Stouffville Review, March 2021

Vol.8 Issue 3 March 2021
WWW.STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM
WHAT’S INSIDE
New YCDSB director to
‘propel learning forward’
The York Catholic District School Board says
it’s embarking on a “bold new era of leadership”
with the appointment of a new director of
education.
SEE PAGE 5
Rhythm of the Dance delivers a perfect
combination of traditional dance and music
The Flato Markham Theatre is bringing the
passion and excitement of Rhythm of the
Dance to your homes this March.
SEE PAGE 9
Library lends out snowshoes
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library, in
partnership with Muskoka Woods, is lending
snowshoes to residents.
Stouffville mayor looks to life past pandemic
SEE PAGE 7
“The town will support Public Health in any way we can to see a vaccination centre in our community,” says Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt.
SEE PAGE 10
COVID-19 voluntary isolation centre
Close contact continues to drive the spread of
COVID-19 in York Region. The region is making
it easier for residents facing complex barriers to
safely self-isolate.
SEE PAGE 10
COMMUNITY
HEALTH & SPORTS
Development on town’s south Hwy 48
corridor approach kicks into high gear
Things will likely start to get a lot busier
soon and less farmland visible as shovels are
expected to go in the ground on both sides of
Highway 48 later this year.
Markham biotech receives funding
for COVID-19 treatment
A Markham-based company has received
federal government funding for a clinical study
of a drug that could be an important tool in
treating and preventing lung injuries caused by
COVID-19.
SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 5
MSH launches equity, diversity
and inclusion plan
Markham Stouffville Hospital has launched
its first formal Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
(EDI) plan.
SEE PAGE 11
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2 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW MARCH 2021 STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM
COMMUNITY
Development on town’s south Hwy 48 corridor approach kicks into high gear
BY DUNCAN FLETCHER
The SmartCentre plaza development
at Highway 48 and Hoover Park Drive with
Walmart, Canadian Tire and other businesses
have long been a shopping magnet for
Stouffville townsfolk, as well as for residents
of North Markham, who prefer a short leisurely
drive through some farmland to get to
Stouffville rather than fight urban congestion
in the south part of that city.
Things will likely start to get a lot busier
soon and less farmland visible as shovels are
expected to go in the ground on both sides of
the highway in that area.
Flato, a well-known local developer,
has acquired two Ministerial Zoning Orders
(MZO) to develop lands it owns on the west
side. These “Whitebelt lands,” although not
in the protected Greenbelt, were not part of
the towns formal development plans for the
near future.
But guess what? The MZO, issued by
the province, essentially offered a short cut to
build.
What the MZOs will allow immediately
across from the Sam’s Way roadway is about
1964 residential units, some commercial
space and a school. This development will
stretch down past the town boundary to 19th
Ave. into Markham and north to what will
practically be an extension of Hoover Park
Drive westward.
The second Flato section approved by
MZO, which is west of the first, allows five
condo buildings with a total of 550 units
along with over 100 townhouses.
While the details of development are
still ongoing and subject to Town/City approvals,
that review process is underway and
expected to be completed and shovels in the
ground this year.
The southwest corner of Stouffville
Rd. and Highway 48 has seen applications
that seek to allow a mix of commercial and
higher-density residential units (apartments).
Much still to be considered and decided on
here yet.
The east side of Highway 48, north of
Hoover Park Drive, now home to empty
fields, will likely look much different with a
proposal from Corebridge Developments to
build a “Live-work Village” in the works that
would allow residential, commercial, a hotel
and an “educational campus.”
While details are still to be finalized, this
triangular piece of land stretching from close
to Stouffville Rd./Main St. down to Hoover
Park, if the proposal is greenlighted as is,
will significantly alter the landscape and
provide a mix of uses. Currently, these lands
and those south of SmartCentre are zoned as
employment lands, so require formal “conversion”
by council to allow residential use.
Land immediately to the east of
Sportchek and south of Walmart, owned by
Smart Centre, also require zoning changes
to allow some residential development that
would include a retirement home, mid-rise
apartment/condominium space as well as a
possible hotel, and commercial/industrial
space. This area abuts the off-leash dog
area.
All these projects detailed above were
contained in a recent council report and remain
the subject of a significant town study
that is still to be completed (Highway 48
Visioning Exercise). That report also notes
that the individual projects themselves are
not all that council has to consider. Chief
among these is the infrastructure that will
be needed to support such intense development,
such as road redesign and traffic flow,
and how much will be set aside for greenspace/parks
among other items.
Also to be considered is how they all
will mesh together to maintain the livability
of what is still, and will remain, a fairly
small municipality and the input from current
residents.
Regardless of how the details shake
out, it is a certainty that the area will look
much different very soon and the transformation
will likely start as early as later this
year.
Stay tuned.
Spend a night in the cold to end youth homelessness
Do you have what it takes to spend a
night in the cold to end youth homelessness?
360ºkids, an organization that offers programs
and supports to homeless and at-risk
youth in York Region, is asking that question
as it prepares to host its eighth annual
360°Experience.
The event, to be held Thursday, March
4 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., will be held virtually.
Organizers invite you to take part from
outside your home, in your car or on your
balcony or porch and help raise $100,000 to
support programs for homeless youth.
The At-Home 360°Experience Student
Experience provides opportunities for high
school students to earn one volunteer hour
for every $100 raised and five hours for
completing the event. Students can earn additional
hours for completing elective tasks.
The experience also provides an opportunity
for students to learn what life is like for some
of their peers. “You may not know it, but in
your own schools there are probably classmates
that don’t have a safe place to stay,”
the organization says. “They have to balance
school, a social life and the stress of finding a
safe place to sleep at night.”
The At-Home 360°Experience invites
community members to experience some of
the harsh realities a homeless youth faces
when they don’t have somewhere safe to go.
Participants will receive a real scenario faced
by one of the young people the organization
supports.
360ºkids serves more than 3,500 young
people. It was named one of Canada’s Best
Charities 2020 by Maclean’s magazine and
also landed in the Top 10 of Canada’s Best
Charities in the Youth Charities category. The
name ‘360ºkids’ refers to the comprehensive
approach the organization takes to help
at-risk youth and surround them with care as
The 360° Experience takes place March 4.
they require a wide range of supports to help
rebuild their lives.
Nearly 300 young people are homeless
in York Region, 360ºkids reports. A $15
donation provides a young person with three
hot meals at the organization’s home base
drop-in centre; $75 gives one young person
access to emergency housing bedding; and
$100 covers the cost of two hours or professional
counselling.
To participate in 360°Experience, you
must have access to a cell phone with a
working number, data/ Wi-Fi access and the
ability to open websites and YouTube pages
on your device. No fundraising minimum is
required. Contact brittany.rogers@360kids.
ca to learn more.
E
Ph

STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM MARCH 2021
Earth Hour could be
‘spotlight moment’ for planet
3 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
A year after a record-breaking number
of countries and territories supported Earth
Hour, plans are underway to “see the planet
in a new light” with the first Earth Hour
Virtual Spotlight.
The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF)
will post a video on its social media pages
on Earth Hour on March 27 at 8:30 p.m. and
is asking you to share it on your social media
platforms. The goal: to make it the mostwatched
video in the world on March 27 or
beyond so as many people as possible hear
its message.
While the content of the video remains
under wraps, the WWF says it has two aims:
to help people, especially those who aren’t
environmentally conscious, see their role
in the “planetary crisis” in a new light and
to build momentum towards the United
Nations’ Conference on Biodiversity in Kunming,
China in May.
“Crucial political decisions will be
made on climate action, nature and sustainable
development – decisions that will
directly affect the fate of humanity and our
planet for years to come,” the WWF team
says of the conference. “With your sup-
port, Earth Hour 2021 could be a spotlight
moment that puts nature at the centre of
international conversations. Together, we can
speak up and show world leaders and other
decision makers around the globe that nature
matters and urgent action must be taken to
reverse nature loss.”
WWF and partners established Earth
Hour as a symbolic lights-out event in
Sydney, Australia in 2007. Held on the last
Saturday of March, the annual event has
become one of the world’s largest grassroots
movements for the environment. Last year,
people from 190 countries and territories
supported Earth Hour amid the early days
of the global COVID-19 pandemic. WWF
offers a list of 20+ things you can do from
home on Earth Hour weekend.
You Are In Our Hearts
Tiny Seedlings Darlene Shaw and Shana Daniel with
Councillor Maurice Smith and Allan Bell from MSH.
Wayne Burgess initiated the “You Are
in Our Hearts” fundraiser in support of
local healthcare workers.
After a year of living with the pandemic,
most of us are dealing with COVID
fatigue.
As we think of complaining, we are
quickly reminded of the many healthcare
workers who are known best as our heroes.
A group of Ballantrae residents —
spearheaded by Wayne Burgess with lots
of support from Councillor Maurice Smith
— were feeling the love for our healthcare
heroes and decided to support them with the
“You Are In Our Hearts” fundraiser.
Thousands of “You Are In Our Hearts”
cookies were baked with love by members
of the Longo’s team and were paid for by a
financial contribution from Tiny Seedlings.
The group’s fundraiser raised over
$17,000 to go towards supporting local
healthcare workers.

4 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Wild fun with the library March programs
MARCH 2021
STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM
Team T&J will take interactive music and entertainment to incredible heights with a high-energy,
super-powered concert for kids and families on March 16.
March is a study in contradictions:
the last cold days of winter give way to the
warmth of spring, your snow shovel and
umbrella sit side-by-side at the front door,
and you’re ready to add some variety to your
comfortable daily routine.
The Whitchurch-Stouffville Public
Library can add variety to your life with programs
and services for you to enjoy, so read
on.
On Tuesday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m.,
Team T&J will take interactive music and
entertainment to incredible heights with a
high-energy, super-powered concert for kids
and families. This live experience is an uplifting
journey of self-exploration, creativity
and participation that encourages kids to see
and feel what it means to come together and
STICK2GETHER.
This program is free and will be presented
live on the library’s Facebook page at
facebook.com/WSPLibrary. Team T&J can
be found on their website at teamtandj.com
On Thursday, March 18 at 10:30 a.m.,
join in to see the Jungle Cat staff talk about
animal behaviours and how to care for and
protect the animals on our planet. A question
and answer period will follow the presentation.
This program is free and will be presented
live on the library Facebook page at
facebook.com/WSPLibrary. More Jungle Cat
World details can be found at junglecatworld.
com
The “Where the Wild Books Are” Reading
Club for children ages 3-12 continues.
This program runs until March 31, so it’s not
too late to join the fun. This club, based on
the beloved picture book by Maurice Sendak,
challenges children to read and let their
imaginations run wild.
The program uses the Beanstack App to
track reading progress. Prize incentives will
be given to children to encourage their reading.
To login or register with the Beanstack
App, customers can download the app for
free on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
You can also link to the Beanstack App
through the library’s website at wsplibrary.ca.
You’ll want to check out the library’s
two new CloudLibrary products: Comics
Plus and News Stand, both available starting
March 1st.
Comics Plus offers unlimited, simultaneous
access to over 2,000 digital comics,
graphic novels and manga.
News Stand features over 6,590 digital
magazines, with over 2,000 titles that are in
different languages. The News Stand collection
will offer simultaneous use for all digital
magazine titles for WSPL customers which
means that customers will be able to download
any title, at any time, for offline reading
with no set loan period. WSPL customers
will also have no limit to the number of titles
checked out.
Both CloudLibrary Comics Plus and
News Stand begin as separate, free apps for
download on the Apple App Store or Google
Play but will merge into the CloudLibrary
app later this year.
If you are looking for assistance with
your device or computer or are curious about
the library’s digital collections, you can
book a virtual tech help session via Zoom.
Sessions will be offered on Tuesdays from 2
p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit wsplibrary.ca for more
information.

STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM MARCH 2021
5 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Markham biotech receives funding for COVID-19 treatment
A Markham-based company has
received federal government funding for a
clinical study of a drug that could be an important
tool in treating and preventing lung
injuries caused by COVID-19.
“The funds will be targeted toward
rapidly getting EB05 into the hands of physicians
on the front line of this health crisis,”
says Dr. Par Nijhawan, Chief Executive
Officer of Edesa Biotech, a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company. “By targeting
the body’s underlying response, our experimental
drug offers a potential solution that
could be effective despite variations in the
virus.”
Edesa focuses on developing innovative
treatments for inflammatory and immunerelated
diseases with clear unmet medical
needs. It will receive $14 million to complete
the second phase of a Phase 2/Phase
3 study of its investigational drug, EB05,
for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19
New YCDSB director to
‘propel learning forward’
Dr. Nijhawan says that by targeting the body’s underlying response, his company’s experimental
drug offers a potential solution that could be effective despite variations in the virus.
patients. The funds were awarded under the
Strategic Innovation Fund following a multidisciplinary
review of Edesa’s drug technology
and plans.
“As countries around the world begin
to distribute and administer COVID-19
vaccines to their populations, we cannot
lose sight of the importance of developing
treatments to limit the long-term impacts of
the virus on Canadians,” Minister of Innovation,
Science and Industry François-Philippe
Champagne says of the funding. “Once
approved, this therapy has the potential to be
an important tool in treating and preventing
lung injuries caused by COVID-19.”
EB05 is an experimental monoclonal
antibody that Edesa believes could regulate
the overactive immune response associated
with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
(ARDS), the leading cause of death in
COVID-19 patients. Specifically, the drug
inhibits toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling
– an important mediator of inflammation
responsible for acute lung injury that has
been shown to be activated by SARS-CoV2,
SARS-CoV1 and influenza viruses.
The goal of the experimental treatment
is to suppress inflammation, fluid accumulation
and lung injury, thereby reducing
the number of Intensive Care Unit patients
and intubation/ventilation procedures, and
ultimately saving lives. Hospitals and physicians
interested in participating in the Phase
2/3 study of EB05 should contact info@
edesabiotech.com
The York Catholic District School
Board (YCDSB) says it’s embarking on a
“bold new era of leadership” with the appointment
of a new director of education.
Robert Hofstatter took over the helm
of the school board on March 1, bringing
with him advanced strategies for STREAM
schools (science, technology, religion, engineering,
arts and math).
“The selection of Mr. Hofstatter for
this key position signals a bold, new era of
leadership, driven by a desire for excellence
in Catholic education, visionary innovation
and collaborative involvement with staff and
students,” Board Chair Dominic Mazzotta
says. “With this appointment, we are excited
to build on our Catholic values and strategic
commitments in fresh and dynamic ways, to
propel learning forward in the 21st century
and continue our track record as a highperforming
school board.”
Hofstatter brings with him more than 20
years of progressively responsible leadership
roles in financial security services
and software technology, YCDSB reports.
He was most recently the program head of
Computer Science and Engineering Robotics
at St. Michael’s College School in Toronto.
Prior to that, he was Vice President of Global
Information Security Operation Systems at
Scotiabank.
He has a Master’s degrees in Business
Administration and Education, is a Certified
YCDSB director Robert Hofstatter.
Information Systems Security Professional,
a Project Management Professional and is a
member of good standing with the Ontario
College of Teachers.
“I am thrilled, honoured and deeply
humbled to be joining an exceptional calibre
of senior administrators, educators and employees
within a Board that is progressive,
continually evolving and a leader in its class,
both regionally and provincially,” Hofstatter
says. “I look forward to sharing my exuberant
passion for education and student success
while at the same time learning and collaborating
with everyone I encounter on this
important journey.”
The YCDSB has about 53,000 students
in 101 schools throughout York Region.

6 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW MARCH 2021 STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM

STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM MARCH 2021
Stouffville mayor looks to life past pandemic
7 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
BY DUNCAN FLETCHER
It’s been a weird year that’s for sure.
Who would have thought a year ago as
the first lockdown loomed that 12 months
later we’d still be living under government
restrictions?
It has certainly cramped our style and
forced us to adjust. Politicians, especially
municipal ones, are generally more used to
weird and wild than the rest of us. But even
so, what a time to be running a town.
Locally, there are hard decisions to be
made around local facility limits, closures
and staff layoffs. Then there’s what to do
about local business decline, coordination
with other levels of government on pandemic
recovery, COVID testing and, hopefully, vaccinations.
All the while, still keep your eye on
town development and all the other day-today
issues.
It’s a grind.
Despite all that, Whitchurch-Stouffville
Mayor Iain Lovatt seems pretty upbeat when
we meet up for a physically-distant chat
about town business.
Still the mayor, despite his easy-going
ways and optimism, is not blind to the grim
circumstances that still face the community.
Chief among those circumstances is the glacial
pace at which the federal government has
been able to acquire and distribute COVID
vaccines to provinces.
Lovatt’s goal is to be ready when the
shots do trickle down to our communities to
get back to “normalcy” as quickly as possible.
That means having vaccine delivery
resources ready to go.
“We’re certainly very active in lobbying
Public Health and the province to see a vaccination
centre in Stouffville,” he says.
Citing a fall flu vaccination initiative at
Soccer City that was a huge success, Lovatt
is confident Stouffville can lead the way in
efficiency.
“We can do 2,000 people a day if we do
that model,” Lovatt says.
But with ice out of the Stouffville Arena
already, that space, along with a venue like
Soccer City, he estimates could easily scale
up to 4,000 vaccinations a day. Meaning that
the entire community could be done in just
over a week.
“But we need Public Health to get on
board,” he says. “Certainly, our local docs
are pushing hard for that to happen and the
town will support Public Health in any way
we can to see a vaccination centre in our
community.”
Yet Lovatt doesn’t see the area being
able to get back to normal until the fall.
“I’m hopeful that in the fall we’ll be
able to host a big celebration in the park,” he
Mayor Lovatt by an aerial photo of a less developed Stouffville than the one being contemplated
by council in 2021
says. “That would be great.”
He is blunt that, based on what is known
at this time, no groups should be planning
any live events in the town for at least the
first half of the year. This, of course, doesn’t
bode well for institutions like the Strawberry
Festival but still might allow for others like
Ribfest. So, we all hope.
The COVID grind has been tough in
other ways. The uncertainty around vaccinations
and lockdowns have also caused significant
hardship, not only on the many small
businesses that struggle to make a living
under lockdown and lesser restrictions but
has also crippled municipal coffers as well
and led the town to make temporary reductions
of staff, mostly in Leisure Services. In
January, 19 staff were laid off for a minimum
of 12 weeks.
“It was one of the hardest decisions that
has ever been made (by the town),” Lovatt
relates noting that the $7 million the town
would normally get from user fees of its
facilities and services and would normally
help to pay for staff is no more and that, he
reiterates, is not insignificant.
Combine that with the extra cost of
maintaining a pool, hockey rinks and other
unused facilities, there was little choice but
to drain the pools, take out the ice and reduce
staffing.
“We’re losing the services because the
province shut us down,” he says. “It’s certainly
nothing that we want to do. It becomes
a matter of do we maintain the amenities
when they are not being used at the expense
of the taxpayer or do we make (this) tough
decision.”
Adding to his frustration are the often
unclear rules and messaging that has come
from the province on the lockdown front.
Still, Lovatt is hopeful that the province
will come to the table with some funding to
fill the breach of fiscal gaps municipalities
are experiencing and hasten the return to
normal fiscal circumstance.
On that matter, the mayor observes that
the two-year budget recently approved by
council has pretty much been abandoned and
the planning process for next year’s budget
will begin as soon as June.
However, having covered the COVID
gloom part of our discussion, Lovatt brightens
when he begins to talk about some of the
good news that is on the horizon. And yes
folks, there’s lots of it.
Bringing new development to town,
in particular commercial development, has
long been a goal of council. A residential tax
base is great to have, but, on its own, does
not come close to providing the financial resources
the town needs to maintain and build
services. Commercial taxes, along with the
jobs that come with it, do.
But with much of Whitchurch-
Stouffville being on the edge of the protected
Oak Ridges Moraine and unavailable
for development for years, Stouffville had
struggled to attract new business. What it has
found is that the limited open land, infill and
restoration opportunities it does have are in
very high demand. Business likes what it sees
in Stouffville.
Another area of potential growth involves
the land surrounding Gormley along
Highway 404 which the town has long sought
to develop.
With commercial/industrial developers
lining up for space along one of the busiest
roadways in the country, the town has
been working with the region to encourage
the province to allow limited development
outside Gormley, which is already classed as
employment lands but lacks basic infrastructure
like sewers and relies on old-fashioned
wells and septic beds for service. Stouffville
is alone in municipalities that have not been
allowed to effectively utilize its Highway 404
employment lands.
This determination to open up these
lands has been criticized by Greenbelt purists
who perhaps see this as the thin edge
of the wedge that will begin the wholesale
destruction of nature.
Lovatt assures that is not the case.
“We have specifically selected certain
areas,” Lovatt says. “And that’s not the
whole thing. We are not declaring war on
the Greenbelt. We’ve picked specific interchanges
where employment can be maintained.”
He also suggests, that if anything,
proper development that brings sewers and
water from Lake Ontario is more environmentally
sustainable than tons of septic
beds that now dot the lands. Lovatt notes he
has the support of a unified council, local
MPP Paul Calandra and the region to move
forward, and he will continue to fight for
the jobs and opportunity the lands offer.
One significant potential development
in this area, which was announced at a recent
Town Council meeting is the prospect
of an electric car manufacturing facility at
Aurora Rd and the 404. Twenty acres at the
southeast corner is owned by well-known
businessman and Magna International
founder Frank Stronach.
Stronach has presented a plan to the
town to develop the parcel that is technically
in the Greenbelt but part of the secondary
lands that has some flexibility in what is
allowed on it. The proposal, to be flushed
out in the near future would see The SARIT
(Safe. Affordable, Reliable Innovative
Transport) e-cars produced in Whitchurch-
Stouffville. This “world headquarters”
would provide approximately 100 R&D,
sales, engineering and assembly jobs making
150,000 units on an annual basis.
“This is exactly the kind of commercial
development that we are advocating
for,” Lovatt says of the single-person car,
which is more of a covered, three-wheel
e-bike than a car. “This is a great potential
proposal for us…and, to me, a sign of confidence
in (the Town) and staff and growing
Whitchurch-Stouffville.”
Shovels are also expected in the ground
this year in the areas south of the Walmart
plaza being developed by Corebridge, the
same folks who developed the Longo’s
plaza on Main St and Mostar. This time
though expect mixed-use residential/commercial/office.
Adjacent to that land on the
west side of Highway 48, is where Flato
Developments will break ground on a new
residential project.
In 2020, 24 site plan applications for
development were submitted and that looks
to be dwarfed by the volume expected in
2021. (Continued on page 8)

8 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
(from page 7)
“There is just tons of interest and
development applications coming in for the
western approach — the gateway area of
town,” Lovatt says.
That should be welcome news to anyone
who has lamented the shoddy, boarded up
properties that greet residents and visitors
alike as they come to town from the west.
“There’s going to be announcements this
year that will, I think, blow people’s minds”
he enthuses as he rhymes off a bunch of other
developments that are all underway.
“Our development services staff are getting
run off their feet,” he says.
It’s better than no one wanting to be
Ensuring access to food,
medicine for low-income seniors
Program helps ensure that low-income seniors have access to food.
The Ontario government is extending
the Ontario Community Support Program
(OCSP) until 2022 to ensure that low-income
seniors and people with disabilities have
access to food, medicine and other essentials
during COVID-19. The program was established
in April 2020, and involves an innovative
partnership with the Ontario Community
Support Association (OCSA) and its large
volunteer base in communities across the
province. During that period nearly 800,000
deliveries have been made.
“The Ontario Community Support
Program is a made-in-Ontario success story
that shows the true Ontario spirit, and our
government offers our thanks to the army of
dedicated workers and volunteers,” Premier
Doug Ford said. “Through the generous and
tireless efforts of these people, Ontarians
with disabilities and older Ontarians have the
food and necessities they need to stay home
and stay safe.”
The OCSP operates in communities
here, that’s for sure.
Other priorities for the mayor and
council include updating the official Plan and
rebranding for the town, finalizing new town
ward boundaries in time for the next election
(there are still going to be six wards) and lobbying
for recovery resources.
Yes, there’s lots to do and the mayor
knows it. But still likes where all this is going.
“We’ve got a functional council, stable
town hall. People want to work here,” he
says. “There are some cool things that are going
to set the table, so to speak, for the town
moving forward, which I think are going to
be really helpful and exciting.”
across the province by matching volunteer
services with seniors, people with disabilities
and other vulnerable Ontarians through an
online registration system. Volunteers are
stepping up in significant numbers to give
their time and efforts to fellow Ontarians
who need support to meet the challenges of
COVID-19.
“This program is critical because it
keeps our seniors and people with disabilities
safe, by allowing them to receive essential
items like food and medicine right at
their door, without the need to go out during
the pandemic,” said Raymond Cho, Minister
for Seniors and Accessibility. “Extending
this program will ensure that we continue to
support our most vulnerable when they need
it most.”
During the Fall Economic Update, the
government announced plans to extend the
program until March, 2022, in recognition of
its positive impact on vulnerable Ontarians.
Police board welcomes
former probation officer
A former probation and parole officer,
who served on the executive board of the
Association of Black Law Enforcers, is the
newest member of the civilian board that
oversees York Regional Police (YRP).
York Regional Council appointed Norma
McCullough to the YRP Services Board
for a two-year term that began on January 1.
During her career with the Ontario Ministry
of Community Safety and Correctional
Services, McCullough was a member of the
Probation and Parole Officers Association
of Ontario and received the Correctional
Services Exemplary Service Medal.
“With a background in correctional
services and law enforcement, and extensive
experience working with diverse communities,
Ms. McCullough will help YRP achieve
its mandate to service and protect York
Region’s 1.2 million residents,” says York
Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson.
McCullough’s career and volunteer
work spans more than five decades. In addition
to working with Indigenous, Jewish,
Muslim, Black, and many Asian and
East Asian communities, she has served on
several advisory committees, including the
Centre for Addictions and Mental Health
Advisory Committee.
McCullough led a workshop on offender
rehabilitation in the community for the National
Black Police Association in Los Angeles,
Ca. and was a member of the Advisory
Committee for the Metro Addiction Assessment
Referral Program. She has served on
the YRP Community Advisory Council for
31 years, including a period as its chair.
McCullough was a member of the Richmond
Hill Rotary Club for more than eight
MARCH 2021
STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM
YRP Services board member Norma McCullough.
years and a member of the St. John Ambulance
Brigade in York Region for more than
a decade. She has served on the Association
of Black Law Enforcers’ executive board and
was the first Law Enforcers Service Officer.
A York Region residence since 1983,
McCullough earned a Bachelor of Social
Work (Honours) from York University, a
Bachelor of Arts (Criminology and Sociology)
from the University of Toronto and a
Certificate in Conflict Resolution from St.
Xavier University in Chicago, Ill.
The YRP Services Board is made up
of seven civilian members: one is head of
municipal council, three are appointed by
York Council and three are appointed by the
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Its responsibilities
include establishing policies for the
effective management of the police service,
approving the operating and capital police
budget and developing a business plan for
the police service every three years.

STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM MARCH 2021
9 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Perfect combination of
traditional dance and music
169 Rupert Ave.
BY FRED ROBBINS,
STOUFFVILLE HISTORIAN
The lovely two-story solid brick home at
169 Rupert Ave. was built in 1887 by Fredrick
George.
His brothers, Samuel and Richard, had
a Planning Mill (now Schell Lumber) on
Edward St. Frederick later rented the house
to Arthur Fleury who was co-owner of the
Fleury Bros. Foundry and was employed as a
molder.
The foundry is now called Schell Co-op
building; an industrial heritage site. The
Fleury family soon after relocated to Aurora.
The Victorian style of this house has
features like other buildings in the heritage
neighbourhood. The accent brick was yellow
and highlighted the window arches. A twostory
bay on the front is facing south. With
the new upgrade of copper on all the roof
details including the porch it enhances the
heritage and greatly adds to the decoration
and streetscape.
The front porch has a bell cast curve
roof and the copper here looks amazing.
The profiles of the posts look original. The
gingerbread is designed to represent the
agricultural farming which surrounded the
village. The wheat sheaf is a common theme
seen on many homes. It may have even been
the trademark for the woodwork done by the
George brothers.
On April 28, 1902, Frederick George
sold the property to Ella MacDonald for the
sum of $1,100. The next few owners lived
at the house just a few years each. By 1929,
the Ratcliff family bought this property as
an investment. Glenn Ratcliff had been with
the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second
World War. On Oct. 15, 1947, he bought the
home for the sum of $4,000.
In 1948, Glenn Ratcliff gave the house
to the trustees of the Stouffville Baptist
Church. They used it as a manse.
Some residents might remember that
Glenn had a grocery business and started the
IGA here on Main St. That space is now the
Stouffville Fine Furniture store on the south
side of Main.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren “Stuart” Bellamy
purchased the Baptist church parsonage on
July 4, 1962 for $6,000. Stuart and his wife
June lived at the home.
The Rhythm of the Dance livestream event takes place from March 17 to 21.
The Flato Markham Theatre is bringing
the passion and excitement of Rhythm of the
Dance to your homes this March.
This live-stream event — recorded in
front of a live audience — features awardwinning
dancers, excellent musicians and
foot-tapping passion.
Combining traditional dance and music
with the most up-to-date stage technology,
this dance and music extravaganza, already
seen by seven million people in 50 countries,
takes the audiences on an exhilarating and
exciting, energy-packed time trip through the
ages.
It’s internationally rated as one of the
most popular Irish step dance shows in the
world making it such a success with critics
and audiences worldwide.
Check out the performance from
March 17 to 21. Purchase tickets at flatomarkhamtheatre.ca

10 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
HEALTH & SPORTS
MARCH 2021
STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM
Library lends out snowshoes
Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library,
in partnership with Muskoka Woods, is lending
snowshoes to residents.
Muskoka Woods is an overnight summer
camp for children aged 6-16 on the
shores of beautiful Lake Rosseau in Muskoka.
Library CEO Margaret Wallace says
she is “delighted about the partnership and is
excited to offer this new service to the community.”
The library has received 15 pairs of
snowshoes that can be borrowed, with a
library card, for one week each. There are no
limits to the number of pairs of snowshoes
customers can borrow and there are no holds
and no renewals on these items.
“There’s never been a better time to
get outside for physical activity,” executive
director of Muskoka Woods Chris Tompkins
said. “Muskoka Woods is thrilled to partner
with the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public
Library to provide a way for people to snowshoe
and enjoy the outdoors.”
Mayor Iain Lovatt echoed Tompkins’
comment.
“The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
is very excited about this initiative as we
have the benefit of so many trails,” he said.
“Residents can search the town’s website
at townofws.ca, where they can find an
interactive map and trail guide to plan their
snowshoeing adventure.”
Snowshoes must be picked up and
returned during the library’s curbside operating
hours. Curbside operating hours can be
found at wsplibrary.ca or by calling 905-642-
7323.
COVID-19 voluntary
isolation centre
Close contact continues to drive the
spread of COVID-19 in York Region. The
region is making it easier for residents facing
complex barriers to safely self-isolate.
York Region now has a COVID-19
Voluntary Isolation Centre, available to
residents who may otherwise be unable to
safely self-isolate. The centre is funded by
the Provincial Government and operated by
the Canadian Red Cross on York Region’s
behalf.
If someone with COVID-19 is not able
to safely self-isolate away from others in
their household, they risk spreading CO-
VID-19 to loved ones and others in the community.
The centre helps to reduce the spread
of COVID-19 by offering a comfortable,
private, temporary hotel room for eligible
residents who are: waiting for COVID-19
test results; COVID-19 positive or likely
COVID-19 positive; and close contacts of a
COVID–19 positive case.
The hotel room offers residents a safe
place to rest and recover from COVID-19,
free of charge, for up to 14 days.
Call Access York at 1-877-464-9675
ext. 72500 (TTY 1-866-512-6228), or email
accessyork@york.ca to find out if you are
eligible to self-isolate at the centre.
Access York may also be able to connect
residents who need financial assistance,
to take 10 to 14 days off work to self-isolate,
to available emergency financial supports to
cover rent, utilities and food.
To learn more about the centre and
available emergency financial supports, visit
york.ca/IsolationCentre

STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM MARCH 2021
11 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
Hospital launches equity, diversity and inclusion plan
“builds on important progress we have made
over the last five years. This includes rejuvenating
our code of behaviour and corporate
values, launching an EDI committee, and
more formally recognizing Pride month.”
MSH is also a member of the Municipal
Diversity and Inclusion Group (MDIG), which
helped York Region take an historic step
forward with the launch of its first Inclusion
Charter in 2019.
The EDI plan provides a framework for
MSH EDI activities and serves as a resource
to enable MSH to sustain and advance its efforts.
The EDI framework incorporates MSH’s
strategic objectives and uses an anti- oppression
approach to supporting a workplace that
actively seeks to rectify systemic inequities
and honours its values.
MSH aims to deliver an extraordinary
patient experience with enhanced interpretation
and translation services.
MSH will implement EDI training for
board members, leadership and staff; develop
an EDI recruitment plan so hospital team best
reflects the diversity of the community; launch
communities of inclusion peer support and
advisory group; and add an EDI specific question
to the iReport system to better understand
if discrimination contributes to violence in the
workplace.
To learn more, visit https://www.msh.
on.ca/about-us/equity-diversity-and-inclusion.
MSH will implement EDI training for staff and develop an EDI recruitment plan so the hospital
team best reflects the diversity of the community.
Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) has
launched its first formal Equity, Diversity, and
Inclusion (EDI) plan.
“As an organization that serves some of
Canada’s most diverse communities, MSH
must foster an environment of equity and
inclusivity,” said Jo-anne Marr, President and
CEO of MSH.
“We are committed to listening, learning
and understanding to ensure every person
can work and receive care safely, openly and
honestly, and embedding an anti-oppression
approach in all aspects of our internal policies,
processes and practices to address systemic
inequities and power imbalances.”
Marr adds that the launch of the EDI plan
What’s going on in Whitchurch-Stouffville?
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Town of
Whitchurch-
Stouffville

12 STOUFFVILLE REVIEW
MARCH 2021
STOUFFVILLEREVIEW.COM
The world loses
one person to
suicide every
40 seconds.
It claims 800,000
lives every year.
That’s more
deaths than war
and homicide
combined.
Over 75% of all
suicide deaths
are men.
For women, the
attempt rate is
3 to 4 times higher.
Transgender and
gender diverse
people are at
greater risk than
those who are
cisgender.
Suicide is the
2nd leading cause
of death for people
aged 15–24.
Lesbian, gay, and
bisexual youth are
more at risk than their
heterosexual peers.
Among First
Nations, the
suicide rate is
3 times higher
than the general
population.
These are the stats.
And it’s time we change them.
In Canada,
4000 people
die by suicide
every year.
For each person
we lose, at least
7 to 10 others are
deeply affected.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are deserving of help and
can call 1-833-456-4566. If you require immediate, in-person emergency
care, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency department.