Markham Expo 150 - A Truly Canadian Celebration

This memorable Canada 150 and Ontario150 celebration featured Markham’s rich history, sports, arts and culture, agriculture and diversity!

There was plenty to talk, text and tweet about. If you missed out on Markham Expo 150, you missed out on memories that come but once in a lifetime. The exciting legacy showcase of Markham’s rich history, sports, arts and culture, agriculture and diversity attracted people of all ages from around York Region and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Funded by Ontario150, Canada 150, the City of Markham and corporate sponsors, the three-day extravaganza from September 8 to 10 was an all encompassing birthday celebration on a scale never before seen in Markham.

People were treated to free, live entertainment by famous Canadian and Ontario performing artists, and countless fun activities, exhibits, sports, cultural showcases and foods to suit every taste.

Music Under the Stars at the Unionville Millennium Bandstand set the tone for an unforgettable weekend with coloratura soprano Andrea Nunez, Motown band Blu Soul, and the Markham Concert Band.

The Berczy Statue dedication ceremony honoured one of Markham’s founders, William Berczy. A Night of Fun featured stand-up comic and actor Ali Hassan, and award-winning “vocal chameleon” André-Philippe Gagnon, along with Markham Star Search finalists Michelle White and Jonathan Michael and Canadian Chinese pop singer Eric Fok. The GTA’s hottest street food trucks served up a diversity of good eats.

The third day of Markham Expo 150 began with a Multifaith Celebration, a parade, a Markham Showcase of business and community groups, a Children’s Fun Zone, an Art Expo featuring Markham’s history and culture, Around the World in 80 minutes a cultural showcase, and First Nations celebrations. Culture and heritage with activities and ceremonies, including an art showcase, marketplace, performances and inter-tribal powwow. The Fashion Show Through History featured famed designer Linda Lundström’s Sewing Circle Project KASKii from Eabametoong First Nation.

As part of the Ontario150 celebrations, the ONtour Concert Series made a stop at Markham Expo 150. The free, four-hour concert starred Juno-winning Canadian icons Barenaked Ladies, chart-topping Juno-nominated Tyler Shaw, and country-folk singer Jessica Mitchell.

The biggest fireworks ever in the history of Markham lit up the night sky with a brilliant display of Canadian pride and diversity – a fitting farewell to Markham Expo 150.

The Markham Expo 150 also had Canadian generosity at work with a twenty thousand dollar donation to the Eabametoong First Nations community.

“We have a lot to celebrate in this community when it comes to Canada and Ontario’s 150th birthday and our celebration was much more meaningful with our donation to the Eabametoong First Nations community,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Chair of the Markham Expo 150 initiative.

Mayor Scarpitti went on to thank all the participants, performers, volunteers and corporate sponsors for making Markham Expo 150 such a memorable event.

Generous sponsorship helped to make Markham Expo 150 a resounding success. The gold level sponsor was Flato Developments Incorporated. Silver level sponsors: Happy Life Wealth Management, Liberty Development, The Remington Group, and Upper Unionville. Bronze level sponsors: Alectra, The Kingsberg Group, One Piece Developments, Times Group Corporation, and Tim Hortons.

Photos:

Markham Expo 150 cheque presentation of twenty thousand dollar donation to the Eabametoong First Nations community.

Traditional Chinese dancers from the Chinese Collective Arts Association, main stage performance at Markham Expo 150's Around the World in 80 Minutes cultural showcase.

Markham's biggest fireworks show lit up the night sky with a brilliant display of Canadian pride and diversity – a fitting farewell to Markham Expo 150.

Quote:

“We wanted to create something big that would excite and unite our diverse communities. A breakthrough event to inspire a sense of pride, place and belonging. I think we really hit the mark with Markham Expo 150. And we couldn’t have done it without our amazing City Councillors and staff, strong federal and provincial support, dedicated volunteers, and generous sponsors.”

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti

Quick Facts:

As part of Ontario’s 150th anniversary celebrations, free ONtour Concert Series are being presented in select communities across the province, showcasing some of Ontario’s brightest homegrown musical talent. Markham was a recipient community of one of the 22 ONtour concerts.
Eabametoong (also known as Fort Hope) is an Ojibway First Nation located 360 kilometres north of Thunder Bay (1,000 kilometers north of Markham) on the northern shore of Eabamet Lake.
The Multifaith Celebration included participants from the Jewish, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Aboriginal, Islam and Lutheran faiths.

Associated Links:

• ONtour Concert Series
   
• Barenaked Ladies
   
• Tyler Shaw
   
• Jessica Mitchell
   
• Andre-Philippe Gagnon
   
• Ali Hassan
   
• Markham Concert Band
   
• Andrea Nunez
   
• Blu Soul
   
• Star Search Markham
   
• Eric Fok
   
• Markham-Eabametoong First Nation Partnership

Event photos are available on the City of Markham’s Flickr album.

For more information:

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti: mayorscarpitti@markham.ca or 905.475.4872.

Media inquiries / interview requests: Corporate Communications & Community Engagement Department at media@markham.ca or 905.415.7548.

About Markham: Markham, a municipality with 350,000 residents centrally located in the Greater Toronto area, is home to over 400 corporate head offices and more than 1,100 high tech and life science companies. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community, enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Markham has received the Excellence Canada Gold Award for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace, and multiple heritage and environmental awards.