In this issue...
York Central Hospital Launches Smart Commute Program
Breakfast of Champions
Smart Commute Week
Transit 101 at GENIVAR
Town of Markham Tire Pressure Clinic
Town of Richmond Hill's Shift Gears
Markham Convergence Centre Open House
Green Cities Challenge
More News from Smart Commute
Get Connected with Smart Commute

SCMRH logo 2011 

October 2011  

 

 

 

Our Sponsors: HDR iTRANS Consulting
IBM Logo sml
MMM Group Limited

Our Partners:

Town of Markham
Town of RICHMOND HILL logo SMALL
Regional Municipality of York
MBT Logo 2011
RHCOC newlogo
Metrolinx Logo 2011

Join Our Mailing List!  

  York Central Hospital Launches Smart Commute Program!


York Central Hospital, Richmond Hill's largest employer, has joined the growing list of Smart Commute employers! In September, members of the Smart Commute team were on site to promote CarpoolZone.ca, a ride matching website, and to assist employees with setting up their accounts.

 
Basil Marcello, Smart Commute Senior Program Advisor,
assists a York Central Hospital employee, Oscar Morales,
sign up for his Carpool Zone account.



 

Smart Commute's Inaugural Breakfast of Champions was a Success!


September 21, 2011 marked Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill's inaugural Breakfast of Champions! Smart Commute employer ambassadors took the morning to share their experiences, successes,
tips and ideas for running the Smart Commute Program in their workplace. While enjoying a hot breakfast, participants had the chance to network and listen to key speakers including Hilda Gan (HDR|iTRANS), Mike Albani (Philips Canada), Kevin Phillips (URS), and Matthew Lee and Tripti Ninan (GENIVAR).

 

View our photos on flickr

 

  Employers take the Smart Commute Week Challenge! 

Between September 19th to 25th Smart Commute employers took the Smart Commute Week Challenge. Participating employers included York Central Hospital, SENES Consultants, Philips, Town of Markham, Worley Parsons, and GENIVAR. Participants who commuted to work sustainably this week logged their trips through CarpoolZone.ca in order to have the chance to win great prizes, reduce gridlock, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. International Car Free Day on September 22nd coincided with Smart Commute Week, a day that encourages people to choose alternative modes of transportation to the single occupancy car worldwide and to increase awareness of sustainable urban mobility.     
                                          
  Transit 101 at GENIVAR

Concurring with Smart Commute Week, GENIVAR held a Transit 101 workshop for its employees. It gave riders and non-riders the chance to hear about current and future transit services from York Region Transit/Viva, have their questions answered, and voice their rider experiences. The Smart Commute team was present to promote Smart Commute Week and to participate in the discussion.

 

  Have you checked your tire pressure lately?

 
To mark Smart Commute Week, Smart Commute and the
Windfall Ecology Centre partnered to host a tire pressure clinic at the Town of Markham. Employees had the opportunity to learn how to properly check their tire pressure and pick up an EcoDriver kit. Driving with properly inflated tires is one of the many ways to reduce fuel consumption and optimize the life tires.

Markham Councillor Carolina Moretti checks her tire pressure
  Town of Richmond Hill Launches Shift Gears!

New cycling routes for both commuter and recreational use are now open in Richmond Hill! Paired with a new Town of Richmond Hill Cycling Map, getting around town on a bike has just gotten easier. Shift Gears, the Town's Pedestrian & Cycling Master Plan, aims to improve the active transportation experience. More is to come in the second phase of the plan. Click here for more details.
.
  Markham Convergence Centre
opens it doors!


Markham business professionals and residents congregated at the Markham Convergence Centre (MCC) on September 24th for a chance to learn about how the MCC is contributing to economic development in York Region. MCC aims to co-locate organizations that can foster innovation and economic activity through collaboration and is home to one of Smart Commute's offices. Attendees left inspired by a captivating talk by Michael "Pinball" Clemens.

Wincy Tsang (Smart Commute), Richard Cunningham (Markham Board of Trade), Nicole Beayni (Smart Commute), Michael "Pinball" Clemens on the Smart Commute e-bike, Mary Ann Quagliara (Markham Board of Trade), Mayor Frank Scarpitti (Town of Markham) 

 

  Green Cities Challenge

On September 8th the Toronto Board of Trade hosted The Green Cities Challenge presented by Siemens. The results of the US and Canada Green City Index were presented and sustainability leaders, including former Toronto Mayor David Miller and Richard Florida, Senior Editor of 'The Atlantic' and U of T professor, provided discussion on the environmental challenges facing Canadian cities. The Index assesses the environmental performance of 27 major US and Canadian cities and found that sustainable transportation initiatives are a key factor in their environmental performance. For more on the event including reports and video click here.

 

  More News from Smart Commute 
  • Greater Toronto Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade are calling for a focus on transportation investment in the upcoming provincial election. GTA businesses have made it clear that transportation is at the top of their list in regards to policy priorities, as it makes a major impact on Ontario's growth and economic development. Click here for the release.  
  • About 15,000 randomly selected York Region households will be selected to participate in the Transportation Tomorrow Survey that will help to determine improvements to transportation facilities and transit services. Read more here. 
  • In September the Markham Board of Trade put on a Business to Business Trade Show and Networking Event. Smart Commute was there to interact with local businesses and promote sustainable transportation

 

 

Get Connected with Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill!   

 

Like us on Facebook     Follow us on Twitter       View our profile on LinkedIn      View our videos on YouTube      View our photos on flickr 

 

Follow us and share your ideas on becoming a sustainable commuter!

  

Contact Us

What is Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill?

 

Smart Commute is a not-for-profit sustainability initiative of the municipalities of Markham and Richmond Hill, York Region and Metrolinx. We help local employers and commuters, like you, explore different commute choices like carpooling, cycling and transit. Our goal is to ease gridlock, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while making your commute less expensive and more enjoyable.

 

Your savings! In just five years, Carpool Zone users in the GTA have saved over ten million dollars and prevented  24,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions; the equivalent of about 9 million bricks!