Don Hamilton 1. Restoration of the Queen’s Hotel Your Unionville Ward 3 Councillor 2. No more train horns

3. Thornhill CC cat adoption centre Working with the community

4. Project updates for the community.

Restoration of the Queen’s Unionville Olde Tyme Hotel Christmas Candlelight Parade Last March the historic Queen’s Every year in early October the Hotel on Unionville’s Olde Tyme Christmas succumbed to a major fire. The Candlelight Parade Committee cause of the fire has not as yet begins working on their labour of been released to the public. love. This year is no exception. A dedicated team of residents pitch in Over the summer the owners have to organize the parade. done their best to keep the exterior presentable for the public. Walking This year’s parade takes place as it

I would like to take this opportunity by the fence enclosure has not always does, on the first Friday to wish all Unionville residents a been easy. evening in December on the Main very Merry Christmas and Happy Street of Unionville. New Year 2016. I have just been informed by our Heritage staff that the City of What makes this parade unique is

Markham Building Department has that it takes place at night. Many received a building permit residents buy candles from the Upcoming Events application for fire restoration at the Unionville Villagers Association and Queen’s Hotel. At this time help light the street as the parade • Unionville Olde Tyme Christmas architectural drawings have not yet floats go by. Parade Friday December 4th at 7 pm been submitted, but the owners on Main Street Unionville have now submitted structural, If you are around Friday December 4th please join your friends and • Cat Adoption and Education Centre mechanical and electrical drawings neighbours on Main Street opening in Thornhill Community for the interior. Unionville in celebrating the Centre in December I am hopeful that we will see beginning of the holiday season. restoration work commence very soon on this iconic Unionville This parade is supported by the Contact Information landmark building. City of Markham, various local sponsors and the UBIA. Don Hamilton Let’s hope that by next Spring both 101 Town Centre Boulevard the interior and the exterior will be Markham, restored to their former glory. L3R 9W3 905 415-7528

905 415-7549

[email protected]

No More Train Horns

The City of Markham is on track to eliminate the use of train horns throughout its various communities.

This action is supported by the “No Horns” group of concerned residents, many of whom live in close proximity to the railway line.

There were many members of the Unionville community present at

“train-horn” meetings held by the City and they voiced their concerns Newly installed public art piece titled ‘Quarry’ located on Carlton Road, Unionville about continued use of the train between Wembley Avenue and McKay Crescent by Toogood Pond horns.

Public Art on Carlton Road by A statue of is The familiar long-long-short-long coming to the piazza in Upper Toogood Pond pattern disturbs the peaceful Unionville at 16th and Kennedy. enjoyment of many people’s lives. Have you noticed the new public art That piece is being paid for by the Other reasons cited for silencing work entitled Quarry by Mary Anne developer. Barkhouse located on Carlton Road the horns were effects on home Let me know what you think of our by Toogood Pond? values, sleep disturbance of young City public art programme children and other general health This is part of the City of Markham’s installations and the associated concerns. ongoing commitment to enhance costs. public space with art. Currently there are 12 trains each What about the cottages at There appears to be a long stone weekday (6 southbound and 6 Unionvilla? northbound) multipled by 4 horn bench with two dogs peering at a squirrel on top of a boulder. During the summer the cottage blasts per train = 48 blasts per day. residents were told by UHS that That’s a lot of noise! What are those dogs thinking? they were being evicted at the end Wouldn’t it be fun to chase the of 2016 to make way for new The provincial Government has squirrel? housing. indicated their intention to increase Stop by the piece and check it out. service on the With support from Markham (Union-Lincolnville) to a service • Cost : $150,000 Council, we were able to secure a level of well over 40 trains per day. promise from the Region of York to build their new seniors building That would mean a lot more noise. There is more public art at the before tearing down the cottages, for you to see. There are significant upgrades Markham Museum thus enabling our seniors to more needed at all crossings. Our City That project is called Gambrel comfortably transition to the new staff continue to investigate what is Journey 2015, and is made of building. required and who will pay the costs corten steel, aluminum, bronze and wood. Have a look! The City continues to work with to upgrade. York Region, Minto Developments • Cost : $150,000 and UHS on the redevlopment of How will all these trains cross our that area. road network without causing incredible delays in vehicular Also planned is a statue of We need to protect our seniors and surrounding residents and make traffic? Benjamin Thorne to be placed in Thornhill. sure a quality product is provided That’s a question yet to be for that site. • Cost : $500,000-$700,000 answered!

Unionville Home Society Cottages. New building to house 200-250 units.

Markham Life Magazine The culvert in front of the Planing Mill has now been replaced. We are awaiting the You should have received the installation of new metal guard rail by the edge of the sidewalk. winter issue of Markham Life magazine by now. Copies are available at the Civic Centre. Starting your own business? If you know of any bright young Need help? Money? individuals that might benefit from This magazine is published by the this programme, contact Brigitte Over the past decade, in City of Markham for its residents. Sharpe at [email protected] partnership with the Province of This particular edition has a lot of for more information. valuable information contained in it. Ontario, the Markham Small Business Centre has awarded over Markham’s New Cat Adoption . $350,000 in grant funding for young Markham’s winter maintenance Centre programme entrepreneurs to start or expand their businesses. Thornhill Community Centre will be . Driveway Windrow removal the new home of a Cat Adoption assistance programme Starter Company offers up to and Education Centre, the first of its $5,000 in grant money for youth kind in a municipally owned setting. . Seniors programmes who are The Centre will house a maximum . Varley Art Gallery upcoming . Between 18-29 years of age of 17 cats at any given time. They events and shows will be spayed or neutered and . Out of school and not vaccinated so they are adoption . 2016 recycling, waste and working ready. green bin schedule in the

centre section tearout . Starting a new business or The Centre will promote education wanting to expand an . Markham’s tree canopy programmes on animal welfare, existing business rehabilitation programme cooperative placements for students enrolled in Veterinary Along with the grant money, they Be sure to read the Markham Life technician courses and other magazine. If you have questions receive training and mentoring community initiatives. don’t hesitate to contact my ever sessions from local business helpful assistant Marina. leaders. The Centre is scheduled to open in late December 2015. We are always happy to try and A few examples of Starter assist in any municipal matter. Company businesses include : Contact Christy Lehman if you have event planning, roofing, contracting, questions or want to volunteer at health/wellness, lawn maintenance the centre. [email protected] and magazine publishing.

Project Updates At Kennedy Road and Austin Drive, there seems to be never ending construction going on both during the day and through the night.

Here’s the latest scoop on the watermain construction.

Tunneling continues with work occurring 24 hours a day. The distance remaining to go is about 60 metres. The new Park nears completion on Caboto Trail behind Unionville Once tunneling is complete, the Meadows Public School. It features new exercise equipment for kids and adults as well remaining watermain pipe will be as 2 tennis courts. installed and the joints welded and grouted. To date there has been no Both projects were completed on construction route approved by City time and on budget. Well done Then the inside of the new staff. contractors and City staff! watermain will then be mortar lined, from 14th Avenue to Austin Drive. Will Eureka Street be the entry/exit South Unionville Park point or will Fred Varley Drive to Expected completion is summer of Main Street or Sciberras Road be The new South Unionville Park is 2016. the primary route? scheduled to open in the Spring of 2016. Featuring two tennis courts This watermain, which runs from I have informed the Unionville and lots of fun equipment for 14th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Ratepayers Association, Unionville youngsters and adults, this will Drive, will supply water to new Villagers Association, Parkview complete the area parkland housing north of Major Mackenzie Public School Parent Council and requirements for this district. Drive. Principal as well as various residents of possible issues with Caboto Trail is now fully connected! Varley Village Fred Varley whichever construction route is Plaza Redevelopment chosen. Stay in touch! The City is still waiting for the Why was Main Street developer, Tribute Homes, to Contact Information submit some Engineering plans and Unionville closed in October? various studies. There were two projects that Don Hamilton occurred on Main Street during City of Markham That said, once approved, it won’t October, both of which we were 101 Town Centre Boulevard take long for them to get started able to coordinate to occur at the Markham, Ontario with the demolition of the existing same time. L3R 9W3 plaza. The first was a culvert repair in front This project will present a challenge of the Planing Mill. It involved 905 415-7528 for everyone involved, especially replacing the concrete top of the 905 415-7549 those residents who live in close culvert and repaving the section of [email protected] proximity to the construction site. the road over the culvert. www.markham.ca

There will be ongoing noise, dust The second was the rehabilitation and dirt as well as living with of Main Street curbs and road bed construction vehicles coming and from the railway tracks south to going on our streets. Highway 7.