MINUTES
2010 MARKHAM
CANADA DAY COMMITTEE
2010-01-25
Meeting No. 1
__________________________________________________________
Attendance
Members
Jeanne Bowman Daisy Jiang Peter Still Leon Liu Mitch Reiss Willie Reiss Irene Tse Council
Councillor Carolina
Moretti Staff
Olivia Bella, Event Management & Outdoor Sports Coordinator Rob Hincks, Operations Wendy Lucas, Assistant to Councillor Moretti Steve Matunin, Supervisor, Operations Joanne Olson,
Special Events Assistant Prashanth
Srichandramohan, Assistant to Councillor Kanapathi Cynthia
Taylor-Huff, Assistant to
Councillor Chiu Matt Vetere,
Financial Analyst Bob Walter, Operations Bev Shugg Barbeito, Committee
Clerk |
Regrets
Jaswant Dhanjal Antonette DiNovo Shervin Mohabbati Richard Wilson Todd Bailey, Operations (Milne) Anna Rose,
Corporate Communications Councillor Alex
Chiu Councillor Logan
Kanapathi |
The first meeting of the 2010 Markham Canada Day Committee convened at 6:05
p.m. with Councillor Carolina Moretti in the Chair.
1. WELCOME
Councillor Carolina Moretti welcomed
new members Daisy Jiang, Peter Still, Leon Liu, and Shervin Mohabbati who will
be joining the Committee for planning the 2010 Canada Day events.
2. PLANNING FOR CANADA DAY 2010
a)
Committee Assignments
Councillor Moretti gave
a general introduction to how the Canada Day events unfold and reminded
Committee members not to panic if something seemed not to be working, others would
be on hand to help. She then introduced the concept of pairing committee
members so they might share planning and carrying out 2010 Canada Day
activities. This would provide an opportunity for new committee members to learn
a specific role and also provide backup, in the event that someone was not able
to be present on the day of the event.
b)
Preview to Canada Day (Media Launch)
Wendy Lucas reported
that the Preview to Canada Day event will be held on Tuesday June 22, 2010 from
12:30 – 1:30 pm in the Great Hall of the Markham Civic Centre. Mayor Scarpitti and
Council members have been invited.
c)
Food Vendors
Irene Tse reported that
eighteen food vendors were confirmed for the 2009 Canada Day event. All
available space was used and some felt that the location of the stalls was too
far away from the main stage. Irene Tse will meet with Joanne Olson to discuss the
logistics of locating the food vendors. It was suggested that, at future
meetings, the Committee may wish to review the amount of fees to be paid. Councillor
Moretti will work with Longo’s to provide a refrigerated truck to store food
safely.
d) Mayor’s
Seniors Luncheon
Cynthia
Taylor-Huff reported that the luncheon will once again be held at Le Parc hotel.
More than 600 seniors will be treated to lunch and entertainment. As with other
Town of Markham events, the 2010 Canada Day Seniors Luncheon will be a ``zero
waste`` event. Cynthia Taylor-Huff, Steve Maturin and Daisy Jiang will run the
event.
e) Parade
Joanne
Olson described the parade and its route south on McCowan Road south from
Markville Mall to Milne Park as a fun event. In 2009 there were thirty parade
entries and the town encourages participation from community groups. Antonette
DiNovo and Peter Still will work together to coordinate plans for the 2010
Parade.
f)
Children’s Activities
Jeanne
Bowman advised that many of the children’s activities for Canada Day 2010 have
already been reserved with little or no cost increase. The Children’s
Activities run from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Leon Liu agreed to work with Jeanne Bowman
on running the Children’s Activities.
Councillor
Moretti asked that the town photographer make a point of taking pictures of the
map where the children place pins to indicate where their families originated.
g) Stage
& Sound
It was reported that
Richard Wilson and Perry Chan are very experienced; they will handle all the
sound and stage logistics.
h)
Media/Radio Station Participation
Willie Reiss and Councillor
Moretti will follow up with Anna Rose to determine whether approval has been
given for distribution of the letter developed to solicit participation by radio
stations. Prashanth Srichandramohan will meet with Willie Reiss to discuss
possible ideas for sponsors and multicultural media contacts.
i)
Entertainment
Mitch Reiss reported
that Doo Doo the Clown will again be part of the Canada Day entertainment.
Mitch Reiss will develop a proposal to have entertainment start as early as
noon, continuing until 10 pm. He will coordinate the selection of local groups
and other diverse entertainment. Daisy Jiang will also provide ideas for
multicultural entertainment. Other Committee members were also encouraged to
email Mitch Reiss with any ideas for entertainment.
j)
Fireworks
Steve Matunin reported
that negotiation with the fireworks supplier is close to being finalized.
k) Volunteers
Committee members were
requested to submit requests for volunteers to Prashant Srichandramohan, in the
office of Councillor Kanapathi, who has been instrumental in recruiting
volunteers in past years. Initial requests include 20 volunteers for Children’s
Activities, plus others to assist with the Parade, Entertainment and the
Mayor’s Luncheon.
l)
Transit Arrangements
Joanne Olson will
coordinate the arrangements, similar to those in previous years, and then hand
over responsibility to Steve Matunin.
m) Security
Olivia Bella will
review the arrangements made last year and hire the same number of paid duty
officers. It was recommended that the number of bylaw enforcement officers be
increased to enforce parking regulations on streets close to Milne Park.
n) Theme
The theme, “One Family,
One Markham, One Canada”, and the corresponding “identifier” for Canada Day
events have been instrumental in boosting recognition of Canada Day events.
o) Budget
The document entitled Town
of Markham Canada Day 2009 Approved Budget as at December 31, 2009 was distributed for review. Matt
Vetere reported that the 2009 event incurred a deficit. He will provide further
analysis of the budget.
p) Advertising/Posters/Invitations
Wendy Lucas will
coordinate the plans for advertising, postcards, and invitations. After circulating
the 2009 items, it was agreed to use the same pictures for 2010.
q) Sponsorship
Councillor Carolina
Moretti and Councillor Alex Chiu are working on obtaining sponsorships for the
2010 Canada Day Events. They will investigate the possibility of sponsorship
for the buses needed for Canada Day events.
r) Heritage
Grant
Joanne Olson will
prepare the application by the deadline. She reported that the Town will ask
for an increased grant amount, noting that Governor General`s Horse Guards will
be part of the event.
s) Signage
Committee members were
reminded that Bob Walter would appreciate as much notice as possible for any
new signs that are needed. It was suggested adding a ``Lost and Found`` sign.
t)
Parking
Committee members were
reminded that parking at Milne Park is limited. Parking arrangements will be
reviewed to ensure access for performers of Children’s Activities. Canada Day
events advertising should advise that the public is encouraged to park at
Markville Mall and take free transit provided from there, because pubic parking
is not available at Milne Park.
u) Miscellaneous
·
Councillor Moretti has made arrangements for the
loan of 4 golf carts.
·
Anna Rose will contact Markville Mall to
determine whether it will be closed and to obtain permission to use the parking
lot for lining up the parade participants.
·
Cynthia Taylor-Huff and Prashanth Srichandramohan
will sort and count remaining inventory from last year of T-shirts for
Volunteers. They will bring samples to the next meeting.
·
EMS and lifeguards will be used to provide
medical services.
3. DATES OF FUTURE
MEETINGS
The next meeting of the Markham Canada Day
Committee is scheduled for Monday, February 22, 2010 at 6:00 PM in the York Room
at the Markham Civic Centre.
Subsequent meetings will be held
at 6pm in the York Room as follows:
Mon March 22, 2010
Mon April 26, 2010
Mon May 10, 2010
Mon May 17, 2010
Mon June 07, 2010
Mon June 21, 2010
Mon June 28, 2010
Committee members were asked to email regrets
to either Wendy Lucas or Councillor Moretti if they are unable to attend a
meeting.
4. ACCESSIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING
Copies were
distributed of "Accessible Customer Service", a guide for Markham
Board and Advisory Committee members on how best to interact with persons who
have disabilities,. Committee members present at the meeting signed an
acknowledgement of receiving it.
5. ADJOURNMENT
The first meeting of the 2010 Markham Canada
Day Committee adjourned at 8:00 PM.