Markham enhances Thornhill Community Centre

MARKHAM, ON – September 13, 2018 – Join the City of Markham on Sunday, September 16 for an afternoon of food, music and family activities to celebrate the completion of improvements made to the Thornhill Community Centre & Library, home of the CWHL's Markham Thunder and one of the oldest community centres in the City. As part of this revitalization project, the City of Markham has also installed a bronze monument to pay tribute to Benjamin Thorne, the founder of Thornhill.

Benjamin Thorne arrived in Upper Canada in 1820 and by 1830, was operating a gristmill, a sawmill and a tannery in the small settlement that came to be known as Thorne's Mills and then, Thorne's Hill. As a successful businessman, Thorne's contributions and dedication to Thornhill became the foundation of a strong economic centre that valued a culturally and socially-oriented community.

"This is Markham's final Canada 150 Legacy project celebration, at one of our oldest community centres, honouring one of Markham's founding fathers," says Mayor Frank Scarpitti. "In preserving our heritage, we can reflect on where we came from as a community and as a nation. We are creating spaces that generations, now and into the future, can enjoy and be proud of."

Visitors to the Thornhill Community Centre & Library will now be greeted by a pollinator garden, lush planters and fresh paving at the entrance, complimented by new benches, picnic tables with fixed chess boards, and bicycle racks to further enhance this public space.

Funding for the Thornhill Community Centre & Library entrance improvements was provided in part by the Government of Canada through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
“Communities are built around shared spaces and shared experiences," says the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion. "That’s why it is so important we keep our libraries, recreational centres, parks and museums in great shape, so that people can benefit from them and the community they foster. I’m so proud that our government is investing over $1.6 million in the City of Markham through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program. The $133,571 investment in the Thornhill Community Centre and Library will help revitalize the space for all community members to enjoy for years to come.”

When:

 Sunday, September 16, 2018
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Where:

Thornhill Community Centre & Library
7755 Bayview Avenue, Markham

Who:

Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Video from the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion
Councillor Valerie Burke, Emcee
John Webster, Town Crier
Jacob Charles, CEO of First Nation Tours

What:

• Tai Chi & Zumba demonstrations
• Interactive dancing
• Children's activities
• Musical entertainment

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office: Lama Nicolas, Senior Communications Advisor at lnicolas@markham.ca or 416-671-2890

For all other media inquiries related to this news release:
Erynn Sally, Media Relations Coordinator at esally@markham.ca or 416-737-2684