May 2022
Dear Neighbour,
As we approach a provincial election in a little over a month, it is important that we all consider the relationships among our various levels of government. Our current provincial government, despite being called "conservative" is in fact radical, activist and even authoritarian, particularly when it comes to managing its relationships with local government.
No thoughtful person would ever argue that Ontario's municipal governments are uniformly well managed or that the development approval process is as efficient as it should be. But the answer is not to substitute the dubious wisdom of distant bureaucrats and politicians at Queen's Park for the cut and thrust of local debate among residents, councillors and municipal planners. I would be more than happy to support a thorough review of the situation by, say, an independent royal commission, but the current piecemeal approach to reform is unacceptable.
Last week, as they have threatened to do for some time, the province imposed enhanced Minister's Zoning Orders (eMZOs) overriding the planning authority of Markham, Richmond Hill and York Region to approve a new community near Yonge Street and Highway 407. It will be among the most dense neighbourhoods in the world, without adequate local facilities, including parks, or sufficient employment, and with a dramatic impact on surrounding communities.
The City has long supported a new dense community in this area, but the province has taken it to another level. And in the process they are diverting approximately $2 Billion (with a B!) from money owed to Markham (to purchase parkland), in order to pay for the province's share of the Yonge subway extension.
Why should we in Ward 3 care? In two words . . . Markham Centre. If the province is prepared to do this in Thornhill, what will they set their eyes on next? And this is to say nothing of the unhealthy "incomplete" community they insist on creating.
This week Markham council passed two motions, one asking the province to repeal the eMZO impacting the Markham portion of the new development. The other rejected their proposed implementation agreement with the city and insisted on further negotiations, which no one expects the province to respond to. Provincial representatives have not been negotiating in good faith since this whole project was first proposed in confidence without public scrutiny, and there is no reason to expect they will negotiate in good faith now.
Council also passed a motion to approve a public education meeting on this topic in May. I highly encourage you to watch for more details on the time and date. The issues here are fundamental to our democracy. Many are already concerned by the amount and pace of growth in Markham. If the province continues on this course, "you ain't seen nothin' yet".
Finally, this newsletter is coming out a couple of days early so that I can go to Quebec tomorrow to pick up my eldest son from Bishops University, where he has just completed his 4-year undergraduate degree program. Needless to say, I am a very proud father.
 Looking forward to improving spring weather. And wishing all mothers out there a wonderful Mothers Day on May 8th.
Reid
The balance of the newsletter continues below.
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 Today, April 28, it the National Day of Mourning. This is a time for employers, including the City of Markham, to renew their commitment to protecting workers and preventing further workplace tragedies, illness and injury. Today, the city pays its respects to and remembers workers who have lost their lives, or suffered injury or illness as a result of their job, and honours the families and friends who have been affected by these tragedies.
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It's that time of the year, and after two years of cancelled spring cleaning events, the place is really looking trashy. Two spring cleanups are scheduled so far in Ward 3. Why not pitch in to help your neighbours for the benefit of everyone?
- Saturday May 7, 9 am to 4 pm, South Unionville Avenue at Piera Gardens, sponsored by the South Unionville Residents Forum and the South Unionville Community Association
- Saturday May 14, 9 am to 11 am, at the Bandstand, Main Street Unionville, sponsored by the Unionville Villagers Association.
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 This past Saturday free burlap kits to protect trees from LDD Spongy moths were offered for free to Ward 3 residents. Unfortunately, relatively few of those available were picked up, despite the popularity of the program at earlier give aways. I have 75 of the kits available for anyone wanting to protect their trees in Ward 3 this year. Each kit includes about 2.5M (8 ft) of burlap, twine and an instruction sheet. If you would like one please let my Executive Assistant Marina know at mantonoglou@markham.ca, and we will be sure to get one delivered to you. There will be a second drive-thru burlap give-away event on Tuesday May 3 at the Civic Centre from 9 am to 2 pm or while suppiies last.
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 Earlier this week city council approved a revised Diversity Action Plan and Plan to Eliminate Anti-Black Racism Action. These are the result of a great deal of hard work, community consultation and thought by city staff, led by Diversity Specialist Joanne Kinya Baker, and a team from the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) University. These plans will be seen as a template for similar plans across Canada. But, of course a plan is only as good as its implementation. I look forward to seeing the impact in the community and regular assessment reports to council.
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May is Anti-Asian Racism Education Month in Ontario and Asian Heritage Month in Canada. Sadly, the pandemic has exacerbated Anti-Asian Racism. Vincent Ke, MPP for Don Valley North, has taken on this issue and assembled and excellent summary of the problem and its history here. Only by educating ourselves and confronting the issue head on can we overcome all forms of racism.
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In April he Development Services Committee of council reviewed a third report on the status of the Markham Centre Secondary Plan, in particular the area around Home Depot at the west end and, at the east end, the areas along Kennedy Road. You may have heard about a kerfuffle at that meeting, but the important part was to understand how these areas might evolve over the coming years and decades. The report is here.
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 Yesterday, April 27, a Community Information Meeting was held to consider the application to redevelop the No Frills plaza site at Highway 7 and Warden Avenue. Unfortunately, due to a conflict of interest, I was unable to take an active role in the meeting and will not be voting on the application when it eventually comes to council. This morning I wrote an email to a resident who inquired about my position. Here it is. The Statutory Public Meeting for the application will be held June 21 in the evening. If you would like to attend that meeting, please email clerkspublic@markham.ca and ask to be included and to receive notice of the meeting. You can also register with the Clerk's department to make a deputation on that evening. You can also email your thoughts to all members of council at mayorandcouncillors@markham.ca. And, finally, here is a link to the preliminary staff report on the proposal.
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 A Community Liaison Committee meeting was recently held to update residents on progress regarding redevelopment of the Unionville Home Society campus. Here is a link to the presentation from that meeting. Highlights included:
- Occupancy of the first 4 floors the Unionville Commons building will begin in early 2023
- The seniors hub and community centre (as distinct from the Unionville Community Centre for Seniors) should also open in early 2023
- A revised site plan for the market townhomes has been submitted to the city, reducing the unit count from 153 to 119.
- The pedestrian access to Greentree Road is preserved in the revised plan.
- Land is being secured for a 1.5 acre (0.65ha) public park with access to Eureka Street.
- Townhouse construction should start in early 2023 and be complete by mid-2025.
- Dealing with privacy fencing, border trees and drainage has been identified as a priority for the neighbouring property owners. I have followed up with Minto, the developer, on this topic and will continue to push for a reasonable solution.
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 This week council gave final approval of zoning and official plan amendments to allow a 1081-unit seniors residence, called Hildebrand Gardens beside St Justin Martyr Church on Highway 7. The complex will be owned and managed by the non-profit Lang Yi Foundation and will consist primarily of life lease units. These are a bit like condos, but are generally more affordable. There will also be 150 purpose-built rental suites. Due to the 14-story height along Highway 7, and the impact on neighbouring houses and townhouses, I was reluctant to add my vote to the approval. But on balance the provision of desperately-needed and relatively-affordable seniors housing won the day in my mind. In any case, with a staff report recommending approval, it would have been just about impossible to defend a rejection at the Ontario Land Tribunal.
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 In April the Development Services Committee of council reviewed and provided feedback on the latest draft of the new Regional Official Plan (ROP) (and here) This may seem like a highly technical exercise, and it is, but the ROP will ultimately govern what can be included in the Markham Official Plan, meaning what sort of development will go where. It covers things like farmland to be designated for development; employment land to be converted to residential use; and Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) where higher density will be allowed and inclusionary zoning bylaws will apply to require a percentage of affordable units. It will always be difficult to oppose density later, if the density is locked in now in the ROP.
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 Earlier this month the City's final 2021 consolidated financial statements were reported to the General Committee of council. These will form the core of the audited annual report that will soon be published. The city's assets increased by $450M to over $5.2 B in 2021, due primarily to the payment of development charges and the hard assets assumed by the city from developers: things like roads, sewer lines and the like.
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 In April the city published a document highlighting 2021 achievements relative to our 2018-2022 strategic plan, Building Markham's Future Together, along with a more detailed report on the topic. Together they form an interesting read, if a little self-congratulatory. When this was presented to the General Committee of council I asked that in future we highlight next steps in areas where we have fallen short; that we be provided with longitudinal data (data over several years) on our achievements; and that achievements and actions be more clearly linked. These comments were well received by staff and I look forward to a more complete report in 2023.
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 Did you know that Markham has its own Economic Development department providing services to local companies and entrepreneurs? They also "sell" Markham as an attractive place for new businesses to invest, create jobs and contribute to our tax base. Here is their latest newsletter summarizing their many initiatives designed to drive economic development in Markham. For more information or to subscribe email edoinfo@markham.ca.
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 While most of Markham's community centres and other facilities are now open again, some services are still limited due to staffing shortages and/or construction and repair schedules. If you are concerned, please check here or call customer service at 905 477 5530 Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
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 The TD Markham Jazz Festival is returning to Unionville in August (see below). This Saturday at 8 pm you can get a head start by taking part in International Jazz Day, online with Toronto's own Elmer Ferrer group at 8 pm. This amazing concert was performed for the 24th Annual TD Markham Jazz Festival “Virtual Jam 21” last August. The Elmer Ferrer Group features some of the most talented jazz musicians from both Canada and Cuba, including Markham's own Rob Christian. Just go to markhamjazzfestival.com and click on “International Jazz Day 2022 – Elmer Ferrer Group”. For more information on International Jazz Day visit jazzday.com.
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 In February I hosted an event to begin exploring the potential impacts of student housing for York University on neighbouring communities. Earlier this week, at the Development Services Committee meeting, Regional Councillor Jack Heath placed a motion on the agenda (Notice of Motion) of the next DSC meeting on May 30 that would direct City staff to report on the situation and present proactive recommendations as to how to deal with any issues before they become issues. Rental licensing and perhaps incentives for purpose-built student housing should be considered.
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 Please don't forget: The Canadians Care Collective Fund, in cooperation with the Markham Rotary Club Foundation, is raising funds for medical supplies for the people of Ukraine: Fill a Plane For Ukraine. Approximately 50 pallets are needed to fill a plane, at $5000 each. So they are looking to raise at least $250,000 ASAP. You can donate here. Plus a series of fundraising events are planned in Unionville and Toronto:
 Ticketed Events
Door Charge Events
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 The City's Bylaw Enforcement team recently presented an update on key enforcement issues in addition to their first newsletter which was included with my April newsletter. This update too is helpful reading so we can all understand the powers and limitations on bylaw enforcement in Markham. Please recall that recommendations to council for improvements to bylaw enforcement are expected later this year.
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 Worth Repeating: One of my favourite days each year is the 10,000 Trees for the Rouge planting event. And it's back, twice! Mark your calendar:
- Sunday, May 1, 2022 Robinson Creek - McCowan Road and Major Mackenzie Drive (That's this weekend!)
- Saturday, May 28, 2022 Clarence Chant Park - McCowan Road and 16th Avenue
This year, participation is by registration only.
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 The City has partnered with LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) to once again offer the subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program to Markham residents. LEAF offers a selection of more than 50 native trees and shrubs through various planting options. Planting with LEAF, you’ll enjoy expert advice from a certified arborist, high quality native trees and shrubs and delivery and/or planting, all at subsidized cost. Markham residents pay only $50 plus HST for evergreen trees and $100 plus HST for deciduous trees, from a select species list, for up to a total of 5 trees per property (space permitting). More information here.
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 From May 7 to September 4, 2022 the Varley Gallery on Main Street Unionville presents Gathering Fictions: A Dialogue on Painting. Janet Jones and Michel Daigneault are contemporary painters who question and challenge our understanding of abstraction. Both artists look to abstraction as a way to explore different realities, or as modes of perceiving what is true and is what is not. Both employ similar methods– layering, patterning, and collage– to assemble their narratives from diverse sources. The resulting paintings, however, differ significantly in scale, imagery and intent. Established artists and peers, Jones and Daigneault intentionally cultivate a collegial relationship that thrives on debate, on creating space for dialogue that permits both different ideas and approaches to art making to flourish. Opening Reception: Saturday, May 7, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (EST). The Artists Janet Jones and Michel Daigneault will lead a walkthrough of the exhibition discussing their different approaches to abstraction. Talks will begin promptly at 3 PM
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 Vintages at the Varley is back, Thursday, May 5, in support of the Varley Gallery. Join a virtual wine tasting led by a professional sommelier and featuring more of the wines you love - or have yet to experience - from South Africa!
Packages Include a variety of wine delivered right to your door; a Charbox charcuterie box; a link to join the virtual event; and an online virtual silent auction featuring original works of art, gift certificates and more!
Wine-only options are also available. See the tickets page for more details. Ticket sales close on May 1.
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 Markham Cycles bike hubs (including one at Centennial Community Centre) are back for the season, starting May 7th. They have a whole host of programming lined up for this year — from learning how to fix your own bike to exploring local trails and cycling routes during group rides. Check out their events calendar to learn more about the spring schedule. They can alway use volunteers and donated bikes. And follow Markham Cycles on social media to stay in-the-know!
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 The City and York Region are working toward an agreement to develop a joint Vision Zero road safety plan -- Zero meaning a goal of no deaths or serious injuries on our roads among drivers, pedestrians or cyclists. Parachute is the leading safety and injury-prevention organisation in Canada. On May 10 they will be hosting a webinar: Cycling in Canada: Pedalling toward sustainable climate action and Vision Zero. You can participate by registering here and you'll find more information here.
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My latest printed newsletter is in the mail. Watch for it in your mail box, if you have not seen it yet.
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Save the Date - Terry Fox Run 2022 in support of cancer research - Sunday, September 18, 2022. Register now!
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Spring into colour at the 2022 Heintzman House Art Show and Sale in Thornhill April 29 to May 1 (this weekend) 1 pm to 5 pm . Stop by to admire the incredible work of 30 talented artists, converse with community members and take part in something truly special. Admission and parking are free! 135 Bay Thorn Dr. Thornhill. For more information visit theheintzmanhouse.ca
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In-person summer camps are back at the Flato Markham Theatre! For more information and to register check here.
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This Saturday, April 30, at 7 pm the Kindred Spirits Orchestra presents the immortal oratorio Messiah by Handel, an extraordinary story of passion and glory, performed with a stellar cast under the direction of Kristian Alexander. The concert takes place at the St. Maurice & St. Verena Cultural Centre at 3300 Highway 7 East (a wonderful venue worth the visit on its own). Click here for tickets.
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 The City is hiring. You can join Team Markham and make a difference. The City is hiring for a variety of Summer jobs. There are also a number of full-time positions available too. You can view the positions and apply here. The Markham Public Library is also hiring for multiple positions - details can be found here. And York Region is hiring for various positions too, including summer positions for students - details here.
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 Don't forget: Jane's Walk is a free series of citizen-led walking tours inspired by the late internationally-renowned urbanist Jane Jacobs. The walks get people to tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with neighbours. There are walks taking place in the City and in many other communities too. Find out more information about the Jane's Walks taking place in Markham here.
- May 7 at 10am - Thornhill
- May 7 at 2pm - Markham Village
- May 8 at 2pm - Cornell, a planned walkable community
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 In celebration of National AccessAbility Week (May 29 to June 4), you are invited to join a free virtual event, on June 1 at 7 PM: Can’t Read, Can’t Write: The Journey. The Markham Public Library and the Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility, are pleased to present author Michael Jacques, and his father Marcel. Michael cannot read or write. At a young age, he was diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability. Michael is an inspiring public speaker who shares experiences from his life to help audiences understand acceptance and belonging. Help celebrate National AccessAbility Week with a spotlight on non-evident disabilities through Michael’s powerful stories and a panel discussion. Register here.
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Worth Repeating: The festivals are back and there's a new one!
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After two years away the Unionville Festival returns! It's the 51st celebration of our unique community! Saturday, June 4 on Main Street. Food, vendors, music, family entertainment and more!
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The Markham Village Music Festival is thrilled to announce they will be back on Main Street Markham on Friday, June 17th, and Saturday, June 18th! The festival is also looking for volunteers, artisans, small businesses, and crafters. For more information visit www.markhamfestival.com.
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New this year, from June 16-19, the Lucky Lion Night Market comes to Markville Mall, organised by the Sprout Organisation. Over 40 vendors, amazing food and entertainment in the parking lot near Bullock Drive and Austin Drive.
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The 20th Taste of Asia and the 31st World Hakka Conference will be held simultaneously from June 24 to 26 in Markham. Opening night will feature a Hakka theme show.
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The Night it Up night market returns on the weekend of August 6 and 7, this year in Downtown Markham.
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The TD Markham Jazz Festival returns to Main Street Unionville, August 19-21. The festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary by bringing Canada’s finest jazz musicians to three great stages, all free for music lovers.
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Council Meetings
All meetings are now online only. As always, you can watch at https://pubmarkham.escribemeetings.com/ . Written deputations can be submitted to clerkspublic@markham.ca. To arrange for a virtual deputation please also email clerkspublic@markham.ca.
General Committee of Council
- May 9, 9:30 am
- May 24, 9:30 am
Development Services Committee of Council
- May 10, 7 pm (Statutory Public Meeting)
- May 30, 9:00 am
Full Council
- May 17, 1:00 pm
- May 31, 1:00 pm
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 The next Unionville Residents Association meeting is Monday, May 9, at 7 pm on Zoom. The featured speaker will be Mayor Frank Scarpitti for his annual meeting with the URA.
As always, there will also be councillor updates.
URA meetings are public and open to all. To register for the Zoom link please email rsvp@unionvilleresidents.com.
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For even more news about Markham, sign up for the weekly Deputy Mayor's Exchange.
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 ReidMcAlpine.ca
Visit my website for more detailed information about some of the bigger issues affecting us in Ward 3 Unionville, plus links to other organizations, and archives of all my newsletters. Others who would like to receive this monthly Ward 3 Unionville Newsletter can subscribe here.
And for more timely information please follow me on Twitter @reidmcalpine.
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