Dear Ward 5 Residents,

Please be assured the City of Markham is doing its best to continue operating at full capacity, many staff are working from home but all are still serving residents and businesses at the same high standards.

My assistant Michelle and I are available any time, we will respond to emails and phone messages quickly.  Mayor Scarpitti briefs Council daily and releases media alerts as necessary. He together with our Executive Leadership Team and our Emergency Operations Centre staff are busy keeping us informed and safe but we all have to help as well. We have a responsibility to ourselves, our families and our neighbours. Stay home, especially if you are not feeling well. Check on your neighbours and seniors. Getting outside is good, but go alone. Do not use park equipment, do not play basketball or soccer with others. Wave hello, stay healthy and stay safe.

We do not want to overload you with too much information, rest assured our operations, waterworks, utility, waste staff and Bylaw officers are on the road every day. I will update both our sites www.ward5markham.ca and Facebook with new important information as I receive it.

For the most current information these sites are great resources:

For up-to-date information about COVID-19, visit www.york.ca/covid19

For the latest information and updates on closures and cancellations at the City of Markham please visit www.markham.ca/covid19

Markham Stouffville Hospital is a designated COVID 19 Assessment site

Province of Ontario information

Government of Canada information

Unemployment Insurance Information

York Region District School Board & York Catholic District School Board

Markham Food Bank could use some of our help. If you are able, please drop off essential items to Markham Fire stations, Longos, Freshco, NoFrills, or Whole Foods.

Please be considerate of our environment, where we live work and play. Now more than ever, we have to look out for each other and our communities.  We have received numerous calls in the last week about dog waste not picked up or doggie waste bags left all over the neighbourhoods together with household garbage dropped in our parks, wooded areas and along our boulevards. Today I found a vaccum cleaner, steamer, bike, and numerous garbage bags at one of our beautiful parks. There is never a good reason for this.  Curbside pickup takes most items, multiple convenient locations for donation centres, textiles boxes, recycling and transfer stations in Markham and York Region make it easy to get rid of unwanted items.

Information for waste and recycling: During this time please note that all recycling drop-off depots will be closed indefinitely. There will be no exchanges or purchases of new bins at this time. Yard Waste curbside pickup will be delayed until the week of May 19th, 2020

York Region’s Household Hazardous Waste Depots, Community Environmental Centers and Georgina Transfer Station York Region have indicated that there are currently no changes to the operating hours for the Household Hazardous Waste Depot on Rodick Road and the Elgin Mills and McCleary Court CECs as well as the Georgina Transfer Station.

Hours: Earl Turcott Waste Management Facility & Richmond Hill (Bloomington Compost Facility)

Finally, I have been very touched by the many resident in Ward 5 who have stepped up to help others … red hearts and white ribbons for our healthcare front line staff; picking up groceries and walking dogs for our seniors; free craft ideas and supplies for kids at home to name a few. Thank you for looking out for each other, I am proud to serve as your Councillor and together we will get through this.


Andrew Keyes
Ward 5 Councillor