MINUTES
2006 MARKHAM
CANADA DAY COMMITTEE
2007-02-19
Meeting No.
1
_________________________________________________________
Attendance
Members
James Bush Jeanne Bowman Antoinette DiNovo Mitch Reiss CouncilCouncillor
Carolina Moretti Councillor Logan
Kanapathi Councillor Alex
Chiu |
Staff
Steve Matunin, Supervisor, Operations Bob Walter, Operations Todd Bailey, Operations (Milne) Matt Vetere, Financial Analyst Joanne Olson Olivia Bella, Event Mgmt & Outdoor Sport Coordinator Wendy Lucas, Assistant to Councillor Moretti Sandra Sealy, Assistant to Councillor Kanapathi Cynthia
Taylor-Huff, Assistant to Councillor Chiu Bev Shugg Barbeito, Committee Clerk |
Regrets
Everest D’Souza
Shahid Mahmood
Sam Sahoy
The first meeting of the 2007 Markham Canada Day Committee convened at 6:05 p.m. with Councillor Carolyn Moretti in the Chair.
1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The agenda of the First Meeting of the Markham Canada Day Committee for 2007 was distributed.
2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE JULY 10,
2006 MEETING
THE MARKHAM CANADA DAY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:
That the minutes of the Markham Canada Day Committee meeting held on July 10, 2006, be adopted.
CARRIED
3. 2007 COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
The
Markham Canada Day Committee will be co-chaired by Councillor Carolyn Moretti,
Councillor Logan Kanapathi and Councillor Alex Chiu.
4. 2007 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Welcomed
by the Chair were new committee members Antoinette DiNovo, Shahid Mahmood and
Mitch Reiss along with returning members James Bush, Jeanne Bowman, Everest
D’Souza, and Sam Savoy.
5. 2007 BUDGET
Mr. Matt Vetere distributed a document entitled Town of Markham Canada Day 2007 Preliminary Budget as at February 19, 2007 for the committee’s review.
6. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a) Sponsorship – Councillor Moretti and Councillor Chiu will endeavour to increase the level of sponsorship and will report back to the committee.
b) Advertising/Posters/Invitations - Councillor Moretti reported that the promotional postcards were a successful advertising method last year and noted that future cards should not have the year included. Two ideas will be incorporated into the 2007 card: deleting information about the Seniors’ Luncheon and adding a map of Milne Park. Mr. Mitch Reiss will work with a designate from the town’s Marketing department to develop design ideas for the 2007 card, and will report back to the committee.
Ms. Wendy Lucas will oversee advertising details until a representative from the Town’s Corporate Communications department is appointed to the committee.
Ms. Cynthia Taylor-Huff will coordinate invitations to dignitaries.
c) Mayor’s Seniors Luncheon - Ms. Cynthia Taylor-Huff will coordinate this event with assistance from Ms. Wendy Lucas. Mr. James Bush volunteered to assist as well. Since last year’s seniors’ luncheon was a success, the only change being contemplated is the venue. Ms. Taylor-Huff will meet with staff of Le Parc Markham to determine if they will consider hosting the event. If needed, a sub-committee may be developed closer to the event.
Wendy Lucas and Mitch Reiss will coordinate the production of posters, the Contact Centre has been approached with regards to the registration for the Seniors Luncheon and Joanne Olson and Bob Walter will co-ordinate the buses required for pickup at the various venues.
d) Parade - Mr. Bob Walter reported that McCowan Rd. is closed at approximately 3:30 PM, the parade queues up and at 4 PM the parade moves south on McCowan Rd. to Milne Park. Most of the parade heads through the park, with one section splitting off to be part of the flag raising ceremony. Joanne Olson will forward a list of parade participants to Sandra Sealy and Antoinette DivNovo to confirm participants. Bob Walter, Joan Olson and Sandra Sealy will assign spots for parade participants. Members were encouraged to send any ideas relating to the parade to them.
Councillor Carolina Moretti will try to get Mr. John Hawco to encourage everyone involved (especially the children) in his parade to take part in the Town’s afternoon parade.
The committee needs to find ways to ensure residents are positively aware of the festivity taking place.
The Town hopes to recruit additional corporate participation for this year’s parade.
Ms. Antoinette DiNovo will contact volunteers from previous years to determine if they will volunteer again, and report back to the committee.
Ms. Wendy Lucas will coordinate plans for the flag raising ceremony at 5 PM and Opening Ceremonies; plans usually include veterans and an honour guard. Mr. Mitch Reiss, Ms. Joanne Olson and Ms. Cynthia Taylor-Huff will also provide assistance.
e) Fireworks – Mr. Steve Matunin reported that the Town has a three-year agreement with Red Boss Fireworks to provide fireworks for Town events.
Councillor Carolyn Moretti requested that Mr. Matunin draft a contingency plan outlining proposed responses to various situations, e.g. inclement weather, lighting et al. They will discuss the plan and report back to the committee.
f) Parking – Mr. Steve Matunin informed the committee that parking plans went well. Plans call for keeping the back lot clear for emergency vehicles and transit shuttles. This year, the Town will hire paid duty officers to enforce parking rather than by-law officers. Mr. Matunin will bring to the next meeting maps of Milne Park showing the locations for parking, Community booths and Vendors booths.
g) Transit Arrangements – Ms. Joanne Olson reported that the shuttle buses worked well. The same numbers will be used for ordering buses for the evening, but she will need to know how many are planning to attend the Seniors’ Luncheon so that the appropriate number of buses can be ordered for that event.
h) Stage & Sound – Ms. Joanne Olson noted that additional lighting is required.
i) Entertainment – Ms. Joanne Olson reported that a preliminary entertainment list has been developed. There will be longer periods of time between acts; this, in turn, will require an experienced emcee to keep the audience interested. Councillor Logan Kanapathi suggested including cultural dancing as part of the entertainment. Mr. Mitch Reiss will assist in the coordination of Entertainment activities.
j) Children’s activities - Ms. Jeanne Bowman reported that the following activities have been planned for “Children’s time” from 3:00 – 6:00 PM:
- from 3:00 – 4:00 PM Kate & Alec Shapiro
- from 4:00 – 5:00 PM Adam Cook – magician
- from 4:00 – 5:00 PM Tara McGrath - clown
- from 3:00 – 6:00 PM - Jumping Castle, Dr. Zonk (phrenologist), Face Painting, Origami, activities sponsored by the Markham Libraries and the Markham Museum, Map of the world.
Ms. Jeanne Bowman will investigate other possibilities such as; activities sponsored by the Fred Varley Gallery, the mime featured by “Communities in Bloom”, and the use of mascots.
Ms. Bowman reported that 17 volunteers are needed to operate all the children’s activities well.
k) Food Vendors - Mr. Sam Sahoy and Mr. Todd Bailey will coordinate the details of this aspect of the festival.
l) Signage – Councillor Carolyn Moretti encouraged all members to submit requests for new signage as soon as possible to Mr. Bob Walter. Ms. Jeanne Bowman will review the signage she has from last year’s event to determine if any new signs are needed.
m) Security – Ms.
Olivia Bella reported that arrangements have been made to hire paid duty
officers, Auxiliary Police and St. John’s Ambulance first-aid staff. By-law
officers will not be used this year.
n)
Volunteers – Ms. Joanne Olson will
provide Ms. Antoinette DiNovo with a list of volunteers from last year. Ms.
DiNovo will contact them to determine if they are interested in volunteering
their time for this year’s event.
It is planned to give t-shirts to volunteers and golf shirts to committee members.
7. OTHER
BUSINESS
a) Heritage Grant request
Ms. Olivia Bella reported that the grant application has been faxed and mailed; receipt has been confirmed. The Town will likely be advised in June whether its application has been successful. Committee members suggested that consideration be given to acquiring large size flags from Heritage Canada.
b) Media Launch
The committee discussed a number of ideas to kick-start the Canada Day event. A sub-committee, Ms. Cynthia Taylor-Huff, Sandra Sealy and Antoinette DiNovo, will meet to brainstorm ideas and report back to the committee.
c)Emcee
Committee members were encouraged to suggest candidates to serve as Emcee.
d) Theme
The theme for this year’s event is “Celebrate Our Youth”. The theme will be incorporated into posters, advertising and the entertainment.
8. DATE FOR NEXT MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of
Markham Canada Day Committee is March 19, 2007.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The first meeting of the 2007 Markham Canada Day Committee adjourned at 7:45 p.m.