Aurora Banner August 20, 2015

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PLACES TO PLAY

OUR VIEW

WHAT MAKES THESE PLAY PARKS BEST IN REGION? PAGE A5

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SOCIAL ISSUES

‘I fear when they will find my body’, woman says Community campaign raising money to get area homeless woman an apartment

BY LISA QUEEN

W

lqueen@yrmg.com

ith fall just around the corner, the fear that creeps around the edges of Janet’s mind begins to once again consume her thoughts.

Will this be the winter she freezes to death in her car?

The prospect leaves the York Region homeless woman sobbing as she talks about the 15-plus years she has existed in her vehicle.

GET CONNECTED TAKE ACTION: To donate to the Tilt Shelter from the Storm campaign, visit tilt.tc/yPLR.

❑

“Winters are horrendous,” said Janet, an articulate injured former army reservist, who is resilient, but bears the emotional scars of a hard life.

Finally, a community initiative offers Janet hope of getting off the streets.

A homeless existence hasn’t always been her way of life.

While she had a difficult childhood and a tumultuous relationship with her mother, at one point she had a mortgage and a relationship.

When the relationship ended, Janet lived

STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE

Jacques Soucie and Barb Martin are two volunteers who have helped come up with a plan to get a local homeless woman, who has been living in her car for years, into an apartment.

See page A9.

SHARP SHOOTER

MUNICIPAL NEWS

Council seeks say on community mailbox locations through permits

BY TERESA LATCHFORD

C

tlatchford@yrmg.com

anada Post must pay an excavation permit fee before it installs any community mailboxes in the Town of Aurora.

Council recently decided the Crown corporation would have to submit a permit application and a payment of $50 per installation site. With 179 community mailbox installations planned within the town’s borders, it will rake in nearly $9,000 in revenue for the town.

STAFF PHOTO/NICK IWANYSHYN

Competitor Gentian Zoto checks out the distance during the 3-D League Shoot competition on the York County Bowmen grounds Sunday. For the story, see page B4. For a photo gallery online, follow: www.yorkregion.com/photogallery/5800335/

GROWTH

East Gwillimbury growth, jobs expected to surpass Aurora by 2041: planner

BY CHRIS SIMON

I

csimon@yrmg.com

t will be a bit of a balancing act, but northern York Region’s population should grow substantially in the coming decades.

That’s the message from York Region chief planner Valerie Shuttleworth, who is projecting a large increase in population and employment numbers by 2041. She made a deputation on the anticipated growth to Newmarket council members last week.

According to Shuttleworth, the region’s population is expected to jump from 1.14 mil-

i

To see a comparative growth chart, check out yorkregion.com at: bit.ly/1hL7Drf.

lion in 2014 to 1.79 million by 2041. Newmarket and Aurora will also see increases, though a more significant climb in numbers will occur in East Gwillimbury, which could actually equal or surpass those municipalities in population in the coming decades.

“If you divide it into an annual growth rate, See page A4.

Newmarket Location 17665 Leslie St., Unit 5, Newmarket, Ontario 905-895-1844 Aurora Location 255 Industrial Parkway South, Unit 2, Aurora, Ontario 905-727-5582

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For more stories on this issue, go to yorkregion.com using: bit.ly/1MxTt8q.

Canada Post is expected to begin installing the boxes that will eliminate door-to-door mail delivery in town any time now and through September.

After being flooded with concerns about the appropriateness of some selected installation sites, including

BANNER FILE PHOTO

Canada post will pay the town a permit fee for each new community mailbox site. on grounds of accessibility and safety, Councillor Tom Mrakas advocated for a permitting process to allow the town to maintain control over any boulevards on which the boxes would be installed.

“I definitely think this is a win for the See page A6.

SCHOOL LABOUR ISSUES

Workers hope to avoid strike ... but situation doesn’t look promising, CUPE president says

BY LISA QUEEN

M

lqueen@yrmg.com

ove over teachers, now it’s education workers embroiled in labour strife with the province.

The union representing 55,000 educational assistants, custodians, secretaries, lunch supervisors, library technicians, early childhood educators, student support workers and others will bargain with

the province Wednesday and Thursday.

But the situation doesn’t look promising at the moment, Elena Di Nardo, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2331 in York Region, said.

Negotiations are not moving well, she said, adding the ministry is dragging its See page A10.

A4

The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

GROWTH

Aurora to have 38,000 jobs in 2041, forecast shows while EG will grow to 41,900, up from 42,700 and 9,500, respectively.

“The province dictates the numbers,” East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson said.

“I’m always a little skeptical when we talk numbers connected to a date. We were expected to grow in the ’90s. We’re 20 years later and it’s just starting.”

The town’s large land mass means it will remain 70 per cent agriculture and green space, she said. “(Growth) is a mixed bag,” she said. “I moved here for a rural community and I’m not naive to believe it’s not going to change.

Our world is changing and we’re going to be a part of it. Managed properly, I believe we’re going to have one of the most unique communities in the GTA.” East Gwillimbury should also

From Front Page

it’s nothing the region hasn’t seen already,” she said. “In fact, in the later years, the pace of growth tapers off a little bit. I don’t see the forecasts as unrealistic. We actually have capacity to accommodate much more growth. We’ve invested an awful lot of money in infrastructure to support growth along our centres and corridors… so we can accommodate more residents in higher-density areas.”

By 2041, the population is projected to grow from the current 56,200 to 81,000 in Aurora, 85,700 to 114,900 in Newmarket and 24,300 to 108,700 in East Gwillimbury.

The employment forecast shows Aurora will have 38,000 jobs in 2041, up from 27,000 in 2014.

Newmarket will host 56,600 jobs,

‘I’m always a little skeptical when we talk numbers connected to a date. We were expected to grow in the ’90s. We’re 20 years later and it’s just starting.’ meet employment targets because the municipality is attractive to businesses, Hackson said, noting it offers livable communities, opportunity for companies to grow, and direct access to Hwy. 404.

All figures are based on a scenario with no urban expansion and could be altered based on the intensification model selected by regional council.

Several factors helped decide the forecast, including land supplies, changing demographics and economics, municipal policies, infrastructure capacity and provincial growth plan requirements,

which set minimum intensification, employment and population targets.

Region staff members are also trying to ensure there’s a good mix of accommodation and employment opportunities, Shuttleworth said.

“The region is charged with distributing those forecasts to each of the nine (York) municipalities,” she said.

“We’re in the consultation an analysis stage. We do forecast work on an ongoing basis and we revisit every five years. We plan very carefully for the future.

“How we accommodate that growth and invest our dollars is going to affect how accepting residents are of that growth,” she continued. “It all fits together; we don’t just let growth happen. We take deliberate steps to look way into the future to make sure the decisions we make now pay off for existing and future residents.”

Other politicians support the notion the projected growth is manageable.

“Newmarket’s growth projections represent an approximate growth rate of two per cent per year — the lowest projected growth rate in the region,” Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor said. “This is both realistic and manageable. High growth rates can be difficult to manage and low growth rates can negatively affect the local economy,” Taylor said.

Business saved thanks to 2 women

By Teresa Latchford

tlatchford@yrmg.com

A local proprietor wants to thank two women who saved his business.

Steve Perkins, owner of York Spring and Radiator Service, has operated the family business out of its Industrial Parkway North location since 1976.

He employs 16 people and considers each and every employee part of his extended family.

He can’t put into words the feelings he had when he received a phone call Saturday afternoon informing him there was a fire at his local shop.

“I was devastated and immediately was concerned about my employees and customers,” he said. “It’s hard to describe the rush of feel-

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ings I had.”

He was told two women, who did not leave their names, called Central York Fire Services to report a haze over his building as they passed by.

“I don’t know who these women are but I want to thank them for taking action.

They are the reason the building is still standing,” Perkins said.

At 2:30 p.m., the security alarm was triggered in the building and that’s when Perkins got a phone call from the security company informing him it was sending a representative over to investigate.

A follow-up call revealed a brigade of fire trucks and crews were on scene and had closed down the street.

Central York Fire Services Deputy Fire Chief Paul Leslie

confirmed six fire crews were on scene.

“It was a difficult fire to get at because of the heat and the location,” he said.

Perkins has yet to receive the final word on what caused the fire but has been told electrical wiring in the rafters of the building could be the culprit.

“There are rumours that we burned to the ground, but it’s just not true,” he said. “We are still open for business.”

As of Wednesday, the majority of power to the building had been restored, the radiator shop is functional and the spring shop should be up and running in the next week or two.

“We were very fortunate,” Perkins said. “I just want to express my thanks to the two women.”

Trail named after Tim Jones

sponsored by

By Teresa Latchford

R

tlatchford@yrmg.com

esidents may soon have an opportunity to walk all over former mayor Tim Jones.

On Aug. 25, council is expected to rename a portion of the Nokiidaa Trail as a tribute to the former parks and recreation town employee, councillor and mayor, who served the town for 28 consecutive years.

“I’m very surprised and honoured,” Jones said.

If approved, the newly named Tim Jones Trail would begin just north of St. John’s Sideroad East, where the Tom Taylor Trail ends, and would run south of Wellington Street East, ending where the Klaus Wehrenberg Trail begins.

The proposal was first brought forth by Councillor Paul Pirri, who felt the longest serving Aurora mayor is a prominent individual who has made a significant

14 t h A n n u A l York Region Media Group

Celebration of the

Please join us on September 11, 2015 at Flato Markham Theatre for our 14th Celebration of the Arts!

An evening full of music, dance and theatre!

Performing will be this year’s bursary winners, as well as special performances by past bursary winners and Al Connelly (of Glass Tiger).

TIM JONES

contribution to the community and continues to do so through his volunteerism and as an ambassador for Neighbourhood Network.

Jones was a member of council when the trails were established and included in the town’s official plan.

He, along with the late former mayor John West, also pushed for and developed the town’s first parks and recreation master plan.

“Trails are free, environmentally friendly and healthy to use, which really enhances the value and make up of a community,”

Jones said.

“I was proud to be a part of that.”

As mayor, he represented Aurora at the Region of York, where he sat on the transportation and works, transit, fire services and audit committees. He also served on the Greater Toronto Services board, the Aurora Hydro board, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce board and Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance.

He also volunteers with Southlake Regional Health Centre and Foundation to raise funds for the Cancer Centre, sat on an advisory review committee with the Salvation Army and is involved with the York Region Character Foundation.

Jones is currently the director of development for Community and Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS.) With final approval, the trail is expected to be officially renamed in October.

Correction Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association resumes talks

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at Flato Markham Theatre or call 905-305-SHOW (7469) Doors open at 7 p.m.

A story in the Aug. 13 edition entitled, 2 teacher unions resume talks, incorrectly identified the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.

We regret the error.

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A5

The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

A look at some of the best parks across York Region

F

By Simone Joseph

sjoseph@yrmg.com

FILE PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT

or some parents, the most important part of a playground lies beneath their child’s feet.

Richmond Hill resident Erin Weinroth enjoys bringing her children to Oak Ridges’ Russell Tilt Park, in part, because it has a soft play surface rather than wood chips or pavement.

“If they fall, they are not going to get as hurt,” she says.

Woodbridge’s Sonoma Heights Park appeals to Stephanie Mora.

“It has soft surfaces, so I don’t have to clean a child full of sand,” she says of the park at 100 Sunset Ridge.

Netaly Brand dislikes the ground at her neighbourhood playground in Thornhill.

“The ground is dirty, no one does upkeep,” she says.

Brand will not allow her 11-month-old son to crawl around at the York Hill District Park (in the Bathurst Street and Clark Avenue area) because it is “mucky”, filled with leaves and rocks, she says. But she does allow her son to crawl in newer playgrounds made of soft materials, such as recycled tires.

Her family often enjoys Saturday afternoon trips to the North Thornhill Community Centre’s park.

“The ground is soft for falls, the splash pad is large and has places for crawlers with smaller sprouts of water and bigger areas for bigger kids,” she says.

Parks that cater to multiple ages are often a hit with parents. Brand finds it easier to entertain and look after her sons, age three and 11 months, at the North Thornhill Community STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE Centre’s park, rather than at York Hill District Daniel Hakimi cools off at the recently opened Rouge Crest Park in Richmond Hill.

Below, Newmarket’s All Our Kids Playpark has remained a Park. popular attraction, particularly since it includes buried dinosaur bones.

Her local park has play equipment for two different ages spaced too far apart, she says.

“If you have children of two different ages, Newmarket is looking at introducing play needs, but loves visiting the park on an almost Thornhill resident Nathan Mazer, 9, recyou will have to divide and conquer,” Brand equipment with a chicken farm theme in daily basis. ommends North Thornhill Community Censays. the Bathurst Street and Davis Drive area next But what about the price tag? How much tre’s park.

She signed a petition calling for changes year. would it cost for a great park to be built in your “It’s awesome, really fun,” he says. “When to her local playground and it was emailed to In addition to themed parks, accessible neighbourhood?

I was a little kid, I used to come almost every Thornhill Councillor Alan Shefman. parks are becoming more prevalent.

It is difficult to say, according to Kalimoo- time.”

Changes to the playground are in the Kalimootoo points to the accessible All too. There are so many variables, including: He and his mother, Shirley, have only one works, according to Shefman. The City of Our Kids Play Park in Newmarket, which the type of equipment you want, the type and complaint — the splash pad’s water is too Vaughan plans to redevelop York Hill District includes fitness equipment and buried dino- amount of surface area you have and want cold.

Park’s playground and basketball court areas. saur bones. (i.e. woodchips or rubber) and which features Thornhill resident Lexus Deschamps Vaughan held a community information open Darriel Broughton enjoys spending time you want to add such as benches or trees. proves that parks can be enjoyed by children house to discuss the plan in March. A new with his son at a playground at Keswick’s R.L. Cost varies and there is a big range depending of all ages. Lexus, 16, still loves visiting playplayground will be installed as a first step in Graham Public School that is accessible for on whether you want a park or parkette. grounds, especially when she is with her two the park’s renewal, Shefman says. children with disabilities.

Developing a park starts at about $30,000, younger brothers and sister.

Themes are one trend jazzing up some Its design makes it easier for smaller kids Kalimootoo says.

“It’s magical,” she says. new, local parks. to climb up the slides, a feature enjoyed by his But one aspect of playgrounds will never “Every time I go to a park, I feel like I am Richmond Hill’s Rocking Horse Ranch two-year-old son, who does not have special change — they can be enjoyed by all ages. five again.” opened June 10 and was designed using a horseback riding theme.

The Snakes and Ladders Park (north of 19th Avenue and west of Bayview Avenue in Richmond Hill) will include a life-size and tabletop Snake & Ladders game board.

Richmond Hill’s Rouge Crest Park, which opens Aug. 4, has a nature theme. The park has a spiral hill, which leads visitors up one path and down the other, moving them through drifts of native wildflowers. The park is at 147 Rothbury Rd., which is west of Yonge Street and south of Gamble Road.

In Newmarket, home to 52 playgrounds and 46 kilometres of trails, themed parks are also taking shape.

Chris Kalimootoo, director of public works in Newmarket, has seen a change in today’s parks.

“They are different, exciting, more creative versus 10 or 20 years ago,” Kalimootoo says.

Back then, you couldn’t tell one park’s swing from another.

Back To School!

Seniors Summer “Lunch Bunch” WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH AT 12:00 PM Come join us for a delicious 3 course lunch prepared fresh by our chef. You’re bound to meet new friends and see for yourself how fun it is here at the Roxborough.

Please RSVP by Monday, August 24TH

$8.00

PER PERSON

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Selected Shoes on Sale Now! Join our Kids club!

Fitting Kids Shoes for 45 years

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A6

The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

Neighbours start petition to get mailbox site changed

‘We stood up for the residents and we won.’ 4

From Front Page

TOM MRAKAS

Personal injury law

29,402 injuries that did not require admission to a hospital and could be dealt with in the emergency room or by a family doctor.

Darcy Darcy is a lawyer with Boland Howe LLP, Trial Lawyers for the Injured, and can be reached at 905.841.5717 www.bolandhowe.com Canadian Lawyer Magazine has recognized BolandHowe as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury law firms in Canada.

W

hat does that number represent to you?

Allow me to put it into perspective. It is about as many people as the entire complement of the Canadian Reserve Force. It is about as many people as the population of Bradford.

It is approximately the total number of days the average Canadian lives.

It is also the estimated number of Ontarians, who, one year after a car accident, will still be in pain.

The Ministry of Transportation’s most recent published statistics show that in 2012, there were 61,001 people injured in car accidents.

More than 96 percent.

58,805 of them suffered

This year, a research team commissioned by the Ministry of Finance published research papers that reviewed the findings of what the team considered to be the most reliable clinical studies relating to these 58,805 Ontarians injured in automobile collisions with injuries not requiring admission to hospital.

According to one of their research papers, published in Journal of Manipulative and Psychological Therapeutics, Volume 32, Number 2S, “the preponderance of evidence indicates that, in adults, recovery of wh iplash-associated disorders is prolonged, with approximately half of those affected reporting neck pain symptoms one year after the accident.

Perhaps, you may think that there must be something unique about the 50 percent who don’t get better in the first six months or who never get better. The research team reviewed all the red flags, like pre-existing conditions, age, percentage of body in pain, baseline neck pain and headache intensity and disability. Researchers concluded they could not reasonably predict who would recover and who

would not. So, you and I are as likely to recover after one year as we are to not recover after one year. And we have the same odds of being one of the unfortunate 1,311 to 1,836 Ontarians who suffer prolonged severe symptoms.

With 58,805 Ontarians suffering from such injuries each year, and half not recovering after one year, you would assume that your auto policy would afford ample funding for treatment to cope, wouldn’t you?

Formerly, motorists had coverage for $100,000 of treatment if they needed it. Then, in 2010, the government reduced it to $3,500 for those who have injuries like we have been discussing.

Now the government is contemplating reducing it even further, and limiting the duration of treatment to just six months.

On behalf of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, I attended the Financial Services Commission August 17 to implore the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Services Commission to afford greater care to Ontarians whose soft-tissue injuries persist beyond six months.

There should be more funding available through Ontarian’s automobile policies. Let us hope they listen to reason 29,402 Ontarians are too many to ignore.

town,” Mrakas said after council voted in favour of the fee. “We stood up for the residents and we won.”

In May, following in the footsteps of the City of Hamilton, Aurora implemented the Excavation and Installation of Highways bylaw to regulate placement of community mailboxes.

The courts later deemed it inappropriate for the City of Hamilton to lump Canada Post into a bylaw, thereby making fees irrelevant.

However, Canada Post sent a letter to the Town of Aurora this month stating it has full authority to install community mailboxes in municipal right-of-ways but was willing to co-operate with the municipality’s requirements.

Instead of the standard $128 permit fee, Canada Post agreed to pay $50 per mailbox location.

“Yes, we gave in on the fee, but the permit process means we get meaningful consultation on each site,” Mrakas said.

“We have reviewed and discussed a number of locations and have had six of them changed so far.”

Further to the permit and fees, Canada Post has shown a willingness to enter into a community mailbox installation agreement with the town that will clearly spell out each stakeholder’s responsibilities when it comes to snow clearing, liability and emergency works.

Canada Post has also informed the town it continues to work with residents to address

concerns regarding locations of the boxes, but not all residents are satisfied.

In May, Aurora resident Susan Joseph spoke to The Banner about being shocked a mailbox will be installed in front of her home without consultation.

She has since contacted the Canada Post complaint line and feels the organization isn’t as willing to relocate boxes as it says.

“After a very frustrating string of emails, I have lost hope that this process is fair or cooperative,” she said.

“I am really at my wits’ end. Canada Post has chosen the site that is easiest for them, not the one that is most appropriate.”

The site in question will destroy one of her gardens and present safety issues if installed, she said, adding there isn’t a sidewalk on her side of Parkland Court and the site is only a few metres from three driveways, making it unsafe for drivers and pedestrians.

In her email conversations with a Canada Post delivery services officer, Joseph proposed an alternative site the officer deemed not usable and added none of her neighbours have complained about the location.

Joseph said she spoke to many immediate neighbours who said they did not receive communications of where the box, specifically, would be located.

Joseph and her neighbours are now working on a petition to show their displeasure with the site selected in the hopes it is not too late to get the concerns addressed.

The Canada Post officer has agreed to have an in-person meeting with Joseph after the engineers examine the site further.

before you choose a realtor® contact 3 (including me ! ) Lila Massaad Sales Representative 905.715.7616 www.lilamassaad.ca Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage

THURSDAY FLYER LIST

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DATE: Thursday, August 20th 2015

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The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only. Use of this column is not intended to replace or substitute any professional, financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice.

Freshco Giant Tiger Globo Shoes Golf Town Home Depot Home Hardware Kingsley Dental Kitchen Stuff Plus Lastmans Bad Boy Leon’s Little Caesars Loblaws Longo’s Lowes M & M Meat Shops Metro Michaels National Sports- FGL

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Sushi Minato The Brick The Shoe Company Town Of Newmarket Fall/ Winter Guide Toys R Us TSC Stores Uxbridge Community Guide Vince’s Country Market (S Walmart Water Depot Aurora Wheels Your Independent Grocer Yummy Market Inc Zehrs

For information on flyer distribution, call us at 905-853-8888

Please note: Not all flyers are booked for all areas.

Our Water: Clean and Safe How is our water made clean and safe to drink? It starts with protection at the source.

Water protection requires constant care and monitoring. York Region works with governments, businesses, farms and residents to make sure our groundwater is protected. We also make sure the used water going down our drains and toilets is thoroughly treated before it safely re-enters the environment.

As Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe, and groundwater provide drinking water to York Region residents, it is vital that this water continue to be protected.

Our drinking water undergoes many treatment processes to make it safe.

At the Georgina Water Treatment Plant,

contaminants are removed as lake water passes through membranes and ultra-violet light. Chlorine is added to protect our water as it moves through the distribution pipes before it arrives at your taps.

The monitoring of water quality never stops. Last year, York Region performed 36,817 drinking water quality tests.

These tests confirm the 285 million litres of water delivered each day to an estimated 1.1 million residents is clean and safe.

The York Region water system is massive, integrated and fascinating. Yet, it is rarely seen. We’ve taken videos that will open the door to our underground world. We think you’ll be amazed.

Visit york.ca/wateris

WATER IS PROTECTED Learn more about the hidden water system and the people who make it work.

For more information, videos and stories, visit york.ca/wateris or call 1-888-967-5426 C

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Keeping our water safe

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

what ’s on

To have your event included in

what ’s on add it to our calendar at

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

WHY PAY MORE? YOU NAME IT ...WE FRAME IT 16686 Yonge St., Newmarket (905) 895-4084 Across from Mandarin Buffet Restaurant

Today THE LANDING Aug. 20, 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.

PASSAGE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS EXHIBITION & SALE

BY ERIKA TAKACS AND MARISSA SWEET Ongoing to Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Aurora Cultural Centre, 22 Church St. The story of Canada’s immigrants is a shared journey of creating a sense of space & place in a new country. With the exhibition Passage Between Two Worlds, artists Erika Takacs and Marissa Sweet present courageous interpretations of their personal immigration experiences. Exhibition continues through until Sept. 12. Galleries open Tuesdays and Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Gallery admission is at no charge. Galleries are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Contact: Clare Bolton, info@auroraculturalcentre.ca, 905-713-1818.

MINO MIIKANA BIMAADIZIWIN: THE PATH OF LIFE: EXHIBITION OF WORKS BY DONALD CHRETIEN Ongoing to Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Aurora Cultural Centre, 22 Church St. Solo Exhibition of the works of local First Nations artist Donald Chretien from July 18 to Sept. 12. Large new works in the Great Hall Gallery and small works in Reception Gallery. Exhibition continues through until Sept.

12. Galleries open Tuesdays and Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Gallery admission is at no charge.

Please note that the galleries are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Contact: Clare Bolton, info@auroraculturalcentre.ca, 905-713-1818.

Tomorrow BUILDER’S CLUB Aug. 21, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Mount Albert Branch, East Gwillimbury Public Library, 19300 Centre St. Build all kinds of structures from various materials. Ages 5+. Drop In. BEAT THE HEAT - ON A BUN IN THE SUN Aug. 21, 1 to 2 p.m.

Sobeys extra Aurora, 15500 Bayview Ave. It’s too hot to use the stove or oven in the summertime. Join Sobeys Dietitian, Colleen as we explore some healthy recipe ideas for foods you can eat on a bun other than burgers and hot dogs. Food samples included and recipes will be provided to take home. Register early to avoid being on a waitlist!

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

TWEEN SCENE Aug. 21, 11 a.m. to noon.

Mount Albert Branch, East Gwillimbury Public Library, 19300 Centre St. Get creative with DIY projects for Tweens. Ages 8 - 11 years. Drop In. BLOOD DONOR CLINIC Aug. 21, 4 to 7 p.m.

York Region Administrative Centre, 17250 Yonge St. in Newmarket.

Canadian Blood Services needs about 170,000 additional donors per year to maintain the blood supply. We ask eligible donors to consider booking an appointment by downloading the GiveBlood app or visit blood.ca.

Contact: elaine.stpierre@blood.ca, 1-888-236-6283.

This weekend FREE ZUMBA CLASS AT RIVERWALK COMMONS Aug. 22, 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 NEWMARKET FARMERS MARKET Aug. 22, 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.

Reader Ersilia (Lia) Linge took this Your Shot of a chipmunk and an angel. Send us Your Shot. The popular 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. 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.

MAKER MADNESS WORKSHOPS Aug. 22, 2 to 3 p.m.

Holland Landing Public Library, 19513 Yonge St. Unleash your creative side at these hands-on workshops. Free. Register.

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

Next week BIG & BOLD EXPERIMENTS IN ART FOR AGES 4 -6 / MIXED MEDIA MASH-UP - BIG & BOLD EXPERIMENTS IN ART FOR AGES 7-12 Aug. 24 to Aug. 28, 9 to 11 a.m. for ages 4-6 and 12:30 to 4 p.m. for 7-12.

Aurora Cultural Centre, 22 Church St. This is the messiest art week - from tie dye and unconventional painting techniques, to learning about surrealism and Dali! Meet new friends, enjoy a week of fun - and show off your work at the end-of-week art show!

Cost is $50 for ages 4-6 and $80 for ages 7-12. Materials included Contact: Jane Taylor, info@auroraculturalcentre.ca, 905-713-1818.

TOWNSHIP OF KING WALKING SERIES THORNTON BALES CONSERVATION AREA Aug. 25, 9:30 a.m.

Thornton Bales Conservation Area, 19th Sideroad. oin Toronto and Region Conservation and Lake Simcoe and Region Conservation for a guided hike of Thornton Bales Conservation Area! Learn about the local flora and fauna that call the Oak Ridges Moraine home! Some portions of the trail can be challenging with steep inclines We will walk rain or shine so please dress for the weather and wear closed-toe, sturdy footwear. Do not forget to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat for those hot August days! To register visit www.trcastewardshipevents.ca.

Contact: Cameron Richardson, crichardson@trca.on.ca, 416-661-6600.

WOOF TALES Aug. 25, 10 to 11 a.m.

East Gwillimbury Public Library - Mount Albert branch, 19300 Centre St. Read to a friendly dog! Ages: 6 - 10 $10 refundable deposit with registration. Twenty-four-hour cancellation required.

TEEN HOW TUESDAYS Aug. 25, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Aurora Public Library, 15145 Yonge St. D-I-Y the day away at our drop in makeshops - each week we’ll have

SUN, SEA & SAND

a different creative focus. Free, DROP IN, For ages 9-15 years. July 14th: T-Shirt Scarves Bring an old t-shirt that you’d like to use for your scarf July 28th: Découpage Décor Bring household items to use as your base – picture frames, jewellery boxes, etc. August 11th: Sharpie Tie Dye Please bring fabric items: t-shirts, scarves, canvas shoes, pillow cases, etc. August 25th: Washi Tape Wrap Up Bring a household item to use as your base. Ex: light switch, photo frames, coasters, jars etc.

Contact: 905-727-9494.

TD PRESENTS CONCERTS IN THE PARK: ABSOLUTE JOURNEY Aug. 26, 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 comfort, bring a lawn chair.

Contact: sware@aurora.ca, 905-726-4762, aurora.ca/summerconcerts.

NEWMARKET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - MEMBER ORIENTATION Aug. 27, 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Newmarket Chamber of Commerce Office, 470 Davis Dr. A Monthly Member Orientation Session, for New Members, New Staff of Existing Members, Prospective Members, and any member interested in hearing about the new programs and services offered by the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce. This is a great opportunity to meet the Chamber CEO, Debra Scott, and other Chamber staff, as well as Board members and other business members. Bring business cards, as there will be a card exchange at the event designed to help you maximize the value of your Chamber membership. The Membership Orientation session provides strategic and tactical suggestions for how the Chamber can contribute to your business success. Free event, however attendees do need to register.

Info:info@newmarketchamber.ca, newmarketchamber.ca, 905-898-5900.

BLOOD DONOR CLINIC Aug. 27, 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Aurora Legion, 105 Industrial Pkwy.

Canadian Blood Services needs about 170,000 additional donors per year to maintain the blood supply. We ask eligible donors to consider booking an appointment by downloading the GiveBlood app or visit blood.ca.

Contact: elaine.stpierre@blood.ca, 1-888-236-6283.

Coming soon BLOOD DONOR CLINIC Aug. 29, 9 a.m.

York Region Administrative Centre, 17250 Yonge St. in Newmarket.

&

.

Canadian Blood Services needs about 170,000 additional donors per year to maintain the blood supply. We ask eligible donors to consider booking an appointment by downloading the GiveBlood app or visit blood.ca.

Contact: elaine.stpierre@blood.ca, 1-888-236-6283.

CAWTHRA MULOCK FAMILY FUN BBQ Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve, 18462 Bathurst St. Celebrate nature with the whole family at Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve!

Join Ontario Nature staff in celebrating pollinators with a Bee-BBQ picnic, nature hike, crafts, games, and more! Explore nature with new eyes on a kid-friendly guided trail hike. You might catch a glimpse of a bobolink, painted turtle, or red fox! Talk to experts about welcoming wildlife to your own backyard and great ways to support nature in the community. Kids of all ages can decorate butterfly wings, join bee relays, and learn about the amazing world of pollinators. Menu includes basic BBQ fare, with fresh salads, fruits and other bee-pollinated delicacies. RSVP by Aug. 17.

Contact: Megan Anevich, megana@ontarionature.org.

TASTE & LEARN - MEDITERRANEAN Aug. 31, 7 to 8 p.m.

Sobeys extra Aurora, 15500 Bayview Ave. Taste and Learn is a FREE class series offered by Sobeys Dietitians. Each class is focused on a particular food (this month is all about Mediterranean cuisine). During the class, you will receive some intro/background info about the food and the dietitian will prepare a recipe or two for everyone to taste. You will leave the session with new knowledge, a few free recipes and some great ideas to try at home. Registration is required. Contact Sobeys Dietitian Colleen to register and sign up early to avoid being on a wait list.

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

HAPPY HOPPERS SQUARE DANCE CLUB - OPEN HOUSE Aug. 31, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place, 474 Davis Dr. The Happy Hoppers Square Dance Club is a modern, western-style club offering programs in the BASIC, MAINSTREAM & PLUS levels. Come to the free Open House for an evening of fun and laughter.

Contact: Anne Currie-O’Brien, annereg@rogers.com.

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

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

OPINION

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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

Regional chairperson debate re-ignites ISSUE: Councillor ready to put through motion to have regional chairperson elected

Bernie O’Neill

T

his isn’t the first time York Region Media Group has dedicated this space to discuss and debate the powerful regional chairperson’s role in our communities.

And it certainly won’t be the last.

It’s a crucially important issue that needs debate, public input and, most of all, absolute change.

Since 2012, provincial politicians have attempted to get various bills through Queen’s Park to make Ontario’s regional chairpersons elected by the general public, not appointed by the respective mayors of each region.

But each attempt, unfortunately, was swept under the rug of incessant political red tape and disruption.

In York, the region’s chairperson and CEO oversees a budget of about $3 billion that affects all nine of York’s local-tier municipalities.

That’s a huge responsibility and one that should be earned fairly through our privileged democratic voting process.

York’s debt is climbing; projected to near the $4-billion mark within the next several years. That’s no small potatoes and it needs to be tackled, urgently, by a person who has earned the confidence and nod of its citizens via an elected ballot.

Newmarket-Aurora MPP Chris Ballard is the latest politician to try to change the status quo by the time the next election rolls around in 2018.

Admittedly, it would be much easier if York Region council came to the table and passed a motion to change the appointment to an elected position.

“We don’t need a motion from the region, but … it would expedite the change, absolutely,” Ballard said last week.

Markham Councillor Joe Li might just be the man to get the job done with his announcement last week that he will introduce this important gamechanging motion within the next few months, with Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann agreeing to second the motion, so it doesn’t die on the table.

If regional council passes this motion once they reconvene for fall, Queen’s Park wouldn’t need to interfere and a regional chairperson’s race would be underway in time for the next municipal election.

That’s what needs to happen.

It’s high time this powerful, influential position was won fair and square by the will of its citizens and business owners. Perhaps 30 years ago it was suitable for this job to be an appointment of elected representatives when the region’s population was hovering at 500,000, but now that we have swelled to more than one million and counting, we need to follow Durham (2014) and Halton (2006) regions’ leads and make this an elected role.

Li said he is frustrated with backroom wheeling and dealing in advance of council’s selection of York Region’s chairperson.

As are we.

He promises to fight for change.

“I’m working on that. When I was campaigning for re-election (last year), a lot of people asked me why the regional chair is not elected, so I made a pledge, if re-elected, I will make sure it’s going to happen,” Li said.

Chairperson Wayne Emmerson said he opposes making the position elected, because, he says, many residents do not understand the chairperson’s role and what it means to represent the interests of the region on myriad fronts.

Maybe it’s time, then, to spell out that role to citizens and let then know this person is charged with being the region’s CEO, presiding over all council meetings, representing the region at official functions, serving as a board member for the police service; sitting on various boards outside the regional organization and promoting and advancing its position with other levels of government and external groups.

Regional Councillor John Taylor says electing the chairperson may give the more highly populated south communities more pull, but it’s these communities’ mayors who, largely, appointed Emmerson, merely on strength of their numbers. So, wouldn’t we rather citizens have that say? We’ll be closely watching how council handles this issue come the fall.

BOTTOM LINE: Citizens, not politicians, should make this crucial decision.

World Series political race

B

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Election campaign deceitful, manipulative

Town staff failures due to lack of political skill

I honestly don’t know how any self-respecting Conservatives look themselves in the mirror anymore, tethered as they are to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and now this atrocious, deceitful and manipulative election campaign that masquerades as democracy in action in 2015 Canada.

Many of the connecting threads that maintained our continued expansion as an emancipating society have been quietly and purposefully unraveled behind closed doors by Harper and his privileged inner circle.

What hand did your MP have in that? Do some reading: the information is out there. Harper demonstrates again and again that he feels nothing but contempt for most Canadians and their right to vote.

Who’s buying this crap? The society we build today gets handed off to our children and their children. You and I will be gone. Do you believe the actions and policies undertaken by this Conservative government over the past 10 years have directly contributed in a positive, expansive manner to a decidedly improved life for all Canadians and the world we live in?

Re: Dog days of summer might be affecting town staff, opinion by Chris Simon, Aug. 13: bit.ly/1PjM1gf Simon was correct to point out a couple of staff failures in his opinion, but failed to cite a couple more egregious failures that have taken place that have cost the Town of Newmarket hundreds of thousands of dollars, namely the $22.3 million on the town books that was left sitting in cash for six months rather than re-invested into a GIC and the fact the town came up $4 million short on development charges in 2014.

Also, while it is correct to direct his criticism at town staff, a more critical eye should be placed on the elected town councillors, Mayor Van Bynen and Regional Councillor John Taylor, whose jobs are to oversee these issues and deal with them effectively.

These failures have nothing to do with the hazy days of summer, but more with a lack of skill and leadership on Newmarket council.

Wendy King NDP campaign volunteer Newmarket

NDP best choice for middle-class Canadians Re: Child ‘benefit’ has me seeing red, opinion by Tracy Kibble, July 23: bit.ly/1IjePAy I understand Kibble’s frustration with the blank cheque written by the Tories to young families, some of whom are wealthy and do not need it.

Meanwhile, the challenges of those in other age groups are ignored.

However, I feel that the NDP is the best choice as opposed to the Liberals. Firstly, they will target parents who really need the help by creating one million childcare spaces at just $15 a day. They will also help seniors and the people who care for them by raising the guaranteed income supplement, by working with the provinces to expand long-term and home care services and by bringing Old Age Security eligibility back down to 65. The proposed $15 federal minimum wage the NDP would implement would largely help young people who are just getting started with their careers.

So there it is; the federal New Democrats have all Kibble’s concerns in mind in their platform.

Chris Lewis Newmarket

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Editorial

paying for the “entitled to”?

Incidentally, not all senior citizens receive CPP; it is only paid to those who made contributions to the plan. Stating that seniors have had a lifetime to save for retirement is another broad brushed statement totally without merit to the argument.

Heather Baggs Keswick

Not all seniors receive CPP Re: Re-direct tuition ire to province, not feds, letter to the editor by Lee Eustace and Child ‘benefit’ has me seeing red, opinion by Tracy Kibble, July 23: bit. ly/1IjePAy While I am not seeing red, I do take exception to some of the opinions expressed in Eustace’s response letter. Whatever happened to people taking responsibility and ownership for their life choices?

Offering money to make it more financially feasible to have children because our current reproductive rate is not sufficient to sustain the population at current levels is absolutely ridiculous.

If someone wants to have a family, she will: it will involve making sacrifices and cutting back, but if you’re going to be a parent, you might as well get used to sacrificing — emotionally, physically and financially — that’s part and parcel of having a family. However, the rewards are far greater than the sacrifices.

University grants and loans are made in hopes of those receiving these benefits will become contributing members of society. Offering money to people for them to have children will only encourage the “I’m entitled to” segment of society to have children. Are we not overburdened enough already

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LETTERS POLICY All submissions must be less than 400 words and include a daytime telephone number, name and address. The Era reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space.

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On Motion to make regional chairperson elected coming this fall: bit.ly/1No1IEG Regional governments and York Region, in particular, absorb over 75% of our tax dollars, and does all it can, to keep taxpayers, in the dark. This is the most UNDEMOCRATIC form of governance. And York Region stands alone, carrying billons of debt and pushing ahead with unfunded massive projects, knowing full well, the taxpayer will be forced to pay that debt. Mayors DO NOT campaign on their regional roles as they join this “Old Boy Club”. Tough luck to York Region chairperson Wayne Emmerson if he has to pony up some cash to earn his paycheck. Some of us do understand his role. AND WE DON’T like it. We need accountablity and transparency, both of which are sadly lacking in York Region.

Eric Wayne Emerson’s comment, “Many residents do not understand the chairperson’s role”, demonstrates precisely why the chairperson should be elected.

The current lack of understanding is not because residents are stupid. It is because appointed chairpersons avoid explaining their role or justifying their actions to the general public. It’s more convenient for them to operate in secret, so that the public will not question their decisions and actions.

Dave

baseball.

If not, let me fill you in.

Both will play out over the next couple of months with the final contest in late October. Both feature teams that sport blue in their team colours and a maple leaf in their logo, that would desperately like to clinch it in the final, holding up the big trophy as the confetti rains down from above.

Both have somewhat revamped lineups, although several core players are still there, with the same skipper they’ve had for a while. (Do you ever notice John Gibbons is always eating something? It’s as if the game is keeping him away from his dinner.

Meanwhile, Stephen Harper is not a bad looking fellow, he just looks like a guy who would be more comfortable wearing a tie but his advisers have hidden them.)

In the case of the Jays, it’s pretty clear they are Canada’s team, bandwagon jumpers and all. The federal Conservatives would love to think of themselves as Canada’s team, but they have so many critics these days, as well as serious competition for our hearts from the NDP (picture them in orange and black) or Liberals (wearing red), it promises to be a close race right to the bitter end.

Like baseball, every once in a while one of the political parties is forced to deal with a team member over some dumb posting on his Twitter.

Likewise, sometimes veterans get the start over newcomers trying to break into the lineup. Sometimes a candidate is thrown a knuckleball of a question and swings wildly, making a fool of him or herself.

Some generate interest because of their choice of hairstyles or who it is they hang out with on their off time and not by their performance in the batter’s box (aka media scrum).

Once the baseball season is said and done, I’m sure we will have been all quite well entertained, and maybe had our hearts broken. But I’m not sure the Jays becoming champs would have the same impact as what direction we go with our federal government.

Alas, if only the federal parties could generate the same kind of interest in their battle for ballots that the Jays have been able to generate with their ballfield battle for wins.

Perhaps they can pick up a few tips from baseball to get the fans pumped up: Each party could have a mascot: Conservative Carl, Liberal Larry, NDP Pete. They’d race around the field between debates and maybe trip each other.

Thomas Mulcair Bobblehead Day. Free Liberal batting helmet to the first 20,000 voters.

Conservative towel day (their haters would love for it to be a simple white “I surrender” style of towel but I doubt they are giving up that easily).

When a politician steps up to the microphone, his party could flash his stats from when he was on student council at university, who his favourite politician was growing up, votes batted in. We could all get to know the players a little better.

Although that’s been the knock on politics these days, that the more we know the players, the less we seem to like them, and the more the party they play for is left open to criticism.

So, parties appoint candidates rather than allow them to be chosen, and when it comes to talking to voters, candidates aren’t all that candid.

Which is why people, on the day before voting day, are searching around for the name of the candidate in their riding, even though they’ve learned the Jays starting lineup by heart.

Politics is one of those games where not everyone loves a winner.

— Bernie O’Neill is editor of the Markham Economist & Sun

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EDITORIAL 905-853-8888 ADVERTISING 905-853-8888 / Fax: 905-853-4626 250 Industrial Pkwy. N., Aurora, ON L4G 4C3

York Region Media Group community newspapers The Era, The Banner and The Express, published every Thursday and Sunday, are divisions of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Media Group includes The Liberal, serving Richmond Hill and Thornhill, Newmarket Era, Aurora Banner, East Gwillimbury Express, King Connection, Vaughan Citizen, Markham Economist & Sun, Stouffville SunTribune, Georgina Advocate, Bradford Topic, GoodLife, beingwell and yorkregion.com

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

Campaign 25X30 hopes to help get Janet out of her car From Front Page

in a motel room for a few months before eventually calling her car home. At one point, she lost many of her possessions, including a beloved cat and its kittens, in a fire suspected to be arson.

Now, spending her nights parked in plazas, even a vest, coat, sleeping bag, blankets and thermal socks and boots haven’t prevented her from getting frostbite several times on cold winter nights.

Janet, who suffers from several health concerns and receives benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program, takes sponge baths in washrooms of doughnut shops.

On the region’s waiting list for subsidized housing for several years, she treats herself occasionally to a motel room so she can sleep in a bed and bathe.

Doctors told her more than a decade ago she wouldn’t survive another winter in her car.

Janet has beaten the odds year after year, but as she looks forward to her 58th birthday next month, she wonders how long she can last.

“Winters I get very depressed as I have always hated the cold, but I was told 14 years ago I would not survive another winter existing like I am,” she said.

“So, I fear when they will find my body.” At long last, there may be hope for Janet to get an apartment.

A dozen residents who have gotten to know her over the past decade at community dinners have

come together to form a campaign called 25X30.

The idea, first envisioned last November, would see 30 people each chip in $25 a month to contribute to Janet’s rent.

So far, about a dozen people are donating various amounts, according to Newmarket resident Jacques Soucie, who, along with fellow volunteer Barb Martin, is spearheading the campaign.

“A couple of people, having heard her story and having known her, felt this was an area where we could make a difference in the life of one person,” he said.

“It’s going to help one person’s life dramatically. So, it is just that one person, but it is that one person’s life. If it was my life or your life, would you think that’s important?

Absolutely.”

Beginning this week, the campaign seeks donations from the public through a Tilt crowd-funding account called Shelter from the Storm.

After word came last week that the Canadian Mental Health Association has agreed to help subsidize Janet’s rent, the campaign will now contribute toward housing and living expenses, with anything left over being used for other homeless people, Soucie said.

The organizers and Janet will sign a letter of understanding.

While Soucie praised Canada for having government programs that help the homeless, he pointed out Janet is just one of thousands of York residents living in poverty or

homelessness.

“Essentially, here is an individual who has been living in her car for quite a number of years and the government-sourced or government-funded programs have not, to this point in time, been able to help her,” he said.

“I think it’s shameful this kind of thing happens as often as it does.”

Homelessness in York is often a hidden problem, Elizabeth Brims, the region’s program manager of community partnerships, said.

The region has one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in Ontario.

“The key around homelessness is it’s not just a big city problem.

We have a lot of invisible homeless.

Because we don’t have one major urban centre and have nine municipalities, our homeless population is spread right across that whole area,” she said.

“It’s not like Toronto, where you can go downtown and say, ‘Ahh, there it is.’ I think a lot of people don’t realize that a lot of people are sleeping on couches in a friend’s basement, for example. That would be considered homeless, if you don’t have a home and you’re couch surfing.”

The region has several programs to help people who are homeless and prevent others from becoming homeless, Brims said.

York Region has 10,000 households on its waiting list for 7,000

subsidized housing units, with the average wait being 10 years, Heather Tillock, manager of community partnerships and support services, said.

Meanwhile, the region has one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in Ontario at 1.5 per cent, she said.

The average rent for a bachelor apartment is $815 a month, compared to $1,036 for a one-bedroom, $1,194 for a two-bedroom and $1,357 for a three-bedroom.

While six of the region’s municipalities allow legal basement apartments, which increases the rental housing stock, they are not permitted in Vaughan, King Township and Richmond Hill. The region its increasing the affordable housing supply, Tillock said.

She pointed to the recently completed projects of Mapleglen Residences in Maple offering 84 seniors’ apartments, Kingsview Court in King City with 66 seniors’ apartments and another 39 recently added, Mackenzie Green in Richmond Hill with 140 apartments and Lakeside Residence in Georgina offering 97 apartments for seniors, individuals and small families.

Meanwhile, under development now are the Richmond Hill Housing and Community Hub, with 202 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 14 emergency and 11 transitional beds for youth, and Belinda’s Place for homeless women in Newmarket with nine transitional apartments and 28 emergency beds.

Governments alone can’t solve the challenge of providing an ade-

quate number of affordable housing options, Brims said.

Newmarket Regional Councillor John Taylor, who is chairperson of the region’s community and health services committee, said it is upsetting Janet has been homeless for so long.

“It is truly unfortunate that someone in our community has found themselves in such a difficult circumstance. I am confident that the community and our agencies will find a solution,” he said.

“Having said that, we must come to the realization that we have significant challenges related to housing and homelessness in York Region. These challenges will only be met through a combination of all levels of government working together toward more innovative solutions.”

As the federal election campaign plays out this fall, Taylor is calling on candidates to provide their positions on the need for a national housing strategy.

While Janet is anxious about the prospect of living in an apartment because it has been a long time since she has performed even routine tasks such as buying groceries and cooking, she dreams of the home she will be able to create.

A real bed. A tub for bubble baths. A pet cat. Maybe a relationship one day. “Getting a place to live would be everything. I could get control of my life, not live in fear and be able to do what others do and make friends and do all the normal things,” she said.

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Award winning studio celebrating 30 years of dance excellence • info@yorkdance.com • www.yorkdance.com

The Lighthouse Learning and Development Centre is York Region’s only private school dedicated to academics for children on the autism spectrum.

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905-895-7469 • www.suesdancecentre.com •suesdancecentre@gmail.com

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

It’s about respect for educational workers, not wages, CUPE president says From Front Page

heels on providing bargaining dates.

A central bargaining committee is negotiating provincially for education workers with 101 Catholic and public union locals across Ontario.

A conciliator is now involved in the bargaining process, with conciliation being the final step before the union enters a legal strike position, the union said.

But with just a couple of weeks before school starts, “we’re not even close to negotiating to getting

a contract,” Di Nardo said.

Di Nardo, who said workers have been without a contract since Aug. 31, 2014, said she is not able to discuss the issues education workers are negotiating.

“There are many issues. A lot of people think it’s about the wages.

It’s not about the wages.

“It’s about treating educational workers, school support workers, clerical in a way that they are to be respected,” she said.

“There are a lot of issues on the table and I really can’t get into that right now, but it’s not about the wages.”

In the event of a strike, it could

be difficult for schools to remain open without education workers, Di Nardo said.

However, she hopes conciliation will lead to a settlement and avoid a strike.

“We want to be there in September to provide students with the support they need for a successful school year, but we can’t do it without co-operation from the government and school boards,” she said in a union statement.

Meanwhile, as of Monday, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association is in a legal strike position.

After bargaining last week did

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not result in a deal, the union announced this week that teachers at a school in Moosonee in Northern Ontario will be the first to begin work-to-rule job action, beginning Thursday.

Other schools are expected to follow in the coming weeks if a deal is not reached, it added.

“We remain hopeful, but it’s important that parents know there are bigger things at stake in these negotiations,” union president Ann Hawkins said in a media release.

“We all want to avoid a disruption to the school year, but not at any cost.”

Members of the Elementary

Teachers’ Federation of Ontario re-elected Sam Hammond as president for a fourth term at the union’s annual general meeting Monday.

He told 800 delegates the province and Ontario’s school boards are “in for the fight of their lives” if they don’t engage in “serious, respectful bargaining.”

However, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne told reporters she is more optimistic now about reaching settlements with teachers than she has been in weeks and indicated keeping children in the classroom is the government’s top priority moving into the fall.

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Please recycle this newspaper Please recycle this newspaper

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Registration Dates:

Somerville Dance Academy

Sept. 2nd and 3rd 1:00 – 8:30 pm Sept. 8, 9 10 4:00 – 8:30 pm Classes for Students, 3 Years & Up In: Contemporary / Modern Ballet Acrobatics Tap Est. Jazz Hip-Hop Twinkling Tots (3 yrs) 1993!

Sparkling Stars (4 yrs) Musical Theatre Denise Somerville-Quinn, Honours BA in Dance at University of Waterloo

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

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The Aurora Banner, Thursday, August 20, 2015

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Leasing and financing programs available through Subaru Financial Services by TCCI. Other lease and finance rates and terms available; down payment or equivalent trade-in may be required. Vehicles shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. Offers available until August 31, 2015.Contact for Richmond Hill Subaru for details.

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