In the Community
Reid has been the City Councillor for Ward 3, Unionville, since December 2018. He led the field of five candidates in the October 2018 election by a large margin. Since that time, he has been working hard to ensure that the voices of residents of Ward 3 are heard at Council and in the halls of the Civic Centre. Reid currently serves on the following committees and boards, as well as the Development Services and General committees of Council:
- Heritage Markham – statutory reviews of heritage building applications, Chair
- Engineering and Transportation Subcommittee, Vice Chair
- Budget Committee
- Waste Diversion Subcommittee
- Varley-McKay Art Foundation – fundraising for the Varley Art Gallery
- Unionville Business Improvement Area
- Unionville Subcommittee/Heritage Vision Committee
- Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- Public Art Advisory Committee
- Doors Open Markham
- Unionville Festival
- Markham Richmond Hill Smart Commute Advisory Committee
- Volunteer Markham Fundraising Committee
- UNHabitat Urban Economy Forum, Senior Advisory Committee
Perhaps the most significant project with a direct impact on the residents of the Ward 3 is Markham Centre. Before joining council Reid lobbied for the development of a revised “secondary plan” for the area. This is an amendment to the City’s official plan and would help to determine what sort of development would happen where in the plan area. The current secondary plan is outdated and new development was being assessed without any guidance as to the impact on the larger plan area and the surrounding community. Reid is now happy to say that a new secondary plan, the Markham Centre Secondary Plan, is now in development. As a member of the Unionville Subcommittee, Reid is able to track and review the plan as it progresses and ensure that there are plenty of opportunities for community consultation. The final plan should be ready in 2023, but already new development proposals are being considered in light of the new plan and final approvals are being held back until the plan is substantially complete.
Before his election to Council Reid was a leader of several of community organizations and initiatives. He was Vice President of the Unionville Residents Association (URA) and he represented them on the Historical Unionville Community Vision Committee (now the Unionville Subcommittee). This group advises Markham City Council on implementation of the Vision for Unionville that was developed from a community consultation process in 2013/2014. Reid is now particularly pleased to say that in 2022 Council approved a complete reconstruction of Main Street. It will become a pedestrian focused destination for pedestrians with less emphasis on vehicles.
Reid is also a past President of the Unionville Villagers Association (UVA) devoted to the preservation and promotion of the Unionville Heritage Conservation District.
Reid continues to attend the monthly meetings of the URA and the UVA to stay in touch with residents and to keep them informed of new developments across Ward 3 and Markham. The meetings of both groups are public and residents from anywhere in Markham are encouraged to attend.
Reid also stays in touch with the South Unionville Residents Forum and the South Unionville Community Association. More recently Reid has worked to bring together the residents of Markham Centre (Downtown and Uptown). This is an ongoing project. Reid is committed to helping build Markham Centre as a thriving community as it grows.
In 2015 Reid was recruited as Chair of the Unionville Festival and had the privilege of leading the festival for two years. He then stepped back to manage the 125 + vendors. In two years he increased vendor revenue by over 150% — raising over $50,000 in 2018 to support the many free activities of the Festival. He also helped implement a state-of-the-art event management system to better manage vendors for future volunteers. Reid remains on the Festival organising committee as a liaison with the city and guide to newer volunteers. Unfortunately the festival went on hiatus for two years due to the pandemic. However it is back in 2022 and Reid is helping to ensure that the City of Markham provides the support the festival needs.
Reid is particularly proud to contribute to the Festival which is perhaps the most visible sign of the strength of Ward 3 Unionville as a community. The Festival grew out of a protest to protect the village from bulldozers in 1970. It is this sense of community spirit that inspires Reid. He is committed to continue to support all the residents of Ward 3 Unionville as we protect and promote our community through the stresses of massive growth and change.