ad revenue as they once did when
the content was delivered in print or on
traditional broadcast mediums.
So, knowing that many people have
become accustomed to accessing news via
social media, most news outlets post links
there, hoping to redirect the valuable eyeballs
back to their sites.
Markham-Stouffville Review General Manager Duncan Fletcher, seen here with print and
online versions of the paper, says that local media is being threatened by misguided government
policy and combative tech giants.
On the surface, it seems like a win-win,
doesn’t it? Facebook gets data and news
sites get referrals through links they post.
Over a third of Stouffville and Markham
Review’s traffic has typically come from
social media. We don’t complain. Sometimes
we’ve even paid Facebook to boost
our posts.
However many more prominent Canadian
news outlets contend that the dominant
market position Facebook and Google have
has been achieved on the backs of traditional
media as Meta, Google, et al, don’t
produce any news content they display and
benefit from. Also, they note, that ad dollars
from local businesses go right back to
a foreign jurisdiction and invest precisely
zero back into local communities. And
so, traditional media are demanding some
of the ad money back from them even if
Facebook and Google don’t make ad sales
directly from news content.
Facebook, for their part, says, ‘Don’t
blame us for building a better mouse trap.
If you want more ad dollars, build a better
system.’ They also argue the millions of
eyeballs they send to news sites are payment
enough. If news outlets don’t think
they’re valuable, don’t post on the platform.
That is a good point in principle. But
do they owe Canadians nothing beyond
well-targeted, increasingly expensive ads?
The Canadian government, allegedly
in the interest of promoting a strong and
vibrant domestic news sector, agreed with
news content producers.
Following similar legislation enacted
in Australia, it produced the Online News
Act, which will force big digital to collectively
negotiate with Canadian news outlets
and distribute payment to them for any links
used on their platforms.
Further, the Online News Act grandiosely
claims the Act’s outcome will be
the “sustainability of the Canadian news
ecosystem, including the sustainability of
independent news businesses….” The details
about how the negotiating process will
work are still to be determined, and assessing
what each link is worth will be messy.
But estimates from both the government
and Facebook/Google suggest numbers
totalling upwards of $200 million a year.
The digital giants will resist being
squeezed, and even if they do buckle, any
funds that do go back to media as a result
of the Act will be sucked up by larger,
lumbering, traditional, money-losing news
organizations like the already governmentfunded
CBC or struggling newspapers like
the Toronto Star who support the Act.
Torstar, the parent company of the
Star, has sought bankruptcy protection
for Metroland newspapers which includes
the Stouffville Sun-Tribune and Markham
Economist & Sun despite already having
a revenue-sharing deal with Facebook.
Traditional news sources are losing money
so fast that whatever money is wrung from
Facebook or Google will not change the trajectory
of their business. The Online News
Act is not doing anything to help build a
more vibrant media landscape. It is merely
a last-gasp attempt to shore up a failed business
model and delay the inevitable.
While big traditional media suck up
what they can, small, local, independently
owned outlets like the Stouffville and
Markham Review will get nothing from the
Online News Act arrangement.
That’s because the Online Act contains
a stilted and dated view of a news organization.
It itemizes, that, among other characteristics,
a news business must employ two
journalists to be eligible. Many owner-operated
news organizations stay afloat with the
assistance of freelance reporters. Many of
these small organizations wouldn’t qualify
for this funding (unless Indigenous-owned).
That doesn’t square with the new media
reality where many highly qualified and
talented writers, photographers, and digital
media producers, having worked with big
media, increasingly strike out on their own
and provide much-needed and insightful
local content, often online only.
In the Review’s case, a family-owned
outlet whose two owners have collectively,
more than 60 years of media experience
doesn’t count as an independent news business
no matter how many local stories we
write or of what quality or worth they are
because we’re classed as owners and not
paid exclusively as journalists. The dozen
or so contributors and freelance writers who
write on our printed pages and websites
don’t count either. Even though paid, they
are not officially employees, so not classed
as journalists for the purposes of the Act.
So here we are.
The federal government doesn’t classify
us as a news organization, but Facebook
and Google are punishing us like we
are.
So, who’s looking out for local news?
Well, it’s up to us. I guess. But we’ll
need your help.
First, pick up our print product and
pass it on to a friend when done. They are
available at local grocery stores, libraries,
community centres and other high-traffic
locations. Patronize the good advertisers
that still spend money on local news. They
are getting good results and helping pay for
local stories to be told.
If you’re a local business, consider
spending some of your local budget on local
media directly, in print or online. We offer
packages that combine both and you’ll be
noticed as a business that cares about independent
news.
Secondly, bookmark our website in
your browser and any other local site you
like. Go straight to the source often and
don’t rely on Facebook to decide what can
be shared with you. If you like the format,
our print product is replicated on our site in
an interactive PDF, but we update the site
daily with more news and information than
we can fit in print.
And then hope that common sense
prevails, and the government looks to more
productive ways of engaging digital reality
than subsidizing a dying business model
and Facebook and Google stop acting like
the schoolyard bully.
There are better ways forward. Maybe
even call your local MP and let them know
you expect more from the government than
the misguided, news-killing Online News
Act.
Tell them you read about the whole
mess in a local, independent news outlet.
Now, one of very few left.

10 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2023
Theatre launches free
online access for ‘Simply Series’
Flato Markham Theatre has launched
its live stream of the 2022 Simply Series, a
series of ten intimate and uplifting evenings
with beloved Canadian artists, available to
the public to enjoy for free online.
The Simply Series, a truly unique and
innovative program sponsored by Flato
Developments and the Department of Canadian
Heritage, is a fusion of storytelling
and live performance, designed to focus on
the close relationship between the artist and
the spectator.
Blending both the music and the story
behind it, each show episode features live
and pre-recorded elements, taped during
the artists’ performance at Flato Markham
Theatre.
The series aims to highlight a selection
of professional Canadian artists with
unique stories to share in an intimate setting
with their audience. These are more
than stage performances – with meaningful
stories of challenge and triumph revealing
the person behind the music, these
are shows with a special, personal touch,
providing a one-of-a-kind experience that
will all be accessible to music lovers in one
place.
You’ll want to check out the live
stream footage of Canadian rock icon
Gowan, whose Simply performance has
been kept under wraps until now. Be the
first to hear the personal storytelling of the
beloved rocker and hear his soaring voice
sing his megahits that have been inspiring
generations of new artists for decades.
The remaining featured artists in the
project include Michael Kaeshammer, live
with additional highlights and a full interview,
revealing the vocal ability, sense of
humour and handsome charm that has won
over audiences at every show; Lata Pada,
founder and artistic director of the awardwinning
Canadian professional dance
company Sampradaya Dance Creations,
specializing in classical and contemporary
dance works rooted in the Indian dance
form of Bharatanatyam; Rob Tardik and
Kimberley Black, whose performance
revolves around the miraculous story of
Kim’s survival in an attempted murder and
deals with overcoming trauma, building
resilience, and inspiring hope through the
art of dance, storytelling, and music. Also
featured is the versatile singer, writer and
producer George St. Kitts, whose shows
bring his audience back to a time filled with
soul, rhythm, and joy; Ottawa-based jazz
star Kellylee Evans, whose show combines
the themes of mental health, resilience,
imagination, and resourcefulness; Canadian
Brass, a group that knows the fine art of
playing music to tell a well-crafted story;
and John McDermott, who chronicles his
30-year career in music with stories of
love, loss, patriotism, family, sacrifice, and
honour.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the hours of
special storytelling that threads together
music, love, joy, hardship, and real-life
experience – for free. Visit the new Simply
Series website simplyseries.ca.
Visit markhamtheatre.ca for information
on the 2023-2024 Diamond Season
performers.
More speed enforcement cameras
on their way
York Region plans to add 60 new automated
speed enforcement cameras by 2027
and will create an in-house processing centre
to handle the speeding tickets that will be
generated as a result.
The region decided to continue the
automated speed enforcement system following
a two-year pilot project in specific school
areas along regional roads. Operating speeds
decreased by about nine kilometres an hour
and speed compliance more than doubled, it
reports.
Automated speed enforcement uses a
camera and speed measurement device to
enforce speed limits in identified areas. If a
vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit in one
of those areas, the automated speed enforcement
system captures an image which is
reviewed by a provincial offences officer. An
image of the offence, licence plate and ticket
with an associated fine will be mailed within
the next 30 days.
More than half of fatal collisions on
regional roads are related to speeding. Automated
enforcement helps to improve safety
and change driver behaviour in our community,
the region says.

NOVEMBER 2023
Hub to provide accessible seniors-focused programs
11 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
BY CONNOR SIMONDS
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Exciting developments are underway
in York Region as plans for the Unionville
Commons Seniors Hub takes shape.
The project aims to provide enhanced
services for seniors, promoting community
well-being and inclusivity.
Jennifer Strong, acting director of Integrated
Business Services with York Region,
states, “York Region’s senior population is
growing faster than any other age group,”
and with the senior population on the rise,
there is a growing need for localized and
accessible services. Community hubs have
emerged as effective spaces for bringing
people together and offering a range of programs
and opportunities. The Seniors Hub
and Community Centre align with York
Region’s Seniors Strategy, which focuses
on creating multi-service centres that adapt
to the changing needs of seniors.
The opportunity to establish the seniors
hub arose during the redevelopment of the
Unionville Home Society campus. Collaborating
with Unionville Home Society and
Minto Communities, the project includes
a 265-unit affordable rental building for
seniors. Located on the ground floor of
Unionville Commons, at 4310 Highway 7
East, the hub and community centre will become
a centre for seniors-focused services,
programs, and amenities.
According to Strong, “The City of
Markham is home to the highest share of
York Region seniors, and it is estimated
that between 2021 and 2051, the number of
seniors living in the City of Markham will
grow by 113 per cent,” underscoring the
pressing need for this initiative.
“In the coming months, we will
begin recruiting residents from Unionville
Museum will use grant to keep
seniors ‘socially connected’
Commons, community members, and key
partners to create the Seniors Hub Advisory
Group; the group will provide feedback
and advice to York Region on the planning,
operations, and continuous improvement
of the hub and will also support ongoing
consultation opportunities with community
members and agencies,” says Strong,
reflecting the commitment to involving the
community in the project.
In addition to the seniors hub and
community centre, Unionville Commons is
making significant strides in construction.
The development features two towers, an
eight-storey and a 12-storey building, providing
a total of 265 apartments for seniors.
Designed with seniors’ specific needs in
mind, the building offers universal accessibility
and on-site parking. Outdoor spaces,
gardens, and pedestrian walkways will contribute
to the residents’ overall well-being.
York Region’s commitment to building
age-friendly communities is evident in the
Unionville Commons development and the
seniors hub and community centre.
Funding for the capital construction
costs will be supplemented by contributions
from the federal and provincial governments
through the Investing in Canada
Infrastructure Program. The hub and community
centre operations are designed to
be self-sustaining, avoiding the need for
regional tax levy contributions or subsidies
from Housing York Inc. Affordable membership
fees will ensure accessibility for the
community.
“York Region received funding to
support capital costs to build the seniors
hub through the Community, Culture, and
Recreation funding stream of the Investing
in Canada Infrastructure Program,” says
Strong. The collaboration with the City of
Markham underscores the shared dedication
to meet the needs of the growing senior
population and create a vibrant and inclusive
community.
Strong concludes by stating that the
design and construction of the seniors hub
is anticipated to begin in 2024, with operations
commencing in 2025. She also notes
that “In 2024, we will initiate a public process
to bring in partner organizations; these
partners will provide seniors with programs
and services at the hub that are tailored to
the community and easy to access.”
Local dignitaries at the Sept. 23 government funding announcement at Markham Museum.
The Markham Museum will use a community
grant to encourage older adults to
take part in pottery classes and group tours
of an exhibition that shares experiences of
the Chinese community.
The museum has received about
$24,500 through the provincial government’s
2023-24 Seniors Community Grant Program
and will use it to focus on seniors who may
face a variety of barriers to participation,
such as economic, language, lack of opportunities
and accessibility.
“Seniors Community Grants are keeping
our seniors fit, active, healthy and socially
connected close to home in their communities,”
Minister for Seniors and Accessibility
Raymond Cho says. “Our government is
proud to invest in these projects with local
organizations to meet the needs of seniors,
provide the supports seniors need and deserve
that also help to battle social isolation.”
The ministry reports investing more
than $22 million in Seniors Community
Grants to more than 1,200 grassroots projects
that have helped seniors stay socially and
physically active in their communities since
2018.
Markham Museum is home to more
than 20 historic buildings on 25 acres of
parkland. It offers year-round exhibits, public
programs, signature events and research
facilities. It will use the Seniors Community
Grant to offer three main programs, including
four sessions of five-week pottery handbuilding
courses at the museum between
October and March.
It will also offer 10 two-hour introduction
to pottery hand-building classes in the
community. Finally, it will offer six group
tours of the Standing in the Doorway: Lived
Histories and Experiences of the Chinese
Community exhibition and related activities.
Two of the tours will offer accessible busing
at no cost.
“Markham’s commitment to inclusion
has always extended to seniors in our
community,” says Mayor Frank Scarpitti.
“With this additional funding, the Markham
Museum can extend its already robust series
of programs for people of all ages. Programming
specifically for older adults focuses on
their particular interests and the ability to
access the museum site.”

12 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW NOVEMBER 2023