MKM_S_SEP27

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ECONOMIST & SUN M A R K H A M

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012

$1 / 36 PAGES

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Senior pedestrians vulnerable Survival rates rise when speed limits reduced, report says

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Dragon dance eyes record Sunday Thousands of volunteers expected to bring world’s longest dancing dragon to life at Markham civic centre BY AMANDA PERSICO

apersico@yrmg.com

While it may take a village to raise a child, it will take a mob of volunteers to awaken a sleeping dragon, especially one more than five kilometres long. More than 4,000 volunteers are expected Sunday in an attempt to establish a world record for the lon-

gest dancing Chinese dragon. Markham’s dragon will span 5.3 kilometres and, with the help of numerous volunteers will dance around the entire Anthony Roman property, which includes the civic centre, theatre and Unionville High School, with the dragon head and tail dancing centre stage. Earlier this week, the hand-

crafted dragon arrived from China. “The longer the dragon, the more luck a community gets,” Mayor Frank Scarpitti said. “Markham will be the luckiest community in the world. Markham is making history.” This is the third world record attempt for the world’s longest dancing dragon, but it is also the

first attempt outside China. The dragon, manufactured in China, is a gift from the mayor of Zhongshan, birthplace of modern China, event co-chairperson and Ward 6 Councillor Alan Ho said. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of modern China. To See GIFT, page 10.

BY JEREMY GRIMALDI

jgrimaldi@yrmg.com

Pat Robinson was an 84-yearold wife, mother and grandmother who adored her family and loved life in equal measure. In 2010, her life was snuffed out in a split second after she was struck by a catering truck east of Main Street in Markham. Mrs. Robinson was one of 10 pedestrians killed on York Region’s roads that year. Throughout the province, there were 95 pedestrians killed in 2010, a statistic that prompted the Ontario Chief Coroner to complete The Pedestrian Death Review.

Under fair skies Dave Laverdierre (left), Josh Denneny and Danny Thompson put up the colourful canvas cover on the Markham Fair carnival Merry Go Round Tuesday morning. The fairgrounds on McCowan Road were alive with activity all week as the fair got set to open today. See more, page 2.

36% ARE SENIORS In the document, Deputy Chief Coroner Dr. Bert Lauer points to data that shows 36 per cent of the deaths are seniors, even though they only make up 16 per cent of the population. It also showed 67 per cent of the deaths occurred on roads with posted speed limits beyond 50 km/h and charges were laid in 30 per cent of cases. In all, the report contains 26 recommendations, including reducing traffic speeds around Ontario, creating roads that better accommodate all users — drivers, STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN

See SENIORS, page 22.

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