Community Engagement

• Markham's own Pachi, the Pan Am/Parapan Am Porcupine, Becomes the Face of the Toronto 2015 Games
• Toronto 2015 Mascot Creation Challenge
• Community Forum and Workshop
• Live Mural Experience
• Mascot Creation Challenge Workshop
• Markham Pan Am Centre Groundbreaking Ceremony

Markham’s Own PACHI the Pan Am/Parapan Am Porcupine Becomes the Face of the TORONTO 2015 Games

The results of the TORONTO 2015 Mascot Creation Challenge are in! PACHI the TORONTO 2015 Porcupine has been named the official mascot of the People’s Games, making this home-grown creation the face of the largest multi-sport event Canada has ever hosted. PACHI was selected as one of the top contenders from more than 4,000 entries that were submitted by groups of kids from across Canada. PACHI the TORONTO 2015 mascot was the winner in the online voting contest, receiving more than 33,000 votes. Congratulations to Team Porcupine’s Fiona Hong, Michelle Ing, Paige Kunihiro and Jenny Lee from Buttonville Public School.

Do you want PACHI the Pan Am/Parapan Am Porcupine to make an appearance at an event you're hosting? Fill out a mascot appearance request form.

Community Forum & Workshop: Creating the Markham Experience

On Saturday, April 12, 2013, Markham associations, businesses and residents were invited by the City of Markham to share ideas and provide input on bringing and building sport, tourism, culture, celebrations and volunteerism to Markham before, during and after the 2015 Games.

Take a look at the official City report that was released after this event.
 

Live Mural Experience at Cornell Community Centre

As part of the Pan Am Mural Experience presented by CIBC, David Arrigo, one of Canada’s top sports artists, visited all 13 Games’ host municipalities this spring to capture their unique cultural and sporting history in individual one-of-a-kind artworks.

Arrigo, renowned for his energetic and bold artwork, visited the Cornell Community Centre & Library on March 23, 2013, and began capturing Markham’s Pan /Parapan Am Games legacy on canvas. Markham’s 1-metre by 1.5-metre masterpiece will be officially unveiled on July 10, 2013, as part of the two-year countdown to the Games at the Markham Civic Centre, and will remain as permanent mementos of the Games at one of the City’s facilities.

Mascot Creation Challenge Workshop for Kids!

Ready, set, COLOUR! Kids at the Cornell Community Centre & Library Grand Opening Celebrations had a chance to grab some coloured pencils and get their creative juices flowing. The workshop, led by author and illustrator, Kean Soo, was designed to inspire Markham children to enter the Toronto 2015 Mascot Creation Challenge and provide useful tips on how to design a winning mascot for the People’s Game! Former professional boxer, Natalie Johnson, was in attendance to celebrate the opening of the new state-of-the-art facility and to rally the Pan Am spirit at the event.

Markham Pan Am Centre Groundbreaking Ceremony

The backdrop of heavy machines moving tons of earth and a cool fall morning on October 9, 2012, was not enough to dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic crowd of over 200 that turned out to mark the official groundbreaking of the future Markham Pan Am Centre. Federal and provincial government representatives along with Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Members of Council, officials from 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games, and Olympians Michelle Li and Christine Robinson were greeted with cheers as they broke ground with ceremonial shovels at the construction site in Markham Centre.