Markham Community Makers

Coming from a family of creators, Lorne began drawing the animals and surroundings he saw on his father's farm in Markham at a young age. As he became older, his interest in making artwork grew and he attended an art school to further develop his skills. Lorne is known for the various handcrafted projects he created throughout his life.

Given the variety of handmade pieces Lorne worked on, the development behind each creation differs. He is not the type of creator who constantly aims for perfection. Instead, he tweaks and adjusts his work based on its current state. Lorne's resourceful personality is reflected throughout his art and his knack for repairing objects has made him an invaluable community member wherever he goes.

Originally from Germany, Ruth emigrated to Canada in 1949 at the age of 23. With her husband, the couple purchased a plot of farmland in Unionville in 1954. They constructed their own bungalow and resided in the area for roughly 70 years.
 
By the 1970s and 1980s, Ruth noticed that Markham was undergoing significant changes. To document her hometown before it became unrecognizable, she began creating three-dimensional fabric collages based on areas and landmarks around Markham. Over the years, Ruth has won numerous awards for the pieces she created.

Jacob Roth was born in Punkeydoodles Corners, Waterloo County, in 1896. He worked as both a farmer and a mechanic—skills that later influenced his sculptural work. He married Melinda Roth in 1920, and together they had four children: Stanley, Alice, Esther, and Clayton. At the age of 82, Roth moved to Ailsa Craig to live with his son Stanley. There, he filled his days creating sculptures in a workshop he built himself. His work reflects scenes of farm life and machinery, drawing on his lived experience. Roth created most of his sculptures between 1980 and 1989 and remained in Ailsa Craig until his death in 1995.

Christian Lehman Hoover was born in 1835 in Markham Township. He was the grandson of John Hoover, who immigrated to Canada from Pennsylvania in 1804. Hoover worked primarily as a farmer but took a break in 1854–55 due to illness. During this time, he created Fraktur—Pennsylvania German folk art that decorates documents such as birth and baptismal records with stylized lettering and colourful illustrations. After recovering, he returned to farming on the family homestead. Hoover married Suzannah Hoover and lived in Markham until his death in 1918.

KEVA is a simple building system that uses one brick to inspire the creative spirit in people of all ages and abilities. Precision milling of the hardwood bricks ensures they can be used for precise construction.

Join the other makers in this space and become part of our local community. Try one of our building challenges or create something new and unique with these bricks.