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SENIOR CITIZENS IN YORK REGION — A SERIES

‘WE WILL FEEL THE IMPACT ACROSS EVERYTHING’

BY LISA QUEEN

lqueen@yrmg.com

I

n just two decades — from 2011 to 2031 — York Region’s senior population will increase by 148 per cent, almost four times faster than the growth rate of the overall population.

That changes everything.

From societal shifts to family dynamics, from health care to the workplace, from housing to transportation and more, there are few areas and services that will remain untouched by the unprecedented greying demographics.

“We will feel the impact right across everything we do in York Region. We will feel the impact right across every service we provide,” said Lisa Gonsalves, director of strategies and partnerships with York Region’s community and health services department.

“We still have to tap in and see how do we support that group?”

Last week, regional council approved a seniors strategy task force, which will come up with recommendations to address the needs of seniors and their impact on areas such as long-term care, paramedic services, land-use planning, public health and transportation.

There were just fewer than 125,700 seniors aged 65 and older living in the region in 2011, making up 12 per cent of the population, according to a new report called Towards a Seniors Strategy for York Region.

By 2031, there will be more than 311,250 seniors and they will comprise 21 per cent of the population.

Not only are seniors the fastest growing segment of the population, but York seniors are living longer than the provincial and national averages, thanks, in part, to the region’s high quality of life.

The life expectancy in York is 84.1 years — 85.8 years for women and 82.2 years for men — compared to 81.5 years in Ontario and 81.1 years in Canada.

So, what does the face of aging in York Region look like STAFF PHOTO/NICK IWANYSHYN

CHATS seniors Jack Iding (right) and Rita Henriques take part in morning exercise at the Aurora location.

See page A3.

ENVIRONMENT

TRANSPORTATION

Bee-killing chemical to be reduced in Ontario

BY SIMON MARTIN

D

smartin@yrmg.com

on’t kill that bee buzzing by your head, it is the unheralded superstar of our agriculture system, beekeeper James Murray

says.

Bees are working behind the scenes to pollinate our food. It’s not a coincidence that Murray has affection for the bee. The Sharon resident has 70 hives housing 60,000 bees in each.

But Murray and beekeepers across Ontario have fallen on more difficult times in recent years.

According to the province, in the winter of 2013-2014, bee deaths in Ontario reached a staggering 58 per cent. The generally accepted level by those who care for and breed bees is 15 per cent.

The culprit for the rapid rise in deaths, according to beekeepers,

the province and a host of scientists, are neonictinoids: a chemical that coats the vast majority of corn and soybeans (cash crops) seeds.

“Everything is being used prophylactically. There is going to be a day soon when these chemicals don’t work,” Murray said.

Starting July 1, Ontario will be the first jurisdiction in North America to enforce rules to reduce the number of acres planted with neonicotinoidtreated corn and soybean seeds by 80 per cent by 2017.

The reduction in neonics is something that Andre Flys thinks might help turn the tide of his dwindling hives. The third-generation beekeeper in Schomberg lost more than 70 per cent of his bees in 2013 and just more than 50 per cent in 2015.

“We are at our wits end about See page A5.

Transit: Where is it taking us and when will we get there?

W

BY LISA QUEEN

lqueen@yrmg.com

Q A

ith gridlock costing the economy of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area $11 billion a year, the provincial and federal governments are pouring historic levels of funding into transportation infrastructure.

For example, in its spring budget, the province announced $16 billion for transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area while, on June 18, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a $2.6billion investment in Toronto Mayor John Tory’s SmartTrack initiative, a 53-kilometre, 22-station surface train service line on existing GO train lines.

York Region Rapid Transit Corporation president Mary-Frances Turner and chief engineer Paul May sat down with York Region Media Group to talk about the unprecedented transformation of public transit in York Region and across the sprawling Golden Horseshoe.

Q:

STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT

Q:

Why do we need all this? Are we choking on our own congestion?

May: We identified in the first transportation master plan that the region did, which was approved in 2002, we strongly identified that we couldn’t widen enough roads in York Region to accommodate all the future travel just in cars.

There just wasn’t enough roads to widen and not enough property. There would just have to be too many lanes on these arterial roads, so transit was the only way we were going to achieve the future need for travel in a sustainable manner. The two rapid way lanes in the middle of the road have more capacity to move people than the three lanes in each direction, so a total of six lanes, for regular cars.

&

In May, the region launched a transportation task force, described as one of the most significant committee’s in the region’s history. Can you explain why it is so important and why it is so timely?

James Murray is a beekeeper in Sharon who says the destruction of the bee population is a major problem to our agricultural system. The province is looking into banning certain pesticides in corn seed that are said to be part of the problem.

tion in the GTA, not only with the things under construction in York Region, our rapid bus transit and the Spadina subway extension, but also all the RER (rapid express rail, which is electrification of the GO train lines allowing for 15-minute service) investment with Metrolinx.

Turner: Transportation has been stated as the No. 1 issue of priority to York Region residents for many, many, many years. It’s really important, as we look at major milestones like our transportation master plan, that we really examine opportunities to really get it right. And getting it right means where do we spend our emphasis and our focus with respect to the dollars that need to be spent to improve our roads and our transit systems and create great places for people to walk and have mobility, including on their bicycles. So, that’s why a task force was created, because it’s really important to York Region residents and their quality of life.

May: I think the other aspect is, I think it’s very timely now for this task force because there is an unparalleled level of investment in transporta-

Q:

Just as a normal person, I hear Metrolinx, Viva, YRT, GO, there’s the TTC, there’s SmartTrack.

How is this all working? It just seems like so much and I can’t wrap my head around it. Help me wrap my head around it.

Turner: We’ll start at the bottom and work our way up. YRT has existed for a considerable amount of time. It was formed by putting together all of the local transit systems and creating York Region Transit. And that was done by the region putting together all these small individuals into a large regional authority. That authority is responsible for operating the day-to-day system that you see running around out there. The rapid transit corporation, which is our service that we put out there and we run the rapid transit corporation, our goal is to find funding and to build the projects and then give them to YRT, York Region Transit, to put into service and they run the local service every day on our behalf. We have funding partners and one of the funding partners we have is Metrolinx. And Metrolinx was formed to create this umbrella

See page A4.

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, July 2, 2015

Hospice King-Aurora bests other charities in community challenge Hospice King-Aurora placed first in the All for One Community Challenge.

During the Richmond Hill stop of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay evening celebration at the Richmond Green Sports Centre, the organization was awarded $5,000 for first place.

Hospice King-Aurora squared off against two other charities, Richmond Hill Aquatic Club and Autism Ontario York Region Chap-

ter who received runner-up prizes of $2,500 each.

In 2014, $13.3 million from Charitable Gaming proceeds were distributed to participating local charities across Ontario.

In the past nine years, Charitable Bingo and Gaming Centres across the province have given back more than $87 million to their communities. The charities use the funds for after-school programs, medical centres and associations, children’s groups, music, arts and cultural groups, humane societies and youth sports among many other worthwhile causes.

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BY TERESA LATCHFORD

tlatchford@yrmg.com

Residents continue to take issue with the proposed development of the former Highland Gate golf course lands.

Aurora residents packed the cafeteria at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School last Wednesday to express their concerns to town council and staff about the development applications submitted by Highland Gate Development Inc. The application, which is currently under review by the town and other organizations such as the Lake Region Conservation Authority, would transform the former golf course into a neighbourhood with 184 homes, a 100-unit condominium building, eight kilometres of trails and 20 acres of parkland that could include a splash pad, tot spot, adult fitness area and meditation gardens.

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Residents still oppose Highland Gate plan

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To see the full application and associated reports regarding the development proposal, visit aurora.ca

This is the first of three public planning meetings the town plans to host regarding the application with a second scheduled for Sept. 30 and the third set for Oct. 28.

“The town is still reviewing the applications,” Aurora Mayor Geoff Dawe said in his opening remarks. “No decisions have been made regarding the application and no decisions will be made tonight.”

Over 35 residents took to the microphone in the middle of the room to express their concerns regarding the lack of green space and mature trees, water drainage issues, loss of privacy, narrow roads, interruption of a watercourse, segregation of the community by retaining walls and outright objection to the proposed development.

Highland Gate Rate Payers Association President Dave Newton received a standing ovation from the crowd following his remarks.

“The vast majority of our members are firmly opposed to this developer’s plans to run roads down every fairway, obliterating

STAFF PHOTO/TERESA LATCHFORD

Highland Gate Rate Payers Association president Dave Newton states his opposition to the proposed development in Aurora. the green space and creating huge increases to traffic in the neighbourhood,” he said. “We do recognize that the developer owns the lands and have certain rights but the homeowners own their land and also have rights.”

He continued to point out the trick will be to balance those rights so no one profits at the expense of another. Newton listed off the planning tools available to council in order to ensure an appropriate development is sought; he also encouraged them to utilize those tools.

“This development brings no benefit to residents who have lived here for decades,” he added. “Why not try to create a legacy for all Aurora residents to enjoy for generations to come.”

A re-occurring theme throughout the night included pleas to refuse the development outright and transform the existing green space into something similar to Central Park in New York City or the green space in Newmarket now known as Riverwalk Commons.

The input from residents collected from the meeting will be complied in a staff report to be presented to council at a later date and town staff has been directed to answer the questions asked at the meeting throughout the summer.

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, July 2, 2015

SENIOR CITIZENS IN YORK REGION — A SERIES, PART I

Gap widening between haves, have nots From Page A1

today and for the huge swell of boomers now moving into their golden years?

A snap shot, based on a regional report called A Profile of Baby Boomers and Seniors in York Region, which gathered information from a variety of sources, such as 2006 and 2011 Censuses, the National Household Survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey and reports from governments and non-government organizations, shows: Overall, boomers have a higher level of education than seniors, but both groups are interested in continuing their educations and pursuing learning opportunities; More York Region residents aged 55 and older are working or looking for work than the national and provincial rates; Boomers and seniors provide more than half the volunteer hours in Ontario, with their primary reason being the desire to contribute to their communities; Boomers are more likely than previous generations to pursue second careers after retirement and they are more technologysavvy; Seniors are wealthier than previous generations, which is likely to prompt financially strapped governments to see them as having more ability to pay for services; At the same time, there are signs of financial stress. The banking industry warns Canadian boomers don’t have enough savings for retirement and many boomers and seniors are carrying debt, raising questions about their long-term financial security.

Company pensions providing guaranteed incomes are becoming increasingly rare; The York Region Food Network says more seniors are facing food insecurity; The vacancy rate for rental housing for seniors in York has decreased since 2011; About half of York seniors and boomers say they are in good or excellent health; Seniors report more chronic

seniors

&

boomers A 3-part series discussing York Region’s growing senior population, the contributions they make, the services they need and the caregivers who provide support

conditions such as arthritis and high blood pressure than boomers; Calls to EMS from seniors and boomers are increasing; Dementia among York seniors is expected to increase rapidly over the next 20 years; Cases of serious elder abuse, including assault, criminal harassment, robbery and threats, increased between 2008 and 2012; With no new long-term care facilities being built, there will be increased demands on local levels of government, community organizations, families and seniors to care for aging residents; In 2011, immigrants made up 45 per cent of York’s population, a number that will grow during the next two decades.

‘We’ve got a strong economy, we’ve got good social infrastructure and seniors in York Region appear to be living longer and wealthier than other parts of the country.’

Not content to sit on the porch in their rocking chairs, seniors and boomers are changing the face of aging, experts said.

“There was once a perception you reach 65, you retire, you

CHATS executive director Christina Bisanz goes through paperwork and chats to York Region Media Group about the programs offered to York’s growing senior population.

settle in a little bit and your health declines. Boomers, as they’re getting into their seniors years, are still as active as they were when they were 50 and 45,” Gonsalves said.

Christina Bisanz, CEO of Community Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS), puts on a presentation called “Getting old isn’t what it used to be”, which includes photos of dynamic seniors such as actor Betty White, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and 94-yearold Hazel McCallion, who retired as the mayor of Mississauga last fall.

“People are now working well into their 70s and being more active. That’s the good news, that it’s the mindset of keeping active, being more aware of preventive health maintenance, being physically active, the importance of exercise, the importance of healthy, active living, good diet, all of those things we’re aware of and we know and hopefully are living that lifestyle,” Bisanz said.

At the same time, she is concerned with the growing gap between seniors who are aging well

CHATS senior Sid Morris takes part in morning activities at the Aurora location.

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WEIGH IN: What’s your take on this issue? Send comments to tkibble@yrmg.com LEARN MORE: Visit CHATS website on chats.on.ca

and those whose “golden years” are filled with health problems such as chronic illnesses and fall hazards, financial woes and isolation.

“That’s where we (CHATS) fill in with supports so they can live independently with dignity, with maintaining their health and independence. It’s certainly more cost effective than a long-term care home,” she said.

“We also caution, though, that living at home doesn’t necessarily mean you can live without some kind of support. It’s great to be at home but it also requires the right care, the right time, the right amount, because what can also happen is that some seniors suffer from under-care. They, perhaps, become isolated, they’re at greater risk of fall hazards, they’re perhaps overlooking compliance with their medications, there could be all kinds of different challenges that could land them in hospital.”

The Central Local Health Integration Network, which oversees health care planning for most of York Region, south Simcoe County and parts of northern Toronto, is committed to working with service providers to keep seniors healthy and living well in their homes for as long as possible and for ensuring seniors with complex needs receive the care they need, CEO Kim Baker said in a statement.

With the provincial government promoting an age-at-home philosophy rather than accommodating seniors in long-term care facilities, communities, local agencies, family and friends will take up more and more responsibility of caring for seniors, Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor said.

Technology will also play an increasing role, added Taylor, who is chairperson of the region’s community and health services committee.

He pointed to an app called Be My Eyes, which allows people with vision problems to share labels, transit schedules and other hardto-read text with volunteers who can decipher it for them.

“I believe someone will create a Be My Eyes for seniors,” he said.

The surging senior population also means governments will be forced to target services to seniors most in need or establish a fee structure based on ability to pay, Taylor, Bizanz and Gonsalves agreed.

“We don’t know to what degree, yet, but to a certain degree, we’re going to be forced to be a little more targeted. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to do anything for seniors or shut down all seniors’ centres or anything like that,” Taylor said.

“But we have to make sure the services are getting to the right people. I don’t want to view seniors as a problem. It’s a challenge and we’ve got to make sure we’re thinking it through and addressing it and managing scarce resources, but still be supporting the community.”

There is no doubt the soaring senior population will have an impact on virtually every sector of society, Taylor said.

“I don’t think this has hit the radar yet. I think it will soon. I don’t know the scope of the challenge. I know it won’t be small,” he said.

“Still, I have to say aging in York Region is fairly good news in comparison to aging in many areas of Canada. We’ve got a strong economy, we’ve got good social infrastructure and seniors in York Region appear to be living longer and wealthier than other parts of the country. There are various reasons for that.

“We’ve got one of the highest educated workforces in Canada, maybe the highest. There’s a lot of opportunity here.”

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, July 2, 2015

The Aurora Banner, Thursday, July 2, 2015

Q & A: Transit important ‘political hot potato’

New regulations will have huge impact on local farmers From Page A1

From Front Page

regional transportation authority, to create the big picture that’s bigger than any one of our individual pictures, to put together the whole network and to determine the priorities of which pieces of that network should go ahead of the others. But (transit) is a very important, as you know, political hot potato for everyone to deal with. So, usually, you will find at election time, one of the platforms that a politician will run on is their ideas about a transit idea. So, in this case, (Toronto Mayor) John Tory came out with the idea of SmartTrack. And SmartTrack is just basically layered on top of the GO lines and adds a few more stations in the city of Toronto. But he’s been able to give it a phrase and a name and gain popularity as another way to move people around. But it happens to be the same plan with a few more stations.

May: From a transit user per-

spective, when you’ve got different systems operating in the Greater Toronto Area like this, there are two aspects that make it convenient for the user. One is service integration.

So, can I connect from one service to another service to get where I want to go? And we do have service integration in York Region and in the Greater Toronto Area...The other aspect is fare integration so you have one unified fare system throughout the Greater Toronto Area and we don’t have that yet...

There isn’t fare integration with the TTC…The Presto card is being implemented. Everyone in the GTA has implemented it except for the TTC and it’s in the process in the TTC. They’ve started to and it will still be a couple years before they’ve finished implementing it on the TTC. So, that makes it more convenient. You just tap your card each time. In terms of integrating the fare policy, that’s more difficult and Metrolinx is working on that and it needs to be done at the Greater Toronto Area level. It’s not something York Region can do on its own.

Q:

Paint a picture of what transit will look like in five years.

Turner: In five years, we’ll have 37 kilometres of rapid transit corridors, bus rapid transit cor-

ridors, fully separated for buses to be running up and down. The Spadina subway will be open. We hope to be well into engineering for the Yonge subway because it’s another major piece of our puzzle.

And we hope to have a (BRT) corridor running up Jane Street and across Major Mack and down Don Mills, providing rapid transit but in mixed traffic and as a precursor to future separated rapid transit investment. It will be buses like the first stage of Viva where we ran in mixed traffic and the stations will be curbside. The goal is to start it in mixed traffic and get it into its own corridor. Five years from now, you should be seeing much more frequent service on the GO lines and then five years from then, you’re going to see electrification.

You’re going to have this whole rapid transit system of buses and subways start to be connected to the GO lines and the GO lines are going to be running up and down the corridors.

May: Metrolinx has a 10-year

program to implement regional express rail, RER. These are all diesel trains right now. They’re electrifying some of the corridors, but not all of them. They’re not electrifying the Richmond Hill corridor and the Kitchener corridor past Brampton. But they are electrifying the Stouffville line and the Barrie line. I don’t expect they will have that done in five years. It will take at least 10 years to do that, but they are going to incrementally add more trains to each of the GO rail lines. Plus, they’re extending the Richmond Hill rail line. Right now, it stops just north of Major Mackenzie. They’re building a station up at Stouffville Road and another station up at Bloomington and this should be done within five years.

Q:

Paint a picture of what transit is going to look like in a quarter century.

Turner: I think the level of investment now being made will create an entirely different manner in the way people will be able to move around our community.

Right now, we truly are still a cardependent community. I would say (in) 20 to 25 years, we could truly say we will have the real opportunity to be a mobile community. A mobile community has people moving by all modes of

STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT

Mary-Frances Turner and Paul May from York Region Rapid Transit sit down with York Region Media Group for a Q and A on transit and transportation issues. transportation. There are people in their cars, there are people riding transit, there are people on bicycle paths. (People are) moving back and forth between all the levels of service and it will be an entirely different opportunity for mobility in the region.

May: And a fully connected

rapid transit network. There are still a number of gaps in the system and we’re slowly filling in these gaps. You (will be able to) use rapid transit for all or most of your trip, not just part of it or certain people who it works for. It will be available to a broader sector of society. It will be available as a viable option to driving to work.

Q:

If you had to pick the biggest three gaps that you would like to see filled, what are they?

May: The Yonge subway (extension from Finch to Hwy. 7) would be No. 1.

Turner: The Yonge subway is No. 1, for sure. (Second is) the electrification of the rail, which is being fulfilled now by the premier’s announcement and the budget approvals. That’s huge.

May: And (third is) the completion of the BRT network. What we have funding for now is roughly half of a proper BRT network. We need more funding to fill in the remaining gaps. We don’t have funding to do the east end of Hwy. 7 and the west end of Hwy. 7 and the middle part of Yonge Street.

Those are the gaps we want to fill in on the BRT.

Q:

How much has been spent on rapid transit and how much more funding is needed?

Turner: Right now, here in York Region, there is $3 billion worth of rapid transit investment underway. The piece that’s opened is part of $1.75 billion, but the majority of the $1.75 billion is under construction or about to go under construction. We’ve only opened one segment. I’ll break down the pieces. Bus rapid transit is worth $1.75 billion and there’s one piece of it opened, the rest is under construction. There’s $1 billion being invested in the Spadina subway in York Region. And there’s two or three projects we’ve built.

That adds up to $3 billion worth of investment in York Region that’s under construction or about to

be under construction. The Yonge subway is worth $4 billion. That’s unfunded. The balance of our BRT is worth $1.75 billion or $8 billion rounded out. Those are the two major pieces of unfunded transit in York Region.

Q

: Some of the projects have become a headache for people.

Look at Davis Drive. Why is it worth it?

Turner: This is an investment for the next 50 or 100 years.

It’s not an investment for today, today and only for today. It’s a long-term investment. That longterm investment is about many generations that will make sure of this rapid transit investment. Call it four years of heartache for the next 50 to 100 years of mobility in the region. So, it’s really worth it and we believe in that passionately, which is why we work really hard with the community to ease the impact during those four years, because, in the end, we really think it’s worth it.

— For the full interview, visit yorkregion.com

A5

how we are going to continue,” he said.

While Flys understands that farmers need to use pesticides in vulnerable areas, he thinks it is overkill to treat all seeds with these chemicals. The chemical is certainly harmful to bees when they get it in their system, director of the Honey Bee Research Centre at the University of Guelph Dr. Ernesto Guzman said.

But the issue is much more complicated than that. “From the beekeeping standpoint, restricting the use of neonics would prevent some toxicity cases affecting the health of honey bees, which is good. From the agricultural standpoint, I cannot comment because I’m not an expert in that area,” he said.

The Grain Farmers of Ontario certainly believes the province has over reached. While bee deaths spiked in 2013, the resulting Health Canada investigation found that dust generated during seeding

contained traces of pesticides.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency implemented guidelines for farmers for the 2014 planting season meant to reduce dust exposure. They appear to have been successful, according to GFO. “Ontario’s rush to be the first in North America to restrict neonicotinoids is on track to cost rural Ontario’s economy more than $600 million a year, to solve a problem that it appears the federal government has already addressed,” GFO chairman Mark Brock said.

They filed a request to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to provide an interpretation of the neonicotinoid-treated seed regulations in June. “The decision to seek legal action against the Government of Ontario was not easy and is unprecedented in the history of our organization,” GFO CEO Barry Sneft said.

They are also asking the Superior Court to delay the implementation of the proposed regulations until May 1, 2016.

The new regulations will certainly have a large impact on local

STAFF PHOTOS/MIKE BARRETT

Beekeeper James Murray shows how calm his bees are if they are not threatened. He has 70 hives housing 60,000 bees in each. In photo at bottom left, Murray checks the hives. farmers since the vast majority of farmland in York Region is used to grow corn and soybeans.

Rich Burkholder said it’s too early to know how the regulations will change his business. His family farms more than 2,500 acres in York and Durham regions.

“There are a lot of unknowns but it is going to alter things,” he said.

“We will probably have to spray more.” The pesticide spray won’t have neonics in it but Burkholder doesn’t necessarily think that means it will be better for the environment. If the use of neonics is really what has caused the spike in bee deaths, Burkholder said dramatically reducing their use is the right thing to do.

The problem Burkholder and many other farmers face in understanding the impact of neonics is there are a lot of conflicting messages. While Ontario has followed Europe’s lead in reducing their use, other areas seem less convinced.

The Alberta Beekeepers Commission, which represents around 45 per cent of the honeybee industry in Canada, said Alberta hasn’t seen the same issues as Ontario.

The area should be particularly

susceptible because canola seeds are coated in neonics and planted in great abundance in the area.

“The seed treatment technology significantly reduces honeybee exposure to pesticides,” the commission said in a release. Neonicotinoid pesticides have been in use in Canada for about a decade.

They were considered safer for the environment and farmers because they could be used as seed treatments, not broad spectrum sprays and only targeted insects directly attacking the plants.

“We really have been able to cut the use of pesticides down quite a bit with the use of these treatments. There is potential for a lot more use of pesticides,” Jeff Steiner said.

He works for Reesor Seed and Grain, who supplies area farmers with seeds and custom spraying on their fields. York and Durham regions have high insect pressure, Steiner said, so a significant percentage of crops need some form of treatment.

The treated seed was a very popular product for farmers with increased yield and improved safety. “It’s a lot safer using treatment on seed than it is for farmers to use

spray,” Steiner said. “(Spray) tends to be very toxic and a concern for us as farmers.”

All farmers know the value of bees, continued Steiner. “The bees are very important to farmers. If we don’t have bees, it just doesn’t work,” he said.

Stouffville resident Caleb Niemeyer didn’t know too much about the heated debate surrounding neonics when he took honeybee biology at the University of Guelph last year.

He was interested in getting into beekeeping. “There isn’t clear consensus on one side or the other.

It takes a lot of scientific literacy to weed through the studies to know which are credible and which are not,” he said.

Niemeyer got his first two bee hives in the mail last month and is giving beekeeping a try. His hives are right next to a cornfield that was planted with neonicotinoidsoaked seeds.

Niemeyer isn’t too concerned.

“There are more important issues on honey bee health than neonics,” he said. “I feel like the risks that lots of people associate with these chemicals aren’t as big as they make them out to be.”

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, July 2, 2015

OPINION

THE BANNER

General Manager Shaun Sauve

Publisher Ian Proudfoot

Director, Business Administration Robert Lazurko

www.yorkregion.com 580 Steven Crt., Newmarket, ON L3Y 6Z2

Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Director, Circulation Carol Lamb

EDITORIAL

Keep road ‘bumps’ in perspective ISSUE: There is light at end of seemingly endless road construction tunnel.

Chris Emanuel

I

t might not be pretty, but the VivaNext bus rapidway construction occurring on Hwy. 7 through Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill and along Davis Drive in Newmarket is a case of short-term pain for long-term gain.

Granted, it may be difficult to keep that in mind if you frequently find yourself idling in traffic in one of the work zones or are routinely forced to navigate a seemingly endless slalom of orange barrels and construction signs, but it’s important to keep the inconveniences these projects present in perspective. Some perspective will become even more crucial as rapidway construction along Yonge Street ramps up through Newmarket and Richmond Hill.

It’s not always easy to recognize there’s a method to what appears like madness at times, so, with that in mind, reporter Lisa Queen recently sat down with York Region Rapid Transit Corporation president Mary-Frances Turner and chief engineer Paul May for a question-and-answer session on some of the public transit projects going on here in York and throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

With congestion costing the economy of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area in the order of $11 billion per year, not to mention the loss of our precious time, it’s vital we get the transit system right. We have no choice as noted by Turner who explained that the region recognized 13 years ago, in its first transportation master plan, there simply wasn’t enough property to widen the roads to a sufficient degree that they could handle all of the projected traffic volumes.

“There would just have to be too many lanes on these arterial roads, so transit was the only way we were going to achieve the future need for travel in a sustainable manner,” she said. “The two rapidway lanes in the middle of the road have more capacity to move people than the three lanes in each direction, so a total of six lanes, for regular cars.”

As York Region works to construct its rapid transit network, other agencies, such as the TTC and Metrolinx, are working on their own improvements.

The TTC’s Spadina subway expansion into Vaughan is nearing completion and York Region hopes an expansion of the Yonge subway north to Richmond Hill will eventually move forward. Metrolinx, meanwhile, has unveiled a 10-year plan to establish a regional express rail system with allday, two-way trains, electrification on the Barrie and Stouffville lines and an extension of the Richmond Hill corridor.

Another potentially important project for getting people moving around the GTA is Toronto Mayor John Tory’s SmartTrack initiative, a 53-kilometre, 22-station surface train service line on existing GO train lines in the city. Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently pledged $2.6 billion toward the plan — about a third of the cost.

So, what might all of this look like by 2020 or so?

“In five years, we’ll have 37 kilometres of rapid transit corridors, bus rapid transit corridors, fully separated for buses to be running up and down.

The Spadina subway will be open. We hope to be well into engineering for the Yonge subway because it’s another major piece of our puzzle,” according to Turner. “And we hope to have a (BRT) corridor running up Jane Street and across Major Mack and down Don Mills.” Five years after that, you should see electrification along some GO Transit rail lines running through York and even better service integration, she added.

Without question, there’s much to do both in terms of construction work and changes to existing policies with fare integration being of paramount importance. A better, more functional system is going to take time and money, but also patience.

With any luck, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will marvel at the transit network we have forged and we will forget the (legitimately) aggravating bumps along the road to getting there.

BOTTOM LINE: A better, more functional transit system is going to take time.

Guest column

Ranked ballots important change

T

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Need more awareness of Lyme disease Re: Lyme sufferers desperate for answers, treatment, June 25.

As a fellow Lyme sufferer, I praise Shari Allen and husband, Craig, for publicly sharing their story about Lyme disease.

Many of us quietly and informally have been raising awareness by discussing with family and friends, however, it takes a lot of energy and courage to put yourself out there publicly.

It is refreshing to read an article on Lyme that is well informed and balanced. It is also a great benefit to our region that we now have Dr. Angela Lee who specializes in tick-borne illnesses. Her two mentors, Dr. Maureen McShane and Dr. Richard Horowitz are both highly respected American Lymeliterate doctors, and many of us in Canada are patients to one of these doctors.

It is true that many in Canada are suffering from Lyme, diagnosed and undiagnosed. Unlike Shari Allen, I likely contracted Lyme in Canada, in Algonquin Park in 1989 (but diagnosed in 2010).

Others I know have similarly likely contracted the disease in Ontario — Peterborough, Parry Sound, Scarborough (Bluffs), just to name a few locations.

It’s not coming here, it is here, and we need much more awareness and change to deal with it.

Political change has started at both the provincial and federal levels.

I spend upwards of $30,000 a year to deal with this illness, not counting lost income. I have multiple doctors, both MDs and NDs, and other therapists.

I am very lucky that I have a supportive husband and teenage children, extended family and friends; many are not so lucky. But like our country’s ability to deal with this very serious infectious disease, I have a long way to go.

Thank you, Shari and Craig Allen, your courage in moving us forward is commendable.

ANN SISKOS NEWMARKET

Queensville Sideroad used as bypass The region may have nixed the construction of the Bradford bypass, but clever commuters have adopted their own.

It’s called Queensville Sideroad and is already inadequate for the ever increasing volume from Hwy 404.

Shamefully long lineups now occur where Bathurst Street southbound meets Hwy. 11 due to the near-sighted removal of the loop-around ramp last year. Most drivers seem afraid to make the new right turn into the zooming traffic even though there is an empty lane to use.

It’s crazy there. Scary. Heaven

help us when the other side of Bathurst from Green Lane is connected to this mess or the first few subdivisions are finished.

It’s still not too late to put that loop-around back in, there is lots of empty land just sitting there. Here’s hoping.

M. CUTT HOLLAND LANDING

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EDITORIAL

Re: Aurora, Newmarket rethink fight against community mailboxes in wake of court ruling, June 21.

Chillax, It’s not as bad as you may think. Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor is correct.

It’s a battle you cannot win.

Canada Post trumps all levels of government. Always has, probably always will.

Glenway, If I recall correctly, was the first community in Canada to have them. I have had one across the road for 28 years.

Me and my neighbor across the road take turns snow blowing around it and I keep old boards around to make a path through the mud in the spring.

I also tear off every hand bill that gets stuck on it as soon as I see one, to keep it from being an eyesore.

It has been “tagged” a couple of times with spray paint. A call to Canada Post usually results in graffiti removal within a few days. So, Councillor Dave Kerwin needs to go with the facts.

Now, one might think, “Maybe, I can meet neighbours at the mailbox.” It happens. I have had many meetings at the mailbox while working in my garage/garden. A sense of neighbourhood has become sadly lacking over the past few years. I have never lost mine.

Countless times, I have not been able to get in, or out, of my driveway, and countless cars use my driveway to turn around. A pain, but hardly the end of the world.

The boxes come with at least a few benefits. You can opt out of junk mail by just asking the carrier or leaving a note for him or her. They also end postal strikes for those of us old enough to remember being held hostage by postal unions (although teachers seem to have taken up the slack.)

In the end, the “big bad box” blends in and you get used to it.

So, get over it. We have far bigger fish to fry and much bigger mountains to climb.

ERIC SMITH NEWMARKET

Thanks for coins My optometrist at 679 Davis Dr., Newmarket gave me a coin to exit the parking lot but it would not work and I did not have coins. My credit card would not work. People were

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lined up behind me but one female driver in line asked me what the problem was and I told her. She gave me $3 in coins to get out.

This was very kind of her and I told her so. I would like to thank her again and, if possible, repay her in some way.

Ontario Press Council

I am astonished that anyone found the meeting useful. No debriefing was presented. Municipal staff absolved themselves of responsibility, blaming the provincial 180day limit. That limit was known but resources were not allocated to meet it. The facilitated format discouraged meaningful discussion. The questions should have been released in advance and the groups allowed to capture their discussion using more advanced technology than chart paper.

For instance, the development proposal at the OMB was different from that presented to homeowners. That won’t show up in the final report but is crucial if the town plans to move to small-group consultation. The final report will be prepared by the facilitator. We’ll see if it’s helpful.

Dianne The town’s own planners boycotted the Glenway OMB Hearing that cost taxpayers $588,291. Is it any surprise the town lost?You can read my blog about the lessons learned meeting at shrinkslessorsquare.ca Gordon Collision rates on York Region roads decline to 10-year low: bit.ly/1InNfqp This report is complete BS. If law enforcement officials think that red light cameras, that no one even knows are there, are the reason for the decline in these accidents, they need to give their head a shake. Ninety per cent of the people that drive by these money-making machines, have no idea they are there. They do find out when they happen to roll over the white line and recieve a $280 fine. This is more BS from a source that I would not believe if you paid me. The reason their are less accidents is simple. We have a police at every corner in York giving tickets when they should be out making their one-arrest-a-month quota.

Everyone knows York is just one big speed trap.

THE BANNER

ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL

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Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member

SOCIAL MEDIA Darts and Laurels from last week on Newmarket residents, town officials meet to discuss ‘lessons learned’ from Glenway battle: bit.ly/1InM4HA

here’s been no shortage of electoral reform discussion as of late.

In Ontario, Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government has announced it will permit municipalities to implement “ranked ballots” for the next municipal election.

I think this is great news on a few fronts, and may be one of the single most important changes to our electoral system in decades.

For those not aware of how ranked ballots work, it is quite simple. If there are multiple candidates running for an office, you rank them in order of your preference. Should your first choice receive the lowest number of votes, he or she drops off the ballot and your second choice now receives your vote. This keeps happening until one candidate emerges with at least 50 per cent of votes.

Implementing ranked ballots at the municipal level — where we have embarrassingly low voter turnouts that hover around 30 per cent — will have a large impact in electing candidates who have broad public support. There have been numerous candidates in York Region who have been elected with less than 10 per cent of eligible voters casting a ballot for them. Think about that for a moment; that is hardly a mandate of support for a campaign platform.

The fact of the matter is, our current “first past the post” system allows for candidates to assume office with a tiny percentage of people supporting them and that fact is simply wrong and undemocratic. Ranked ballots allow the electorate to arrive at consensus candidates.

Imagine a campaign where candidates won’t just be campaigning for your vote, but they’ll also be campaigning to be your second or third choice.

Think of how that alone could change the tone and tenor of elections. My sense is that we will see more civil election campaigns that have a greater focus on the issues and policies rather than ad hominem attacks.

The electorate is growing tired of negative attack-style campaigns and the proliferation of social media has, in my mind, increased the vitriol we see in our elections.

Ranked ballots reward candidates who have broad-based platforms that speak to the widest spectrum of the electorate.

Finally, we could have a system in place that encourages civility instead of our current system that has devolved into systematic negative campaigns.

I know I will have my critics in my support for ranked ballots. I suspect they will over simplify my argument implying I want all candidates to get along and hold hands singing Kumbaya. I am not naïve, there will always be differences of opinions and thoughts, criticisms of other campaigns and candidates and, frankly, there should always be. However, candidates who focus on negative attacks and not building bridges in their communities in an attempt to gain the widest support base will be challenged to win and I’m OK with that and suspect most voters would be.

The Ontario government will give municipalities the option to have ranked ballots. Some may opt-in, some may not.

This is is the biggest flaw in the government’s proposal. It is the right thing to do for democracy and, hence, should be implemented in every single municipality. A change to the electoral system requires education and rolling out something like that should be done on a provincewide basis and not piecemeal.

— Chris Emanuel served on Newmarket Council for three consecutive terms as the Ward 7 councillor. He left politics too pursue a career in the private sector in government relations.

He posts political blogs at chrisemanuel.com

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, July 2, 2015

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Today The Landing July 2, 3:45 to 5:30 p.m.

Newmarket Community Church, 145 Pony Dr. The Landing is a free, weekly program offered at Newmarket Community Church that aims to equip teens (ages 12 to 17) with the tools needed to overcome life’s struggles.

Contact: admin@newmarketcommunitychurch.org, 905-836-7251, 905-967-4081, www.newmarketcommunitychurch.org.

Family Storytime July 2, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. This program features stories, crafts, and activities. Ages 0 - 5. Meet special guest Sparky the Fire Dog from the EG Fire Dept on July 9.

Contact: Heather Alblas, halblas@egpl.ca, 905-836-6492.

This weekend Kitchen Party Music Jams July 4, 1 to 4 p.m.

Colonel Mustard’s Pub, 16925 Yonge St. in Newmarket.

We sit in a circle and jam acoustically (except for the country jam where amplified instruments are welcome). We take turns passing a microphone for vocals. We choose simple songs so that all can participate. Lead breaks and harmony singing is encouraged.

Contact: brian.osullivan1@sympatico.ca, 905-640-7107.

Newmarket Farmers Market July 4, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Riverwalk Commons, Doug Duncan Drive.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, baked goods, food vendors, hand-crafted artifacts and products such as jewelry, furniture, soap, horse and wagon rides, musical entertainment, buskers, fresh flowers, etc.

Contact: pheasanthollowcreations@live.ca, 905-773-9751.

Free ZUMBA CLASS at RiverWalk Commons July 4, 8 to 9 a.m.

Newmarket Riverwalk Commons, 200 Doug Duncan Dr. Free Zumba Class every Saturday morning in June, July, and August from 8 - 9 a.m. at the Fairy Lake Newmarket Farmers Market, along side the reflecting pool. Instruction will be by The Move fitness and dance studio and will take place weather permitting. Sponsored by Peter C. Geibel, broker - Main Street Realty, and Jerry Montpetit of RBC Insurance. No signup required just come out and enjoy. Like the page if you plan on coming.

Contact: Peter Geibel, pgeibel@live.ca, 416-804-5581.

Next week Discovery Club July 7, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. This weekly club will get you busy with creative and hands-on projects, games and activities! Ages 6-10. Please register.

Contact: Heather Alblas, halblas@egpl.ca, 905-836-6492.

Maker Madness Workshops July 7, 2 to 3 p.m.

Mount Albert Branch, East Gwillimbury Public Library, 19300 Centre St. Unleash your creative side at these hands-on workshops. Free Please Register Ages: 4+ July 7 & 21 Ages: 7+ June 30, July 14 & 28.

Family Storytime July 7, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Mount Albert Branch, East Gwillimbury Public Library, 19300 Centre St. This program features, stories, crafts & activities. Ages 0-5 Free July 7: Meet Sparky the Fire Dog CASAS Softball Cricket & Family Fun Day July 4 & 5, noon to 5 p.m.

Sharon Hills Park, 255 Colonel Wayling Blvd. in East Gwillimbury CASAS Softball Cricket will be played by youth teams over two days culminating in a game with the York Regional Police. (Cricket prevalent to both Caribbean & South Asian cultures, and was once Canada’s official national sport). Coaches will be onsite to explain the game and provide demonstrations. Interested players are invited to contact us. Family Fun Day interactive games and activities will be included off-field to attract and engage families during the games.

Bring a picnic lunch and a chair.

Info: Ranji Singh, info@ranjisinghfoundation.org, 416-801-6756.

Aurora arborist, Ian Bryant, took this Your Shot of a flowering tulip tree (and a guest) at Gurnett Street and Cousins Drive. Send us Your Shot.

The ongoing theme is Nature & Wildlife. Email your high-quality jpegs to editor Tracy Kibble at tkibble@yrmg.com for a chance have your photograph included in our online gallery and published in the newspaper.

Discovery Club July 8, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Mount Albert Branch, East Gwillimbury Public Library, 19300 Centre St. This weekly club will get you busy with creative and hands-on projects, games and activities! Ages 6-10. Please register.

to attend and receive a complimentary stress survey, enjoy free BBQ food and test their luck in a prize draw, compliments of our sponsors. Have a wonderful afternoon supporting Make-A-Wish in their mission of fulfilling the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Contact: 905-868-9090.

TD Presents Concerts in the Park Susie Sunshine July 8, 7 p.m.

Aurora Town Park, Wells St This is a free show but a donation for the Aurora Food Pantry would be appreciated.

Food vendors will be on site. For your seating comfort bring a lawn chair.

Contact: Shelley Ware, sware@aurora.ca, 905-726-4762.

Info: www.aurora.ca/summerconcerts.

Beat the Heat - Mix it Up Mocktails July 9, 1 to 2 p.m.

Sobeys extra Aurora, 15500 Bayview Ave. Join Sobeys Dietitian Colleen for this fun filled class all about alcohol-free, tasty drinks that are great for summer thirst. Free samples included and you’ll take recipe ideas home. Register early to avoid being on a waitlist.

Contact: Colleen Miller, colleen.miller@sobeys.com, 905-726-2499.

Maker Madness Workshops July 8, 2 to 3 p.m.

Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. Unleash your creative side at these hands-on workshops. Free Please Register Ages: 4+ Contact: Heather Alblas, halblas@egpl.ca, 905-836-6492.

Coming soon The Landing July 9, 3:45 to 5:30 p.m.

Newmarket Community Church, 145 Pony Dr. The Landing is a free, weekly program offered at Newmarket Community Church that aims to equip teens (ages 12 to 17) with the tools needed to overcome life’s struggles.

Contact: admin@newmarketcommunitychurch.org, 905-836-7251, 905-967-4081, www.newmarketcommunitychurch.org.

Family Storytime July 9, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Holland Landing Public Library , 19513 Yonge St. This program features stories, crafts, and activities. Ages 0 - 5. Meet special guest Sparky the Fire Dog from the EG Fire Dept on July 9.

Contact: Heather Alblas, halblas@egpl.ca, 905-836-6492.

Community BBQ benefiting Make-A-Wish July 9, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Innovative Spine & Wellness, 1100 Gorham St, Unit 11A in Newmarket.

Innovative Spine & Wellness is pleased to announce, that once again, this year’s annual barbecue will benefit Make-A-Wish! Everyone is welcome

Summer Science Lab July 9, 2 to 3 p.m.

Aurora Public Library, 15145 Yonge St. Join us as we transform our program room into a fully functional science lab.

Together we will explore scientific principles like force, mass and energy by doing exciting experiments. Some will be messy, some will be loud, but they will all be fun and interesting! Drop In. Ages: 6-9, Optimist Room.

Contact: 905-727-9494.

Free Zumba Class every Saturday morning in June, July, and August from 8 - 9 a.m. at the Fairy Lake Newmarket Farmers Market, along side the reflecting pool. Instruction will be by The Move fitness and dance studio and will take place weather permitting. Sponsored by Peter C. Geibel, broker - Main Street Realty, and Jerry Montpetit of RBC Insurance. No signup required just come out and enjoy. Like the page if you plan on coming.

Contact: Peter Geibel, pgeibel@live.ca, 416-804-5581.

Roy Orbison: Shades of Yesterday Tribute July 11, 8 p.m.

Newmarket Theatre, 505 Pickering Cres.

Show celebrates the life and music of the incredible “Big O”...Roy Orbison!

Backed by the amazing Memphis Cats band, you’ll hear all of Roy’s greatest hits performed live by internationally acclaimed tribute artist Bernie Jessome, who captures the look, sound and voice of Roy Orbison! Songs performed include Only The Lonely, Running Scared, Sweet Dream Baby, and of course, Pretty Woman among other favourites. Tickets: $30 +HST. Contact: www.NewTix.ca, marketing@billculp.ca, 905-953-5122.

Teddy Bear Family Fun Fair July 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Brooks Farms, 122 Ashworth Rd. in East Gwillimbury.

Join the Cancer Recovery Foundation of Canada in celebrating its annual Teddy Bear Family Fun Fair at Brooks Farms! There will be fun activities for the kids in addition to all of the great experiences the Farm has to offer. Cost is $25 for a family of four (children under 2 are free).

Regular admission price $8 + HST/person. Family Pass available for purchase online until July 10!

Info: Danielle Bastien, events@cancerrecovery.ca, 905-477-7743.

Info: cancerrecovery.ca/get-involved/events/teddy-bear-fair/

Theatre in Park - Falstaff & The Merry Wives of Windsor Starts July 10, 7 p.m.

Aurora Town Park, Wells St. The Town of Aurora is proud to partner with the Humber River Shakespeare Company to bring you this dynamic live theatre presented in Aurora Town Park on July 10,11 and 12 at 7 p.m. This is a pay as you can performance and all proceeds go directly to supporting this production and the performers .The suggested donation is $20 per person.

Contact: Shelley Ware, sware@aurora.ca, 905-726-4762..

Newmarket Farmers Market July 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Riverwalk Commons, Doug Duncan Drive.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, baked goods, food vendors, hand-crafted artifacts and products such as jewelry, furniture, soap, horse and wagon rides, musical entertainment, buskers, fresh flowers, etc.

Contact: pheasanthollowcreations@live.ca, 905-773-9751.

BLOOD DONOR CLINIC July 13, 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.

St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS, 278 Wellington St. E in Aurora.

Give Someone Their Summer. It can take up to 50 blood donors to save the life of a single car accident victim. Donate blood in July – You could save a life.

Contact: www.blood.ca, 1-888-236-6283.

Free ZUMBA CLASS at RiverWalk Commons July 11, 8 to 9 a.m.

Newmarket Riverwalk Commons, 200 Doug Duncan Dr.

To have your event included in what’s on, add it to our calendar at yorkregion.com

P R E S E N T E D B Y T H E H U M B E R R I V E R S H A K E S P E A R E C O M PA N Y

Falstaff & the Merry Wives of Windsor SHAKESPEARE’S ROWDY AND HILARIOUS COMEDY OF LOVE, MARRIAGE AND TRICKERY!

MADD National Fillers 8/20/07 3:19 PM Page 1

Friday, July 10, Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 at 7 p.m.

Aurora Town Park, 49 Wells Street

This is a pay-what-you-can event ($20 suggested donation) For your seating comfort, please bring your own lawn chairs.

Food vendors serving delicious food on site!* *A nominal fee applies

Inclement Weather?

Êtes-vous une victime de la conduite avec facultés affaiblies ?

If you are unsure about the weather the day of the event and its impact on the event, please call our 24-hour special events line at 905-726-4762.

Please note, we reserve the right to cancel, amend or change activities.

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Another exciting event brought to you by

The Town of Aurora collects personal information in communications or presentations made to Town Council and/or its Committees. The Town collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the relevant issue(s). If you are submitting letters, faxes, emails, presentations or other communications to the Town, you should be aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the Town will become part of the public record and will appear on the Town’s website. The Town will also make your communication and any personal information in it, such as your address and postal code or email address available to the public unless you expressly request the Town to remove it. By submitting a fax, email, presentation or other communication, you are authorizing the Town to collect and use the abovenoted information for this purpose. The Town audio records Public Planning meetings. If you make a presentation to Town Council and/or its Committees, the Town will be audio recording you and Town staff and may make these audio recordings available to the public. Please direct any questions about this to the Town Clerk at 905-727-3123, ext.

4771.

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For more information, please contact: Town of Aurora www.madd.ca 905-726-4762

Humber River Shakespeare Company 416-209-2026 www.humberrivershakespeare.ca

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A8

The Aurora Banner, Thursday, July 2, 2015

At far left, Madison Black of Newmarket receives the Mary Beatson Sportsmanship Award from Girls Inc. youth coordinator, Sarah MacDonald. At left, Girls Inc. executive director, Lyn Thompson-Alcock and program director, Ashley Martin, present Newmarket’s Leah Hans with the 2015 Girls Inc. National Scholarship.

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Awards honour girls for being strong, smart and bold

BY TERESA LATCHFORD

tlatchford@yrmg.com

A group of York Region girls were celebrated last week for being strong, smart and bold.

Girls Incorporated of York Region, an organization dedicated to empowering girls to reach their full potential through gender-specific programming, hosted its 5th annual Strong, Smart and Bold Awards honouring young women and dedicated members of the community.

The awards were created to recognize the personal, professional and volunteer contributions of recipients who inspire girls to display courage, spirit and leadership in their communities, schools and relationships.

i

For more information about Girls Inc., visit girlsincyork.org

Among those honoured at the ceremony was Newmarket student Leah Hans.

“When we first met Leah she was a shy and quiet little girl,” Girls Inc. program manager Ashley Martin said.

“Over the past six years, we have witnessed Leah grow into a confident young woman who believes in helping others and leads by example.”

Hans, who began attending Girls Inc. in 2009 after struggling with the effects of bullying, was honoured with both a scholarship and leadership award for the exceptional courage and spirit she has shown with the organization and within the community.

Her growing list of accomplishments include volunteering her time with the organization’s Project Bold and Build It summer camps. She is also the creator of an inspirational eating disorder awareness presentation and has worked with her peers to create a commercial for the organization’s Silence the Violence campaign raising awareness about girl-on-girl violence and bullying.

She was celebrated alongside four other award recipients at the ceremony held at Victoria Hall in Aurora.

The Michelle LeBlond Leadership Award was presented to Nemica Raneethran, 15, of Markham. Nemica demonstrated remarkable leadership in her community by applying for a grant with which she was able to help fund Books with No Bounds, an organization dedicated to collecting and supplying books to young people in aboriginal communities across Canada.

Going one step further, she organized an event at her school supporting

1 Laptop per Child Canada.

The Mary Beatson Sportsmanship Award went to Madison Black, 13, of Newmarket. Her willingness to try new sports and step outside of her comfort zone is what set Madison apart from the others. Her peers admire her ability to advocate for fair play and ensure that sports are inclusive for everyone who wants to play.

She is also a role model for good sportsmanship and her passion for sports has led her to volunteer at a ministry funded sports camp aimed at inspiring a love of sport in younger girls.

The Sylvia Fisch Award of Valour went to Brooke McLeod, 7, of Thornhill.

Nominated by her family, friends and teachers, she displays an optimistic attitude through her initiative to put others before herself. She is known for handling difficult situations with patience, poise and maturity as she makes every effort to create an environment that is inclusive and equitable.

Chan Khamphoomee, media director at Khamp Media, was named an Honourary Girls Inc. member. As a long-time supporter, he was recognized as being instrumental in introducing the organization to new partnerships and helped create anti-violence PSAs.

50’ Lots

Come discover your new neighbourhood that backs onto a pond and forested area

We need to take your pulse. Yes, that’s right, your pulse.

Metroland Media wants to find out how you plan to spend your hard-earned dollars in the local marketplace. The information you provide will assist businesses and us — your local media team — in making decisions for the future.

“Growing local business is key to a thriving economy. This survey will assist our advertisers in understanding consumer needs,” said David Harvey, general manager of Metroland’s Halton Newspaper Division and Premier Publications and Shows.

So how do we plan to retrieve this important information? Via an easy-tocomplete, on-line survey.

OK, we know you are rolling your eyes at yet another survey, however there is a total of $8,500 in prizes being awarded as an incentive to get you, our readers, to put fingers to the keyboard.

The questions are simple and all we ask is that you give us a little of your time.

Did we mention there is a

visit: pulseresearch.com/metroland to enter.

No purchase necessary. Contest open to Ontario residents 18 years of age or older. Odds of winning depends on the number of eligible entries received. Six (6) prizes are available to be won: (i)One (1) Grand Prize of $5,000.00 CDN (Five Thousand Dollars CDN) in cash; (ii) Two (2) second place cash prizes in the amount of $1,000 CDN each (One Thousand Dollars Canadian); and (iii) Three (3) third place cash prizes in the amount of $500.00 each CDN (Five Hundred Dollar Canadian). Entrants must correctly answer, unaided, a mathematical skill-testing questions to be declared a winner. Contest closes July 20th 2015 at 11:59 p.m.. To enter and for complete contest rules visit www.pulseresearch.com/Metroland.

grand prize of $5,000? And two prizes of $1,000 and three prizes of $500? Not bad for filling out a survey.

Pulse Research is conducting the shopping survey for us. It does not give away your personal information, so no worries there.

To complete the survey, visit http://www.pulseresearch.com/metroland/ Thanks for helping us with Metroland’s Shopping Survey. We appreciate it.

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OUR NEW 50’ LLOTS OTS

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millstreethomes.com Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. All renderings are artist’s concept. E. & O. E.

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Sales Office Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 1pm - 8pm Friday by appointment Sat. & Sun. 11am - 6pm Sales Office: 6490 4th Line