Accomplishments
BEAUTIFICATION OF MARKHAM
Together we are making Markham an even more beautiful place to call
home. During the past few years we have won many coveted awards:
- Communities
in Bloom, Provincial Champion
- Communities in Bloom, National Champion
- Nations in Bloom, World Championship
Environmental Award
- Prince of Wales Prize (for being the best Canadian
community to preserve its heritage).
In May 2002, the Town established the Markham Beautification
Committee to identify opportunities to enhance our community. In addition to
flower baskets along our streets, new landscaping features are
now being planned at major intersections. In 2003, Markham brought
back The Susie Awards to recognize outstanding residential and business
gardens within the Town, and to honour environmentally
friendly, pesticide-free gardens, new Eco Susie Awards were added.
CLEAN, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT A number of initiatives underscore Markham’s
commitment to protecting the environment:
- Council created the Environmental
Land Acquisition Fund and the Town has subsequently purchased a number of significant
properties.
- Council also established an Environmenatal Sustainability
Fund to protect, enhance and rejuvenate environmentally sensitive areas.
- Markham
Energy Corporation is now providing “green energy” to
IBM, Motorola, Tridel and other new developments in Markham
Centre.
·
The Town’s Parks Department has partnered with Pitch-In Canada
and Glad Clean for Green to assist individuals and local
groups with community clean-ups.
- Two hybrid vehicles, with greatly
improved fuel economy and reduced
greenhouse gas emissions, were purchased and tested as
part of the Markham Clean Air initiative and are now in full-time use.
- Markham
partnered with Pollution Probe to introduce the S-M-A-R-T program to
Town employees and reduce the number of single-occupant
vehicles arriving at worksites. By taking a leadership
role, the Town hopes to create the right mix of programs and policies to
reduce automobile use.
MARKHAM TOWN CENTRE The Markham Centre
Citizen Advisory Group was established to translate community values into development
goals.
- Through a series of public workshops, and a conference
and open house, Performance Guidelines were developed for
transportation, green infrastructure, built form, public spaces and greenlands.
- In 2003, these guidelines won the Sustainable Community
Planning Award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
With architectural character, convenient rapid transit services
and a pedestrian-friendly environment, Markham Centre will
truly be a “people place.” |
