Markham Stouffville Review, January 2024
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STOUFFVILLE<br />
Vol.13 Issue 1 <strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
WWW.STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM<br />
WWW.MARKHAMREVIEW.COM<br />
WHAT’S INSIDE<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Theatre has a<br />
strong lineup to start the year<br />
With <strong>January</strong> comes a period of rest for many<br />
after celebrations. After a couple weeks of laying<br />
low and hibernating, many start looking for opportunities<br />
to emerge.<br />
SEE PAGE 2<br />
Proposed Markville Development gets a<br />
rough ride at public consultations<br />
A proposed development that would see Markville<br />
Mall become the centre of a new planned<br />
community with 4340 condo units.<br />
SEE PAGE 5<br />
Inaugural 2023 <strong>Markham</strong> Talent Showcase<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> audiences were captivated by an<br />
exciting performance showcase by winners and<br />
notable mentions of the <strong>Markham</strong> Talent – Open<br />
Casting Call.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Jazzlicious WinterFest returns<br />
The <strong>Markham</strong> Jazzlicious Winterfest returns for a second year and is double the size of the sold-out inaugural event. Six<br />
musical and culinary pairings take place at culinary destinations across the city.<br />
SEE PAGE 7<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> sisters dance<br />
their way to silver medals in Belgium<br />
Fortune Ball returns to support MSH<br />
SEE PAGE 8<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> sisters and their team represented<br />
Canada at the International Dance Organization’s<br />
Jazz, Ballet, Modern and Contemporary Championships<br />
that came to a successful end in Belgium.<br />
SEE PAGE 9<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital Foundation welcomed<br />
more than 700 guests and community members to<br />
The Fortune Ball, supported by lead sponsor Green<br />
City Communities Inc. and presented by TD.<br />
SEE PAGE 10<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
Wintersong <strong>2024</strong><br />
first acts revealed<br />
The highly anticipated <strong>2024</strong> edition of<br />
Wintersong Music Festival will take place in<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> from Jan. 19-20.<br />
Lifetime of sharing<br />
community news<br />
For Jim Thomas, it was an event he’ll never<br />
forget — induction into the 2023 Ontario<br />
Community Newspaper Association Hall of<br />
Fame.<br />
ACS recognition underscores<br />
MSH’s dedication to the highest<br />
standards of care<br />
Earning national recognition for patient care<br />
is one of the most meaningful rewards for<br />
Oak Valley Health’s <strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong><br />
Hospital<br />
You don’t have to miss out on local news and<br />
information. Just check out markhamreview.com<br />
and stouffvillereview.com for fresh, original articles,<br />
updated daily. Did you miss a print edition?<br />
Catch up with our replica e-paper, available<br />
anytime on our website.<br />
SEE PAGE 4 SEE PAGE 6<br />
SEE PAGE 11<br />
Humans 2.0<br />
by Circa<br />
Created by Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa Ensemble<br />
Thursday, February 1 // 8pm<br />
flatomarkhamtheatre.ca<br />
905.305.7469<br />
Humans 2.0 is commissioned by The Mondavi Center, UC Davis<br />
Circa acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through<br />
Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body and the<br />
Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.<br />
230110 FMT_<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Review</strong> - 23.24 Season - CIRCA - NEW SIZE 10x1.75.indd 1 2023-12-15 9:44 AM
2 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Theatre has a strong lineup to start the year<br />
BY JEFF JONES<br />
With <strong>January</strong> comes a period of rest<br />
for many after celebrations. After a couple<br />
weeks of laying low and hibernating, many<br />
start looking for opportunities to emerge.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Theatre and its general manager<br />
Eric Lariviere have got its community<br />
covered this <strong>January</strong>.<br />
“We’re excited about sharing this<br />
lineup with our audience in <strong>2024</strong>,” says<br />
Lariviere.<br />
First, the <strong>Markham</strong> Theatre comes back<br />
to life after the holidays with a couple of<br />
independent productions.<br />
On Jan. 16, <strong>Markham</strong> at the Movies<br />
presents The Eight Mountains (Le otto<br />
montagne). This film won the 2022 Jury<br />
Prize at Cannes and is going to be on screen<br />
in <strong>Markham</strong> for movie lovers to enjoy.<br />
Next, an acclaimed tribute act, Epic<br />
Eagles, performs on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. This<br />
show is billed as The Definitive Tribute to<br />
The Eagles and Don Henley and promises<br />
hits like Hotel California, One of These<br />
Nights, Life in the Fast Lane, Desperado,<br />
Dirty Laundry, New Kid In Town, Take It<br />
Easy, The Boys Of Summer as well as a few<br />
deep cuts.<br />
The Diamond Series returns Jan. 19<br />
with Dominic Mancuso & Vittorio Mezza:<br />
Dances in my Mind.<br />
“Dominic is such an important Canadian<br />
artist,” Lariviere says. “There’s<br />
something very authentic about how he<br />
approaches music.”<br />
Mancuso is celebrating 20 years of<br />
making records and [performing with his<br />
most ambitious body of work yet. Dances in<br />
My Mind is a collaboration with renowned<br />
Italian pianist/arranger Vittorio Mezza that<br />
features the acclaimed music from Mancuso’s<br />
career re-arranged to include strings,<br />
clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, vibraphone,<br />
and marimba. This blend of classical, jazz,<br />
world music groove, and singer-songwriter<br />
is the heart of the show.<br />
“He’s the type of artist we love to work<br />
with,” adds Lariviere.<br />
Next up is Emilie-Claire Barlow on<br />
Jan. 27.<br />
“She’s such a fantastic jazz singer,”<br />
says Lariviere. “More than just that, audiences<br />
love to hear her.”<br />
Emilie-Claire has performed all over<br />
the world for the past 25 years, featuring<br />
repertoire from her impressive catalogue of<br />
12 albums. Her live performances showcase<br />
her inspired re-imaginings and affectionate<br />
treatments of classic pop and jazz<br />
songs delivered with a relaxed demeanour,<br />
charming humour and a voice that many<br />
call unforgettable. When she returns to the<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Theatre stage in <strong>January</strong>, it is<br />
behind her latest album, Spark Bird, inspired<br />
by the sounds of nearby birds that kept her<br />
company during the isolation of 2020.<br />
“It’s a beautiful record,” Lariviere<br />
notes.<br />
On Feb. 1, the acclaimed Australian<br />
company Circa returns with Humans 2.0.<br />
“Circa is a leader in the emergence of<br />
circus performance from the past 15 years or<br />
so,” says Lariviere. “What sets them apart to<br />
Emilie-Claire Barlow performs on <strong>January</strong> 27<br />
at the <strong>Markham</strong> Theatre.<br />
me is their desire to really test how far the<br />
human body can be used as, sort of, media”<br />
Humans 2.0 intends to push the boundaries<br />
of what circus performance can be. The<br />
show follows ten individuals as they begin<br />
to move in harmony with each other, before<br />
their rhythms shift and physical limits are<br />
pushed to the extreme, as they grapple with<br />
the struggle to find balance amid constant<br />
uncertainty. With choreography that blends<br />
movement, dance, and theatre with circus<br />
performance, Humans 2.0 has something for<br />
pretty much everyone.<br />
“We had them here with Human, their<br />
first show,” adds Lariviere, “we had to have<br />
them back for the next.”<br />
The following night, Feb. 2, brings<br />
the wonderful voice and compelling story<br />
of Jeanick Fournier to the Flato <strong>Markham</strong><br />
Theatre stage for her show Jeanick Fournier<br />
Sings Celine.<br />
“She can sing, let me tell you.” says<br />
Lariviere.<br />
This mother of two and former palliative<br />
care beneficiary attendant has drawn the<br />
attention of the nation by winning the second<br />
season of Canada’s Got Talent. Building<br />
on some of her most memorable moments<br />
from the show, the performance this month<br />
sees Fournier interpreting the greatest hits<br />
of the famed diva with whom she shares her<br />
home province. Accompanied by a band of<br />
seven, Fournier intends to seduce you with<br />
her powerful voice!<br />
“Stories like Fournier’s are always<br />
worth supporting,” Lariviere is quick to<br />
remind, “but the show itself is great too.”<br />
For more information, visit<br />
markhamtheatre.ca<br />
Latcham Art Centre<br />
launches winter exhibition<br />
IMAGES 2023-<strong>2024</strong>: Meraki, featuring artwork by graduating students from <strong>Stouffville</strong> District<br />
Secondary School will be on display at the Latcham Art Centre until Jan. 13.<br />
IMAGES 2023-<strong>2024</strong>: Meraki, featuring<br />
artwork by graduating students from<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> District Secondary School is on<br />
display at the Latcham Art Centre.<br />
The annual exhibition will be showcased<br />
until Jan. 13, <strong>2024</strong>. This event is open<br />
to everyone, and admission is free.<br />
IMAGES 2023-<strong>2024</strong> brings together<br />
a collection of artworks by talented grade<br />
twelve students. This year marks the 28th<br />
iteration of the show, where ‘Meraki’ – a<br />
Greek term defined as engaging in activities<br />
with immense creativity or passion by<br />
infusing your heart and soul into your work<br />
– serves as both the theme and title. This<br />
concept resonates deeply with the dedication<br />
and passion of these young artists.<br />
Reflecting on the personal significance<br />
of their exhibition theme, the artists state,<br />
“This is a group exhibit featuring artworks<br />
that are representative of who we are, and<br />
where we are going, as we embark on future<br />
creative endeavours. It is our hope that our<br />
creations speak to the people around us. In<br />
this exhibit, you will find many visions of<br />
how we perceive the world. The art you will<br />
see showcases things that we obsess over,<br />
our passions and interests: ranging from<br />
fantastical, vivid creatures to mechanical<br />
marvels, and anything that holds a special<br />
meaning.”<br />
The artists are grateful to Onalee<br />
Webb, their dedicated art teacher, for her<br />
continued support and guidance.
JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
COMMUNITY 3 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW<br />
York Regional Police, Seneca among Top Employers<br />
York Regional Police (YRP) and<br />
Seneca Polytechnic are among the Greater<br />
Toronto Top Employers (<strong>2024</strong>), a project<br />
that’s widely considered the benchmark for<br />
workplace best practices in Toronto and its<br />
surrounding area.<br />
Now in its 18th year, the Greater<br />
Toronto’s Top Employers competition is an<br />
editorial project that recognizes employers<br />
with exceptional human resources<br />
programs and forward-thinking workplace<br />
policies. Factors used in the evaluation of<br />
employers include work atmosphere, health<br />
benefits, vacation and time off, employee<br />
communications, performance management,<br />
skills development and community<br />
involvement.<br />
YRP was recognized for the ninth consecutive<br />
year. Among other things, it was<br />
lauded for offering helpful financial perks<br />
throughout an employee’s career, including<br />
low-interest home loans, discounted auto<br />
lease rates, and discounted home and auto<br />
insurance. As part of a formal wellness<br />
strategy, it opened a 6,600-square-foot<br />
wellness facility that offers education and<br />
support related to physical, psychological,<br />
social and spiritual health for employees,<br />
retirees and their families.<br />
YRP is one of the few police services<br />
in Canada to have licensed clinical<br />
psychologists and other mental health<br />
clinicians on staff to provide its members<br />
with rapid access to consultation services,<br />
well-developed training programs related<br />
to mental health, as well as expertise and<br />
knowledge to advise on mental health<br />
policy and planning.<br />
“We strive to ensure our members are<br />
well-developed and supported in a rewarding<br />
career, with access to the best training<br />
and health and wellness programs,” says<br />
YRP Chief Jim MacSween. “We work<br />
hard to ensure our members feel welcome,<br />
included, valued and respected in a professional<br />
environment.”<br />
Seneca offers hybrid work arrangements<br />
for eligible roles and invested in<br />
major workplace redesigns, incorporating<br />
hoteling spaces and ensuring employees<br />
have the necessary equipment to work from<br />
home. On campus, employees can take<br />
advantage of a fitness facility at no charge<br />
and diverse food options that include vegetarian,<br />
halal, vegan and gluten-free menus.<br />
“At Seneca, we’re committed to<br />
cultivating a healthy work environment,<br />
rewarding excellence and building employee<br />
experiences on- and off-campus,” says<br />
Vice-President of Human Resources Caroline<br />
Riley. “Winning the Greater Toronto<br />
Top Employers award for the 15th time is<br />
proof of something our more than 4,000<br />
employees already know – that Seneca<br />
truly is a great place to work.”<br />
Since the pandemic, employees are<br />
placing far greater emphasis on how their<br />
time is used, with unproductive uses, such<br />
as long commutes or excessive meetings,<br />
falling by the wayside, Mediacorp reports.<br />
“This year’s winners make employees<br />
feel their time is valuable, especially<br />
when making the commute to work,” says<br />
Richard Yerema, executive editor of the<br />
Canadas Top 100 Employers project.<br />
Other local winners include Hyundai<br />
Auto Canada Corp., which starts new<br />
employees with three weeks of vacation<br />
allowance and offers 10 wellness days per<br />
year to help employees rest and recharge.<br />
The wellness days can be used for illness,<br />
injury, personal wellness or mental health,<br />
including assisting a dependent’s needs.<br />
Visit www.canadastop100.com/toronto/<br />
for a complete list of winners and detailed<br />
reasons for their selection.<br />
YRP Chief Jim MacSween
4 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
Wintersong Music Festival <strong>2024</strong> first acts revealed<br />
The highly anticipated <strong>2024</strong> edition of<br />
Wintersong Music Festival will take place<br />
in <strong>Stouffville</strong> from Jan. 19-20.<br />
Attendees can look forward to a dynamic<br />
array of 100+ local buzz acts across<br />
15 venues, and the return of the Musician’s<br />
Guide to the Galaxy: Q&A with Industry<br />
Experts, as well as a brand new panel titled<br />
Make it Make Cents: A Candid Conversation<br />
on Redefining Success in the Music Industry.<br />
The exclusive discussions, available<br />
to reserve now, offer insight into how to<br />
carve a sustainable career in the ever-changing<br />
landscape and present an unfiltered look<br />
at what it truly means to succeed in today’s<br />
music world.<br />
Wintersong has something for everyone,<br />
showcasing all genres in a lineup<br />
meticulously crafted with gender parity<br />
and diversity in mind. They are pleased to<br />
announce Intimate & Electronic: A Special<br />
One-Night-Only Wintersong Experience<br />
featuring Fraxinus Prime (Ash from USS),<br />
Vice Locker, dreamSTATE and Timerity.<br />
As well, Cerebral Waves: A Live Musical<br />
Performance with Maylee Todd, and performances<br />
by Housewife and Altered By Mom.<br />
Celebrated Canadian indie band<br />
Wintersleep, known for their mesmerizing<br />
soundscapes and heartfelt lyrics, will take<br />
the stage as the festival’s headliner. With a<br />
rich history of critically acclaimed albums,<br />
Wintersleep promises to deliver an unforgettable<br />
performance that will resonate with<br />
fans and newcomers alike.<br />
Headliner Wintersleep is set to perform at the <strong>2024</strong> Wintersong Music Festival on Jan. 20.<br />
Adding to the festival’s lineup is<br />
Status/Non-Status – the ever-evolving musical<br />
project led by Anishinaabe artist Adam<br />
Sturgeon and a close-knit group of collaborators.<br />
Status/Non-Status is recognized for<br />
their power-packed sound, forged through<br />
relentless touring, profound self-discovery,<br />
and emotionally charged musical compositions.<br />
Ottawa’s Pony Girl will also grace the<br />
Wintersong stages, wielding their mastery<br />
of art pop to invigorate audiences with<br />
a prismatic and distinctive sound that’s<br />
uniquely their own.<br />
As the annual festival enters its fifth<br />
year, it continues to captivate music enthusiasts,<br />
drawing thousands to the area, and<br />
providing a massive seasonal boost to the<br />
local economy. Applauded as the “single<br />
most impactful relief effort for small businesses<br />
in the shoulder seasons” year-overyear,<br />
Wintersong generates over one million<br />
dollars in associated tourism revenue for<br />
the Town of <strong>Stouffville</strong>. Family-friendly<br />
highlights include the Youth Stage, musical/<br />
artistic workshops for kids, a Silent Disco<br />
in the library, and programming alongside<br />
a music/music video exhibit at Latcham Art<br />
Centre.<br />
Hosted by a small but mighty team,<br />
Warm Hearts Collective and Epidemic<br />
Music Group join forces alongside volunteers.<br />
Guided by their mission to be accessible<br />
and authentic, the festival has been<br />
free for the community to attend, ensuring<br />
that everyone can access the magic of this<br />
musical celebration. An incremental service<br />
charge on tickets this year will support their<br />
continued operations. “This year has been a<br />
lot; for our team, in our planning, and also<br />
globally,” says festival director Heather<br />
Cook. “Now more than ever we just want to<br />
be as real as possible and invite that same<br />
energy back. No pretence, no glitter or<br />
smoke and mirrors: just people doing what<br />
they love. We want to inspire joy through<br />
art, music and community.” In solidarity<br />
with Cadence’s weapon’s #NoMoreMerch-<br />
Cuts movement, Wintersong does not take<br />
merchandise cuts from any artist.<br />
With a free karaoke shuttle bus in tow<br />
to navigate between venues, Wintersong<br />
will be partnering with Music Declares<br />
Emergency Canada to encourage audiences<br />
to use sustainable transportation (walking,<br />
cycling, public transit) to get to concerts,<br />
drawing awareness that audience travel<br />
is the single biggest source of emissions<br />
within the live music sector.<br />
Enjoy performances by Alex Southey,<br />
Chris Birkett, GFU, Junestone, Recall, Sigfried<br />
Echo Hemming, Camille Léon, Rise<br />
Carmine, The Band Caves, Hungry Lake,<br />
Joey O’ Neil, Carmela, Rebekah Hawker,<br />
Sigfried Echo Hemming, Cale Crowe, Nattra,<br />
The Boneheads, Carmela, Tally, Mark T<br />
Band, and Sea State, and many more. The<br />
full lineup and ticket information can be<br />
accessed at wintersong.ca.
JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
COMMUNITY 5 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW<br />
Proposed Markville Development gets a rough ride at public consultations<br />
BY DUNCAN FLETCHER<br />
There’s nothing like a large development<br />
plan to get people riled up. So it was<br />
recently as <strong>Markham</strong> council chambers<br />
were packed to overflowing with concerned<br />
citizens voicing their opposition<br />
to a proposed development that would see<br />
Markville Mall become the centre of a new<br />
planned community with 4340 condo units.<br />
The plan, first submitted to the City of<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> last July, reflects a broader trend<br />
of larger suburban malls seeking to make<br />
the most of their property investments in the<br />
shadow of shrinking retail revenues. It was<br />
presented to the public for the first time in<br />
December at council by the urban planning<br />
team enlisted by property owner Cadillac<br />
Fairview (CF) in the first of a number of<br />
public consultations on the proposal that<br />
seeks to completely transform the almost 70<br />
acre site to include up to 14 condominium<br />
towers from 6 to 45 stories, eventually<br />
becoming home to almost 9000 residents.<br />
If that seems like a tight fit to you, you<br />
are not alone.<br />
Dozens of disputants came to voice concerns<br />
ranging from adding traffic to already<br />
very crowded corridors around McCowan<br />
and Highway 7. The absence of new schools,<br />
parking, lack of public transit integration,<br />
impacts on neighbouring communities and<br />
how it will fit into the city’s secondary plan,<br />
were among the concerns raised. However,<br />
if residents were hoping to find answers to<br />
their concerns, they were disappointed with<br />
the aspirational presentation.<br />
Pressed for details of the expected<br />
impact of perhaps an extra 4000+ cars (one<br />
for each new unit) on the roads, often at<br />
a standstill thanks to the current volume<br />
and the frequent trains crossing McCowan,<br />
CF promised to look at that in the future.<br />
Presumably, that would also include a look<br />
at how a smaller, tighter 2-lane “ring road”<br />
within the property could possibly handle<br />
the increased traffic flow when the current<br />
road and entryways to the mall are packed<br />
now. Similarly, a promise to work with<br />
school boards to discuss if a school would<br />
be needed in the plan was promised later.<br />
A study on parking was also promised in<br />
future, with CF only saying they wanted<br />
to move most of the current 5160 parking<br />
spaces from surface-level spaces, which<br />
are often full, to covered and underground<br />
spaces, without confirming if they would be<br />
adding enough spaces for new residents.<br />
A conversation with a number of attendees<br />
made it clear that the first public<br />
consultation left them less assured about the<br />
feasibility of the plan than when they went<br />
in, noting that clearly, Cadillac Fairview<br />
had thought plenty about how to maximise<br />
investment in the property, but little about<br />
anything else beforehand putting the proverbial<br />
‘cart before the the horse.’ Having<br />
heard the presentation and read the proposal,<br />
it’s hard to disagree with the conclusion.<br />
Not all of the plan was seen as unworkable<br />
to the assembled, with a number pointing<br />
out that some beautification and even<br />
densification might be a plus with some<br />
green and public space being added and a<br />
better streetscape welcomed as the current<br />
property is not a beauty to look at from any<br />
angle. It’s hard to disagree with that notion<br />
either.<br />
Although the province has mandated<br />
municipalities to build ‘more homes faster’<br />
and municipalities have agreed more homes<br />
are needed, even largely pro-development<br />
councillors seemed wary of the plan.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Mayor Frank Scarpitti cautioned<br />
that this was only a consultation and that<br />
council was hear to listen and no decisions<br />
on the project would be made immediately.<br />
It would seem that given the lack of<br />
foresight in the first draft of the proposed<br />
development that nothing will be finalized<br />
for quite a while.<br />
Stay tuned for consultations, part two.
6 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
Lifetime of sharing community news<br />
For Jim Thomas, it was an event he’ll<br />
never forget — induction into the 2023<br />
Ontario Community Newspaper Association<br />
Hall of Fame.<br />
The ceremony took place at Hockley<br />
Valley Resort near Orangeville. He was<br />
accompanied there by his wife Jean and<br />
daughters, Susan, Cathy and Mary-Lynn.<br />
The presentation of the engraved trophy<br />
was made by OCNA president Gordon<br />
Cameron.<br />
A graduate of <strong>Markham</strong> High School<br />
in 1949, Thomas began his seven-decade<br />
newspaper career while still attending<br />
business college. He responded to a helpwanted<br />
ad in the <strong>Stouffville</strong> Tribune and<br />
was hired by publisher Chas Nolan as a<br />
part-time sports reporter to cover baseball<br />
and hockey games. To attend, he would<br />
hitch-hike from Toronto to <strong>Stouffville</strong>, then<br />
back to his parents’ <strong>Markham</strong> farm on Ninth<br />
Line.<br />
Copies back then were handled differently;<br />
written first by long-hand and later by<br />
typewriter, all from home. Completed stories<br />
were then placed in a roadside mailbox,<br />
picked up by a courier in a horse and buggy<br />
and delivered to the <strong>Stouffville</strong> newspaper<br />
office.<br />
“Mr. Nolan obviously saw something<br />
in me that I hadn’t seen in myself,” Thomas<br />
recalls. In 1951 Nolan requested I join his<br />
full-time staff and I jumped at the chance.<br />
My salary was $30 a week.”<br />
In 1954, Thomas’s career took a major<br />
For Jim Thomas, it was an event he’ll never forget — induction into the 2023 Ontario Community<br />
Newspaper Association Hall of Fame. (Photo courtesy of Jim Mason).<br />
turn. With the money he had saved, he<br />
purchased a Crown Graphic press camera<br />
priced at $150 and a brand new car costing<br />
$2,300. With the camera and car, he was<br />
able to cover stories and take photographs<br />
at the same time. News of this capability<br />
attracted the attention of six area police<br />
departments, who willingly paid $1 for each<br />
picture. His portfolio increased again when<br />
two Toronto dailies, The Telegram and<br />
Globe and Mail sought his service. On occasions,<br />
he would sleep overnight at various<br />
police stations and then drive to Toronto<br />
with film the next morning.<br />
Thomas made himself available 24<br />
hours a day. “When police cruisers and fire<br />
trucks would go, I would go,” he remembers,”<br />
sometimes arriving at accident scenes<br />
before an ambulance. Because of this, he<br />
adopted the nickname ‘Scoop.’<br />
In the 1960s, his regular sports column<br />
was shifted to the newspaper’s editorial<br />
page to make it more visible. It was then<br />
called ‘Roaming Around.’<br />
Although official retirement occurred<br />
in 1989, his column-writing continued until<br />
August 2023.<br />
His newspaper employment spanned<br />
seven decades with most of his time spent<br />
working in <strong>Stouffville</strong>, but also included<br />
four years as publisher and editor of the<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Economist and Sun. He is now<br />
94.<br />
Despite his busyness, Thomas has<br />
found time to create tributes to others in the<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> community including the Citizen<br />
of the Year; the Sports Personality of the<br />
Year and the Music Town, Ontario award<br />
recipient. He remains actively involved in<br />
the Student Music Scholarship Concert held<br />
at <strong>Stouffville</strong> District Secondary School<br />
and the annual Sacred Music Night at St.<br />
James Presbyterian Church. But nothing, he<br />
says, “can compare with the OCNA award<br />
and the engraved trophy that holds a special<br />
place in his Rupert Avenue home.”<br />
OCNA president Gordon Cameron recognizes<br />
Jim Thomas for his exemplary contributions<br />
to Ontario’s community newspapers. (Photo<br />
courtesy of OCNA).<br />
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JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
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COMMUNITY 7 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Jazzlicious<br />
WinterFest returns<br />
Food lovers and music enthusiasts will<br />
be jazzed: the <strong>Markham</strong> Jazzlicious Winterfest<br />
returns for a second year and is double<br />
the size of the sold-out inaugural season.<br />
Six musical and culinary pairings will<br />
take place at culinary destinations across<br />
the city, kicking off with two-time Juno<br />
award-winning bebop and swing vocalist<br />
Caity Gyorgy Quartet performing at Next-<br />
Door Restaurant helmed by Executive Chef<br />
Clayton Khan from <strong>January</strong> 23 to 27.<br />
“The inaugural <strong>Markham</strong> Jazzlicious<br />
WinterFest series last year brought visitors<br />
from across the Greater Toronto Area<br />
to <strong>Markham</strong> for these uniquely curated<br />
evenings,” says Mayor Frank Scarpitti.<br />
“A program that began as an initiative to<br />
support <strong>Markham</strong>’s culinary sector during<br />
the slower season quickly became a<br />
much talked about cultural event. Residents<br />
and visitors to the city were able to fully<br />
experience the exceptional diversity of our<br />
culinary offerings alongside performances<br />
by some of the best jazz artists Canada has<br />
to offer.”<br />
Motown, Jazz and R&B singer George<br />
St Kitts is set to perform at Rouge River<br />
Brewing Company hosted by brew master<br />
Jordan Mills and features Ian Patterson of<br />
Patterson’s Pizza from February 6 to 10.<br />
Celebrated jazz vocalist Matt Dusk will<br />
premiere his “The Best Is Yet To Come:<br />
Dusk Sings Bennett” show at Essence of<br />
Unionville hosted by Jitin Gaba, Executive<br />
Chef at the Hilton Toronto/<strong>Markham</strong> Suites<br />
Conference Centre & Spa, from February<br />
20 to 24.<br />
Leading jazz vocalist Heather Bambrick<br />
returns and will perform at Ambiyan,<br />
which serves up authentic Indian cuisine by<br />
newly-appointed Executive Chef Harmeet<br />
Singh from February 27 to March 2. Barbra<br />
Lica, jazz vocalist and songwriter, performs<br />
at Laz Cuisine, home to Executive Chef and<br />
Owner Diakhia Lezama, from March 5 to<br />
9. Canadian jazz and boogie woogie pianist<br />
Michael Kaeshammer performs in <strong>Markham</strong><br />
from March 20 to 22.<br />
Michael Kaeshammer joins Bill Jewer,<br />
Executive Chef of Draco at the Toronto<br />
Marriott <strong>Markham</strong>, from March 20 to 22 to<br />
close the event.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Jazzlicious WinterFest is<br />
produced by Destination <strong>Markham</strong> Corporation<br />
in collaboration with the <strong>Markham</strong><br />
Jazz Festival and Cosmo Music, and in partnership<br />
with JAZZ.FM91 radio and Flato<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Theatre. “We are very excited<br />
to be bringing back this highly anticipated<br />
musical and culinary experience,” says<br />
Destination <strong>Markham</strong> Executive Director<br />
Eric Lariviere.<br />
“Eating out is one of the main ways we<br />
treat ourselves, but diners also want these<br />
social occasions to last longer and be about<br />
more than just the cuisine. The addition of<br />
an intimate performance by some of this<br />
country’s celebrated jazz artists paired with<br />
the culinary arts of <strong>Markham</strong>’s best chefs is<br />
the perfect ingredient to create once-in-alifetime<br />
experiences for these consumers.”<br />
Tickets for the <strong>2024</strong> <strong>Markham</strong> Jazzlicious<br />
WinterFest are on sale now. For more<br />
information and to pre-register for series<br />
tickets, visit jazzlicious.ca.<br />
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Snowshoeing adventures in<br />
York Regional Forest trails<br />
As the winter season wraps the York<br />
Region in a blanket of snow, it transforms<br />
the landscape into a picturesque wonderland,<br />
ideal for exploration and adventure.<br />
The region offers multiple trails that<br />
provide a chance to connect with nature and<br />
enjoy the colder months in a healthy, active<br />
way.<br />
York Region has an extensive network<br />
of trails, suitable for both beginners and<br />
seasoned hikers. These trails, rich in history<br />
and natural beauty, offer a diverse range of<br />
experiences – from paved urban paths to<br />
rugged forest trails. Hikers can marvel at the<br />
diverse landscapes, wildlife, and vegetation.<br />
A foot of snow is no barrier to the<br />
beauty of the York Region Trails System. For<br />
those curious about exploring nature in the<br />
snow, the Whitchurch-<strong>Stouffville</strong> Public Library<br />
offers a solution. You can borrow a pair<br />
of snowshoes for free with just your library<br />
card. Snowshoes provide better traction and<br />
prevent sinking into the snow, making your<br />
walk enjoyable and safe.<br />
It’s a simple, cost-effective way to get<br />
your family moving and enjoying the great<br />
outdoors together. This winter, embrace the<br />
opportunity to explore, stay active, and create<br />
lasting memories with your loved ones.<br />
Your next winter adventure is just a snowshoe<br />
away.<br />
Learn more about how to borrow a<br />
pair of snowshoes from the Whitchurch-<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> Public Library at wsplibrary.ca.
8 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY<br />
JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
Inaugural 2023 <strong>Markham</strong> Talent Showcase<br />
The 2023 Headline performer was Rob Laidlaw with his band featuring Dave Enman and<br />
Robin Benedict.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> audiences were captivated by<br />
an exciting performance showcase by winners<br />
and notable mentions of the <strong>Markham</strong><br />
Talent – Open Casting Call.<br />
Titled <strong>Markham</strong> Talent Showcase<br />
2023, the event was held at the <strong>Markham</strong><br />
Theatre on Nov. 30. The Showcase involved<br />
performances by nearly 100 local artists and<br />
various performances that included music,<br />
dance, drama and fashion.<br />
A <strong>Markham</strong> Talent Production, the<br />
Showcase was held in partnership with the<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Arts Council and Ward 6 Councillor<br />
Amanda Yeung Collucci as Executive<br />
Producer of the 2023 Showcase.<br />
The Showcase reflected <strong>Markham</strong>’s diverse<br />
nature in terms of the kind and type of<br />
performances that enthralled the audiences.<br />
Headliner Rob Laidlaw played with his band<br />
– a tribute to Janice Joplin and Jim Morrison.<br />
“We are privileged to have Juno Award<br />
Nominee Robert Laidlaw and his band to<br />
open 2023 Showcase for the evening,” said<br />
Councillor Amanda Yeung Collucci, the<br />
event producer. “This event was a smashing<br />
success featuring many emerging artists. The<br />
lineup of the show is truly multi-cultural and<br />
many performers have already booked commercials,<br />
TV, movies or released their song.”<br />
“True to furthering its mission, MAC is<br />
thrilled to be able to showcase top local talent<br />
that won and received notable mentions<br />
at this year’s Open Casting Call,” said Stephen<br />
Chait, Chair of <strong>Markham</strong> Arts Council.<br />
List of performances:<br />
• MC/Host – Kristy Hamilton<br />
• Headline Performer – Rob Laidlaw with<br />
Band featuring Dave Enman and Robin<br />
Benedict<br />
• Serena Wang – Winner of the Under 16<br />
category at the 2023 Open Casting Call<br />
• Maya Agnes – Semi-finalist of the 2023<br />
Open Casting Call<br />
• Daniela Schon – Contestant of the 2023<br />
Open Casting Call<br />
• Stargo Model Academy – Finalist and Winner<br />
of the Under 16 category of the 2023<br />
Open Casting Call<br />
• Happy Linda Dance Studio – Semi-finalist<br />
of the 2023 Open Casting Call<br />
• Truong Ng – First Place Winner of the<br />
Model Category of the 2023 Open Casting<br />
Call<br />
• Logan Levi – Semi-finalist of the 2023<br />
Open Casting Call<br />
• Adam Keung and Team – Semi-finalists of<br />
the 2023 Open Casting Call<br />
• Silver Tulip Boutique – South Asian Designer<br />
Fashion Show<br />
• Nanamie Li – Overall First Place Winner<br />
of the Under 16 category at the 2023 Open<br />
Casting Call<br />
• Sammy and Tammy Lam – Semi-finalists of<br />
the 2023 Open Casting Call<br />
• Sylvia Chan – Winner of Breakdance Competition<br />
in BC & Contestant of 2023 Open<br />
Casting Call<br />
• Shyamala Dance School – Semi-finalists of<br />
the 2023 Open Casting Call<br />
• Special Performance by Ward 6 <strong>Markham</strong><br />
Councillor Amanda Yeung Collucci<br />
• Special Performance by President and CEO<br />
of <strong>Markham</strong> Board of Trade Chris Collucci<br />
• Special Performance by <strong>Markham</strong> Mayor<br />
Frank Scarpitti<br />
• Special Performance by Ward 4 Richmond<br />
Hill Councillor Simon Cui<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>, <strong>Stouffville</strong> among<br />
Canada’s Most Livable Cities<br />
View of Downtown <strong>Stouffville</strong>. Photo courtesy of Dennis Hristovski.<br />
If you call York Region home, you<br />
already know it’s a cut above many other<br />
communities.<br />
Now the rest of the country knows,<br />
too. In a ranking developed by the Globe<br />
and Mail, many of York Region communities<br />
earned the title ‘most livable city.’ The<br />
ranking, which listed Canada’s top 100 most<br />
livable cities, included <strong>Stouffville</strong>, <strong>Markham</strong>,<br />
Vaughan, King and Newmarket.<br />
“This recognition echoes what we as<br />
residents have known all along, <strong>Stouffville</strong> is<br />
an incredible place to live, work and raise a<br />
family,” <strong>Stouffville</strong> Mayor Iain Lovatt says.<br />
“We are honoured to be on this list alongside<br />
so many other beautiful communities<br />
across the country. I am so grateful for the<br />
dedication and commitment of everyone in<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> who help create a welcoming and<br />
thriving community for all.”<br />
To determine the ranking, the Globe<br />
and Mail assessed 43 variables within 10<br />
categories that were selected because they<br />
“mirror the key factors people prioritize<br />
when looking to relocate to a new community.”<br />
Those categories are economy, housing,<br />
demographics, health care, safety, education,<br />
community, amenities, transportation and<br />
climate.<br />
“The primary purpose of our rankings<br />
is to help Canadians identify communities<br />
where they can flourish based on their own<br />
circumstances,” the Globe and Mail says.<br />
“Our overall ranking emphasizes the key<br />
attributes that most Canadians value in their<br />
communities, including the economy, safety<br />
and, yes, the cost of housing.”<br />
The ranking paints a comprehensive<br />
picture of the communities that made the list.<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong>’s current population of<br />
56,115 represents a 14 per cent increase from<br />
2018 and is expected to increase by 12.5 per<br />
cent over the next five years. In comparison,<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>’s population is 370,000, which<br />
is an increase of 8 per cent since 2018 and<br />
is expected to grow by another 9.5 per cent<br />
in the next five years. The <strong>Stouffville</strong> and<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> average primary real estate value<br />
is approximately $1.2 million. <strong>Stouffville</strong><br />
was rated at 95 per cent for residents having<br />
a primary health care provider and <strong>Markham</strong><br />
was at 92 per cent.<br />
The top four languages spoken at home<br />
in <strong>Markham</strong> and <strong>Stouffville</strong>, in order, are<br />
English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tamil.<br />
Both markets have vast numbers of homes<br />
with families with children, <strong>Markham</strong> at 59<br />
per cent and <strong>Stouffville</strong> at 54 per cent with<br />
relatively high household incomes, further<br />
cementing their status as go-to communities.
JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
COMMUNITY 9 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW<br />
Making York Region ‘more accessible for everyone’<br />
York Regional Council has approved<br />
the York Region’s 2023 to 2027 Multi-Year<br />
Accessibility Plan, which outlines how The<br />
Regional Municipality of York and York<br />
Regional Police are working to meet and<br />
surpass requirements of the Accessibility for<br />
Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).<br />
“York Region is committed to creating<br />
welcoming and inclusive communities, valuing<br />
the diversity of residents and allow every<br />
person to thrive, free of barriers and without<br />
discrimination,” York Region Chairman and<br />
CEO Wayne Emmerson says. “Part of this<br />
commitment is making the Region more accessible<br />
for everyone.”<br />
The plan was developed in consultation<br />
with people with disabilities, community<br />
members and the York Region Accessibility<br />
Advisory Committee (YRAAC), which<br />
marked its 20th anniversary this year. It<br />
identifies actions across the following five<br />
areas: information and communications,<br />
employment, transportation, design of public<br />
spaces and customer service.<br />
The region has committed to incorporating<br />
accessibility practices across all<br />
stages of employment, including providing<br />
accommodations during recruitment, assessment<br />
and selection processes and supporting<br />
employees with disabilities in the workplace.<br />
It will create, provide and receive information<br />
and communications in accessible ways.<br />
The region will update its accessibility<br />
design guidelines for buildings and facilities<br />
to enhance the accessibility of Regional<br />
public spaces. Under the plan, all employees,<br />
volunteers and agents will receive training on<br />
AODA, Integrated Accessibility Standards<br />
Regulation and Ontario’s Human Rights<br />
Code as they pertain to people with disabilities.<br />
York Region’s accessibility plans and<br />
policy are written to support the AODA,<br />
which was passed in 2005 with the goal of<br />
creating an accessible Ontario by 2025, and<br />
the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001<br />
(ODA), which works to improve opportunities<br />
for people with disabilities and help<br />
identify, remove and prevent barriers to<br />
their full participation in the province. It applies<br />
only to the Ontario Public Service and<br />
broader public sector.<br />
Since multi-year accessibility planning<br />
was first established in 2013, York Region<br />
and YRP have implemented and met all<br />
AODA requirements for broader public<br />
sector organizations, the region reports. The<br />
two organizations continue to meet and,<br />
in some cases, exceed the AODA requirements.<br />
Most actions in the plan are already<br />
in place and remain part of regular business<br />
practices.<br />
“York Region is enriched by contributions<br />
from people of all abilities,” says Tom<br />
Vegh, Chair of the YRAAC. “York Region<br />
and YRAAC remain passionate about<br />
identifying and removing barriers, changing<br />
attitudes and the importance of accessibility<br />
across all York Region communities.”<br />
valuing the diversity<br />
of residents and allow<br />
every person to thrive<br />
According to the Canadian Survey<br />
on Disability (2017), roughly one in five<br />
residents aged 15 years and over has at least<br />
one type of disability. York Region is home<br />
to more than 1.2 million people. “Creating<br />
communities where every person can participate<br />
is important for people, businesses<br />
and community life,” the Accessibility Plan<br />
says.<br />
“An accessible community allows<br />
everyone to develop to their full potential,<br />
participate freely in society and live with<br />
respect, dignity and freedom from discrimination.”<br />
The plan will be updated every four<br />
years to coincide with each new term of<br />
council and York Region’s Strategic Plan.<br />
Visit york.ca/accessibility to learn more.<br />
Subway extension one step<br />
closer with RFPs<br />
Cairney sisters, Quinn (10) and Chanel (8) competed in Belgium at the IDO championships<br />
and came back with silver medals.<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> sisters dance their way<br />
to silver medals in Belgium<br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> sisters and their team represented<br />
Canada at the International Dance<br />
Organization’s Jazz, Ballet, Modern and<br />
Contemporary Championships that came to a<br />
successful end on December 3 in Belgium.<br />
The Cairney sisters and their teammates<br />
competed in three dances at the IDO competition.<br />
The girls and the rest of their team<br />
placed 12th in the Jazz, Jock Jams competition.<br />
In the Ballet competition, their routine<br />
Petite Polka made it to the final round (top 6)<br />
and then they finished in 4th place.<br />
On December 1, they performed their<br />
Modern Contemporary dance called Hundred<br />
Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh theme story).<br />
This dance also made it to the final round<br />
and they earned silver medals.<br />
“It was so thrilling,” says proud mom<br />
Jenny Cairney. “With all the various dancers<br />
representing their countries, it was such a<br />
cultural experience.<br />
“The National Anthem would play when<br />
the gold medalists would take the podium.<br />
The girls would all congratulate each other<br />
down the line on their awards. There was<br />
also an opening ceremony parade welcoming<br />
all the countries together.”<br />
The Yonge North Subway Extension<br />
is one step closer to reality,<br />
with the provincial government<br />
issuing a Request for Proposals<br />
(RFP) for the contract to design<br />
and build the subway’s tunnels.<br />
“The RFP release is the next<br />
critical step in our government’s<br />
plan to extend subway service<br />
north from Finch Station to communities<br />
in <strong>Markham</strong>, Vaughan and<br />
Richmond Hill for the first time<br />
ever,” says Minister of Transportation<br />
Prabmeet Sarkaria.<br />
CrossTransit Group, North<br />
End Connectors and Toronto-York<br />
Tunnel Connectors to were shortlisted in<br />
2023 through a Request for Qualifications<br />
process and have been invited to submit<br />
proposals that detail how they’d deliver the<br />
tunnelling project. The contract, expected<br />
to be awarded in late <strong>2024</strong>, includes work<br />
to design, build and finance the construction<br />
of tunnels and the launch and extraction<br />
shafts that will be used for the tunnel boring<br />
machines.<br />
“This is an exciting milestone for the<br />
Yonge North Subway Extension,” says<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “Design<br />
and construction of the tunnel is a big part of<br />
this project. Going to market for this work<br />
demonstrates the strong commitment by all<br />
three levels of government to York Region’s<br />
number one transportation priority.”<br />
Early upgrade work at Finch Station,<br />
where the Yonge North Subway Extension<br />
will connect with existing Line 1 service, is<br />
now substantially complete. The upgrades<br />
set the stage for major construction of the<br />
subway extension, which will put 26,000<br />
more people within a 10-minute walk of<br />
transit and is expected to reduce daily travel<br />
times for commuters by up to 22 minutes,<br />
according to the provincial government.<br />
“As our region continues to grow, this<br />
critical infrastructure project will provide<br />
travellers with more convenient transportation<br />
options while continuing to strengthen<br />
the economic vitality of our communities,”<br />
York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson<br />
says.<br />
The approximately eight-kilometre<br />
subway extension is one of Ontario’s four<br />
priority subway projects for the Greater Toronto<br />
Area. The others are the Ontario Line,<br />
the Scarborough Subway Extension and the<br />
Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
10 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
Fortune Ball returns to support MSH<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital Foundation<br />
recently welcomed more than 700<br />
guests and community members to The<br />
Fortune Ball, which was supported by lead<br />
sponsor Green City Communities Inc. and<br />
presented by TD.<br />
Attendees enjoyed a night to remember<br />
at the Hilton Toronto/<strong>Markham</strong> Suites where<br />
they were treated to exceptional cuisine<br />
and live entertainment in celebration of the<br />
modern traditions of Chinese culture—all<br />
to support Oak Valley Health’s <strong>Markham</strong><br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital (MSH).<br />
The evening featured returning emcee,<br />
Jennifer Hsiung, host of CP24 Breakfast, as<br />
well as other special guests. Wushu Project<br />
began the night in majestic fashion, dazzling<br />
guests with their dragon dance, followed<br />
by the musical stylings of The Caverners<br />
Beatles Tribute band performing a stunning<br />
live homage to the English rock icons that<br />
marked their 60th anniversary this year.<br />
MSH Foundation is honoured to partner<br />
with leaders of the local Chinese-Canadian<br />
community to inspire more Chinese business<br />
and philanthropic leaders to help bring abundant<br />
blessings to MSH through the sharing of<br />
their good fortune and prosperity.<br />
Founding members of MSH Foundation’s<br />
Fortune Leadership Council (FLC)<br />
returned as Co-Chairs for this year’s gala.<br />
Alan Kwong, David Ho, Gordon Chan,<br />
Kenny Wan and Stephen Li, all distinguished<br />
members, lead the FLC – an assembly of<br />
local Chinese business leaders with a shared<br />
mission to give back to the hospital.<br />
“We commemorate our community’s<br />
dedication to ongoing progress and exceptional<br />
patient care at <strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong><br />
Hospital,” said Co-Chair Alan Kwong.<br />
“Gatherings like The Fortune Ball not only<br />
reinforce unity, but also ensures that we are<br />
continuing to nurture the health and wellbeing<br />
of our neighbours for the future.”<br />
Access to the most state-of-the-art<br />
equipment is essential for MSH to continue<br />
providing the exceptional, patient-centred<br />
care the community needs and deserves.<br />
The urgent and evolving needs in surgery,<br />
diagnostic imaging, and emergency<br />
medicine are constantly changing as our<br />
community is expanding and aging through<br />
the years.<br />
“<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital relies<br />
on the compassion of the community to<br />
keep on the forefront of technological<br />
advancements and deliver life-saving care<br />
when it matters most,” said Suzette Strong,<br />
CEO, MSH Foundation. “Government<br />
cannot fund all top priority needs – and so<br />
we rely on the support of our community<br />
to help bring a lifetime of care, close to<br />
home.”<br />
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors,<br />
donors, the volunteer committee, and the<br />
entire community – $800,000 was raised.<br />
Re-live favourite moments of the<br />
evening on social media @supportMSH or<br />
donate at www.mshfortuneball.ca.<br />
Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. employees.<br />
Hyundai among country’s<br />
Best Workplaces for Inclusion<br />
Great Place to Work® has named Hyundai<br />
Auto Canada Corp. of <strong>Markham</strong> one of<br />
Canada’s Best Workplaces for Inclusion.<br />
To be eligible for the accolade, organizations<br />
must be Great Place to Work-<br />
Certified in the past year, have at least 100<br />
employees and at least 90 per cent of all respondents<br />
must agree that people are treated<br />
fairly, regardless of personal characteristics<br />
like gender, ethnicity, age and sexual orientation.<br />
Great Place to Work determined the best<br />
based on employee responses to its Inclusion<br />
Index.<br />
Since entering the Canadian market<br />
in 1983, Hyundai has grown into one of<br />
the best selling and award-winning foreign<br />
manufacturers in Canada. It was recognized<br />
by Great Place to Work for perks that include<br />
a benefits program that tops up statuary<br />
parental, maternity, compassionate care and<br />
family caregiver leaves.<br />
Hyundai also increased mental health<br />
benefits and has increased maximums for a<br />
host of benefits, including gender affirmation<br />
coverage. At the beginning of 2023, it introduced<br />
Bright Breaks, a workday well-being<br />
program that suggests seven-minute breaks<br />
directly in team members’ calendars. Educators<br />
invite team members to fitness classes,<br />
breathe and stretch breaks and offers tips on<br />
healthy eating habits.<br />
Ninety-three per cent of the company’s<br />
264 employees say Hyundai is a great place<br />
to work, compared to 60 per cent of employees<br />
at a typical Canadian organization, Great<br />
Place to Work reports.<br />
Venterra Realty (Canada) Inc. in Richmond<br />
Hill, a developer, owner and operator<br />
of multifamily apartments, also made the list.<br />
Among other things, it was recognized for<br />
offering team members eight paid hours annually<br />
to volunteer in the service activity of<br />
their choice as individuals or as teams. It has<br />
partnered with Yellow Brick House to offer<br />
opportunities for employees to fundraise and<br />
donate their time at the donation warehouse<br />
and gardening at various shelters in the community.
JANUARY <strong>2024</strong><br />
11 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW<br />
ACS recognition underscores MSH’s dedication to the highest standards of care<br />
BY MICHELLE LEE HOY<br />
Earning national recognition for<br />
patient care is one of the most meaningful<br />
rewards for Oak Valley Health’s <strong>Markham</strong><br />
<strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital (MSH), and its newest<br />
designation as a participant of the American<br />
College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality<br />
Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP)<br />
underscores a long-standing commitment to<br />
the highest standards of surgical care.<br />
The ACS is a scientific and educational<br />
organization founded in 1913 to raise the<br />
standards of surgical practice and improve<br />
the quality of care for all surgical patients.<br />
ACS NSQIP is the first nationally validated,<br />
outcomes-based program to measure and<br />
improve the quality of surgical care. Participating<br />
hospitals collect data that provides indepth<br />
analysis, helping surgical teams better<br />
understand and tailor care to patient needs.<br />
Hospitals participating in this program can<br />
reduce preventable surgical problems to<br />
achieve higher quality.<br />
As a participant in ACS NSQIP,<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital also becomes<br />
an ACS Surgical Quality Partner.<br />
“We are honoured and extremely<br />
pleased to be recognized by the American<br />
College of Surgeons for receiving the designation<br />
of a Surgical Quality Partner by participating<br />
in the National Surgical Quality<br />
Improvement Program,” says Erin Landry,<br />
director of surgical services, Oak Valley<br />
Health. “This designation acknowledges<br />
the dedication of our team to continuously<br />
review surgical data to improve the structure<br />
and outcomes necessary to provide high and<br />
safe quality care to surgical patients. Patients<br />
can trust that the care they are receiving at<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital adheres to the<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital has been designated an American College of Surgeons (ACS)<br />
Surgical Quality Partner.<br />
most rigorous standards in surgical quality.”<br />
“ACS Quality programs are grounded<br />
in more than a century of experience and<br />
participation is an important measure of a<br />
hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical<br />
Quality Partner, <strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong><br />
Hospital has shown a commitment to providing<br />
the best possible patient care, evaluating<br />
that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating<br />
themselves to continuous self-improvement,”<br />
said ACS executive director and CEO<br />
Dr. Patricia L. Turner.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>Stouffville</strong> Hospital is also<br />
one of 78 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals<br />
that have achieved meritorious outcomes<br />
for surgical patient care in 2022. As a<br />
participant in ACS NSQIP, MSH is required<br />
to track the outcomes of inpatient and<br />
outpatient surgical procedures and collect<br />
data that assesses patient safety and can be<br />
used to direct improvement in the quality of<br />
surgical care.<br />
Receiving the meritorious award for<br />
ACS NSQIP, now for the fifth consecutive<br />
year, acknowledges the hospital’s commitment<br />
to high-quality surgical care. The<br />
surgical program achieved this award by<br />
utilizing standard-based verification with<br />
the goal to improve quality across surgery.<br />
It allows for structures to be put in place to<br />
enable quality improvement and help drive<br />
quality improvement.<br />
The ACS NSQIP recognition program<br />
commends a select group of hospitals for<br />
achieving a meritorious composite score in<br />
either an “All Cases” category or a category<br />
which includes higher-risk cases (“High<br />
Risk”). Risk-adjusted data from the July<br />
2023 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report,<br />
which presents data from the 2022 calendar<br />
year, were used to determine which hospitals<br />
demonstrated meritorious outcomes.<br />
MSH has been recognized on both the “All<br />
Cases” and “High Risk” Meritorious lists.<br />
This program measures the actual<br />
surgical results 30 days postoperatively as<br />
well as risk adjusts patient characteristics to<br />
compensate for differences among patient<br />
populations and acuity levels. The goal of<br />
ACS NSQIP is to reduce surgical morbidity<br />
(infection or illness related to a surgical<br />
procedure) and surgical mortality (death<br />
related to a surgical procedure) and to provide<br />
a firm foundation for surgeons to apply<br />
what is known as the “best scientific evidence”<br />
to the practice of surgery. Furthermore,<br />
when adverse effects from surgical<br />
procedures are reduced and/or eliminated, a<br />
reduction in health care costs follows. ACS<br />
NSQIP is a major program of the American<br />
College of Surgeons and is currently used in<br />
over 850 adult and paediatric hospitals.<br />
Receiving these awards and distinctions<br />
reflects Oak Valley Health’s commitment<br />
to providing the best patient care<br />
possible.<br />
Region receives award<br />
for ‘transparent’ budget<br />
For the 19th consecutive year, York<br />
Region has received an award that acknowledges<br />
its achievement in presenting “open<br />
and transparent” budget.<br />
The region received the Government<br />
Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished<br />
Budget Presentation Award for it<br />
2023 budget.<br />
“York Region’s annual budget represents<br />
transparency at its finest level,”<br />
says Steve Pellegrini, Chair of the region’s<br />
Finance and Administration. “To receive<br />
this award annually for almost two decades<br />
recognizes the dedication of staff preparing<br />
a document encompassing both the intricacies<br />
of a budget while keeping it highly<br />
understandable.”<br />
The GFOA represents public finance<br />
officials throughout North America. Its mission<br />
is to advance excellence in public finance.<br />
In order to receive the GFOA award,<br />
a budget document must satisfy nationallyrecognized<br />
guidelines for effective presentation<br />
of the budget as a policy document,<br />
a financial plan, an operations guide and a<br />
communication vehicle.<br />
York’s budget received special recognition<br />
in two areas: “Capital” and “Strategic<br />
Goals and Strategies.” The region received<br />
the Triple Crown medallion, recognizing<br />
achievement of all three GFOA awards in<br />
the 2021 fiscal year.<br />
“York Region staff are tasked to<br />
deliver top-level programs and services to<br />
our residents and local municipalities, being<br />
mindful of current political and economic<br />
conditions,” York Region Chairman and<br />
CEO Wayne Emmerson says. “Every<br />
component of the Region’s annual budget<br />
supports our four priority areas of the<br />
Strategic Plan and demonstrates our mission<br />
of working together to serve our thriving<br />
communities, today and tomorrow.”<br />
York’s Fiscal Strategy, which supports<br />
the long-term goal of financial sustainability<br />
through sound management of its capital<br />
plan, reserves and use of debt, guides the<br />
creation of the budget, the region reports.<br />
It credits strong financial oversight with its<br />
ability to maintain a Triple A credit rating,<br />
the highest possible from both Moody’s<br />
Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings.
12 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW JANUARY <strong>2024</strong>