Each year York Region strives for improvement. In 2003 the Region received several awards for significant achievement placing it at the forefront of municipal planning and innovative service delivery.


For the sixth consecutive year, The Regional Municipality of York was awarded the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (CAnFR) by the Government Finance Officer Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its 2002 Annual Report: Taking Action for Strong Communities.

The Regional Municipality of York's Water for Tomorrow program was recognized as a finalist for a global water management award at the Third Water Forum held in Osaka, Siga and Kyoto Japan during March 16th to 23rd 2003.

The “Water Action Contest”, organized by the Secretariat of the Third World Water Forum, the World Water Council and the Global Water Partnership, received 870 entries from a range of organizations “devoted to taking grassroots actions for the resolution of water problems around the world.”


In 2003 the York Region Planning and Development Services Department received the URISA (Ontario Chapter) Map Gallery Silver Award for the “West Nile Virus - York Region Bird and Mosquito Surveillance Program 2001/2002” map.

The department also received the MaPublisher (International) Map Gallery Notable Entry for the “West Nile Virus - York Region Bird and Mosquito Surveillance Program 2001/2002” map.

The “West Nile Virus - York Region Bird and Mosquito Surveillance Program 2001/2002” map was also selected to be entered into the US Library of Congress.

Values in Action - Providing Superior Quality Service to our Community

Friday, August 15, 2003
On Friday, August 15, 2003, at about 3:45 p.m., the mother of a three-month-old baby realized her son was not breathing and immediately called 911 for assistance.

In the area, Detective Constable Ross Price #234, responded to the call in approximately one minute and was able to start the infant’s breathing by administering CPR. Constable Eric MacDonald arrived at the scene within one minute of Detective Constable Price and began administering assisted breathing techniques on the baby, who survived the ordeal.

These officers saved the baby’s life.

Thursday, August 29, 2003
On Thursday, August 29, 2003, at about 6:30 p.m., a boat owner, accompanied by four children ages nine to 18 years, left a marina on Lake Simcoe in their pleasure craft. When they did not return, family members contacted police.

The York Regional Police Marine Unit and helicopter, Air2, along with other emergency services agencies, located the disabled vessel at 4:15 a.m., in waves and swells as high as six feet.

Constables Chris Hyland #980, Debra Stevens #570 and Steven McCullough #232 towed the vessel through difficult weather conditions for two hours until they reached the shore.