Ready, set...not so fast! Markham partially reopens sports and cultural facilities.

September 8, 2020

Ready, set…not so fast! Markham partially reopens sports and cultural facilities. Health, community safety and taxpayers' money remain priorities.

The City of Markham is beginning to offer additional programming and services to residents. Services will gradually resume at select arenas and soccer domes; while the Pan Am Centre, the Aaniin Community Centre and the Angus Glen Tennis Centre will be open to sports groups and registered participants only.

Markham is taking a cautious approach to reopening community facilities. Markham is home to excellent recreation facilities and programs, but the operation of these facilities is already heavily subsidized by property taxpayers. Markham Council is not prepared to further burden residents with higher property taxes by reopening all of our community centres resulting in additional cost for services and dramatically less customers due to COVID-19 protocols.

The City of Markham is committed to providing the same quality service to residents in a cost effective way. By offering recreation programs based on demand, it allows us to evaluate services in order to control costs.

If the City of Markham had resumed full operations at all of its recreation and cultural facilities, while also meeting the COVID-19 protocols, it would have required a doubling of subsidies and an increased cost to taxpayers that would be the equivalent of an additional 6% property tax rate increase.

Markham will also be implementing appointment-only visits to cultural venues such as Markham Museum and Varley Art Gallery. Visitors will enjoy self-guided tours that respect physical distancing and allowing for an enjoyable cultural experience. All programming and registered programs at the Flato Markham Theatre have been cancelled for the fall of 2020 due to current COVID-19 protocols.

COVID-19 health and safety measures will be in effect in all re-opened cultural and recreation facilities in accordance with the Province's limits on facility capacities, York Region's directive on the mandatory use of masks or face coverings and City of Markham policies.

Thank you for your continued cooperation as we respond to this unprecedented public health challenge. I am confident we will find a good balance between reintroducing safe and enjoyable recreation programs and cultural services, while minimizing the impact to our property taxpayers.

Registration is required for all recreation activities, and will begin on September 15, 2020. For all full list of programs and services, visit markham.ca

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