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York Regional Police have charged a second East Gwillimbury man in the murder of a 57-year-old Markham woman whose remains were found in Kawartha last July was charged May 1 with first degree murder in relation to Ying Zhang’s death investigators initially charged another East Gwillimbury man forcible confinement and aggravated assault His charges were later upgraded to second degree murder and indignity to a dead body who has remained in custody since his arrest, have been further upgraded to first degree murder 2024, Zhang’s family reported her missing after she had failed to return home from work at a wellness centre at Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road in Markham More Spotlight > A York Regional Police SUV parked at a station after she didn’t return home from work at the Woodbine Avenue-based wellness centre where police allege she was abducted sometime before 11 a.m The family of Ying Zhang reported the woman missing on July 25 after she failed to return home from a wellness centre located in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road in Markham Two men from East Gwillimbury are now facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with last summer’s death of a 57-year-old woman who was last seen in Markham The family of Ying Zhang reported the woman missing on July 25 after she failed to return home from a wellness centre located in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road in Markham York police say her body was found in the City of Kawartha Lakes A 26-year-old East Gwillimbury man was charged on July 27 with kidnapping His charges were later upgraded to second-degree murder and indignity to a dead body A second man — a 53-year-old from East Gwillimbury — was charged on May 1 with first-degree murder in connection to Zhang’s death charges against the man initially arrested last summer were also upgraded to first-degree murder He has remained in custody since his arrest last year Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-876-5423, extension 7865, or email at homicide@yrp.ca Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Conservative Party of Canada’s incumbent Scot Davidson has been re-elected for his third consecutive term as the local MP since 2019 with 115 of 123 polls reporting in New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury Davidson had 35,409 of the 59,341 votes cast (59.67 per cent) Voters chose Davidson over Mike Hanrahan — Liberal Party of Canada (36.62 per cent) Nancy Morrison — New Democratic Party (1.86 per cent) Callum McKinnon — Green Party of Canada (1.10 per cent) and Paul Montague — People’s Party of Canada (.75 per cent) Davidson’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment on election night The local candidates competed in the newly created riding of New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury as well as Bradford West Gwillimbury and most of East Gwillimbury After calling a snap election on March 23 and sending voters to the polls on April 28 — about five months ahead of schedule — Liberal leader Mark Carney was also elected Prime Minister as the party won its fourth straight election since 2015 for its third straight minority Davidson felt the Conservatives would have been a better fit The Conservative platform included five main goals: cutting the federal deficit by 70 per cent through spending less on bureaucracy consultants and foreign aid; reducing the lowest federal income tax bracket from 15 to 12.75 per cent; building 2.3 million homes by reducing some taxes and offering incentives; implementing bail restrictions and harsher sentencing for those who commit certain crimes; and putting Canada first Hanrahan was happy to see the Liberals victorious overall especially after seeing such a large shift in public opinion with the Liberals coming from behind to gain public support in such a short period of time “I think that speaks volumes about how Canadians didn’t want a Conservative government they were just ready for new faces in the Liberal party,” he said Hanrahan said it “feels great” to see the local Liberals take about 37 per cent of the vote “We made massive in roads in a riding that has historically been very conservative in such a short time frame,” he said Hanrahan attributed that success both to the leadership of Carney Hanrahan said he will continue to advocate for issues that matter most to him improved health-care infrastructure and more affordable housing “This election is just the beginning for me in politics While he’s hoping to return to university to finish his masters degree he said there’s a good chance he would be willing to come back in the next election Davidson will continue representing locals on Parliament Hill He was first elected as the MP for York-Simcoe during a byelection in 2019 and then again in the general election later that year as the Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Red Tape Reduction has advocated for policies that reduce regulatory burdens on businesses lowers taxes for families and protect the environment In December 2024, Davidson’s private member’s Bill C-280 passed into law which helps sellers of fresh produce recoup some of their costs if buyers go bankrupt Davidson said he has lived and worked within the community his entire life and is committed to supporting small businesses and protecting the health of the Lake Simcoe watershed In addition to having a degree in economics from York University he has a “keen interest” in the outdoors and enjoys golfing His wife Suzanne is a member of Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and his son Graydon is a fully-qualified firefighter with the Chippewas of Georgina Island Fire Department According to preliminary figures from Elections Canada 7.3 million people voted in advance polls — a 25 per cent increase from 2021 TorontoSuspect wanted for attempted murder in East Gwillimbury shooting: YRPBy Joshua FreemanOpens in new windowPublished: January 03, 2025 at 1:56PM EST Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved An artist’s rendering of the Health and Active Living Plaza to be built in Queensville An artist’s rendering of the splash pad at the future HALP in East Gwillimbury Health and Active Living Plaza being built in Queensville An artist's rendering of the Health and Active Living Plaza to be built in Queensville An artist's rendering of the splash pad at the future HALP in East Gwillimbury Building the Health and Active Living Plaza is expected to begin in late summer now that the town has awarded the $8.86-million construction contract which will go up in Queensville on the west side of Leslie Street along Jim Mortson Drive The budget for the project is $9.8 million Taxpayers won’t be on the hook for the costs as the project will be paid for by development charges and community capital contributions For more information, visit eastgwillimbury.ca/HALP has been a reporter for more than 30 years The Carleton University journalism graduate has spent the majority of her career covering issues affecting communities in York Region She was also a news reporter in Toronto for eight years The proud mom of a grown daughter and a goldendoodle now covers Newmarket as well as some breaking news and regional issues The Town of East Gwillimbury is celebrating Earth Week April 22 to 26 with a series of events aimed at raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainability Bags and gloves will be provided at each location. Community groups, families, and individuals are welcome to participate. Alternatively, you can organize a cleanup event at your time and preferred location. Email [email protected] Learn more about EG’s environmental initiatives at eastgwillimbury.ca/Environment marks the beginning of a week full of local initiatives and community gatherings in EG A second hospital site for Newmarket's overcrowded Southlake Health could be in East Gwillimbury East Gwillimbury council passed a resolution March 4 to advocate for lands northwest of Queensville Sideroad and Leslie Street as a location for the second hospital site that Southlake has been seeking The resolution states that the Green Earth Village townhome development has two 40 to 50 acre sites available that could work with a nearby York-Region-owned site to further support the location Southlake Health confirmed that a staged process is underway to evaluate prospective sites with detailed submissions from a short list of proponents due by March 14.  “It’s no secret that Southlake serves some of the fastest growing and aging communities in Ontario Another hospital is needed to meet the needs of our growing community and that’s why Southlake initiated an open call to identify land suitable to build another large community hospital last year,” the health organization said “Following a thorough review by technical experts Southlake looks forward to unveiling a preferred proponent in early spring.” Southlake has been looking for a second hospital site for several years with area population growth leading to significant overcrowding problems at the existing Newmarket site The vision is for the Newmarket site to remain in operation alongside a second hospital site but the hospital has faced challenges in locating land for it Green Earth Village from Royalpark Homes and SigNature Communities is proposed to be a development including residential trails and green energy through solar and geothermal The development is listed as being in the pre-construction phase on several online real estate websites The area is about 3.5 kilometres north of the current Southlake Health hospital site East Gwillimbury council unanimously supported the resolution supporting the site after a closed-door meeting and the resolution said there would be “timely servicing potential no environmental or heritage constraints and the potential for complementary uses.” “This step puts us closer to obtaining a world-class health-care facility in EG,” Councillor Scott Crone said on social media after the resolution but positive incremental progress is being made Other communities will be competing as well.” East Gwillimbury politicians are hoping Queensville will be the site of the future Southlake Health hospital Developer Green Earth Village offers Queensville lands Could Queensville be the future home of the new Southlake Health hospital Developer Green Earth Village has offered to be the site of the future hospital northwest of Queensville Sideroad and Leslie Street Following a closed-door meeting on the afternoon of March 4 councillors and Mayor Virginia Hackson unanimously approved the idea with no discussion East Gwillimbury is “optimally located” for the new hospital being within Southlake’s search area and situated north of the hospital’s existing location in Newmarket The existing Newmarket location at Davis Drive and Prospect Street will operate as an ambulatory care centre once the new hospital is built Green Earth Village has two 40- to 50-acre sites available for a state-of-the-art plant for what would have been the Upper York Sewage Solution The UYSS would have taken wastewater from East Gwillimbury a project the region spent $100 million on the provincial government scuttled those plans a day after the 2022 municipal elections saying wastewater from East Gwillimbury will now go to the Duffin Creek treatment plant in Pickering The town and the region have redesignated the Queensville lands to an urban area The area provides “a geographically strategic location and the potential for complementary uses that would strengthen the hospital expansion and associated campus,” the town’s resolution said “(The Queensville site) will provide significant economic development benefits including ongoing and recurring direct job creation and additional business development and local business investments and spending.” Green Earth Village has successfully passed the first stage of Southlake’s assessment process The town’s resolution does not address a number of issues including whether the developer is donating or charging a minimal amount for the property details of any arrangement that may have been agreed to with the developer and where Southlake places the location on its list of preferred sites East Gwillimbury is committed to expediting the planning process for Green Earth Village “to allow Southlake to start construction on its future hospital site in a timely basis in co-ordination with the proposed Green Earth Village development,” the town’s resolution said It also says the town will advocate that the Region of York continue its ongoing efforts regarding the timely expansion of regional water and sanitary services to meet Southlake’s development timeline The Town of East Gwillimbury is hosting a job fair March 11 and is accepting resumes for recreation Town staff will be at the job fair from 1 to 6 p.m 1914B Mount Albert Rd., to answer questions learn about working with the town and the upcoming opportunities.  Upcoming Opportunities at the Health and Active Living Plaza: Interested applicants can stay up to date by regularly visiting the town’s careers page for future openings To learn more about the Health and Active Living Plaza, visit eastgwillimbury.ca/HALP Scott Crone hold up a Canadian flag at Anchor Park in Holland Landing beside the Kedge Anchor invaded and unsuccessfully tried to conquer Canada but was ultimately left along the transportation route to Penetanguishene as the war came to an end This is a local reminder that we should always wave our flag proudly and declare our sovereignty through our national pride Canadian flags will be flown weeks in advance of Canada Day in response to the U.S president's tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st state president’s tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st state Donald Trump’s seemingly anti-Canadian actions have boosted Canadian patriotism in East Gwillimbury Rather than waiting until the end of June to raise the Canadian flag at municipal buildings and other locations in advance of Canada Day businesses and organizations are also encouraged to raise Canadian flags on their properties The motion for the flag to be posted at municipal sites was put forward last week by Coun “In these challenging times of economic uncertainty it is more important than ever to demonstrate solidarity and community spirit,” the motion read “Let’s come together as a community — raise our flags high in a show of support for each other and our great country.” The motion comes as Trump imposed tariffs on Canada and other countries The president has also repeatedly threatened to make Canada the 51st state “This idea started with a conversation between Coun. Johns and me. We were talking about something we’ve all seen, those incredible moments when Canadians come together, waving their flags with pride, whether it’s Canada Day or a big hockey game. That spirit, that sense of unity is something special,” Crone said in an email to the East Gwillimbury Express and yorkregion.com the town puts out a few more flags and banners closer to Canada Day This is the right time to fly Canadian flags “And they are ready to meet whatever comes their way that’s a slogan that speaks to the heart of Canada “The recent economic turmoil caused by our American neighbours along with the suggestions of becoming the 51st state is completely unnecessary unwarranted and appalling to Canadians,” he said “Residents want to take action in their daily life to confront this and shopping for only Canadian products is the most tangible daily opportunity to make their voices heard.” It makes sense for the town to promote Canadian interests we have a role to play — not simply through procurement policies to ensure we are buying Canadian but through demonstrated visual leadership,” he said “Flying the Canadian flag wherever possible within municipal control is another way to stand in solidarity against the American economic oppressive and offensive actions.” Bradford residents planning to cast a ballot in the upcoming federal election have five options so far According the list of candidates released by Elections Canada on April 9 those options are Scot Davidson (Conservative Party) Callum McKinnon (Green Party) and Paul Montague (People’s Party) Those candidates will be competing in the newly created riding of New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury BradfordToday has sent interview requests to all five of the candidates competing for votes from the 95,708 electors in New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury, which has a total population of 119,358 over an area of 717 square kilometres, according to Elections Canada. We'll have much more information coming in the weeks ahead via our Canada Votes page.  here is a summary of the candidates’ information from their parties Scot Davidson is a former small business owner who has been MP for York-Simcoe since 2019 and worked as the Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Red Tape Reduction where he advocated for policies that reduce regulatory burdens on businesses lower taxes for families and protect the environment He said his wife Suzanne is a member of Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and his son Graydon is a fully qualified firefighter with the island's fire department Mike Hanrahan said he has lived in the New Tecumseth area for close to 15 years and as the son of a social worker and public-school teacher believes that a life dedicated to the well-being and growth of people means a life dedicated to public service He also believes government should be responsive and make “ethical investments” in people by minimizing environmental harm and being cognizant of social responsibilities Hanrahan said he wants to help make New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury and Canada more economically sustainable, independent, climate-change resilient A graduate of America’s Dartmouth College who majored in government helps him understand their political climate He has a “special interest” in public policy and economics he’s always tried to be a leader who “isn’t afraid to say the important things,” including his participation in a climate rally in Bradford in 2019 He said he recently graduated from the Royal Canadian Air Cadets with the rank of Warrant Officer 1st Class and describes himself as an environmentalist who advocates for initiatives to clean up Lake Simcoe and protect farmland McKinnon said he has a plan to clean up the environment and transition to a green economy by targeting the biggest polluters without punishing average Canadians he also feels the first-past-the-post voting system is making third parties “increasingly irrelevant,” and offers a “promise” to fight for a conversation around electoral reform Paul Montague said he has a “strong dedication” to the community is “committed” to making a difference and values freedom He believes Canada can be prosperous and empower people through “bold convictions.” While a representative of the NDP confirmed Nancy Morrison is the candidate for the riding her page has yet to be included on the party’s website polling locations are still being confirmed but advanced voting is scheduled for April 18 to 21 with the exact day and location dependent on your address For more information, visit Elections Canada’s website eligible nominees for either award are required to be under the age of 40 as of Feb and either be a current resident of Newmarket or East Gwillimbury employed by or own a business located in Newmarket or East Gwillimbury or volunteer with an organization located in Newmarket or East Gwillimbury “There’s so much incredible talent shaping the future of our community,” Chris Emanuel president and CEO of the Central York chamber said in a news release “These awards are a way to shine a light on some of them and we are proud to provide a platform that acknowledges the sustained efforts and accomplishments of these young leaders,” he continued It’s a sentiment shared by presenting sponsor Loopstra Nixon LLP also expressed enthusiasm for the new initiative we are deeply committed to fostering the growth of young professionals which highlights the vibrant and diverse talent of central York Region,” she said Although self-nominations are not accepted individuals may nominate multiple candidates by submitting nomination forms for each entrant The initiative will culminate this summer with the Top 40 honourees set to be recognized at an evening event on June 25 For additional information or to submit a nomination, visit centralyorkchamber.com/top-40. East Gwillimbury has many Earth Week events running April 22 to 26 East Gwillimbury has events throughout Earth Week for residents to celebrate protecting the environment aimed at raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainability in the community residents are encouraged to participate in community cleanup events: Bags and gloves will be provided at each location families and individuals are welcome to participate Alternatively, you can organize a cleanup event at your time and preferred location. Email environment@eastgwillimbury.ca “Earth Week is a great opportunity to learn connect and make a positive impact on the environment,” the town said in a statement “Whether you’re attending an event or cleaning up your neighbourhood Learn more about the town’s environmental initiatives at eastgwillimbury.ca/Environment A restaurant in East Gwillimbury was charged and a Markham restaurant temporarily closed by York Region Public Health inspectors last week 15 for failing to provide handwashing stations with adequate supplies and not providing a thermometer in hot holding equipment according to a York Region public health inspection report The report showed that Milestones also failed to maintain its ventilation system as well as failed to keep its washroom facility sanitary and equipped with adequate supplies Public health inspectors provided food handler education on-site during last Wednesday’s inspection Re-inspection was held two days later on Jan where the restaurant was again found to be not in compliance with maintaining its ventilation system to ensure elimination of odours Additional food handler education was provided and a proof of public health sign was posted Further re-inspection was not ordered by health inspectors 13 for not maintaining its food premises in a manner that permits adverse effects on food The restaurant was also charged with failing to provide hot and cold water under pressure food handler education was provided on-site Yasaman Kebab was charged for failing to ensure the presence of a certified food handler or supervisor during all hours of operation Additional education was provided and a proof of public health sign was posted York Region Public Health states the inspection report represents the condition of the restaurants at the date and time of the inspection only and does not guarantee or warrant the condition of the food premises at any other time For more information on the above charges, contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-512-6228, or email [email protected] The Town of East Gwillimbury’s top earners each took home a salary of more than $200,000 2024 salaries disclosed in Ontario's annual Sunshine List 2024 salaries disclosed in Ontario’s annual Sunshine List Five East Gwillimbury town employees took home more than $200,000 last year the provincial government releases its annual Sunshine List which shows public sector employees earning more than $100,000 annually East Gwillimbury’s top earner was chief administrative officer Mark Valcic The other high earners were all paid the same salary Here are staff whose earnings topped $200,000 in 2024: East Gwillimbury council and staff were at the groundbreaking for the Health and Active Living Complex on Leslie Street in Queensville The new recreation facility will include a pool and library and is set to open in 2025 Town was Canada’s fastest-growing municipality from 2016 to 2021 After East Gwillimbury was Canada’s fastest-growing municipality from 2016 to 2021 the town is preparing for next phase of future growth as there is in many municipalities due to the economy and other factors the town’s population is forecasted to double and then double again The Region of York puts East Gwillimbury estimated population The population is forecasted to reach 88,700 by 2041 and 128,600 by 2051 according to growth targets assigned by the provincial government At a growth management workshop presented by town staff in February councillors mulled over how the town can help shape and address future growth they discussed making sure the town is prepared when developers are shovel-ready Susan Lahey questioning what the town is doing to stand out to be first in line when developers are looking to build councillors said the municipality needs to find ways to ensure growth happens at a reasonable pace to allow for services so the town doesn’t end up with street after street of just “cookie cutter” houses “You get one chance to get it right,” Coun The community struggled to keep up with growth during the town’s unprecedented development from 2016 to 2021 “I hope we’re never the fastest growing community in this country ever again,” he said Scott Crone said the town must boost commercial and industrial development to help relieve the tax burden on residential property taxpayers The split is now about 90 per cent residential and 10 per cent non-residential Crone called on councillors to vow to bring the non-residential portion up to 20 per cent saying the town needs to set non-residential growth targets East Gwillimbury councillors squabbled over expenses at an April 1 meeting “Let’s not let this get personal,” the meeting chair said East Gwillimbury’s April 1 council meeting turned into a scrappy discussion of local politicians’ expenses The meeting followed a recent annual report on council remuneration that showed councillors were each paid $47,200 in 2024 Mayor Virginia Hackson’s town salary was $75,398 She was also paid $63,287 for sitting on York Region council The report also outlined the politicians’ benefits whose discretionary expenses were $192 for communication and outreach to residents and $137 for other expenses successfully persuaded council to ask for a staff report detailing exactly how councillors spend their expense accounts whose discretionary expenses included $1,399 for communication and outreach to residents and $3,116 in other expenses argued Roy-DiClemente’s motions doesn’t go far enough Councillors should have to show if they are spending their own money on town business such as attending conferences or communicating with residents Some councillors may have exceeded their expense funds if they used their own funds “If there are councillors who are choosing to opt out of the system and thereby using their own personal funds there is an uneven playing field created in terms of performing our jobs.” arguing the first step in what will be a process of clarifying the rules about expenses rests with getting a staff report with a breakdown of how councillors are using their expense accounts “I’d like to know what my colleagues are spending (their expenses) on so that I can help guide how we actually do this job effectively without billing the taxpayer going over budget or using our personal funds Roy-DiClemente said she has never spent more than $2,000 of town money on her annual expenses the 2025 budget caps each councillor’s expense account at $500 a year That slashed the amount the town gives councillors for discretionary spending by a whopping 80 per cent would like clarification how I’m supposed to communicate with my residents on a budget of $500,” she said The contentious tone of the meeting continued when Coun the Municipal Act does not say what councillors can spend their own money on if councillors want to use their own money for self-promotion around election time Lahey argued that councillors aren’t experts on the Municipal Act so shouldn’t be putting out their understanding of the legislation as fact “I don’t appreciate being accused of spreading misinformation,” Carruthers said “Let’s not let this get personal,” said Coun Lahey lost her bid to expand the scope of Roy-Di Clemente’s motion to get a staff report detailing councillors’ expense accounts “We won’t achieve accuracy and completeness,” Lahey said She also questioned when a revised code of conduct that clearly outlines the expectations of council members will be introduced York Region’s rehabilitation of Canal Bridge in East Gwillimbury will take about a month Work runs Mondays to Saturdays until April 26 If you use Canal Bridge in East Gwillimbury you’ll have to find a new route for about a month If you have questions or concerns, call the region’s public works department at: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75000 or TTY: 1-866-512-6228. Or you can email transportation@york.ca. For after hour emergencies, call 1-877-464-9675 ext Make sure to quote “Contract: 25-135” if you contact the region about the project Susan Lahey holds up a copy of the budget at the entrance to the Civic Centre She was the only member of council to vote against the budget 'Budget reflects council’s approach to fiscal responsibility community safety and ongoing improvements to infrastructure and services,' mayor says ‘Budget reflects council’s approach to fiscal responsibility community safety and ongoing improvements to infrastructure and services,’ mayor says East Gwillimbury’s 6.85-per cent property tax increase for 2025 means taxes have skyrocketed an “unreasonable and unsustainable” amount in the past three years “I believe that you can’t just look at a current year’s tax increases and budget — you need to look at it in context and in order to turn the tide of uncontrolled spending you need to look at it for the long term,” she told The East Gwillimbury Express I want it to be clear that I respect the decision (to adopt the 2025 budget) because it’s a democratic process that council arrived at but I felt we could have done better and we should be doing better.” East Gwillimbury saw property taxes increase 5.55 per cent in 2023 and 6.7 per cent in 2024 With the addition of the increase stemming from the 2025 budget this means property taxes have increased by more than 20 per cent within three years raised her concerns as council worked to set the budget hard look at the difference between wants and needs I said during the budget deliberations we cannot have our cake and eat it too We are at a crossroads in terms of the decision-making process,” she said “I think we have to stop the tax-and-spend cycle.” who said the town should have kept the tax increase below three per cent said she’s talked to many residents who she said share her concerns said the budget is financially responsible “This budget reflects council’s approach to fiscal responsibility community safety and ongoing improvements to infrastructure and services,” she said in an email “By maintaining the lowest relative taxes (compared to other municipalities) in York Region we provide residents with value for their investment in the community.” The $73.5-million budget reflects prioritized investments in infrastructure public safety and the delivery of high-quality services such as the future Health and Active Living Plaza (HALP) in Queensville The email noted the 2025 tax hike will cost the average homeowner an extra $12.50 per month on the town’s portion of their property tax bill is bearing the brunt of a struggling economy That’s resulting in “alarm bells” for Lahey as she looks at a “dramatic” decline in revenue from building permits issued by the town “What this indicates to me is that because new home applications are down our revenue is down and will continue to be down for at least three to five years in the future because we don’t have the York Durham Sewage System (necessary for new growth) “In these economically stressful times for people who are struggling to pay their bills it all comes down to respecting their pocketbooks How are we going to make up that gap and that shortfall for the foreseeable future?” the town said the municipality plans for fluctuations in market conditions through the use of a building permit fee reserve The reserve is sufficient to ensure continued service delivery The province has assigned a housing target to 2031 of 4,300 additional units The town will have sufficient capacity to meet this target within the York Durham Sewage System while the previous council had good intentions by passing tax freezes for two years during the pandemic it’s left a hole the town is trying to climb out of at a time when residents are finding it difficult to make ends meet Lahey wants the town to restrict new hires saying the municipality should only take on workers who protect public safety crossing guards and water quality analysts “We have already fully staffed a building (HALP) that has not opened yet and yet we’re playing catch up in hiring firefighters We have approved hiring four new firefighters and I have always been supportive of the fire department because we need to take care of people who take care of us,” she said “We have staffed a whole new library when memberships in the library have declined.” which did not initially respond to a question about staffing the HALP approximately 5 per cent of the full-time and part-time staff have been hired to develop programming and implementation plans for the HALP Hiring for the remaining approximately 95 per cent of the staff will begin in 2025 and start dates will be planned according to opening dates and reasonable timelines to hire A town survey of the community shows the majority of respondents say their priorities are emergency services road maintenance and snow clearing and waste collection she is concerned the town isn’t building up asset management accounts to replace aging infrastructure the municipality has increased contributions to asset management reserves by more than $9 million This is in addition to the annual budgeted contributions to asset management reserves The story has been altered from the original to include additional comments received from the town after the initial article was published The headline has been changed to better reflect the concerns in the story were told to The Express by one councillor Value Village has come to East Gwillimbury Thrifting is growing into a mainstream retail choice for Canadians A new Value Village opened in East Gwillimbury in February Address: 18126 Yonge St., Unit F1, East Gwillimbury Data from Value Village’s 2024 thrift report highlights how thrifting is growing into a mainstream retail choice for Canadians We know that clothing is always popular — more than 30 per cent of customers say that second-hand clothing makes up more than a quarter of their wardrobe we also know that thrifting extends beyond clothing with more than 80 per cent of people having bought at least one non-clothing item Our mission is to champion reuse and inspire a future where second-hand is second nature We are excited to be opening the new space and look forward to continuing to serve the community She writes about new businesses and also highlights notable restaurants as part of yorkregion.com’s Neighborhood Eats series Simone attended Ryerson University (now TMU) for journalism She lives in Vaughan with her husband and two teenaged daughters A King Township man is wanted for attempted murder following a New Year’s Day shooting at a motel in East Gwillimbury police were called to a motel in the area of Yonge Street and Queensville Sideroad where they located a 24-year-old man with gunshot injuries He was taken to a trauma centre with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released is wanted for attempted murder and firearms-related offences Anyone who sees him is advised to not approach him and to call 911 immediately Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police #1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7141. Information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or 1800222tips.com An artistic concept drawing for the new Healthy Active Living Complex that will be located in Queensville Are you interested in a job helping East Gwillimbury be a healthy and active community Then this job fair could help you secure the position you’re looking for and passionate staff to work at the future Health and Active Living Plaza (HALP) There are opportunities in recreation (aquatics at the sports complex at 1914B Mount Albert Rd Interested candidates are encouraged to attend to make connections learn about the organization and find a position that is right for them For more information about the job fair and positions at the town, visit eastgwillimbury.ca/Careers For more information about the HALP, visit eastgwillimbury.ca/HALP Three suspects were all men between 20 and 30 who were wearing dark clothing There is no description for the fourth suspect The trio of suspects used a front door to enter a home in the area of Olive Street and Walker Road just before 1 p.m Three armed men looking to steal valuables left empty-handed following a home invasion in East Gwillimbury last Thursday afternoon The trio of suspects used a front door to enter a home in the area of Olive Street and Walker Road just before 1 p.m The suspects then made demands for cash and jewelry York police say the trio was last seen getting into a dark-coloured SUV driven by a fourth suspect The three suspects were all men between 20 and 30 who were wearing dark clothing Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-876-5423 Images of the latest progress on the Health and Active Living Plaza in East Gwillimbury is expected to be a game-changer for the community The town anticipates opening the 85,000-square-foot facility at some point in 2025 It will be a major addition to the Queensville area health services and various recreational programs “I’m just overwhelmed with what I am seeing here and I know that our community is going to be very happy,” Mayor Virginia Hackson said on a recent visit The final cost of the development could exceed $110 million While the tender was upwards of $76.5 million that doesn’t include the more than $10 million the town had already spent getting the project ready for tender along with the tender for the accompanying park “The vision for the Health and Active Living Plaza was very much to be not just a community centre but a centre of the community,” Aaron Karmazyn the town’s generał manager of park recreation and culture chair of the East Gwillimbury Library Board said the new library will be one of the future we’ve got meeting rooms for small businesses we’ve got places where you can create a podcast or record your band — there are places to study and just have quiet time to yourself,” she said The recreation centre has been a long time coming the project has evolved both in scope and financially When Hackson spoke about the project in 2016 there was a partnership involving the YMCA Rough cost estimates at the time slated $15 million for the YMCA $12 million for a town recreation centre with an arena town office space and potential leased space and between $8 million and $10 million for a main library branch Hackson said the facility could be coming as soon as 2020 East Gwillimbury is poised to begin charging fees at its five electric vehicle charging stations in a bid to maintain and expand its EV infrastructure Council is considering final approval of the new usage fee structure for EV charging stations at its Jan. 21 meeting The fees — $2 per hour while actively charging and $4 per hour while plugged in but not charging (with a 30-minute grace period from completed charge) — are the same hourly rates charged by York Region and Georgina Publicly available charging stations in East Gwillimbury: All EV charging stations are part of the ChargePoint network Fees are collected via the ChargePoint app Current monthly operating costs for the Town of East Gwillimbury are approximately $270 per station With five public stations currently operating without any cost to the public for their use the total annual cost for the town is approximately $16,200 the implementation of the recommended fees would generate a monthly revenue of approximately $400 per station and $24,000 annually this revenue can be reinvested into additional EV infrastructure "With the increased adoption of electric vehicles the usage of our EV chargers and operational cost to the town has increased," the report stated East Gwillimbury averages 558 charging sessions per month at all stations with the average session lasting five hours and 20 minutes which includes four hours and 22 minutes charge time and 58 minutes idle time Only EVs that are plugged in and charging may park in the designated spots All stations feature Level 2 chargers with a maximum output of 7.2 kW that charges an estimated 32 to 64 km of range per hour Each station is equipped with SAE J1772 connectors ensuring compatibility with most electric vehicles Learn more about EV charging in East Gwillimbury or find more electric vehicle charging stations around York Region An East Gwillimbury private school has been ordered to stop operating after the town deemed it had contravened several bylaws while operating on protected Greenbelt lands.  The municipality ordered Kindred Spirits Day School at 4122 Davis Dr. to halt operations. The school is on the Oak Ridges Moraine and is zoned residential Schools are only permitted to operate on lands designated as institutional "The town is pursuing legal action to stop the school’s operations," said Bethany Lee director of communications and customer service Two building code orders were issued. Prohibiting use or occupancy of an unsafe building was issued on Sept. 13  an order to remedy an unsafe building on Sept catered to kindergarten to Grade 8 students offering a blend of Reggio-Emilia-Waldorf and Montessori teaching philosophies and project-based learning with a strong emphasis on outdoor education for a holistic learning environment Children were encouraged to express themselves and explore their interests and staff fostered their personality development through a self-guided curriculum.  The town said that despite orders to cease operations the school's owners continue to operate it town staff observed about 80 students and 15 staff members inside the building The school's non-compliance with building codes including a septic system and unsafe fire exit raised serious safety concerns for the students and staff The town added that the school failed to obtain the required planning approvals and building and occupancy permits A fire and emergency service inspection resulted in the issuance of an inspection order on Sept the building must revert to its authorized use as a single-family dwelling and discontinue operations as a school Compliance with the fire code inspection order is required by Oct founder of Kindred Spirits, delegated at an East Gwillimbury committee of the whole meeting on July 23 to receive an endorsement She said she has been working with town staff to bring the building to code.  "We've done due diligence," said DeNicola We have architects going through it as well to give us a code and everything that needs to be done." York Regional Police are seeking four suspects following a daytime home invasion in East Gwillimbury last Thursday Police responded to a home invasion at a residence in the area of Olive Street and Walker Road shortly before 1 p.m Three armed men had entered the residence through the front door where they demanded cash and jewelry before leaving empty-handed according to a news release from York Regional Police Police say there were no injuries reported during the home invasion Three suspects were last seen getting into a dark-coloured sport utility vehicle approximately 20 to 30 years old and wearing dark clothing There is no description of the fourth suspect Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Anonymous tips can be left online at www.1800222tips.com Investigators with the York Regional Police homicide and missing persons unit have laid charges in connection with a missing woman from Markham Police say Ying Zhang was last seen on Thursday in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road investigators charged Changlin Yang 26, of East Gwillimbury with kidnapping forcible confinement and aggravated assault Police released images of the accused and are searching for additional witnesses Images of a suspect vehicle were also released A white Ford van was seen in the area and a suspect was seen with a large green wheeled bin near the van at the time of Zhang’s disappearance Police say the suspect vehicle bears Ontario licence plate number BZ43851 Police said there is information that van travelled to the village of Kirkfield in Kawartha Lakes on the afternoon of July 25 None of the charges have been tested in court and Yang is considered innocent unless proven guilty Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7865, or email at [email protected], or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com makes a deputation regarding council’s conduct Sitting at the desk under the screen is integrity commissioner John Gamble says he's filed a complaint with integrity commissioner John Gamble says he’s filed a complaint with integrity commissioner East Gwillimbury resident John Gamble made a deputation to councillors complaining many residents don’t feel their voices are heard by local politicians and claiming official town records of meetings have been altered Council did not vote to “receive” his deputation When municipal councils receive a deputation it’s merely an acknowledgment those things have happened not an indication of agreement or disagreement with the information given to them Gamble calls councillors’ failure to receive his deputation “very childish” and an indication they are ignoring residents wishes which reinforces his point Gamble’s deputation came in advance of a presentation by integrity commissioner Suzanne Craig on council’s code of conduct He said he filed a complaint with Craig following the meeting Gamble claimed two videos of council meetings have been “redacted.” He said he filed a freedom of information request after the town clerk denied his request for copies Brian Johns swore in a discussion about the budget The remark was subsequently muted in the video where residents challenged the town’s then-proposed controversial tree bylaw designed to prohibit or regulate the injuring or destruction of trees on private property illegal and amounts to regulatory expropriation.” after she accused a volunteer town committee chair and Coun Scott Crone of having conflicts of interest regarding the bylaw Mayor Virginia Hackson announced a break in the meeting and the video stopped until the meeting resumed “The question arose due to (Crone’s) family-owned tree farm and his frequent social media posts he laughingly remarked at a council meeting that perhaps he should have declared a conflict of interest which at least indicates some doubt in his own mind,” he said “While the decision as to (a) conflict of interest rests solely in the hands of the integrity commissioner the question of the appearance of a conflict does exist.” While nobody on council responded to Gamble’s deputation Johns and Crone later responded to emails from The East Gwillimbury Express I used an expletive in a moment of frustration that I am not proud of,” Johns said “Regarding any questions about the recording of the meeting I had no influence and continue to have no influence over the dissemination of the video Regarding the question on the receiving motion (of Gamble’s deputation) put before council because the deputation named me specifically I thought it appropriate to not participate in the moving of the motion or the voting process.” Crone responded regarding his “perceived conflict” with the tree bylaw I don’t have any ownership in the farm the tree farm falls under the York Region tree bylaw and not the EG municipal tree bylaw most tree bylaws in York Region have exclusions for commercial operations due to the small diameter size of Christmas trees they would fall under the threshold of requiring a permit I sought advice on whether I was in any conflict and was advised that I was not,” he said in his email I would have advised council that I considered this and with information provided I once again reject the notion that I was the architect of this bylaw I simply do not have the expertise to write a bylaw.” the video recording during the break is stopped He also said he did not vote to receive Gamble’s deputation because he was specifically named and didn’t feel it was appropriate to participate in any council decision related to the issue Planning to cast a ballot in the upcoming federal election Well, there’s quite a bit of new information for Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG) residents to know before they head to the polls. First and foremost, they’ve been looped into a new riding, New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury, created by an independent electoral boundaries commission during the redistribution process that ended in September 2023 This electoral district consists of the towns of New Tecumseth and BWG as well as most of East Gwillimbury.  a number that includes 92,276 eligible voters While incumbent York-Simcoe MP Scot Davidson says he’ll run for the Conservative Party in New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury no candidates have officially been confirmed within the riding The nomination process for them closes on April 7 and a complete list of confirmed candidates will be available on April 9.   The address of your assigned polling place will be on the voter information card arriving in the mail It can also be found on the Elections Canada website after April 1.  Questions can be directed to the local Elections Canada office located at the Newmarket Inn (18667 Old Yonge St.) in Holland Landing The office is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m The local returning officer is Nina Willcocks Call the office at 1-866-256-8433. Or get more details on the riding at elections.ca BarrieNewsSimcoe Muskoka Votes: Here are the federal election results By Kim PhillipsUpdated: April 29 Federal election roundup: Local winners reaction ADVERTISEMENT York Police pickup truck parked on side of road Officers and Richmond Hill firefighters were in the area of Oakridge Court Roads have reopened in East Gwillimbury following a gas leak Tuesday morning Officers and Richmond Hill firefighters were in the area of Oakridge Court YRP and Richmond Hill Fire have cleared the scene https://t.co/QCAvkIJ9dA Residents in the area were asked to remain indoors and keep windows closed York Transit shared on X that bus routes were back on schedule on routes in the area #YRTAlert Detour is over that emergency crews had left the area and that the roads had reopened Four York Region men face multiple charges and almost $500,000 worth of stolen property has been recovered following a York Regional Police investigation into thefts occurring from golf courses in York Durham and Waterloo regions and Simcoe County Three men from Keswick and one man from Vaughan are charged in connection with thefts and break and enters totalling more than $1 million according to a York Regional Police news release seven Criminal Code search warrants were executed at residences and storage lockers in East Gwillimbury and Georgina where a large amount of stolen property was recovered including 18 golf carts worth almost $200,000 rare Pokemon and Magic the Gathering trading cards worth approximately $10,000 and $20,000 worth of DeWalt construction tools More than two kilograms of suspected cannabis drug paraphernalia and Canadian currency was also seized Skibinsky was bound by a lifetime weapons ban associated to previous unrelated charges Vaughan is charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police #3 Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext.7341, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online The YorkSafe inspection program provides the public with information about inspections of food establishments and other types of businesses The business located on the outskirts of Newmarket was inspected by York Region Public Health on Jan York Region Public Health officials charged an East Gwillimbury restaurant The eatery was included in a roundup of businesses cited for various Health Protection and Promotion Act violations during the week of Jan Milestones, located at 18162 Yonge St. the following compliance infractions were observed: 16 and just one compliance infraction was observed Charges do not necessarily result in a failure of the health inspection — they simply highlight problems for which the establishments were penalized The establishments are given a chance to get back into compliance and pass the health inspection The website for the YorkSafe inspection program is york.ca/yorksafe It is designed to provide the public with information about inspections of food establishments day nurseries and recreational water facilities (pools wading pools and receiving basins) in York Region You can also contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-512-6228 or visit york.ca/foodsafety for more information on the food premises disclosure system healthy eating or any other health-related topic TorontoNews51-year-old motorcyclist dies after collision near East Gwillimbury, Ont.By Alex ArsenychOpens in new windowPublished: November 11, 2024 at 6:56PM EST UPDATE #1:Fatal CollisionShortly before 4:30 p.m. a collision occurred at the intersection of #Hwy48 and Mount Albert Road between a motorcycle and SUV a 51-year-old from Stouffville has been pronounced deceased Closures remain in effect while investigation underway.… BarrieNewsArmed home invasion under investigation in East GwillimburyBy Kim PhillipsPublished: January 28, 2025 at 7:10PM EST Holland Landing resident Ryan McCluskey is upset about what he describes as an “excessively” large development approved at Yonge Street and Thompson Drive East Gwillimbury's population will triple over the next quarter-century as provincial growth targets have dictated East Gwillimbury’s population will triple over the next quarter-century A Holland Landing resident is frustrated the Ontario Land Tribunal has approved a highly controversial development at the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Thompson Drive “This is our nightmare,” Ryan McCluskey said Given the community outcry over the project he worries the project could be a sign of residents’ concerns being ignored as East Gwillimbury’s population triples over the next 25 years Land Services Group’s Holland Park development will include stacked townhouses and a mid-rise building with a total of 103 residential units eight three-bedroom units and 88 two-bedroom units the developer describes the project as a “vibrant community” that will offer its residents “a peaceful living space.” McCluskey said he’s not opposed to development if it fits in with the community but worries about Holland Park’s “excessive size.” “This intersection is already highly congested as vehicles rush up Yonge Street toward Bradford … The road is used as a way through and adding this giant development will only add problems,” the married father said The development will have 128 parking spaces underground (104 for residents and 24 for visitors) and five ground-level spots for the commercial unit meaning overflow parking will spill out onto neighbourhood streets and create safety concerns with cars frequently lining Thompson Street due to insufficient spaces for visitors to the nearby restaurants and shops,” he said McCluskey said he’s never seen the council chambers as packed as they were in March 2023 when residents jammed in to voice their outrage about the development A subsequent community meeting organized by the developer was also crowded McCluskey is disturbed by the pace of growth in town East Gwillimbury was already Canada’s fastest-growing municipality from 2016 to 2021 Growth targets dictated by the province mean the town will balloon from its current population of less than 42,000 to 88,700 by 2041 and 128,600 by 2051 How will residents’ voices be heard as that growth plays out He asks: what will be done to protect the charm and character of the individual communities of Holland Landing McCluskey’s frustration with the Holland Park development isn’t only directed at the developer and the land tribunal Although councillors shared residents’ concerns about the project council never formally voted against the development While the land tribunal may have run roughshod over council’s position a formal vote from council would have shown residents their politicians stood with the community With all the public outcry and what seemed like council’s agreement to push back against this development residents are left feeling that not enough was done to advocate for our concerns,” he said we have little power in these decisions and rely on those in positions of authority to take meaningful action it feels like that responsibility wasn’t fully upheld.” councillors Loralea Carruthers and Terry Foster said “A no vote from council would have changed nothing for the community The developer still would have gone to the OLT to get what they wanted Residents were well aware that council was not in favour of this development Our staff try to work with the developers to get the best possible outcome before they bring it to council for a vote,” Carruthers said who had promised an updated plan that more closely met town standards and addressed resident concerns when the developer chose to go to the OLT instead.” arguing it’s unfair to blame council when the town was trying to work with Land Services Group only to see the developer bypass the town and go to the land tribunal “And they basically got what they wanted,” he said “We weren’t given the opportunity to vote against it.” Town staff attended the land tribunal as “a party to the appeal,” a town spokesperson said Questions about residents’ concerns about future growth would be better suited to provincial politicians and bureaucrats who set municipal population targets have long advocated for keeping our distinct communities I have been a very vocal advocate for residents about slowing our growth down But this is provincially driven,” she said While there are concerns with the Holland Park development The town said Kindred Spirits Day School had been operating at the location without the necessary approvals The town said Kindred Spirits Day School School on 4122 Davis Dr was in violation of the town’s zoning bylaw the Building Code Act and the Fire Protection and Prevention Act East Gwillimbury is taking steps to terminate operations of a day school after the municipality said it was operating on a site without the necessary approvals In a Sept. 26 news release, the town said Kindred Spirits Day School at 4122 Davis Dr. was in violation of the town’s zoning bylaw The building on the site is zoned residential — the town said schools can only operate on lands zoned as institutional the owners continue to operate,” the town said in the release “Town building branch staff observed approximately 80 students and 15 staff members inside the building.” Kindred Spirits Day School did not respond to media requests by press time The town said it issued an order to remedy an unsafe building Sept 12 and an order prohibiting the use or occupancy of an unsafe building Sept The East Gwillimbury Emergency Service inspection resulted in an inspection order Sept requiring the building be reverted to its authorized use as a single family dwelling made a presentation to council at its July 23 meeting about the outdoor school after they purchased the property next door to the Royal Canadian Riding Academy “It doesn’t even look like a house,” she said of the building noting it had a small indoor gymnasium and a trophy case in the lobby While East Gwillimbury council was general supportive of the project they did question if a school was viable on the Oak Ridges Moraine with Ward 2 Councillor Tara Roy-DiClemente cautioning institutional uses are not allowed on moraine She asked DeNicola if Kindred Spirits was aware of that before purchasing the property “We actually did a lot of due diligence ahead of time There is just something very special about this location,” DeNicola said at the time adding they were working on receiving an endorsement from the province for the school The town passed a motion at the July meeting voicing support for the Kindred Spirits Day School’s request to seek approvals from the province for use of the Davis Drive site for a nature-based elementary school 4 council meeting said the province’s response did not provide any specific relief from the Oak Ridges Moraine policy staff said Kindred Spirits could purse relief from the Oak Ridge Moraine policy through a ministerial zoning order or an official plan amendment staff said no formal steps have been taken to advance the project the municipal planning process East Gwillimbury unveiled the Healing Hope sculpture at the Children of Peace Park on Oct The sculpture was selected by residents through a survey and consultation process The Children of Peace Park in Sharon has a striking new addition The town unveiled the Holding Hope sculpture on Oct which is made entirely of metal and features a hand grasping a mature dandelion with 150 seeds speaks to the stories and rich history of the community The permanent art piece was designed by Kyle Thornley a blacksmith who has been creating art with metals for the last 18 years saying the hand in the sculpture symbolizes strength while the quilted mosaic metal represents the community unity The dandelion was chosen for its agricultural significance and resilience The act of blowing dandelion seeds represents new beginnings and hope “Kyle was absolutely engaged with the theme Children of Peace,” she said “I think he felt a real responsibility to find a piece of concept designs that would capture all that which was funded by the Public Art Reserve The ceremony wrapped up with an original song about Holding Hope by former Glass Tiger drummer Michael Hanson who is a member of the EG Arts and Culture Advisory Committee He said the song will be released on Spotify in the coming weeks The process began in early 2022 with a community call-out for design proposals The EG Arts and Culture Advisory Committee received and assessed 13 submissions and selected two concepts to move to the next phase the town and the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee launched “Which Art in the Park,” a poll to assist with the selection of EG’s first permanent art piece with the majority of people selecting Holding Hope as their preferred concept an organic waste processor based in London will build the province’s first large-scale biofuel facility with liquid carbon capture technology will process organic waste via anaerobic digestion into biogas The RNG will offset fossil natural gas in local pipelines “Today’s groundbreaking is a major achievement not just for Convertus and York Region but for the future of sustainable waste management in Ontario With the support of Bird Construction and GHD Engineering we are not only building a world-class waste facility but laying the foundation for a low-carbon future,” said Mike Leopold Concept rendering of East Gwillimbury plant The new facility will go up on a 12-acre site next to York Region’s Materials Recovery and Transfer Facility It’s expected to save 15,000 tonnes of transportation related CO2 emissions which could’ve come from trucking the waste long distances The facility will process up to 165,000 tonnes of organic waste per year in its first phase and potentially scale up to 200,000 tonnes Project capacity is expected to meet the region’s waste management needs and ensure sustainable waste processing through 2047 the facility will generate between 250,000 and 350,000 gigajoules (GJ) of RNG It’ll also produce approximately 165,000 tonnes of fertilizer “On behalf of York Regional Council and The Regional Municipality of York today marks a significant achievement as we secure a local and cost-effective long-term processing solution for green bin materials,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson “York Region remains steadfast in our vision of a world where nothing goes to waste setting a strong example for communities and ensuring a sustainable future for our residents.” Mississauga-based Bird Construction will lead construction of the facility while Toronto-based GHD Engineering leads engineering and environmental “I believe that this facility will be looked upon as an example of what is possible when processing organics and how to effectively integrate waste and energy solutions This is a made-in-Ontario success story that will serve as an exemplary model for the industry going forward,” said Gidda VP and global leader in future energy for GHD Convertus Group processes more than 580,000 tonnes of organic waste per year with 150 waste treatment facilities built worldwide including 13 facilities in Canada and two in the U.S The company is also planning a waste-to-renewable in Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Que. Keswick resident Adam Squires saw a golden opportunity when he applied to work at the new Loblaw distribution centre coming to East Gwillimbury The massive new facility on Newmarket's border has been hiring in recent months Although the 44-year-old Squires said he had a good job in auto manufacturing he said the potential of getting a union job with a pension at Loblaw appealed to him He said he was told an email would come with all the paperwork and Squires found himself without a new job — and unemployed after leaving his then employer The company has been on a hiring blitz in East Gwillimbury and the surrounding area as its logistics and distribution centre readies to open with about 1,000 jobs needing to be filled Squires went to an employment fair to pursue the job As an experienced warehouse worker who has done everything from forklift driving to welding he said things went smoothly and he was able to land an interview Squires said he was overjoyed on receiving what he believed was a verbal offer of a job I was literally the happiest I’ve been in 20 years or more for a job,” he said "This is life-changing for us.’” Those words would prove true in an unfortunate way Squires said he was assured that an email would come with a written contract and not to worry if it was delayed a bit He gave his then employer the required two weeks of notice so he could start the new job on Nov Then Squires said the man who interviewed him did not respond to any follow-up messages hoping that he could sign the paperwork in person Squires said he walked into an orientation session but was not on the list for the start date Squires said he was told his recruiter no longer worked with the company and he was not on any employee list the HR person said they would be looking to hire more people in January “I might not have a house to live in January,” Squires said “I left a lot of money on the table.” A Loblaw spokesperson said it does not make verbal offers in its hiring practices and there would be secondary interviews and a background check before hiring someone with a written contract The company said there was no verbal offer in this case and the situation was due to a “misunderstanding.” But the spokesperson said they are empathetic and have reached out to Job Skills and extended support to have him apply for another position in the network is obviously a terrible situation, and we’re completely empathetic to the challenges Mr Squires is facing,” the spokesperson said a partner at Toronto-based Samfiru Tumarkin LLP said that a verbal job offer can create employer liability A written job offer is easier to establish a case but she said a verbal offer will hinge on the evidence available regarding discussions between the employer and claimant A situation could make an employer liable for damages and could be pursued as a civil claim for breach of contract or negligent misrepresentation With damages from the claimant having left their old position Pungea said a case like this could get between three to six months worth of wages rewarded very unfortunate situation for the individual,” she said “It illustrates how employers and recruits and organizations have to be very careful and treat this kind of situation with a lot of responsibility and care to avoid the unfortunate situation that we’re dealing with.” Squires confirmed he has now had another interview with the company and is waiting to hear more He said he considered legal remedy but found it unlikely to be worthwhile due to legal fees “I have no financial position … my life has literally turned upside down,” he said “There’s no light there anymore at the end of the tunnel.” The Town of East Gwillimbury 2025 budget preview lists the tax increase at $189 for the average home The two big budget pressures the town is dealing with this year are the construction and operating cost of the Health and Active Living Plaza and hiring four new full-time firefighters It’s budget season in East Gwillimbury and it looks like your taxes are going up The town unveiled its preliminary budget preview which calls for a tax increase of $189 on the average home East Gwillimbury chief administrative officer Mark Valcic said despite the proposed increase East Gwillimbury still has some of the lowest taxes in the area “One of the most notable is that East Gwillimbury maintain its status as the lowest relative taxes municipality among York region municipalities The two big budget pressures the town is dealing with this year are the construction and operating costs of the Health and Active Living Plaza and hiring four new full-time firefighters Not all members of council agreed with the first budget presented in the town under strong-mayor powers “I have completed 13 budgets with you and this budget represents a departure from the way you have governed in the past,” Ward 2 Coun She was concerned about the tax increase after the town’s 2024 budget came with a 6.7 per cent tax increase or $136 tax increase on the average home Susan Lahey said she would only support new staffing proposals in the public safety realm “I think we are at a crossroads where we can’t have our cake and eat it too.” Others were less critical of the preliminary budget “Residents have asked us to keep taxes low and I think you have shown us in this how low they are We are substantially below the next municipality,” Ward 1 Coun Terry Foster said the close to $200 proposed tax increase “stings a little bit” but it might be needed He also said the town maybe boasts too much publicly about its low taxes The tax increase would be very similar to last year once you remove the cost of hiring four more full-time firefighters The proposed 2025 budget is $74.6 million with $38.9 million being property tax supported with $5.4 million coming from development fees $12.8 million for water fees and $17.5 million from capital The estimated cost of adding four new firefighters is $570,000 as well as staff cost increases and additional costs bringing the Emergency Services increase to $800,000 The budget will be tabled by Mayor Virginia Hackson on Nov Council will review the budget and propose amendments throughout November and December with the budget set to be passed Dec They mayor can veto amendments and council can override the mayor’s veto with two-thirds support from council The new Loblaws distribution facility coming to East Gwillimbury on Newmarket's border, is now recruiting for the hundreds of employees who will make it run The company is hosting jobs events throughout the month as it ramps up to fill the facility and expects to bring about 1,000 jobs into the area The logistics and distribution centre is due to be complete by 2025 The employment centre Job Skills is hosting a virtual information session Oct “Don’t miss your chance to elevate your career,” Job Skills said on Facebook The building broke ground in 2022 after years in the planning stages The 1.2-million-square-foot facility is under construction on Woodbine Avenue just north of Newmarket 16 session will be held virtually with Witron Attendees can discover the job openings for equipment operators and automation technicians and “learn about the perks of working with a company driving logistics innovation," Job Skills said.  both Loblaws and Witron will be recruiting at the larger job fair at the Georgina Ice Palace Oct The companies will hold a specialized info session at the event at 4 p.m to highlight job opportunities coming to the new logistics centre The virtual session will run from 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 16. You can register through the Job Skills website. The job fair will run from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Ice Palace at 90 Wexford Dr. You can also register ahead of time through the Job Skills website The wind phone on the Tom Taylor Trail in Fairy Lake Newmarket and Richmond Hill already have wind phones While many people are looking forward to celebrating the holidays with family and friends some residents are grieving the loss of a loved one this may be the perfect time for East Gwillimbury and Aurora to unveil wind phones A Wind Phone is an unconnected phone that provides a way for anyone to stay in touch with a person who has died as part of a grieving and healing journey “The wind phone concept originated in Japan when a landscape architect was grieving the loss of his cousin,” a statement from East Gwillimbury said “He installed the first wind phone in his beautiful garden creating a contemplative and serene space to connect with those he had lost via an unconnected phone sharing his messages with them on the wind The wind phone stands as a symbol of resilience in partnership with the Oasis Centre for Bereavement and Healing located along the Nokiidaa Trail southeast of Mount Albert Road and Yonge Street It is also done in partnership with the Oasis Centre for Bereavement and Healing Wind phones became popular in the early 2010s as a way for people to mourn victims of a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that killed thousands of people Sandra Sydor is the new CEO of the East Gwillimbury Public Library Sandra Sydor brings a wealth of experience from the Barrie Public Library There’s a new head of the East Gwillimbury Public Library The town has announced Sandra Sydor as the new chief executive officer of the library Sydor comes with much experience in library science and management She previously served as a leader at the Barrie Public Library “I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the continued success and growth of the East Gwillimbury Public Library and am keenly interested in supporting creative approaches that implement trends in public service and needs of a diverse and growing population” Sydor said “The library board is looking forward to Sandra’s innovative ideas while bringing forward the goals and priorities of our strategic plan,” said Christine Glenn “Sandra has such a strong commitment to providing positive and empowering experiences for both our customers and our staff An exciting upcoming project that Sandra will be sharing with our community is the 50th anniversary of our library system This is a great opportunity to showcase how EGPL has been anchored in the community for the last 50 years while focusing our eyes intently on the future as this dynamic community grows.” For more information visit egpl.ca An artist rendering for the new distribution centre Woodbine One in East Gwillimbury The massive new Loblaw Distribution Centre on Woodbine just north of Green Lane off Highway 404 in East Gwillimbury is hiring The new 1.2-million-square-foot logistics and distribution facility is set to open next year Jobs advertised include warehouse supervisors equipment operators and automation technicians Loblaw is hosting an information session on Oct 10 at the Job Skills Office located at 130 Davis Dr. Job seekers can meet with Loblaw representatives get insights into company culture and have your questions answered on the spot Job Skills will hold a virtual information session on Zoom with Witron’s logistics automation experts from 11 a.m job opportunities and the benefits of working with an industry leader Job Skills will also be hosting a job fair on Oct The fair includes an information session on Loblaw and Witron career opportunities starting at 4 p.m The new distribution broke ground in August of 2022 East Gwillimbury said the facility will generate $500,000 in annual municipal taxes and $7 million in development charges The distribution centre is the town’s largest employment project in its history it is estimated it will bring 1,000 new jobs East Gwillimbury had long been looking for a large employer to anchor its employment lands along the Highway 404 corridor before the massive Loblaw project For more information, visit advantageeg.ca Police are looking for suspects and witnesses after shots were fired at a home in East Gwillimbury police received a call from someone who had just returned home and found a single bullet hole in a bedroom window Officers arrived and located a bullet casing on the road in the intersection of Cyprus Glen and Charlotte Abby Drive It was determined unknown suspects attended the area at about 5:30 a.m in a grey or blue newer-model Range Rover SUV and fired numerous rounds at the home from within the vehicle Police are asking anyone with surveillance or dash cam footage to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police #1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7141. Information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or 1800222tips.com Plans for replacing paramedic stations in Aurora and East Gwillimbury are underway as part of York Region's ongoing long-term strategy to improve and expand paramedic services An updated master plan for 2026 to 2031 will be presented to regional council for approval in 2026 and will incorporate changes based on evaluation of the new medical priority dispatch system being implemented in November 2024 by the Ministry of Health which operates the Georgian dispatch centre will improve paramedic resource deployment and prioritize patient needs without affecting overall response time performance three digital scales and one laptop computer were seized two people from Thunder Bay — 62 and 43 — and a 70-year-old from Kakabeka Falls have each been charged with possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) An East Gwillimbury man is among four people facing drug trafficking charges after police say nearly two kilograms of suspected cocaine was seized during searches in the Thunder Bay area Three search warrants were carried out on Dec. 10 at homes in Thunder Bay and Kakabeka Falls The estimated street value of the drugs is $170,000 Anyone with any information is asked to call OPP at 1-888-310-1122 police say a man was found to be possession of a semi-automatic handgun ammunition and a quantity of controlled substances During an investigation into a man believed to be in possession of a gun a search warrant was executed in the area of Leslie Street and Queensville Sideroad ammunition and drugs were found at an East Gwillimbury address during a search warrant carried out as part of a firearm investigation During an investigation into a man believed to have a gun, a criminal code search warrant was executed at an address in the area of Leslie Street and Queensville Sideroad As a result of that March 9 search warrant police say a man was found with a semi-automatic handgun A 22-year-old man from East Gwillimbury has been charged with possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking Anyone with information is asked to call 416-808-2500