Markham Life Magazine is now available for Winter 2010 / 2011 The Town of Markham has mailed the Winter 2010/2011 issue of Markham Life Magazine to all Markham residences through the Markham Economist and Sun and the Thornhill Liberal community newspapers.  Copies are also available at various locations in Markham as well as at Markham's website at www.markham.ca. Markham Life Magazine is your source for recreation, culture and library programs, activities and events, and the latest municipal news. Markham Life Magazine contains information about the following: Markham Life News in Brief Business Leaders In The Making Collection Changes Expansion of Community Facilities and Services Freedom of the City Important Points You Need to Know Markham's First 10-year Cultural Plan Markham's New... 11/08/2010

2010 Seasonal Flu Shot Clinics in Markham, Ontario York Region Community and Health Services will hold flu shot clinics at the locations listed below in Markham in November and December 2010. Angus Glen Community Centre and Library(Activity Rooms 2 and 3)3990 Major MacKenzie Drive, Markham November 5, 2010 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Milliken Mills Community Centre (South hall)7600 Kennedy Road, Unionville November 12, 2010 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Centennial Community Centre8600 McCowan Road, Markham November 15, 2010 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thornhill Community Centre (Centre hall)7755 Bayview Avenue, Thornhill November 23, 2010 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Markham Civic Centre101 Town Centre Blvd., Markham November 25, 2010 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bur Oak Secondary School (Cafeteria)933 Bur Oak Avenue, Markham December 2, 2010 4... 11/08/2010

Markham, Ontario - Remembrance Day Services - November 11, 2010 The Town of Markham will be holding a Remembrance Day Service on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Markham Theatre for the Performing Arts at 171 Town Centre Boulevard (northwest corner of Warden Avenue and Highway 7, immediately north of the Markham Civic Centre). The ceremony will honour our veterans.  Presentations will be made by The Suburbanaires and Youth Poetry Winners. If you cannot attend the service, you will be able to listen to audio streaming from Markham Theatre at www.markham.ca/Markham/aspc/Webcast/RemembranceDay.asp If you are not able to attend or listen to the service, you are encouraged to observe 2 minutes of silence at 11:00 a.m. on November 11 to honour those who have made the ultimate ... 11/08/2010

Major Change to Markham Garbage, Waste, Recycling and Organics Collection in 2011 Effective January 1, 2011, Markham's garbage, waste, recycling and organics collection service is changing from a 5-day collection schedule to a 4-day collection schedule. There will no longer be collection of garbage, waste, recycling and organics on Mondays. Almost half of Markham homes will be assigned a new collection day. All affected homes will receive a door hanger indicating their new collection day. Watch for the new two-year 2011/2012 collection schedule that will be mailed to all Markham homes in December 2010. Major Change to Markham Garbage, Waste, Recycling and Organics Collection in 2011 11/07/2010

Is there Garbage and Recycle Collection in Markham on Remembrance Day 2010? The Town of Markham, Ontario will be picking up garbage, recycling and organic materials on Thursday, November 11, 2010 which is Remembrance Day in Ontario.  There are NO changes to the waste collection schedule due to Remembrance Day. Refer to your collection schedule to determine what is picked up on your area on Remembrance Day.  Alternatively, refer to the Town of Markham website at www.markham.ca. Is there Garbage and Recycle Collection in Markham on Remembrance Day 2010? 11/07/2010

Can I provide you with blank copies of the real estate forms used by REALTORS ®? REALTORS® that are members of the Toronto Real Estate Board ("TREB") are prohibited from providing blank copies or unfilled copies of any of the real estate forms provided by TREB that are used members of TREB.  These forms are embedded with the REALTOR logo and their use is limited to REALTOR members.  The forms are also copyrighted material. Can I provide you with blank copies of the real estate forms used by REALTORS ®? 11/07/2010

Improved RECO Discipline and Appeals Decision Search Recently, the Real Estate Council of Ontario ("RECO") introduced new improved search functionality on its website to make it easier for interested parties to access Discipline and Appeals Decisions. Users are able to search by topic, Code of Ethics or year.  Decisions and appeals are online from 2000 to current. RECO's website is at www.reco.on.ca. The Real Estate Council of Ontario regulates the activity of trading in real estate in the public interest in Ontario.  RECO administeres the Real Esttate and Business Brokers Act, 2002 and related regulations on behalf of the Ontario government.  RECO licences real estate sales representatives, real estate brokers and real estate brokerages in Ontario. Improved RECO Discipline and Appeals ... 11/07/2010

Does the Ontario Government pay HST on Ontario Real Estate Brokerage Commissions? Effective with the implementation of the harmonized sales tax ("HST") in Ontario on July 1, 2010, the Ontario government including all Ontario government ministries, agencies, boards, commissions and Crown corporations are required to pay HST on the amount for taxable supplies of property or services they acquire.  The Ontario government is NOT eligible for exemptions from paying HST on transactions that occur on or after July 1, 2010. Accordingly, Ontario real estate brokerages are required to charge the Ontario government harmonized sales tax on real estate brokerage commisisons. GST/HST transition rules may apply for real estate transactions which straddle July 1, 2010. Other HST rules may also apply to... 11/07/2010

Change the batteries in your smoke detector Many organizations recommend that you change the batteries in your smoke detectors throughout your residence twice a year at the same time that you adjust your clocks by one hour to and from Eastern Daylight Time and Eastern Standard Time.  This helps to make it easier to remember to change the batteries. We changed our clocks at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010, back by one hour to move back to Eastern Standard Time. If you have not put fresh batteries in your smoke detector, you should do so immediately. Remember to test the batteries and the smoke detector after installation to make sure that everything is working. Your smoke detector manufacturer and other organizations can assist you with respect to these issues by providing you with mo... 11/07/2010

Did you set your clocks back 1 hour this morning? At 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010, the Greater Toronto Area changed its clocks from Eastern Daylight Time ("EDT") to Eastern Standard Time by turning the clocks back one hour.  Did you change your clocks?  Are all of your clocks displaying the correct time? Many clocks automatically adjust for Eastern Daylight Time and Eastern Standard Time.  However, in 2007, the law was changed with respect to the dates that we move back and forth between EDT and EST.  If you own equipment, electronics and other items with clocks, the software may not have been updated for the new law.  Therefore, you may need to adjust those clocks manually. To find out the current time in the Greater Toronto Area, visit www.time.gov. Did you set your clocks back ... 11/06/2010

Main Street Unionville - December 2010 holiday events There will be many events to celebrate the holiday season on Main Street Unionville in Markham, Ontario for 2010. Some of the exciting events will include: Friday December 3, 2010 at 7 pm - Unionville Olde Tyme Candle Light Parade - Join the merchants for an old fashioned candle light parade December 3, 2010 to December 5, 2010 - Olde Tyme Christmas - Join the merchants for an old fashioned Christmas experience along beautifully decorated Main Street Unionville. Stores are open late; the street is filled with carollers, entertainment, horse drawn carriage rides, and Santa Claus Highlights include the Friday evening candlelight parade, carriage rides with Santa! December 16, 2010 to December 23, 2010 - Unionville Latenight Shopping - ... 10/31/2010

The Governor General Horse Guards Foundation - Markham, Ontario It is the 200th anniversary of the Governor General's Horse Guards Buttons Troop this year.  A big anniversary cleebration will be held at the Hilton Suites Markham Conference Centre located on the southwest corner of Warden Avenue and Highway 7 in Markham, Ontario, Canada. The anniversary celebration will be held on November 25, 2010. The Markham Theatre will be hosting the event.  You can order tickets by calling the Markham Theatre's box office at (905) 305-SHOW (7469) or by ordering online.  You can also order tickets by visiting the Markham Theatre box office located on the northwest corner of Warden AVenue and Highway 7, just north of the Markham Civic Centre. The Governer General Horse Guards participates in many eve... 10/31/2010

Trick or Treat on Halloween on Main Street Markham Come to Main Street Markham on Sunday, October 31, 2010 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.  Many vendors on Main Street Markham will be providing tricks and/or treats for children and adults to celebrate Halloween 2010! Get dressed up and enjoy the fun.  See scary and spooky characters on both sides of Main Street Markham.  You will also be able to meet some of your neighbours. Trick or Treat on Main Street Markham will occur on the north side of Highway 7 and south of Bullock Drive / Parkway Avenue.  Main Street Markham is also known as Highway 48 and Markham Road.  The Town of Markham is located immediately north of the City of Toronto. When trick or treating, go up one side of Main Street Markham then down the other side of Main Street Markham a... 10/31/2010

2010 Markham, Ontario Municipal Election Results Below are the UNOFFICIAL election winners for the October 25, 2010 municipal election in the Town of Markham in Ontario, Canada.  This information is from the Town of Markham website.  Official results, including final vote counts, will be available on the Town of Markham's website on Thursday, October 28, 2010. MAYOR Frank Scarpitti REGIONAL COUNCILLORS (town wide) - Four (4) positions elected Jack Heath Jim Jones Gordon Landon Joe Li WARD COUNCILLOR Ward 1 - Valerie Burke Ward 2 - Howard Shore Ward 3 - Don Hamilton Ward 4 - Carolina Moretti Ward 5 - Colin Campbell Ward 6 - Alan Ho Ward 7 - Logan Kanapathi Ward 8 - Alex Chiu YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD - SCHOOL TRUSTEES Wards 1 and 2 - Susan Geller Wards 3 and 6 - Ada Yeung Wards 4... 10/26/2010

Town of Markham Sign By-law Town of Markham Sign By-law 2002-94 prohibits and regulates signs and other advertising devices and the posting of notices on buildings or vacant lots within the Town of Markham in Ontario, Canada.  The by-law is amended periodically, sometimes several times per year.  From time to time, the Town of Markham consolidates the by-law for convenience.  As of the date of writing this post on October 24, 2010, the sign by-law had been amended thirteen (13) times since it was originally passed.  The most recent amendment was on September 21, 2010 following the passage of by-law 2010-168. The text of the sign by-law is available at the Town of Markham's website at www.markham.ca/Markham/Departments/Bylaw/ Town of Markham Sign By-law 10/24/2010

Is Your Driveway Paving Contractor Licensed by the Town of Markham? The Town of Markham in Ontario, Canada requires that paving contractors who construct or extend driveways in the Town of Markham to be licensed by Markham. The driveway paving contractor must meet certain conditions in order to be licensed.  Licenses expire on December 31 of each year. To find out whether a particular driveway paving contractor is licensed in the Town of Markham, contact the Town of Markham at (905) 479-7782 or visit the Markham driveway paving contractor page on n the Town of Markham website. Is Your Driveway Paving Contractor Licensed by the Town of Markham? 10/24/2010

Vote in the Markham Civic Election on October 25, 2010 Remember to vote on Monday, October 25, 2010 between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the municipal election in Markham, Ontario.  The term for the new Markham municipal council (mayor and ward councillors) and York Region council (regional councillors) as well as school trustees (public school, separate school, French board) will be four years until the next municipal election. Do you need more information?  See www.markhamvotes.ca for complete details. I have also written some previous posts on the election.  See my index of Markham election posts. Many candidates are also able to provide transportation to and from the polling stations.  Contact them for details. Vote in the Markham Civic Election on October 25, 2010 10/24/2010

Multifaith Candlelight Vigil for Flood Victims of Pakistan The Town of Markham will be holding a multifaith candlelight vigil for the flood victims of Pakistan on Sunday, October 17 at 6.30 pm at Markham Civic Centre which is located at 101 Town Centre Boulevard (northwest corner of Highway 7 and Warden Ave. Leading prayers will be conducted by: Reverend Dr. Hamilton of the Canadian Council of Churches Imam Salimi, President of the Council of Imams Rabbi Morrison representing the Jewish Community Hari Nam Singh Khalsa representing the Sikh Community Gurudev Suraj Prakash Ji, representing the Hindu Community Multifaith Candlelight Vigil for Flood Victims of Pakistan 10/17/2010

2010 Markham Civic Election - Important Information Over the past few weeks, I have written several articles about the upcoming October 25, 2010 municipal election in Markham, Ontario, Canada.  In this article, I provide an index of the articles so you can easily find the important information. Who are the candidates for the 2010 Markham, Ontario municipal election? Voting by Internet in the 2010 Markham Civic Election Voting by Proxy in the 2010 Markham Civic Election Early Voting / Advance Voting in 2010 Markham Civic Election Are you ready for the 2010 Markham Civic Election? Remember to vote on October 25, 2010 or at one of the advance polls. 2010 Markham Civic Election - Important Information 10/17/2010

Halloween on Main Street Unionville On Sunday, October 31, 2010, in the spirit of Halloween, the businesses of Main Street Unionville will be hosting an old fashioned trick-or-treat from 12 noon-4 pm. Don’t miss your chance to dress up and collect some candy from  participating merchants on this spooky afternoon. Main Street Unionville will be decorated and ghosts and goblins are free to roam the street. Halloween on Main Street Unionville 10/10/2010