Dear Neighbour,

Finally, better weather has arrived, but we seem to have largely skipped spring and vaulted straight into summer. I’ve been spending a good deal of time in our garden, but I can’t keep up. Thank goodness the weather improved for the rescheduled grand reopening of Main Street last Saturday. It was a very successful event with hundreds and even thousands of attendees out to celebrate the new street and the heritage that it highlights. It was great to see so many of you out on such a wonderful day.

And we’ll be there again this weekend for the Unionville Festival – back on the street with a parade at 10:30 am Saturday, plus all the events and features you love: food, vendors, inflatables, dog show, rubber duck race and so much more. Saturday evening features the Bruno Mars Experience at the bandstand, beginning at 7:30 pm.

We’ve also been working on the Main Street Parking situation. As of last Friday there is no on-street parking allowed 24/7/365, other than two drop-off points. For now bylaw enforcement is using a light hand, but soon tickets will be handed out. And after the festival the flower planters will be strategically moved to discourage parking.

There have also been some parking issues in the area east of Main Street, down in the river valley. I am working with the affected property owners and city staff to resolve the issues, without sacrificing the new walkway that links the stairway to the Rouge Valley Trail. If and when you park behind the Chat Bar (187 Main Street), be sure that you are not blocking in the car ahead of you.

Further south in and around the GO station, I am glad to say that at the Indy race track has been paved and painted. That project also had to be deferred to last weekend due to the weather. In any case it is now in place in time for the new asphalt to cure for the actual race in August. Thanks so much to all the commuters and others who use the station and the roads around it for your patience. The roads are now ready for the race and there should be minimal disruption until the week of the race itself.

June highlights to look forward to include Markham Cycling Day on Sunday, June 14 – for the first time on Main Street Unionville, after its huge success on Main Street Markham last year. You and your family can register to join the fun here.

MCD will be preceded on Saturday, June 13 by the Unionville Plein Air festival. This event will feature artists painting scenes of the historic village all over the streets. No doubt some will be for sale. The event is sponsored by the Markham Group of Artists and the Varley Art Gallery.

Speaking of which, on that rainy Saturday two weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the opening of newest exhibitions at the gallery, featuring paintings by three York Region-based artists. I encourage you to visit whenever you are on the street. Admission to the Varley gallery is always free.

And, building further on a theme, on June 6, Steelecase Art Projects, at Industrial Arts (Steelecase and Victoria Park), will open their new exhibitions on Saturday also. The opening event is at 1 pm. There are two new shows: the annual sculpture commission, which this year is Deconstruction by Quebec artist José Luis Torres, and the Spring/Summer exhibition Turn Signal. Next Exit by Toronto artist Janine Miedzik. As always, the Steelecase exhibitions seek to build community between art and industry, to encourage visitors to find the creativity and beauty to be found within the industrial realm.

Other events to look forward to in June include the Markham Music Festival on June 19 and 20, featuring the Crash Test Dummies and Ron Sexsmith, right on Main Street Markham, and Taste of Asia, June 26-28 at Kennedy and Steeles.

Looking forward to seeing you on the street this month!

Reid