MINUTES

2008 MARKHAM CANADA DAY COMMITTEE

2008-9-22

Meeting No. 8

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Attendance

Members Jeanne Bowman Samuel Carr Antonette DiNovo Mitch Reiss Willie Reiss Council Councillor Alex Chiu Councillor Carolina Moretti Regrets Javaid Khan Bob Walter, Operations Councillor Logan Kanapathi

Staff Todd Bailey, Operations (Milne) Rob Hincks, Operations Wendy Lucas, Assistant to Councillor Moretti Steve Matunin, Supervisor, Operations Joanne Olson, Special Events Assistant Murat Parnakoglu, Assistant to Councillor Kanapathi Sandra Sealy, Assistant to Councillor Burke Cynthia Taylor-Huff, Assistant to Councillor Chiu Matt Vetere, Financial Analyst Bev Shugg Barbeito, Committee Clerk

The eighth meeting of the 2008 Markham Canada Day Committee convened at 7:10 p.m. with Councillor Carolina Moretti in the Chair.

1. RECAP OF THE 2008 CANADA DAY EVENTS

Councillor Carolina Moretti thanked committee members for their efforts in planning the most successful Markham Canada Day event to date. She reported that two new members, May Fung and Jaswant Dhanjal, would join the Committee to assist with planning the 2009 Canada Day events.

Councillor Moretti invited comments from committee members about what plans worked well for the 2008 Canada Day event and what could be enhanced for the 2009 event.

Committee member comments included:

- The 2008 event went well and was an enjoyable experience

- It is a way to involve the community; the committee might want to find ways to extend outreach to involve the community

- Efforts should be made to involve the communities of Thornhill and Parnell

- To make the 2009 Canada Day event attractive for Markham’s diverse population, entertainment and other decisions should be made keeping that diversity in mind

- The Markham Public Art Advisory Committee would be interested in participating in some way, perhaps via a public art exhibit

- Information about the 2009 Canada Day event could be distributed at the Markham Jazz Festival

- Newspaper ads promoting the event could be more specific, e.g. detailing the featured talent, show times and other items of significance

- It would facilitate sending thank you notes if volunteers were to provide their names and addresses on a sign-in sheet

- The numbers of seniors attending the Mayor’s Seniors Luncheon are needed a week in advance of the event in order to appropriately plan the buses for transportation

- The committee helper for each bus should help seniors, who have registered in advance, get on first

- The Media Launch promoted the Canada Day event well

- To increase awareness of and participation in Canada Day events, it was suggested that the Media Launch be held somewhere other than Markham Civic Centre, perhaps at Markville Mall on a Saturday and perhaps in conjunction with John Hawco’s Flag Day event

- Music would enhance the Canada Day Parade, either by including marching bands or floats with music

- Concern was expressed that few people watch the parade as it progresses south on McCowan Road; however it was thought that there was a special feeling associated with marching into Milne Park

- Additional speakers are needed to extend the sound of entertainment further throughout Milne Park

- Music accompanying the fireworks was a great addition

- It was recommended that the Committee consider including a laser show with the fireworks

- The contract with the company providing the fireworks lasts for one more year, then the Town of Markham will issue a Request for Proposal to invite bids for providing this service

- The Councillors’ contact at Bell Canada is no longer with the firm; Councillors Chiu and Moretti will contact Bell Canada to determine its interest in continuing as a principal sponsor of the Markham Canada Day events

- The budget for the 2008 Canada Day events may have a small surplus; Councillors will defend keeping the surplus to apply to the 2009 Markham Canada Day events

- Specific comments about the Mayor’s Seniors Luncheon will be discussed at the next meeting

- Food at the Mayor’s Seniors Luncheon was very good and may be requested again for next year’s event

- Children’s Activities were well attended and received; Jeanne Bowman will plan the activities for the 2009 Markham Canada Day event but would appreciate an assistant to help her carry out the activities at Milne Park on Canada Day

- Parking at Milne Park was not available this year because the ground was too soft as a result of considerable rain; this allowed Milne Park staff to be assigned to handle other duties

- Handicapped parking should either be located closer to the stage area, or possibly those with mobility challenges should be bussed to the park from Markville Mall

- The Vendor layout worked well

- Vendors should be charged an additional amount if they need power

- There is room to enhance the entertainment, perhaps with bands or groups who want the exposure

- A headliner entertainment act is needed

- The Filipino Youth group was very entertaining

- Entertainment could be started earlier

- Different types of entertainment could be scheduled for different times

- Increased sponsorship would allow booking more acts

- Plans should get under way soon so the committee can secure “a big name” to entertain

- Doo Doo the Clown was phenomenal and pleased the crowd; he will perform again next year

2. OTHER BUSINESS

Cynthia Taylor-Huff will follow up with Corporate Communications about the logo for the Markham Canada Day events.

3. DATE FOR NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Markham Canada Day Committee is scheduled for Monday, November 3, 2008 at 6:00 PM in the Mayors Boardroom on the 4th floor at the Markham Civic Centre.

4. ADJOURNMENT

The eighth meeting of the 2008 Markham Canada Day Committee adjourned at 8:35 p.m.