One Year of The Markhamite
Good Morning Markhamites,
This week, The Markhamite turns a year old. What started as a small idea in the wake of Metroland stopping home delivery of the Markham Economist has become a labour of love. In many ways, it’s allowed me to become more connected to the city I live in, understand the process and bureaucracy within city hall for getting things done and catch glimpses of what Markham will become 5-10 years from now.
Does Markham have its flaws? Absolutely. In the current housing crisis, more can be done to incentivize innovative housing strategies and utilize the existing space rather than expand into greenbelt-protected areas. We all want transparency, accountability, equity, and integrity from our municipal leaders; Markham still doesn’t have a lobbyist registry for its municipal affairs. We also need to do a better job supporting local small businesses, allowing them to thrive.
Writing the Markhamite has allowed me to learn more about what makes Markham tick, what culture means to a “city above a city”, and the role we all play in supporting and building something that is uniquely ours—a diverse, intelligent, family-oriented city with an appreciation of its past and a hopeful eye towards the future.
My wish is that through all of the good and the times in which we can only hope to become better, I’ve been able to peel back the layers of what’s happening in Markham and provide you with enough information so that you know what’s going on in your own backyard.
Thanks for sticking around for a year, I appreciate every one of you opening this email on Thursdays.
Today’s read time is less than 5 minutes.
City council is back in session, with expenses, development and mid-year budget additions.
City Council met for the first time since August 7th this week and had a bunch of interesting topics on the schedule:
Cornell Community Park landscape architect consulting over budget needs council approval to wrap up loose ends.
Consultants working on the development of Cornell Community Park experienced a few setbacks while building the park, including the impact of COVID-19 and some unfavourable soil conditions, so some final projects were never completed. The overage is relatively small as far as consulting budgets go, so it can come out of existing contingency budgets, but because it is over $100,000, the council has to approve it.
Mid-year budget additions to complete priority city Projects
Markham city Staff have identified and prioritized 18 city projects that need to be started or fully scoped out before the end of 2024, so they tabled those items in council this week, asking for a budget increase of just under 10M dollars. For the most part, the projects are repair and replacement work for community centres and tennis courts, Tree planting/reforestation, consulting work on developing a new wetland at Milne Dam Park, city fleet upgrades and updated budget items for more firefighter safety gear and high-rise firefighting equipment.
Approval for Funding Friends of the Rouge Watershed for the next three years
The city also approved funding for Friends of the Rouge Watershed to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers for three years. a bit about Friends of the Rouge Watershed:
The Friends of the Rouge Watershed is a registered non-profit charity organization formed in 1991 to raise awareness around the Rouge Park and primarily conducts ecological restoration and tree planting work within the Rouge River Watershed. FRW has been undertaking planting projects for years and has contributed towards enhancing Markham’s natural areas, including Bob Hunter Memorial Park, Milne Dam Conservation Park, Campbell Park, Austin Drive Park, Tomlinson Park, Cedar Grove Park and Swan Lake Park. In 2024, FRW is on track to plant and maintain over 12,000 trees and shrubs in Markham and the Rouge River Watershed.
Community Notes:
Michelin Guide recommended Markham’s Zen Japanese Restaurant
Markham Fair is about to turn 180 years old.
Markham’s OVIN zone welcomes Scooters and - bikes for citizens to try out until the end of October.
What’s Happening In Markham This Week
September 27th
7:00 PM - Centennial Community Centre - Lindsay Muskies vs Markham Royals - Tickets are just $15 at the door!
8:00 PM - Flato Markham Theatre - Dreamer: The Supertramp Experience. Tickets here
September 28th
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Markham Main Street Farmer’s Market.
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Markham Museum - Rouge River Brewery presents Applefest. Entry is $10-14. Info here
8:00 PM - Flato Markham Theatre - Three legendary Canadian 80's acts in one night!
Strange Advance, The Box, and Images in Vogue. Tickets here
September 29th
1:00 - 4:00 PM - Angus Glen Community Centre - Comic Book Consulting @ Markham Public Library.
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