Markham Council has approved plans to expand the Varley Art Gallery to increase the space available for exhibitions and community programming. Read more »

Local seniors will be touring holiday light displays in Markham during three evenings this month. In order to provide the brightest event possible for the seniors, residents are asked to turn their outdoor holiday light displays. Read more »

Markham Selected For 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Route

Markham residents anxious to catch the Olympic Spirit will have the opportunity to see the Olympic Flame in person on Thursday, December 17, 2009 as it passes through Markham on its way towards the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Read more »

Markham and York Region are transforming the way they interact online with residents, following a joint decision today to move forward with the development of a new Internet portal. Read more »

Markham has earned two prestigious Ontario Waste Minimization Awards from the Recycling Council of Ontario, the 2008 Sustainable Municipality Gold Award and a Bronze Promotion Award for its special events portable EcoMedia bins. Read more »

In a world where email, YouTube, Facebook, texting and "tweeting" are giving people a more powerful voice than ever before, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti is showing he gets it, and knows how to use technology to connect with and grow his community. Through digital innovation he is bringing his constituents together as they work to create global opportunities to help Markham thrive in the midst of difficult economic times. Read more »

Markham has launched a new website to give youth the opportunity to share their ideas on the future of Markham and win great prizes by participating. Read more »

The Councils of the Town of Markham, the City of Barrie and the City of Vaughan have all endorsed an agreement which will merge PowerStream, an electricity distribution company jointly owned by the City of Vaughan and the Town of Markham, with Barrie Hydro, a utility owned exclusively by the City of Barrie. The decision to move forward on this utility merger has been in the works for several months.  Read more »

Markham received a first place award for its marketing of the China Business Mission 2008 at the recent 40th annual Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) conference. Markham’s submission was among 223 submissions from across Canada to the Marketing Canada Awards competition. Read more »

Markham has been awarded the Ontario Professional Planners Institute's (OPPI) Excellence in Planning Award in the category of Research/New Directions for the Town's Small Stream Study.  Read more »

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti announced today a Traffic Calming Working Group to review new traffic calming measures placed on Carlton Road and Village Parkway in Unionville. Read more »

Markham is set to host the 10th annual Milliken Children's Festival on September 6. The popular event attracted over 17,000 people last year. A preview of the festival, with children's activities, will be held on Saturday, August 30 from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. at Markville Shopping Centre in the centre court (Highway 7 at McCowan Road).  Read more »

Markham is welcoming an important delegation of dignitaries from Nördlingen, Germany from August 28 – September 5. Led by Nördlingen Lord Mayor Hermann Faul and Council members, the 120 person group is the largest official Nordlingen delegation to visit Markham. Nördlingen and Markham have strong historic ties. In 1794, William 'Moll' Berczy led a group of 64 families from the Nördlingen area in Germany to become the first settlers in Markham. Read more »

Thornhill's John Street Bridge has reopened. The bridge, located on John Street between Bayview and Henderson Avenues, was closed to traffic earlier this year for deck and superstructure replacement. Read more »

The Giro de Markham race involves multiple laps on a 2 kilometre course along Cochrane Drive in the Highway 7 and 404 area of Markham. Spectators can watch the race develop as riders turn up the speed to try to break free of the field. The Giro de Markham event features racers from D'Ornellas Racing Team, many of whom are Markham residents. Sunday's event features races for women, men and young people in various age groups. Read more »

Medals given to local World War I soldier Pte. Matthew Rae are coming home to Markham and will be displayed at the Markham Museum. Read more »

As a result of hot temperatures and increased humidity, Markham has issued a heat alert and expanded the hours of operation of its community centres and outdoor pools. The Markham heat alert is in effect until 6 p.m. on Sunday July 20.  Read more »

Brenda Librecz was appointed Commissioner of Community and Fire Services at Markham Council meeting last evening. In this critical senior leadership role Ms. Librecz will be responsible for a broad, diverse portfolio that includes Markham Fire and Emergency Services; Markham Public Libraries; Markham’s cultural attractions; Operations such as Waste Management, Waterworks, Forestry & Horticulture and; Recreation Services.  Read more »

Markham has received the 2008 Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators Willis Innovation Award for last year’s unique Click with Markham public engagement program. Initially presented last month at the Association’s annual meeting in Quebec City, the award was re-presented to Markham Council June 24 by Paul Scarafile, Regional Solutions Manager, Canada, from award sponsor Johnson Controls. This national award is given annually for programs, projects or services that demonstrate exceptional innovation or meritorious initiative. Read more »

Markham Council has taken another step to protect the environment and promote a greener community. A new tree preservation bylaw was passed by Markham Council on Tuesday, June 24. The bylaw applies to all properties within Markham and provides strict controls to preserve mature trees. Effective immediately, the bylaw requires property owners to obtain a permit before trees can be cut. Read more »

Markham applauds the Ontario government for taking an important step in controlling pesticide use through Bill 64, but the bill as passed sets a precedent for municipal governance, especially in the area of public health. Read more »

Markham's first voluntary residential water quality testing was completed in March of this year. The test revealed lead levels well below provincial standards for all 148 residential homes that were sampled. The Waterworks department will be performing the community wide, volunteer sampling twice a year. Read more »

Markham requires all vendors of fireworks to obtain a permit from the Town of Markham and complete a Fireworks Training Course offered by Markham's Fire and Emergency Services. Read more »

Markham's move to zero waste has taken another step with the introduction of portable recycling bins at all its special events. Read more »

Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Markham Council recognized the winners of the Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame awards, now in its eleventh year, at the June 10 Markham Council meeting. Read more »

Markham is the first municipality in Canada to adopt Local Food Plus (LFP) procurement practices for its municipal food services, an initiative to help support Ontario's farm economy, address climate change, reduce green house gases and pesticide use, and to promote environmentally responsible purchasing. Read more »

Markham is the first municipality in Ontario to endorse a provincewide ban on the sale of pesticides for cosmetic use. Markham passed a resolution supporting the provincial legislation to affirm its support for environmental protection earlier this year. Read more »

The summer months, and Markham's extensive Bike Network, offers` residents the opportunity to enjoy cycling as an environmentally friendly way to tour many of Markham's attractions. Residents can benefit from a number of upcoming activities that promote cycling safety and use of the Markham Bike Network. Building on the success of last year's CAN-BIKE programming, Markham is hosting Kids' CAN-BIKE Festival on May 31, the Markham Bikefest on June 8 and CAN-BIKE safety courses for both adults and children during July. Read more »

Markham has hired an Auditor General to ensure the Town's operations are managed as effectively as possible. Ingrid Kutter, a Chartered Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor, has been appointed to an initial three-year fulltime contract. Read more »

Markham will be supporting China's relief efforts following the massive earthquake centred in the Wenchuan county of Sichuan Province. Read more »

"Markham offers its deepest condolences to the citizens of China who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. Earthquakes of this nature have a devastating impact, and Markham will provide the support we can to help these communities," said Mayor Frank Scarpitti. Read more »

The Markham Trees for Tomorrow program is putting down roots – thousands of roots - with the help of community partner TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. Read more »

Markham's Unionville High School and Markham Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) are presenting the injury prevention program SMARTRISK Heroes.Read more »

In response to a request from the Buttonville Airport Community Committee, Toronto Airways has voluntarily withdrawn its fleet of aircraft from conducting flight training circuits over Markham and Richmond Hill between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on each of the four long weekends this spring and summer. Read more »

In his inaugural speech at the beginning of Council's term, Mayor Scarpitti pledged to plant more trees in the next four years than had been planted in the last decade. To meet this commitment Markham and its partners have plans in place to plant more than 75,000 trees by the end of 2010 – one for every Markham household. Read more »

“72 Hours: Is Your Family Prepared?” Markham is asking residents to take the necessary steps to be prepared for an emergency or disaster, as we mark Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week – May 4 to 10. Read more »

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti welcomes today's announcement of a province-wide ban on the sale and cosmetic use of pesticides. Read more »

The 24-member business delegation, led by Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, has returned from its successful twelve-day mission to China. The delegates participated in 24 meetings in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and Hong Kong; met with over 600 qualified contacts in China and Hong Kong and held over fifty one-on-one follow-up meetings. Read more »

Markham encourages residents to safely dispose of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. The Town is offering a free replacement CFL bulb to the first 1,000 residents who return burnt-out bulbs to one of Markham's recycling depots, starting April 19. Read more »

Following the results of an emergency assessment last week it has been determined that construction to replace the bridge deck on the John Street Bridge in Thornhill will begin immediately. The bridge, located on John Street between Bayview and Henderson Avenues, will remain closed until this work is completed early in September 2008. Read more »

The bridge in Thornhill on John Street between Bayview Avenue and Henderson Avenue has been closed for the next several days for an emergency repair assessment. Read more »

The Town of Markham received notification earlier today that it has received a $4.5 million Ontario Infrastructure Investment grant to build a planned cycling and pathway system. Read more »

"I'm delighted the Province has recognized the importance of supporting municipalities as we struggle with the increasing costs of maintaining our infrastructure," said Town of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti on the news that this week's Provincial budget has earmarked $3,295,097 for the repair of Markham's roads and bridges. Read more »

As part of its bylaw regulating the non-essential use of pesticides, Markham now requires pesticide applicators, organic and non-pesticide lawn care applicators to be licensed and has set a bylaw fine. Read more »

Led by Honorary Mission Chair and Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, over 20 delegates from local GTA businesses and associations are participating in the 2008 Markham Chinese Business Mission from March 28 to April 8. Read more »

The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) in partnership with the Town of Markham presents 20 Journeys: A Visual Essay of the Immigrant Experience from March 17 to 20 at the Markham Civic Centre The exhibit is free to the public. Mayor Frank Scarpitti will host a launch reception in the Great Hall on Monday, March 17 at 10 a.m. Media are invited to attend. Read more »

Town of Markham Council approved its 2008 budget last evening. The budget was trimmed to a 3.73% increase – one of the lowest in the Greater Toronto Area. Read more »

Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Councillor and Budget Chief Dan Horchik and senior Town staff welcome the media to a presentation and discussion of the Town of Markham 2008 budget February 13, 2008. Read more »

Markham's annual Tony Roman Memorial Tournament, starts with an official puck drop at Mt. Joy Community Centre on Saturday January 12 and runs to Sunday, January 20. Read more »

Markham's Mt. Joy Community Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary with an Open House this weekend. Everyone is invited to the party which includes a free Public Skate, a celebrity soccer game, cake and balloons. Read more »

Known as the World's Largest House League Hockey Competition, the Tony Roman Memorial Hockey Tournament is celebrating its 35th anniversary. Read more »