FALL 2014 2 3 4 7 9 11 The changing look of York Region Have a say in our future Seeing the forest and the trees Keeping residents on the move The pulse on health Taking Highway 404 further north Say Yes to York! Earlier this year, York University s bid for a new campus in York Region took a major step forward with the official announcement of a proposed campus site in the City of Markham. In September, York Regional Council unanimously approved up to $25 million in funding to help ensure the campus can become a reality, once approved by the Ontario Government. Community, economic and social benefits originating from a post-secondary investment are substantial in both the short and long term for York Region. Once in place, a new York Region campus will provide a strong economic stimulus for other commercial, residential and retail uses. The Region s diverse business sectors will benefit significantly from the influx of students on work placements and internships. Why York Region needs a university York Region is one of the fastest-growing major urban areas in Ontario 59.7 per cent of young people in York Region go on to attend university; the highest percentage of any region in the province We are the only region of its size in North America without a university campus We have a large population of young people (18 to 21) and the projected growth in this age group is larger than any other in Ontario Access York: 1-877-464-9675 Accessible formats or communication supports are available upon request. We need your help! A new York University campus is an important investment in York Region s people, education and economy. Tell the Province of Ontario York Region needs and deserves a university campus. Visit yestoyork.ca and join the conversation on Twitter with #yestoyork
York Region continues to grow and prosper When travelling across York Region, you see evidence of great change. York Region s nine municipalities have evolved with new neighbourhoods, office buildings, shopping centres, roads and highways, public transit and even subway station construction. Less visible is the tremendous progress made to infrastructure needed before anything can be built. Think of the pipes delivering clean water to your tap, water treatment plants, sewers and waste management facilities. York Region s long-term plan, Vision 2051, sets out a blueprint of how the Region will grow. The planning supports billions of dollars of investments in infrastructure such as sewers, subway extensions, public transit and affordable housing. The Region and our municipal partners are creating sustainable and attractive high density centres and efficient corridors, suitable for vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians. To support planned, approved growth as outlined in the provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the four Regional Centres (Markham Centre, Newmarket Centre, Richmond Hill/Langstaff Gateway and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre) and the Regional Corridors (Yonge Street, Highway 7, Davis Drive and Green Lane) are designed to achieve the greatest mix of uses, heights and development densities in the Region. The development of the Centres and Corridors combines the planning of urban, pedestrian-friendly and sustainable communities. These areas are being designed to have everything at one s doorstep, within walking distance or just a short ride by transit. To learn more and explore the Region s Centres and Corridors, please visit york.ca/candc Clockwise from the top left: Newmarket Centre, Richmond Hill/Langstaff Centre, Markham Centre and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. 2 Contact us at Access York 1-877-464-9675
Your community, Your say. York Region is planning for the future and wants your input The Regional Municipality of York continues to plan for the future and is looking for your input and ideas. York Region is expected to grow to 1.79 million people and 900,000 jobs by 2041. To accommodate this growth and be at the forefront of best practices, York Region reviews and updates a number of its long-term strategic plans. Three plans under review are: The Transportation Master Plan establishes the vision for transportation services, assesses existing transportation system performance, forecasts future travel demand and defines projects and strategies to address road, transit and active transportation needs. The Water and Wastewater Master Plan update ensures water and wastewater systems meet current and future demands and are able to provide safe, cost efficient and reliable service to the Region s communities. The Regional Official Plan outlines the policies of York Region to guide growth management, economic, environmental and community planning decisions. Your community, your say. Input from residents and the business community is key to the success of these updates. Comments and feedback on any or all of these plans can be given through york.ca, social media and at open houses. The first round of open houses includes: Municipality Location Date Time What is e-waste? Electronic waste (e-waste) is any electronic equipment in your home that no longer works and cannot be repaired. E-waste should not be thrown in the garbage as these items contain materials considered to be hazardous and often have recyclable parts. Examples of e-waste: Cellphones, telephones, pagers, fax machines Computer towers, laptops, modems, keyboards and mouse Cameras Monitors, printers, scanners, typewriters City of Vaughan Town of Newmarket Novotel Toronto Vaughan Centre 200 Bass Pro Mills Drive Newmarket Community Centre 200 Doug Duncan Drive November 11, 2014 November 12, 2014 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Televisions VCRs, DVD players, radios, stereos, speakers City of Markham Thornhill Community Centre 7755 Bayview Avenue November 18, 2014 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you have e-waste around your home, visit york.ca/bindicator to learn the proper means of disposal. Visit us at linkedin.com/company/yorkregiongovt 3
Celebrating the newest addition to the York Regional Forest: Drysdale Woods Fall is tree planting time! Now is the perfect time to plant a new tree in your backyard or order one for spring. Enjoy shade, cleaner air and save energy by purchasing a tree through the LEAF Backyard Tree Planting Program. Get a native tree, expert advice and full planting service for a low subsidized price. For more information, please visit york.ca/treeplanting or contact LEAF at 416-413-9244. York Region recently acquired 55 hectares of land in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. The newest addition to the York Regional Forest was made possible through the generosity of the Drysdale family and the environmental land preservation program offered through the York Region Greening Strategy. The property is part of the Regional Greenlands System and is adjacent to the Hollidge Tract of the York Regional Forest. The tract will be known as Drysdale Woods as an acknowledgement of the Drysdale family s donation and recognize their contribution to the environment. This area is expected to open to the public in 2015. York Region manages more than 2,300 hectares of protected land, which make up the York Regional Forest. Located throughout York Region, 18 of the properties are open to the public throughout the year, with more than 120 kilometres of trails including accessible trails. Admission is free. Check out York Regional Forest events to experience our natural environment first-hand. For information about the York Regional Forest and the Region s many greening initiatives, please visit york.ca/forestry Mr. Doug Drysdale receiving stained glass art from York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. 4 Talk with us on Facebook/YorkRegionGovt
Did Know? York Region uses closed-circuit television (CCTV) technology to monitor the condition of our underground pipes York Region is responsible for the operation and management of 190 kilometres of trunk sewers, which move sewage/wastewater flow from nine local municipalities to eight water pollution control plants for treatment and disposal 162 inspections using CCTV were completed last year Sewer management ensures reliable wastewater service and minimizes the risk of failure that could threaten public health and safety through sewer back-ups, odour and pipe corrosion issues or reduced hydraulic performance A closed circuit television camera is attached to a camera float for inspection of sanitary sewers. Visit us on Pinterest.com/YorkRegionGovt 5
Safer Commute is your call YRT/Viva cares about your safety and security YRT/Viva is partnering with Crime Stoppers to increase the methods available to report criminal incidents and help create safer commutes and communities. This partnership will enhance the technologies in place, such as security cameras and vehicle communications systems. The Transit Enforcement team offers security, customer assistance and fare enforcement services throughout the system to further assist in creating a safe environment for customers. Individuals providing tips to Crime Stoppers do not need to give any personal information and can remain anonymous. A cash reward of up to $2,000 may be given to people who provide information that leads directly to an arrest. Answers to road-related questions are at your fingertips York Region s road network is an important part of your daily routine. To keep you in the know of what is happening on Regional roads and to learn more about services, you can visit york.ca/roads Here you will find: A map of Regional roads A list of temporary Regional road closures Information on Regional road weight restrictions The York Region Transportation Fact Book Current and upcoming road construction schedule York Region provides many routine and requested services to ensure motorists are safe and the road network is maintained. Visit york.ca/roads for details on how to: Request road maintenance on a Regional road for potholes, broken signs, lights or other damages Report a street lamp outage for repairs Report a damaged rural mailbox for investigation and reimbursement Request tourism road signs Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for daily road updates. VivaNext bus rapidways are making progress in York Region There are signs of progress throughout York Region on vivanext rapid transit projects. Bus rapidways are being built on Highway 7, Davis Drive and Yonge Street. Rapidways are setting the stage for future growth, and transforming our most important streets into welcoming, functional spaces for transit, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The Highway 7 East rapidway is now open from Bayview Avenue to South Town Centre Boulevard and the remaining section to Warden Avenue will open by the end of the year. Paving of Davis Drive will be complete this year and the vivastation at Parkside Drive/Longford Drive is well underway. In the City of Vaughan, Highway 7 West is being widened and utility work continues in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Plans to move ahead for the next phase of rapidway on Highway 7 West have begun. Yonge Street is the next section of the rapidway plan, and pre-construction work has started. Visit vivanext.com for additional project information or to sign up for construction updates. Follow vivanext on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Safety on our roads is a shared responsibility As part of an ongoing Pedestrian Safety Campaign, The Regional Municipality of York and York Regional Police promote respect between motorists and pedestrians to help reduce the number of collisions, injuries and fatalities on Regional roads. Safety on Regional roads is a shared responsibility. With winter just around the corner, the hours of sunlight will be fewer and pedestrian visibility during high travel times will become more difficult. To become more visible, pedestrians are reminded to wear bright, reflective clothing and to always cross at signalized intersections to help ensure you are visible at night. Motorists are reminded to obey posted speed limits, leave adequate space between yourself and other vehicles and to be aware of pedestrians around your vehicle. York Region has made a number of improvements to our roads to help ensure pedestrian safety, including: Nearly all intersections in York Region have been equipped with pedestrian countdown signals Extended crossing times at all intersections Installation of zebra markings at 100 intersections across the Region, with 150 more planned each year for the next four years For safety tips or more information about the Pedestrian Safety Campaign, please visit york.ca/trafficsafety York Regional Council has committed $1.2 billion towards the 10-year roads construction program. York Region s fleet grows with our communities York Region s fleet service includes approximately 300 vehicles, trailers, construction vehicles and various other equipment, including first responder vehicles. Each year, these vehicles drive more than 4.4 million kilometres. York Region s diverse services require multifunction, specialized equipment. Recent purchases include litter collection equipment and street sweepers to help keep our roads clean. This winter, new snowplows with liquid anti-ice systems will be added to our fleet to help keep roadways clear and safe while reducing road salt use. York Region ensures repairs and preventative maintenance are completed as quickly as possible and operate 24/7 to keep essential vehicles, such as snow plows, line painting trucks and construction equipment operating. New snowplow ready for the winter ahead. Rapidway stations, with real-time transit information and heated shelters are designed for safety, convenience and comfort. Zebra markings and countdown signals at intersections increase safety. 6 Talk with us on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt Visit us on Instagram.com/YorkRegionGovt 7
Transition to Parenting Program Are you pregnant or had a baby in the last year and feeling sad, anxious or overwhelmed? Would you like to meet others with similar experiences? York Region offers a support group for women during pregnancy, or after the birth of a baby to provide information and increase confidence, while sharing experiences. The Transition to Parenting program is provided at no cost and is available at various locations across York Region. Transportation assistance and language interpreter services may be provided. Childcare is offered at most sites. The program also includes a family session for partners, family members or a support person. This program is available to women living in York Region who are pregnant or have had a baby in the past year. To register, contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, TTY: 1-866-252-9933; or email HC@york.ca For additional family resources and information, please visit york.ca/parenting Alternate formats and communication supports How can we help? York Region is committed to making our programs, services and facilities accessible for all residents, including people with disabilities. Alternate formats and communications supports are available upon request for all York Region publications. If you need support from a staff member or an alternate format to read or understand the information in this publication, please contact us for help. Call Access York: 1-877-464-9675. Accessibility Advisory Committee volunteers needed Volunteers are needed to sit on York Region s 2014 to 2018 Accessibility Advisory Committee to help advise York Regional Council on how to make programs, services and facilities more accessible in our community. If you are interested in accessibility issues, are a York Region resident with a disability or an individual working with residents with disabilities in York Region, you are encouraged to apply. Applications are now available at york.ca under Accessibility and are due December 5. For more information, please contact AODA@york.ca 8 Visit us on Flickr.com/YorkRegionGovt
New to York Region? Talk to us Moving to a new country brings both challenges and opportunities. To help newcomers integrate, new tools and information have recently been added to the York Region Immigration Portal on yorkwelcome.ca Starting a business This online directory makes it easier for newcomer entrepreneurs to access information about starting a business. Connecting international students with community supports This resource provides international students with links to community supports to help them feel more at home. Enhancements to yorkwelcome.ca are funded in part by the Province of Ontario. Healthy brain development Daily interactions have a life-long effect on a child s ability to reach his or her full potential. The first six years of life are the most important for healthy brain development. In the first few years of life, a child s brain is developing at a rapid rate and is very receptive to new information. Parents and caregivers can help their child develop language and literacy by: Talking and listening to your new baby Reading stories, singing songs and describing daily events Explaining pictures and objects Asking your child questions and listening to his or her answers Showing interest and responding to your child s efforts Giving encouragement and positive feedback For more information on interacting with your child and for other family resources, please visit york.ca/parenting Save a life with CPR! York Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics know every second counts in a medical emergency. If you know cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), you can help increase a person s chances of survival while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Learning how and when to perform CPR is critical. When CPR is used together with an automated external defibrillator (AED), you can improve survival up to 75 per cent. If you notice someone is unconscious, here are a few tips to remember: Call 911 Check for absent or abnormal breathing Have someone get an AED if available Begin CPR - push hard and fast Continue CPR until paramedics arrive Learning CPR is easy and inexpensive. Search for an accredited CPR agency in your area or visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada at heartandstroke.ca For information on York Region EMS paramedics, please visit york.ca/ems Contact us at Access York 1-877-464-9675 9
Sizing up York Region s elevated water tanks York Region s elevated water tanks range in size from four megalitres to seven megalitres, or roughly the volume of two-to-three Olympic sized swimming pools. The tanks store drinking water and water to help fight fires. With 29 elevated water tanks across York Region, each is strategically placed to equalize water pressure throughout the municipal water system. Large pumps are used to fill these tanks with water taken from Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe and groundwater sources. Typically, an elevated tank will refill at least once each day. Until recently, the water towers were painted completely white, but due to outside condensation, the lower, funnel-like section was often stained and required exterior cleaning. Painting the outer surface of the bottom portion dark blue minimizes staining and costs associated with cleaning the exterior of the tank. Visit york.ca/water for information on the municipal water supply. Over the last few months, York Region has created a number of water advertisements to bring awareness to everyday situations affecting our environment. For information on York Region s environmental initiatives, please visit york.ca/environment York Region s Queensville Sideroad Elevated Tank located in the Town of East Gwillimbury. 10 Talk to us on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt
Smooth sailing on the new Highway 404 extension. Highway 404 extension gets drivers moving Earlier this fall, the Highway 404 extension from Green Lane to Ravenshoe Road opened, carrying up to 50,000 vehicles daily on fourlanes of highway. It will help ease traffic on local roads in the Town of East Gwillimbury and the Town of Georgina. The extension will boost local business and encourage new businesses and development in both municipalities. Infrastructure enhancements are needed at 2nd Concession for planned and approved growth in our communities. To minimize impact The 404 extension will boost local business and encourage new businesses and development in both municipalities. to motorists, the closing of 2nd Concession was co-ordinated with the opening of the Highway 404 extension. 2nd Concession is closed from Green Lane to Mount Albert Road and from Doane Road to Queensville Sideroad in the Town of East Gwillimbury. Improvements include road widening between Green Lane and Doane Road, bridges at Rogers Reservoir, new curbs, storm sewers, street lights, a watermain and sanitary sewers. For more information, please visit york.ca/roads York Region apps help manage your commute York Region s newest app gives YRT/Viva transit users access to real-time transit information on their Android and Apple smartphone device. Search by route, address or stop number, plus view service information for a specific stop, including the stop number, intersection and scheduled and estimated arrival times. YRT/Viva app features also include: Closest stop notification using GPS Mapping of all YRT/Viva stops Schedule information for selected route and stop Real-time vehicle information for selected route and stop Download the official YRT/Viva app in the App Store and Google Play. For more information, please visit yrt.ca Find out about road closures and traffic delays before you get to them with York Region s Travel Alert app. The Travel Alert app is available on smart phone devices and offers hands-free, personalized real-time traffic reporting. Motorists are alerted through voice prompts and a colour-coded map of unexpected traffic delays. Download the York Region Travel Alert app by scanning the QR code or by visiting york.ca/travelalert Whether travelling across York Region by car or by transit, there s now an app to help you on your way. Visit us at linkedin.com/company/yorkregiongovt 11
Frank Scarpitti Markham Jack Heath Markham Jim Jones Markham Gordon Landon Markham Joe Li Markham David Barrow Richmond Hill Vito Spatafora Richmond Hill Brenda Hogg Richmond Hill Connect with your community Town of Aurora 905-727-1375 aurora.ca Town of Newmarket 905-895-5193 newmarket.ca Maurizio Bevilacqua Vaughan Town of East Gwillimbury 905-478-4282 eastgwillimbury.ca Town of Georgina 905-476-4301 georgina.ca Township of King 905-833-5321 king.ca York Region Chairman & CEO Bill Fisch Town of Richmond Hill 905-771-8800 richmondhill.ca City of Vaughan 905-832-2281 vaughan.ca Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville 905-640-1900 townofws.ca Tony Van Bynen Newmarket Gino Rosati Vaughan City of Markham 905-477-7000 markham.ca The Regional Municipality of York 1-877-464-9675 york.ca John Taylor Newmarket Michael Di Biase Vaughan Deb Schulte Vaughan Robert Grossi Georgina Danny Wheeler Georgina Geoffrey Dawe Aurora Virginia Hackson East Gwillimbury Steve Pellegrini King Wayne Emmerson Whitchurch-Stouffville 2 3 4 7 9 11 The changing look of York Region Have a say in our future Seeing the forest and the trees Keeping residents on the move The pulse on health Taking Highway 404 further north Access York: 1-877-464-9675 Accessible formats or communication supports are available upon request. Say Yes to York! Earlier this year, York University s bid for a new campus in York Region took a major step forward with the official announcement of a proposed campus site in the City of Markham. In September, York Regional Council unanimously approved up to $25 million in funding to help ensure the campus can become a reality, once approved by the Ontario Government. Community, economic and social benefits originating from a post-secondary investment are substantial in both the short and long term for York Region. Once in place, a new York Region campus will provide a strong economic stimulus for other commercial, residential and retail uses. The Region s diverse business sectors will benefit significantly from the influx of students on work placements and internships. Why York Region needs a university York Region is one of the fastest-growing major urban areas in Ontario 59.7 per cent of young people in York Region go on to attend university; the highest percentage of any region in the province We are the only region of its size in North America without a university campus We have a large population of young people (18 to 21) and the projected growth in this age group is larger than any other in Ontario We need your help! FALL 2014 A new York University campus is an important investment in York Region s people, education and economy. Tell the Province of Ontario York Region needs and deserves a university campus. Visit yestoyork.ca and join the conversation on Twitter with #yestoyork We want your feedback on this publication! Tell us what you think of York Works and be entered to win a York Region prize pack. York Works is delivered to homes and businesses across York Region twice annually as part of The Regional Municipality of York s commitment to communicating with residents. It provides important and timely information about York Region programs and initiatives. Tell us what you would like to see in future editions of York Works. Click on the QR code or visit york.ca/yorkworks before December 23, 2014 to complete a survey and you may be eligible to win a York Region prize pack. FSC Logo to be inserted by printer Produced by the Corporate Communications Division 1-877-464-9675 For a pdf copy, please visit york.ca/yorkworks