Hello Markhamites,
Congratulations to the Markham Dog Alliance and Valleyview Gardens for their first annual Merry and Bright Christmas market festival supporting the Markham food bank. We hope it was a great success. If you missed it, you’ll have to wait until next year.
Meanwhile, by following their FB page, you can keep up with dog-friendly events in Markham.
So Long, Buttonville.
The end of an era is near.
November 30th marks the last day Buttonville Airport will be in service. However, as of last week, construction crews have already moved in, and plane owners have moved out.
Buttonville began operating in 1953 as a grass strip surrounded by farmland in the police village ( Yes, I just learned this term, too) of Buttonville.
The closure displaces about 300 personal aircraft with no new plans to build or develop another airport in the GTA since announcing the closing of Buttonville.
Most of the work over the past month has been cleaning up the businesses and public services that rely on Buttonville as a hub for their activity. Mechanics, flight schools, charter companies, and YRP’s air units had to sift through decades of junk as they relocated their services.
Markham has another private airport strip off Highway 48 just north of Major Mac and South of Elgin Mills. However, due to its proximity to the proposed Pickering Airport lands, it’s unlikely to become a full-fledged aviation hub.
Meanwhile, Oshawa Airport appears to have taken on most of the aircraft, traffic, and associated businesses. But, with no other relief in sight, it’s unclear if they can sustain the growth.
What was initially planned as a mixed-use community development, Landowner Cadillac Fairview now has plans to turn the little airport into an 11-building Industrial hub.
While we won’t miss the unexpected highway landings or the numerous skip-overs on 16th Avenue, we are losing a community hub for aviation, and it feels a bit like losing a piece of Markham’s own identity.
Community Notes
Markham Teen competing on the Christmas Cookie Challenge on Food Network
YRP is offering tips for handling marketplace transactions this holiday season
Do you love Markham Business? Nominate it for a Reader’s Choice Award
What’s Happening in Markham this Week
Nov 21, 7 PM - Development Services Public Meeting for Mount Joy and Milliken Centre. Find out how to Participate here.
Nov 24, 8 PM - Main Street Markham Festival of Lights - Fireworks, Tree lighting, and more! ( Not in that order) Details here.
Nov 25, 11 AM, Markham Santa Claus Parade. Check out all of the details here.
If you would like to submit your photos of Markham - feel free to follow and tag our Instagram page, and we’ll credit you!
If you’ve got a story pitch, send it to themarkhamite@Substack.com