Markham Stouffville Review, January 2024

STOUFFVILLE
Vol.13 Issue 1 January 2024
WWW.STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM
WWW.MARKHAMREVIEW.COM
WHAT’S INSIDE
Markham Theatre has a
strong lineup to start the year
With January comes a period of rest for many
after celebrations. After a couple weeks of laying
low and hibernating, many start looking for opportunities
to emerge.
SEE PAGE 2
Proposed Markville Development gets a
rough ride at public consultations
A proposed development that would see Markville
Mall become the centre of a new planned
community with 4340 condo units.
SEE PAGE 5
Inaugural 2023 Markham Talent Showcase
Markham audiences were captivated by an
exciting performance showcase by winners and
notable mentions of the Markham Talent – Open
Casting Call.
Markham Jazzlicious WinterFest returns
The Markham Jazzlicious Winterfest returns for a second year and is double the size of the sold-out inaugural event. Six
musical and culinary pairings take place at culinary destinations across the city.
SEE PAGE 7
Stouffville sisters dance
their way to silver medals in Belgium
Fortune Ball returns to support MSH
SEE PAGE 8
Stouffville sisters and their team represented
Canada at the International Dance Organization’s
Jazz, Ballet, Modern and Contemporary Championships
that came to a successful end in Belgium.
SEE PAGE 9
Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation welcomed
more than 700 guests and community members to
The Fortune Ball, supported by lead sponsor Green
City Communities Inc. and presented by TD.
SEE PAGE 10
COMMUNITY
Wintersong 2024
first acts revealed
The highly anticipated 2024 edition of
Wintersong Music Festival will take place in
Stouffville from Jan. 19-20.
Lifetime of sharing
community news
For Jim Thomas, it was an event he’ll never
forget — induction into the 2023 Ontario
Community Newspaper Association Hall of
Fame.
ACS recognition underscores
MSH’s dedication to the highest
standards of care
Earning national recognition for patient care
is one of the most meaningful rewards for
Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville
Hospital
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 4 SEE PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 11
Humans 2.0
by Circa
Created by Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa Ensemble
Thursday, February 1 // 8pm
flatomarkhamtheatre.ca
905.305.7469
Humans 2.0 is commissioned by The Mondavi Center, UC Davis
Circa acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through
Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body and the
Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
230110 FMT_Markham Review - 23.24 Season - CIRCA - NEW SIZE 10x1.75.indd 1 2023-12-15 9:44 AM

2 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY JANUARY 2024
Markham Theatre has a strong lineup to start the year
BY JEFF JONES
With January comes a period of rest
for many after celebrations. After a couple
weeks of laying low and hibernating, many
start looking for opportunities to emerge.
Markham Theatre and its general manager
Eric Lariviere have got its community
covered this January.
“We’re excited about sharing this
lineup with our audience in 2024,” says
Lariviere.
First, the Markham Theatre comes back
to life after the holidays with a couple of
independent productions.
On Jan. 16, Markham at the Movies
presents The Eight Mountains (Le otto
montagne). This film won the 2022 Jury
Prize at Cannes and is going to be on screen
in Markham for movie lovers to enjoy.
Next, an acclaimed tribute act, Epic
Eagles, performs on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. This
show is billed as The Definitive Tribute to
The Eagles and Don Henley and promises
hits like Hotel California, One of These
Nights, Life in the Fast Lane, Desperado,
Dirty Laundry, New Kid In Town, Take It
Easy, The Boys Of Summer as well as a few
deep cuts.
The Diamond Series returns Jan. 19
with Dominic Mancuso & Vittorio Mezza:
Dances in my Mind.
“Dominic is such an important Canadian
artist,” Lariviere says. “There’s
something very authentic about how he
approaches music.”
Mancuso is celebrating 20 years of
making records and [performing with his
most ambitious body of work yet. Dances in
My Mind is a collaboration with renowned
Italian pianist/arranger Vittorio Mezza that
features the acclaimed music from Mancuso’s
career re-arranged to include strings,
clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, vibraphone,
and marimba. This blend of classical, jazz,
world music groove, and singer-songwriter
is the heart of the show.
“He’s the type of artist we love to work
with,” adds Lariviere.
Next up is Emilie-Claire Barlow on
Jan. 27.
“She’s such a fantastic jazz singer,”
says Lariviere. “More than just that, audiences
love to hear her.”
Emilie-Claire has performed all over
the world for the past 25 years, featuring
repertoire from her impressive catalogue of
12 albums. Her live performances showcase
her inspired re-imaginings and affectionate
treatments of classic pop and jazz
songs delivered with a relaxed demeanour,
charming humour and a voice that many
call unforgettable. When she returns to the
Markham Theatre stage in January, it is
behind her latest album, Spark Bird, inspired
by the sounds of nearby birds that kept her
company during the isolation of 2020.
“It’s a beautiful record,” Lariviere
notes.
On Feb. 1, the acclaimed Australian
company Circa returns with Humans 2.0.
“Circa is a leader in the emergence of
circus performance from the past 15 years or
so,” says Lariviere. “What sets them apart to
Emilie-Claire Barlow performs on January 27
at the Markham Theatre.
me is their desire to really test how far the
human body can be used as, sort of, media”
Humans 2.0 intends to push the boundaries
of what circus performance can be. The
show follows ten individuals as they begin
to move in harmony with each other, before
their rhythms shift and physical limits are
pushed to the extreme, as they grapple with
the struggle to find balance amid constant
uncertainty. With choreography that blends
movement, dance, and theatre with circus
performance, Humans 2.0 has something for
pretty much everyone.
“We had them here with Human, their
first show,” adds Lariviere, “we had to have
them back for the next.”
The following night, Feb. 2, brings
the wonderful voice and compelling story
of Jeanick Fournier to the Flato Markham
Theatre stage for her show Jeanick Fournier
Sings Celine.
“She can sing, let me tell you.” says
Lariviere.
This mother of two and former palliative
care beneficiary attendant has drawn the
attention of the nation by winning the second
season of Canada’s Got Talent. Building
on some of her most memorable moments
from the show, the performance this month
sees Fournier interpreting the greatest hits
of the famed diva with whom she shares her
home province. Accompanied by a band of
seven, Fournier intends to seduce you with
her powerful voice!
“Stories like Fournier’s are always
worth supporting,” Lariviere is quick to
remind, “but the show itself is great too.”
For more information, visit
markhamtheatre.ca
Latcham Art Centre
launches winter exhibition
IMAGES 2023-2024: Meraki, featuring artwork by graduating students from Stouffville District
Secondary School will be on display at the Latcham Art Centre until Jan. 13.
IMAGES 2023-2024: Meraki, featuring
artwork by graduating students from
Stouffville District Secondary School is on
display at the Latcham Art Centre.
The annual exhibition will be showcased
until Jan. 13, 2024. This event is open
to everyone, and admission is free.
IMAGES 2023-2024 brings together
a collection of artworks by talented grade
twelve students. This year marks the 28th
iteration of the show, where ‘Meraki’ – a
Greek term defined as engaging in activities
with immense creativity or passion by
infusing your heart and soul into your work
– serves as both the theme and title. This
concept resonates deeply with the dedication
and passion of these young artists.
Reflecting on the personal significance
of their exhibition theme, the artists state,
“This is a group exhibit featuring artworks
that are representative of who we are, and
where we are going, as we embark on future
creative endeavours. It is our hope that our
creations speak to the people around us. In
this exhibit, you will find many visions of
how we perceive the world. The art you will
see showcases things that we obsess over,
our passions and interests: ranging from
fantastical, vivid creatures to mechanical
marvels, and anything that holds a special
meaning.”
The artists are grateful to Onalee
Webb, their dedicated art teacher, for her
continued support and guidance.

JANUARY 2024
COMMUNITY 3 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
York Regional Police, Seneca among Top Employers
York Regional Police (YRP) and
Seneca Polytechnic are among the Greater
Toronto Top Employers (2024), a project
that’s widely considered the benchmark for
workplace best practices in Toronto and its
surrounding area.
Now in its 18th year, the Greater
Toronto’s Top Employers competition is an
editorial project that recognizes employers
with exceptional human resources
programs and forward-thinking workplace
policies. Factors used in the evaluation of
employers include work atmosphere, health
benefits, vacation and time off, employee
communications, performance management,
skills development and community
involvement.
YRP was recognized for the ninth consecutive
year. Among other things, it was
lauded for offering helpful financial perks
throughout an employee’s career, including
low-interest home loans, discounted auto
lease rates, and discounted home and auto
insurance. As part of a formal wellness
strategy, it opened a 6,600-square-foot
wellness facility that offers education and
support related to physical, psychological,
social and spiritual health for employees,
retirees and their families.
YRP is one of the few police services
in Canada to have licensed clinical
psychologists and other mental health
clinicians on staff to provide its members
with rapid access to consultation services,
well-developed training programs related
to mental health, as well as expertise and
knowledge to advise on mental health
policy and planning.
“We strive to ensure our members are
well-developed and supported in a rewarding
career, with access to the best training
and health and wellness programs,” says
YRP Chief Jim MacSween. “We work
hard to ensure our members feel welcome,
included, valued and respected in a professional
environment.”
Seneca offers hybrid work arrangements
for eligible roles and invested in
major workplace redesigns, incorporating
hoteling spaces and ensuring employees
have the necessary equipment to work from
home. On campus, employees can take
advantage of a fitness facility at no charge
and diverse food options that include vegetarian,
halal, vegan and gluten-free menus.
“At Seneca, we’re committed to
cultivating a healthy work environment,
rewarding excellence and building employee
experiences on- and off-campus,” says
Vice-President of Human Resources Caroline
Riley. “Winning the Greater Toronto
Top Employers award for the 15th time is
proof of something our more than 4,000
employees already know – that Seneca
truly is a great place to work.”
Since the pandemic, employees are
placing far greater emphasis on how their
time is used, with unproductive uses, such
as long commutes or excessive meetings,
falling by the wayside, Mediacorp reports.
“This year’s winners make employees
feel their time is valuable, especially
when making the commute to work,” says
Richard Yerema, executive editor of the
Canadas Top 100 Employers project.
Other local winners include Hyundai
Auto Canada Corp., which starts new
employees with three weeks of vacation
allowance and offers 10 wellness days per
year to help employees rest and recharge.
The wellness days can be used for illness,
injury, personal wellness or mental health,
including assisting a dependent’s needs.
Visit www.canadastop100.com/toronto/
for a complete list of winners and detailed
reasons for their selection.
YRP Chief Jim MacSween

4 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY JANUARY 2024
Wintersong Music Festival 2024 first acts revealed
The highly anticipated 2024 edition of
Wintersong Music Festival will take place
in Stouffville from Jan. 19-20.
Attendees can look forward to a dynamic
array of 100+ local buzz acts across
15 venues, and the return of the Musician’s
Guide to the Galaxy: Q&A with Industry
Experts, as well as a brand new panel titled
Make it Make Cents: A Candid Conversation
on Redefining Success in the Music Industry.
The exclusive discussions, available
to reserve now, offer insight into how to
carve a sustainable career in the ever-changing
landscape and present an unfiltered look
at what it truly means to succeed in today’s
music world.
Wintersong has something for everyone,
showcasing all genres in a lineup
meticulously crafted with gender parity
and diversity in mind. They are pleased to
announce Intimate & Electronic: A Special
One-Night-Only Wintersong Experience
featuring Fraxinus Prime (Ash from USS),
Vice Locker, dreamSTATE and Timerity.
As well, Cerebral Waves: A Live Musical
Performance with Maylee Todd, and performances
by Housewife and Altered By Mom.
Celebrated Canadian indie band
Wintersleep, known for their mesmerizing
soundscapes and heartfelt lyrics, will take
the stage as the festival’s headliner. With a
rich history of critically acclaimed albums,
Wintersleep promises to deliver an unforgettable
performance that will resonate with
fans and newcomers alike.
Headliner Wintersleep is set to perform at the 2024 Wintersong Music Festival on Jan. 20.
Adding to the festival’s lineup is
Status/Non-Status – the ever-evolving musical
project led by Anishinaabe artist Adam
Sturgeon and a close-knit group of collaborators.
Status/Non-Status is recognized for
their power-packed sound, forged through
relentless touring, profound self-discovery,
and emotionally charged musical compositions.
Ottawa’s Pony Girl will also grace the
Wintersong stages, wielding their mastery
of art pop to invigorate audiences with
a prismatic and distinctive sound that’s
uniquely their own.
As the annual festival enters its fifth
year, it continues to captivate music enthusiasts,
drawing thousands to the area, and
providing a massive seasonal boost to the
local economy. Applauded as the “single
most impactful relief effort for small businesses
in the shoulder seasons” year-overyear,
Wintersong generates over one million
dollars in associated tourism revenue for
the Town of Stouffville. Family-friendly
highlights include the Youth Stage, musical/
artistic workshops for kids, a Silent Disco
in the library, and programming alongside
a music/music video exhibit at Latcham Art
Centre.
Hosted by a small but mighty team,
Warm Hearts Collective and Epidemic
Music Group join forces alongside volunteers.
Guided by their mission to be accessible
and authentic, the festival has been
free for the community to attend, ensuring
that everyone can access the magic of this
musical celebration. An incremental service
charge on tickets this year will support their
continued operations. “This year has been a
lot; for our team, in our planning, and also
globally,” says festival director Heather
Cook. “Now more than ever we just want to
be as real as possible and invite that same
energy back. No pretence, no glitter or
smoke and mirrors: just people doing what
they love. We want to inspire joy through
art, music and community.” In solidarity
with Cadence’s weapon’s #NoMoreMerch-
Cuts movement, Wintersong does not take
merchandise cuts from any artist.
With a free karaoke shuttle bus in tow
to navigate between venues, Wintersong
will be partnering with Music Declares
Emergency Canada to encourage audiences
to use sustainable transportation (walking,
cycling, public transit) to get to concerts,
drawing awareness that audience travel
is the single biggest source of emissions
within the live music sector.
Enjoy performances by Alex Southey,
Chris Birkett, GFU, Junestone, Recall, Sigfried
Echo Hemming, Camille Léon, Rise
Carmine, The Band Caves, Hungry Lake,
Joey O’ Neil, Carmela, Rebekah Hawker,
Sigfried Echo Hemming, Cale Crowe, Nattra,
The Boneheads, Carmela, Tally, Mark T
Band, and Sea State, and many more. The
full lineup and ticket information can be
accessed at wintersong.ca.

JANUARY 2024
COMMUNITY 5 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Proposed Markville Development gets a rough ride at public consultations
BY DUNCAN FLETCHER
There’s nothing like a large development
plan to get people riled up. So it was
recently as Markham council chambers
were packed to overflowing with concerned
citizens voicing their opposition
to a proposed development that would see
Markville Mall become the centre of a new
planned community with 4340 condo units.
The plan, first submitted to the City of
Markham last July, reflects a broader trend
of larger suburban malls seeking to make
the most of their property investments in the
shadow of shrinking retail revenues. It was
presented to the public for the first time in
December at council by the urban planning
team enlisted by property owner Cadillac
Fairview (CF) in the first of a number of
public consultations on the proposal that
seeks to completely transform the almost 70
acre site to include up to 14 condominium
towers from 6 to 45 stories, eventually
becoming home to almost 9000 residents.
If that seems like a tight fit to you, you
are not alone.
Dozens of disputants came to voice concerns
ranging from adding traffic to already
very crowded corridors around McCowan
and Highway 7. The absence of new schools,
parking, lack of public transit integration,
impacts on neighbouring communities and
how it will fit into the city’s secondary plan,
were among the concerns raised. However,
if residents were hoping to find answers to
their concerns, they were disappointed with
the aspirational presentation.
Pressed for details of the expected
impact of perhaps an extra 4000+ cars (one
for each new unit) on the roads, often at
a standstill thanks to the current volume
and the frequent trains crossing McCowan,
CF promised to look at that in the future.
Presumably, that would also include a look
at how a smaller, tighter 2-lane “ring road”
within the property could possibly handle
the increased traffic flow when the current
road and entryways to the mall are packed
now. Similarly, a promise to work with
school boards to discuss if a school would
be needed in the plan was promised later.
A study on parking was also promised in
future, with CF only saying they wanted
to move most of the current 5160 parking
spaces from surface-level spaces, which
are often full, to covered and underground
spaces, without confirming if they would be
adding enough spaces for new residents.
A conversation with a number of attendees
made it clear that the first public
consultation left them less assured about the
feasibility of the plan than when they went
in, noting that clearly, Cadillac Fairview
had thought plenty about how to maximise
investment in the property, but little about
anything else beforehand putting the proverbial
‘cart before the the horse.’ Having
heard the presentation and read the proposal,
it’s hard to disagree with the conclusion.
Not all of the plan was seen as unworkable
to the assembled, with a number pointing
out that some beautification and even
densification might be a plus with some
green and public space being added and a
better streetscape welcomed as the current
property is not a beauty to look at from any
angle. It’s hard to disagree with that notion
either.
Although the province has mandated
municipalities to build ‘more homes faster’
and municipalities have agreed more homes
are needed, even largely pro-development
councillors seemed wary of the plan.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti cautioned
that this was only a consultation and that
council was hear to listen and no decisions
on the project would be made immediately.
It would seem that given the lack of
foresight in the first draft of the proposed
development that nothing will be finalized
for quite a while.
Stay tuned for consultations, part two.

6 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY JANUARY 2024
Lifetime of sharing community news
For Jim Thomas, it was an event he’ll
never forget — induction into the 2023
Ontario Community Newspaper Association
Hall of Fame.
The ceremony took place at Hockley
Valley Resort near Orangeville. He was
accompanied there by his wife Jean and
daughters, Susan, Cathy and Mary-Lynn.
The presentation of the engraved trophy
was made by OCNA president Gordon
Cameron.
A graduate of Markham High School
in 1949, Thomas began his seven-decade
newspaper career while still attending
business college. He responded to a helpwanted
ad in the Stouffville Tribune and
was hired by publisher Chas Nolan as a
part-time sports reporter to cover baseball
and hockey games. To attend, he would
hitch-hike from Toronto to Stouffville, then
back to his parents’ Markham farm on Ninth
Line.
Copies back then were handled differently;
written first by long-hand and later by
typewriter, all from home. Completed stories
were then placed in a roadside mailbox,
picked up by a courier in a horse and buggy
and delivered to the Stouffville newspaper
office.
“Mr. Nolan obviously saw something
in me that I hadn’t seen in myself,” Thomas
recalls. In 1951 Nolan requested I join his
full-time staff and I jumped at the chance.
My salary was $30 a week.”
In 1954, Thomas’s career took a major
For Jim Thomas, it was an event he’ll never forget — induction into the 2023 Ontario Community
Newspaper Association Hall of Fame. (Photo courtesy of Jim Mason).
turn. With the money he had saved, he
purchased a Crown Graphic press camera
priced at $150 and a brand new car costing
$2,300. With the camera and car, he was
able to cover stories and take photographs
at the same time. News of this capability
attracted the attention of six area police
departments, who willingly paid $1 for each
picture. His portfolio increased again when
two Toronto dailies, The Telegram and
Globe and Mail sought his service. On occasions,
he would sleep overnight at various
police stations and then drive to Toronto
with film the next morning.
Thomas made himself available 24
hours a day. “When police cruisers and fire
trucks would go, I would go,” he remembers,”
sometimes arriving at accident scenes
before an ambulance. Because of this, he
adopted the nickname ‘Scoop.’
In the 1960s, his regular sports column
was shifted to the newspaper’s editorial
page to make it more visible. It was then
called ‘Roaming Around.’
Although official retirement occurred
in 1989, his column-writing continued until
August 2023.
His newspaper employment spanned
seven decades with most of his time spent
working in Stouffville, but also included
four years as publisher and editor of the
Markham Economist and Sun. He is now
94.
Despite his busyness, Thomas has
found time to create tributes to others in the
Stouffville community including the Citizen
of the Year; the Sports Personality of the
Year and the Music Town, Ontario award
recipient. He remains actively involved in
the Student Music Scholarship Concert held
at Stouffville District Secondary School
and the annual Sacred Music Night at St.
James Presbyterian Church. But nothing, he
says, “can compare with the OCNA award
and the engraved trophy that holds a special
place in his Rupert Avenue home.”
OCNA president Gordon Cameron recognizes
Jim Thomas for his exemplary contributions
to Ontario’s community newspapers. (Photo
courtesy of OCNA).
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JANUARY 2024
4- Review quarter pg Ad.qxp_4- Review quarter pg Ad 12/13/23 1:04 PM Page 1
COMMUNITY 7 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Markham Jazzlicious
WinterFest returns
Food lovers and music enthusiasts will
be jazzed: the Markham Jazzlicious Winterfest
returns for a second year and is double
the size of the sold-out inaugural season.
Six musical and culinary pairings will
take place at culinary destinations across
the city, kicking off with two-time Juno
award-winning bebop and swing vocalist
Caity Gyorgy Quartet performing at Next-
Door Restaurant helmed by Executive Chef
Clayton Khan from January 23 to 27.
“The inaugural Markham Jazzlicious
WinterFest series last year brought visitors
from across the Greater Toronto Area
to Markham for these uniquely curated
evenings,” says Mayor Frank Scarpitti.
“A program that began as an initiative to
support Markham’s culinary sector during
the slower season quickly became a
much talked about cultural event. Residents
and visitors to the city were able to fully
experience the exceptional diversity of our
culinary offerings alongside performances
by some of the best jazz artists Canada has
to offer.”
Motown, Jazz and R&B singer George
St Kitts is set to perform at Rouge River
Brewing Company hosted by brew master
Jordan Mills and features Ian Patterson of
Patterson’s Pizza from February 6 to 10.
Celebrated jazz vocalist Matt Dusk will
premiere his “The Best Is Yet To Come:
Dusk Sings Bennett” show at Essence of
Unionville hosted by Jitin Gaba, Executive
Chef at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites
Conference Centre & Spa, from February
20 to 24.
Leading jazz vocalist Heather Bambrick
returns and will perform at Ambiyan,
which serves up authentic Indian cuisine by
newly-appointed Executive Chef Harmeet
Singh from February 27 to March 2. Barbra
Lica, jazz vocalist and songwriter, performs
at Laz Cuisine, home to Executive Chef and
Owner Diakhia Lezama, from March 5 to
9. Canadian jazz and boogie woogie pianist
Michael Kaeshammer performs in Markham
from March 20 to 22.
Michael Kaeshammer joins Bill Jewer,
Executive Chef of Draco at the Toronto
Marriott Markham, from March 20 to 22 to
close the event.
Markham Jazzlicious WinterFest is
produced by Destination Markham Corporation
in collaboration with the Markham
Jazz Festival and Cosmo Music, and in partnership
with JAZZ.FM91 radio and Flato
Markham Theatre. “We are very excited
to be bringing back this highly anticipated
musical and culinary experience,” says
Destination Markham Executive Director
Eric Lariviere.
“Eating out is one of the main ways we
treat ourselves, but diners also want these
social occasions to last longer and be about
more than just the cuisine. The addition of
an intimate performance by some of this
country’s celebrated jazz artists paired with
the culinary arts of Markham’s best chefs is
the perfect ingredient to create once-in-alifetime
experiences for these consumers.”
Tickets for the 2024 Markham Jazzlicious
WinterFest are on sale now. For more
information and to pre-register for series
tickets, visit jazzlicious.ca.
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Snowshoeing adventures in
York Regional Forest trails
As the winter season wraps the York
Region in a blanket of snow, it transforms
the landscape into a picturesque wonderland,
ideal for exploration and adventure.
The region offers multiple trails that
provide a chance to connect with nature and
enjoy the colder months in a healthy, active
way.
York Region has an extensive network
of trails, suitable for both beginners and
seasoned hikers. These trails, rich in history
and natural beauty, offer a diverse range of
experiences – from paved urban paths to
rugged forest trails. Hikers can marvel at the
diverse landscapes, wildlife, and vegetation.
A foot of snow is no barrier to the
beauty of the York Region Trails System. For
those curious about exploring nature in the
snow, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library
offers a solution. You can borrow a pair
of snowshoes for free with just your library
card. Snowshoes provide better traction and
prevent sinking into the snow, making your
walk enjoyable and safe.
It’s a simple, cost-effective way to get
your family moving and enjoying the great
outdoors together. This winter, embrace the
opportunity to explore, stay active, and create
lasting memories with your loved ones.
Your next winter adventure is just a snowshoe
away.
Learn more about how to borrow a
pair of snowshoes from the Whitchurch-
Stouffville Public Library at wsplibrary.ca.

8 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY
JANUARY 2024
Inaugural 2023 Markham Talent Showcase
The 2023 Headline performer was Rob Laidlaw with his band featuring Dave Enman and
Robin Benedict.
Markham audiences were captivated by
an exciting performance showcase by winners
and notable mentions of the Markham
Talent – Open Casting Call.
Titled Markham Talent Showcase
2023, the event was held at the Markham
Theatre on Nov. 30. The Showcase involved
performances by nearly 100 local artists and
various performances that included music,
dance, drama and fashion.
A Markham Talent Production, the
Showcase was held in partnership with the
Markham Arts Council and Ward 6 Councillor
Amanda Yeung Collucci as Executive
Producer of the 2023 Showcase.
The Showcase reflected Markham’s diverse
nature in terms of the kind and type of
performances that enthralled the audiences.
Headliner Rob Laidlaw played with his band
– a tribute to Janice Joplin and Jim Morrison.
“We are privileged to have Juno Award
Nominee Robert Laidlaw and his band to
open 2023 Showcase for the evening,” said
Councillor Amanda Yeung Collucci, the
event producer. “This event was a smashing
success featuring many emerging artists. The
lineup of the show is truly multi-cultural and
many performers have already booked commercials,
TV, movies or released their song.”
“True to furthering its mission, MAC is
thrilled to be able to showcase top local talent
that won and received notable mentions
at this year’s Open Casting Call,” said Stephen
Chait, Chair of Markham Arts Council.
List of performances:
• MC/Host – Kristy Hamilton
• Headline Performer – Rob Laidlaw with
Band featuring Dave Enman and Robin
Benedict
• Serena Wang – Winner of the Under 16
category at the 2023 Open Casting Call
• Maya Agnes – Semi-finalist of the 2023
Open Casting Call
• Daniela Schon – Contestant of the 2023
Open Casting Call
• Stargo Model Academy – Finalist and Winner
of the Under 16 category of the 2023
Open Casting Call
• Happy Linda Dance Studio – Semi-finalist
of the 2023 Open Casting Call
• Truong Ng – First Place Winner of the
Model Category of the 2023 Open Casting
Call
• Logan Levi – Semi-finalist of the 2023
Open Casting Call
• Adam Keung and Team – Semi-finalists of
the 2023 Open Casting Call
• Silver Tulip Boutique – South Asian Designer
Fashion Show
• Nanamie Li – Overall First Place Winner
of the Under 16 category at the 2023 Open
Casting Call
• Sammy and Tammy Lam – Semi-finalists of
the 2023 Open Casting Call
• Sylvia Chan – Winner of Breakdance Competition
in BC & Contestant of 2023 Open
Casting Call
• Shyamala Dance School – Semi-finalists of
the 2023 Open Casting Call
• Special Performance by Ward 6 Markham
Councillor Amanda Yeung Collucci
• Special Performance by President and CEO
of Markham Board of Trade Chris Collucci
• Special Performance by Markham Mayor
Frank Scarpitti
• Special Performance by Ward 4 Richmond
Hill Councillor Simon Cui
Markham, Stouffville among
Canada’s Most Livable Cities
View of Downtown Stouffville. Photo courtesy of Dennis Hristovski.
If you call York Region home, you
already know it’s a cut above many other
communities.
Now the rest of the country knows,
too. In a ranking developed by the Globe
and Mail, many of York Region communities
earned the title ‘most livable city.’ The
ranking, which listed Canada’s top 100 most
livable cities, included Stouffville, Markham,
Vaughan, King and Newmarket.
“This recognition echoes what we as
residents have known all along, Stouffville is
an incredible place to live, work and raise a
family,” Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt says.
“We are honoured to be on this list alongside
so many other beautiful communities
across the country. I am so grateful for the
dedication and commitment of everyone in
Stouffville who help create a welcoming and
thriving community for all.”
To determine the ranking, the Globe
and Mail assessed 43 variables within 10
categories that were selected because they
“mirror the key factors people prioritize
when looking to relocate to a new community.”
Those categories are economy, housing,
demographics, health care, safety, education,
community, amenities, transportation and
climate.
“The primary purpose of our rankings
is to help Canadians identify communities
where they can flourish based on their own
circumstances,” the Globe and Mail says.
“Our overall ranking emphasizes the key
attributes that most Canadians value in their
communities, including the economy, safety
and, yes, the cost of housing.”
The ranking paints a comprehensive
picture of the communities that made the list.
Stouffville’s current population of
56,115 represents a 14 per cent increase from
2018 and is expected to increase by 12.5 per
cent over the next five years. In comparison,
Markham’s population is 370,000, which
is an increase of 8 per cent since 2018 and
is expected to grow by another 9.5 per cent
in the next five years. The Stouffville and
Markham average primary real estate value
is approximately $1.2 million. Stouffville
was rated at 95 per cent for residents having
a primary health care provider and Markham
was at 92 per cent.
The top four languages spoken at home
in Markham and Stouffville, in order, are
English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tamil.
Both markets have vast numbers of homes
with families with children, Markham at 59
per cent and Stouffville at 54 per cent with
relatively high household incomes, further
cementing their status as go-to communities.

JANUARY 2024
COMMUNITY 9 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Making York Region ‘more accessible for everyone’
York Regional Council has approved
the York Region’s 2023 to 2027 Multi-Year
Accessibility Plan, which outlines how The
Regional Municipality of York and York
Regional Police are working to meet and
surpass requirements of the Accessibility for
Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
“York Region is committed to creating
welcoming and inclusive communities, valuing
the diversity of residents and allow every
person to thrive, free of barriers and without
discrimination,” York Region Chairman and
CEO Wayne Emmerson says. “Part of this
commitment is making the Region more accessible
for everyone.”
The plan was developed in consultation
with people with disabilities, community
members and the York Region Accessibility
Advisory Committee (YRAAC), which
marked its 20th anniversary this year. It
identifies actions across the following five
areas: information and communications,
employment, transportation, design of public
spaces and customer service.
The region has committed to incorporating
accessibility practices across all
stages of employment, including providing
accommodations during recruitment, assessment
and selection processes and supporting
employees with disabilities in the workplace.
It will create, provide and receive information
and communications in accessible ways.
The region will update its accessibility
design guidelines for buildings and facilities
to enhance the accessibility of Regional
public spaces. Under the plan, all employees,
volunteers and agents will receive training on
AODA, Integrated Accessibility Standards
Regulation and Ontario’s Human Rights
Code as they pertain to people with disabilities.
York Region’s accessibility plans and
policy are written to support the AODA,
which was passed in 2005 with the goal of
creating an accessible Ontario by 2025, and
the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001
(ODA), which works to improve opportunities
for people with disabilities and help
identify, remove and prevent barriers to
their full participation in the province. It applies
only to the Ontario Public Service and
broader public sector.
Since multi-year accessibility planning
was first established in 2013, York Region
and YRP have implemented and met all
AODA requirements for broader public
sector organizations, the region reports. The
two organizations continue to meet and,
in some cases, exceed the AODA requirements.
Most actions in the plan are already
in place and remain part of regular business
practices.
“York Region is enriched by contributions
from people of all abilities,” says Tom
Vegh, Chair of the YRAAC. “York Region
and YRAAC remain passionate about
identifying and removing barriers, changing
attitudes and the importance of accessibility
across all York Region communities.”
valuing the diversity
of residents and allow
every person to thrive
According to the Canadian Survey
on Disability (2017), roughly one in five
residents aged 15 years and over has at least
one type of disability. York Region is home
to more than 1.2 million people. “Creating
communities where every person can participate
is important for people, businesses
and community life,” the Accessibility Plan
says.
“An accessible community allows
everyone to develop to their full potential,
participate freely in society and live with
respect, dignity and freedom from discrimination.”
The plan will be updated every four
years to coincide with each new term of
council and York Region’s Strategic Plan.
Visit york.ca/accessibility to learn more.
Subway extension one step
closer with RFPs
Cairney sisters, Quinn (10) and Chanel (8) competed in Belgium at the IDO championships
and came back with silver medals.
Stouffville sisters dance their way
to silver medals in Belgium
Stouffville sisters and their team represented
Canada at the International Dance
Organization’s Jazz, Ballet, Modern and
Contemporary Championships that came to a
successful end on December 3 in Belgium.
The Cairney sisters and their teammates
competed in three dances at the IDO competition.
The girls and the rest of their team
placed 12th in the Jazz, Jock Jams competition.
In the Ballet competition, their routine
Petite Polka made it to the final round (top 6)
and then they finished in 4th place.
On December 1, they performed their
Modern Contemporary dance called Hundred
Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh theme story).
This dance also made it to the final round
and they earned silver medals.
“It was so thrilling,” says proud mom
Jenny Cairney. “With all the various dancers
representing their countries, it was such a
cultural experience.
“The National Anthem would play when
the gold medalists would take the podium.
The girls would all congratulate each other
down the line on their awards. There was
also an opening ceremony parade welcoming
all the countries together.”
The Yonge North Subway Extension
is one step closer to reality,
with the provincial government
issuing a Request for Proposals
(RFP) for the contract to design
and build the subway’s tunnels.
“The RFP release is the next
critical step in our government’s
plan to extend subway service
north from Finch Station to communities
in Markham, Vaughan and
Richmond Hill for the first time
ever,” says Minister of Transportation
Prabmeet Sarkaria.
CrossTransit Group, North
End Connectors and Toronto-York
Tunnel Connectors to were shortlisted in
2023 through a Request for Qualifications
process and have been invited to submit
proposals that detail how they’d deliver the
tunnelling project. The contract, expected
to be awarded in late 2024, includes work
to design, build and finance the construction
of tunnels and the launch and extraction
shafts that will be used for the tunnel boring
machines.
“This is an exciting milestone for the
Yonge North Subway Extension,” says
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “Design
and construction of the tunnel is a big part of
this project. Going to market for this work
demonstrates the strong commitment by all
three levels of government to York Region’s
number one transportation priority.”
Early upgrade work at Finch Station,
where the Yonge North Subway Extension
will connect with existing Line 1 service, is
now substantially complete. The upgrades
set the stage for major construction of the
subway extension, which will put 26,000
more people within a 10-minute walk of
transit and is expected to reduce daily travel
times for commuters by up to 22 minutes,
according to the provincial government.
“As our region continues to grow, this
critical infrastructure project will provide
travellers with more convenient transportation
options while continuing to strengthen
the economic vitality of our communities,”
York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson
says.
The approximately eight-kilometre
subway extension is one of Ontario’s four
priority subway projects for the Greater Toronto
Area. The others are the Ontario Line,
the Scarborough Subway Extension and the
Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.

10 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY JANUARY 2024
Fortune Ball returns to support MSH
Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation
recently welcomed more than 700
guests and community members to The
Fortune Ball, which was supported by lead
sponsor Green City Communities Inc. and
presented by TD.
Attendees enjoyed a night to remember
at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites where
they were treated to exceptional cuisine
and live entertainment in celebration of the
modern traditions of Chinese culture—all
to support Oak Valley Health’s Markham
Stouffville Hospital (MSH).
The evening featured returning emcee,
Jennifer Hsiung, host of CP24 Breakfast, as
well as other special guests. Wushu Project
began the night in majestic fashion, dazzling
guests with their dragon dance, followed
by the musical stylings of The Caverners
Beatles Tribute band performing a stunning
live homage to the English rock icons that
marked their 60th anniversary this year.
MSH Foundation is honoured to partner
with leaders of the local Chinese-Canadian
community to inspire more Chinese business
and philanthropic leaders to help bring abundant
blessings to MSH through the sharing of
their good fortune and prosperity.
Founding members of MSH Foundation’s
Fortune Leadership Council (FLC)
returned as Co-Chairs for this year’s gala.
Alan Kwong, David Ho, Gordon Chan,
Kenny Wan and Stephen Li, all distinguished
members, lead the FLC – an assembly of
local Chinese business leaders with a shared
mission to give back to the hospital.
“We commemorate our community’s
dedication to ongoing progress and exceptional
patient care at Markham Stouffville
Hospital,” said Co-Chair Alan Kwong.
“Gatherings like The Fortune Ball not only
reinforce unity, but also ensures that we are
continuing to nurture the health and wellbeing
of our neighbours for the future.”
Access to the most state-of-the-art
equipment is essential for MSH to continue
providing the exceptional, patient-centred
care the community needs and deserves.
The urgent and evolving needs in surgery,
diagnostic imaging, and emergency
medicine are constantly changing as our
community is expanding and aging through
the years.
“Markham Stouffville Hospital relies
on the compassion of the community to
keep on the forefront of technological
advancements and deliver life-saving care
when it matters most,” said Suzette Strong,
CEO, MSH Foundation. “Government
cannot fund all top priority needs – and so
we rely on the support of our community
to help bring a lifetime of care, close to
home.”
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors,
donors, the volunteer committee, and the
entire community – $800,000 was raised.
Re-live favourite moments of the
evening on social media @supportMSH or
donate at www.mshfortuneball.ca.
Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. employees.
Hyundai among country’s
Best Workplaces for Inclusion
Great Place to Work® has named Hyundai
Auto Canada Corp. of Markham one of
Canada’s Best Workplaces for Inclusion.
To be eligible for the accolade, organizations
must be Great Place to Work-
Certified in the past year, have at least 100
employees and at least 90 per cent of all respondents
must agree that people are treated
fairly, regardless of personal characteristics
like gender, ethnicity, age and sexual orientation.
Great Place to Work determined the best
based on employee responses to its Inclusion
Index.
Since entering the Canadian market
in 1983, Hyundai has grown into one of
the best selling and award-winning foreign
manufacturers in Canada. It was recognized
by Great Place to Work for perks that include
a benefits program that tops up statuary
parental, maternity, compassionate care and
family caregiver leaves.
Hyundai also increased mental health
benefits and has increased maximums for a
host of benefits, including gender affirmation
coverage. At the beginning of 2023, it introduced
Bright Breaks, a workday well-being
program that suggests seven-minute breaks
directly in team members’ calendars. Educators
invite team members to fitness classes,
breathe and stretch breaks and offers tips on
healthy eating habits.
Ninety-three per cent of the company’s
264 employees say Hyundai is a great place
to work, compared to 60 per cent of employees
at a typical Canadian organization, Great
Place to Work reports.
Venterra Realty (Canada) Inc. in Richmond
Hill, a developer, owner and operator
of multifamily apartments, also made the list.
Among other things, it was recognized for
offering team members eight paid hours annually
to volunteer in the service activity of
their choice as individuals or as teams. It has
partnered with Yellow Brick House to offer
opportunities for employees to fundraise and
donate their time at the donation warehouse
and gardening at various shelters in the community.

JANUARY 2024
11 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
ACS recognition underscores MSH’s dedication to the highest standards of care
BY MICHELLE LEE HOY
Earning national recognition for
patient care is one of the most meaningful
rewards for Oak Valley Health’s Markham
Stouffville Hospital (MSH), and its newest
designation as a participant of the American
College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality
Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP)
underscores a long-standing commitment to
the highest standards of surgical care.
The ACS is a scientific and educational
organization founded in 1913 to raise the
standards of surgical practice and improve
the quality of care for all surgical patients.
ACS NSQIP is the first nationally validated,
outcomes-based program to measure and
improve the quality of surgical care. Participating
hospitals collect data that provides indepth
analysis, helping surgical teams better
understand and tailor care to patient needs.
Hospitals participating in this program can
reduce preventable surgical problems to
achieve higher quality.
As a participant in ACS NSQIP,
Markham Stouffville Hospital also becomes
an ACS Surgical Quality Partner.
“We are honoured and extremely
pleased to be recognized by the American
College of Surgeons for receiving the designation
of a Surgical Quality Partner by participating
in the National Surgical Quality
Improvement Program,” says Erin Landry,
director of surgical services, Oak Valley
Health. “This designation acknowledges
the dedication of our team to continuously
review surgical data to improve the structure
and outcomes necessary to provide high and
safe quality care to surgical patients. Patients
can trust that the care they are receiving at
Markham Stouffville Hospital adheres to the
Markham Stouffville Hospital has been designated an American College of Surgeons (ACS)
Surgical Quality Partner.
most rigorous standards in surgical quality.”
“ACS Quality programs are grounded
in more than a century of experience and
participation is an important measure of a
hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical
Quality Partner, Markham Stouffville
Hospital has shown a commitment to providing
the best possible patient care, evaluating
that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating
themselves to continuous self-improvement,”
said ACS executive director and CEO
Dr. Patricia L. Turner.
Markham Stouffville Hospital is also
one of 78 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals
that have achieved meritorious outcomes
for surgical patient care in 2022. As a
participant in ACS NSQIP, MSH is required
to track the outcomes of inpatient and
outpatient surgical procedures and collect
data that assesses patient safety and can be
used to direct improvement in the quality of
surgical care.
Receiving the meritorious award for
ACS NSQIP, now for the fifth consecutive
year, acknowledges the hospital’s commitment
to high-quality surgical care. The
surgical program achieved this award by
utilizing standard-based verification with
the goal to improve quality across surgery.
It allows for structures to be put in place to
enable quality improvement and help drive
quality improvement.
The ACS NSQIP recognition program
commends a select group of hospitals for
achieving a meritorious composite score in
either an “All Cases” category or a category
which includes higher-risk cases (“High
Risk”). Risk-adjusted data from the July
2023 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report,
which presents data from the 2022 calendar
year, were used to determine which hospitals
demonstrated meritorious outcomes.
MSH has been recognized on both the “All
Cases” and “High Risk” Meritorious lists.
This program measures the actual
surgical results 30 days postoperatively as
well as risk adjusts patient characteristics to
compensate for differences among patient
populations and acuity levels. The goal of
ACS NSQIP is to reduce surgical morbidity
(infection or illness related to a surgical
procedure) and surgical mortality (death
related to a surgical procedure) and to provide
a firm foundation for surgeons to apply
what is known as the “best scientific evidence”
to the practice of surgery. Furthermore,
when adverse effects from surgical
procedures are reduced and/or eliminated, a
reduction in health care costs follows. ACS
NSQIP is a major program of the American
College of Surgeons and is currently used in
over 850 adult and paediatric hospitals.
Receiving these awards and distinctions
reflects Oak Valley Health’s commitment
to providing the best patient care
possible.
Region receives award
for ‘transparent’ budget
For the 19th consecutive year, York
Region has received an award that acknowledges
its achievement in presenting “open
and transparent” budget.
The region received the Government
Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished
Budget Presentation Award for it
2023 budget.
“York Region’s annual budget represents
transparency at its finest level,”
says Steve Pellegrini, Chair of the region’s
Finance and Administration. “To receive
this award annually for almost two decades
recognizes the dedication of staff preparing
a document encompassing both the intricacies
of a budget while keeping it highly
understandable.”
The GFOA represents public finance
officials throughout North America. Its mission
is to advance excellence in public finance.
In order to receive the GFOA award,
a budget document must satisfy nationallyrecognized
guidelines for effective presentation
of the budget as a policy document,
a financial plan, an operations guide and a
communication vehicle.
York’s budget received special recognition
in two areas: “Capital” and “Strategic
Goals and Strategies.” The region received
the Triple Crown medallion, recognizing
achievement of all three GFOA awards in
the 2021 fiscal year.
“York Region staff are tasked to
deliver top-level programs and services to
our residents and local municipalities, being
mindful of current political and economic
conditions,” York Region Chairman and
CEO Wayne Emmerson says. “Every
component of the Region’s annual budget
supports our four priority areas of the
Strategic Plan and demonstrates our mission
of working together to serve our thriving
communities, today and tomorrow.”
York’s Fiscal Strategy, which supports
the long-term goal of financial sustainability
through sound management of its capital
plan, reserves and use of debt, guides the
creation of the budget, the region reports.
It credits strong financial oversight with its
ability to maintain a Triple A credit rating,
the highest possible from both Moody’s
Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings.

12 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW JANUARY 2024