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THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 17, 2016 ®
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Human trafficking: it Happens Here Kim ZarZour kzarzour@yrmg.com
Casandra Diamond says she will never forget what happened Sept. 11, 2014, at 7:10 p.m. That is the moment in time she left the sex trade industry. For 10 years, starting at the age of 17, the Newmarket woman serviced men - sometimes 10 to 15 a night. She watched other girls like her struggle to survive, coming from abusive childhoods into lives of violence and addiction. Her faith, an encouraging community, and one strong person who invested the time, helped her change her life and now she wants to give back as director of a growing organization called BridgeNorth, a program of Grace Church in Newmarket that helps women trapped in prostitution, sexual exploitation and trafficking. Diamond shared her story with others involved in the fight against human trafficking at the "Hope Happens" event in Richmond Hill on Nov. 10. Organizers hope it is the first of many events to let people know that human trafficking happens in York Region. "When we talk about human trafficking, it's a bit freaky. It's something that happens in China,
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Casandra Diamond (left), director of BridgeNorth, and Debbie Pond, co-chair of the Community Partner Alliance to Stop Trafficking – York Region, hope to raise awareness about the sex industry in York Region. in India; it’s something that happens ‘over there’,” said Amanda Stassen, on the executive leadership team of the newly formed Community Partner Alliance to Stop Trafficking-York Region.
Stassen told the gathering at 360Kids Home Base that when she heard trafficking was happening in York Region, “I went into a bit of a paralytic shock. How is that possible? And I have two kids!”
“But hope happens when we start the conversation...stop hiding in fear,” she added. “It’s about breaking through the darkness
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Magna International donates $5M to United Way Simon martin smartin@yrmg.com United Way Toronto and York Region had reason to celebrate Nov. 14. Magna International pledged to donate $5 million to United Way over five years. It represents the largest gift the United Way has ever received from a corporation based in York Region. "Magna is committed to making a difference in the communities in which our employees work and live," Magna Executive Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer Marc Neeb said. It is important to us that our employees are proud of our participation in this initiative. We've found a great partner in the United Way. United Way CEO Daniele Zanotti was thrilled with the news. So much so, he brought a bottle Prosecco to celebrate.
"We are so thankful to Magna's executive team and employees for their exemplary leadership and commitment to York Region," Zanotti said. "This gift will help us maintain United Way investments in the region and strengthen our network of agencies that provide front line services and support." The donation will go a long way in helping the United Way reach its fundraising goal of $101.5 million for the year, Zanotti said. In making the five-year commitment, Magna issued a challenge to other corporations to step up and join United Way's mission to strengthen communities and neighbourhoods across York Region. The gift from Magna comes one year after a merger of the United Ways in Toronto and York Region. York Region Chairman Wayne Emmerson was also
on hand and was glowing in his comments about Magna's community support. "Magna is an excellent corporate citizen in York Region and this contribution is a tremendous example of the company's ongoing generosity," Emmerson said. "This funding will support critical services and programs that are benefiting our most vulnerable residents." The funding announcement was made at Community Living Newmarket/Aurora, an organization that United Way has supported for decades. Magna's gift comes on the heels of a $3 million gift announced last month for the Seneca College King Campus expansion. Neeb said Magna's support can be seen all over the community at places like the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake Regional Health Centre and the Magna Centre.
Steve Somerville/Metroland
President and CEO of United Way Toronto & York Region, Daniele Zanotti (centre), thanks Magna's Marc Neeb after announcing the largest gift from a York Region-based company in the charity's history, Monday. Magna is donating $1 million each year for the next five years.
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Yonge Street construction could run into 2019 ChriS Simon csimon@yrmg.com
Yonge Street road construction is still in its early stages, but local transit officials are already bracing for project delays. After initially pegging December 2018 as the potential completion date for construction on the $430-million Yonge reconstruction, it appears timelines are already "under pressure" and work will likely continue into 2019, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation president MaryFrances Turner told Newmarket's committee of the whole Nov. 7.
Steve Somerville/ Metroland
Yonge Street road construction is still in its early stages, but local transit officials are already bracing for project delays. "The majority of the work will be completed in 2018, although we
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do expect to see some work carried over into 2019," she said.
Most physical work completed to-date includes median removal, utility relocation, and the installation of a retaining wall at the Yonge and Mulock Drive intersection and temporary traffic signals. However, a good portion of the road reconstruction, which includes widening and storm sewer and boulevard installation, will begin in the spring. Turner provided an update on several vivaNext projects currently underway in the area. With the exception of what is mostly warranty-related work, the $261-million Davis Drive reconstruction is complete.
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While the Davis project has been controversial at times, ridership is growing, she said. "The hard work we did together over a number of years, to get it to this stage, speaks for itself," Turner said. "We've seen some considerable growth in commuters using the service. This is really just the beginning." According to statistics provided by the transit corporation, about 1,720 riders boarded buses along Davis each weekday, on average, in February 2016, up from 1,230 during the same month
● See RIDERSHIP, page A8