Welcome to my Notebook.
This is an opportunity for me to share my thinking on local issues as well as others that can affect Thornhill and the quality of life of its residents. The more we know, the better our understanding with the result, I hope, being an improved public discourse.
Not all entries will qualify as that; some, quite simply, will be nice and notable things for residents of Markham’s Ward 1 to know.
The content and views expressed here are mine alone.
Coyotes in Thornhill
There is no denying the majority of people, not all mind you, would prefer there were no coyotes in our community. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry delegates the authority to municipalities for oversight of wildlife, however the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act outlines
When a Clown Gets Too Close
Today marks the third anniversary of the insurrection at the US Capitol Building as well as news that the US Supreme Court will decide whether former president Donald Trump’s name can appear on primary election ballots this year. During the 1960 United States presidential
Demolition Mostly by Neglect
The City of Markham takes preservation of its built form heritage seriously. So seriously that the city’s motto on its Arms of Corporation is: “Leading While Remembering”. I see it every time I exit the elevator to my Civic Centre office. I am not one
Rooming Houses, Multi-Occupant Dwellings, Short-term Rentals
I have written about this topic in both my Spring/Summer 2020 and Fall 2020/Winter 2021 newsletters. Those articles can be viewed from the News tab on this website. The renting of homes or rooms is one way to help address the availability and affordability
Thornlea Pool: What is old will soon be new again
If you’ve ever embarked upon a home renovation project, then you will undoubtedly know that things do not always go according to plan. Those that have can easily identify with the sentiment: hope for the best, but plan for the worst. In March 2021, Markham
Whose government is it?
Today is “English Language Day at the United Nations.” It is celebrated on April 23, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. As a writer, observing the occasional improper use of words – in all their forms –
Big Men feared Thornhill’s George McCullagh
In the mid-1930s George McCullagh purchased 200-acres of land in what is now the Bayview/John area of Thornhill. Construction of his iconic home at 7750 Bayview Avenue began soon after. It eventually cost $500K to construct, equivalent to $11M today. McCullagh was a wealthy Toronto
Going to the dogs…
First, a confession. I have been a dog owner for 30-plus years. I love dogs. I know too not everyone feels the same. I have a friend that had a traumatic childhood encounter with a dog and remains fearful and another who is allergic.