At the February 24 Council meeting Council members were saddened to hear Mayor Dave Barrow would be taking medical leave.  We will miss his leadership and extend our sincere wishes for his speedy recovery. At that meeting I was honoured to be appointed Acting Mayor until Mayor Barrow returns to office. I am deeply committed to carrying on the business of the City as Acting Mayor and ensuring business continuity.

In the near term COVID-19 has been, and will continue to be, my major focus. The vaccination program is being implemented by York Region Public Health and includes a local mass vaccination clinic in Richmond Hill. Currently, appointments can be made online, and are based on available vaccination doses. For those who cannot book an appointment online, phone support is available through the Access York contact centre at 1-877-464-9675. I encourage all residents where possible to visit York Region’s website at www.york.ca/covid19vaccineinfo for more information.

Please stay safe and continue to follow all our recommended community safety protocols.

Joe DiPaola, Acting Mayor