Recognizing outstanding people and ideas with awards, grants and funding.
The City of Markham is happy to support community events and programs through our Celebrate Markham Grant Program. The program gives funding to not-for-profit organizations in Markham.
This grant:
Supports community events and programs
Encourages community inclusivity
Enhances Markham’s reputation as a destination City for visitors and tourists.
We accept applications every September for this yearly grant program. You can apply for the following grants:
Cultural Events and Programs: $5,000
Major Community Festivals: $10,000
Sports Events: $10,000 (Note: for International/World level sports events: up to $20,000)
Seniors’ Clubs: $3,000
Applications Dates for the 2024/2025 funding cycle:
Sports Events: apply between August 21, 2023 at noon to September 21, 2023 by 1 PM
Cultural Events, Major Community Events and Seniors Clubs: apply between October 2, 2023 at noon to November 2, 2023 by 1 PM
Creating safer, more vibrant & inclusive communities.
The Healthy Communities Initiative supports communities as they create and adapt public spaces, and programming and services for public spaces to respond to ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years.
This $31 million investment from the Government of Canada will fund small-scale infrastructure projects to create safer, more vibrant and inclusive communities.
Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) and its network are working alongside the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) and other partners to deliver the Healthy Communities Initiative locally.
The Healthy Communities Initiative encourages community-level innovation and improvements in the quality of life for residents.
As local communities continue to adapt to COVID-19, local governments and community partners across the country in urban, rural and remote communities are discovering new ways to keep residents safe and healthy, support economic recovery and rebuild communities to be pandemic-resilient.
Organizations can apply to the Healthy Communities Initiative until March 9, 2021, at 5:00 PM PST.
The Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund Program supports innovative and leading environmental initiatives. It provides financial support for projects in Markham that promote environmental responsibility, enhance the protection of natural resources and supports the vision for a greenMarkham.
The purpose of the program is to provide demonstrable, widespread, and lasting environmental benefits to the Markham community through:
Markham’s Starter Company Plus program seeks to help entrepreneurs start, expand or grow a small business in Markham by providing training, education and advisory services and an opportunity to be selected for grant funding of up to $5,000.00 including access to mentorship from local business leaders.
The Heritage Markham Awards of Excellence is a program initiated in 2000, Heritage Markham's 25th Anniversary year. The committee decided to give awards to celebrate the best heritage works completed in the community over the previous 25 years. Since then, Heritage Markham has been holding an annual awards ceremony to recognize & celebrate excellence in heritage conservation by honouring some of the best heritage works in the community which were completed in the past year.
In 2002 there were fourteen Heritage Markham Award of Excellence winners. In selecting the award winners Heritage Markham Committee considered all of the works that it had reviewed over the past year, and identified those projects which were considered the best in terms of design, implementation and were a good example for other projects which may arise in the future.
The ceremony took place in the historic Cedar Grove Schoolhouse Community Centre, one of Markham's first ever designated heritage sites. Winners included such diverse areas as additions to heritage buildings, restoration of heritage buildings, new construction in heritage areas, a book on local heritage, and the Markham Village Farmers Market for the positive impact that that project had on the Markham Village Heritage Conservation District. See some of the winners below.
George Duncan - York County Mouldings Book
Haldenby-Jones Family of 60 Drawbridge Road
Roger Matthews of Charles Mattews Ltd.
Roger Matthews of Charles Mattews Ltd.
Unionville Bandstand Recipients
Vivian Risi of 161 Main Street, Unionville
For more information about these awards please contact Michael Seaman, Senior Planner, Heritage & Conservation at 905.477.7000 extension 7955 or Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning at 905.477.7000 extension 2080.
Markham has a long and strong history of volunteerism. Each year, the Mayor rewards a nominee over 60 years of age. This senior will have made a unique and outstanding contribution to the Markham Community.
How to Apply
Stay tuned for more information about the next nomination deadline and presentation date.
More Information
Contact Laura Gold at 905.477.7000 extension 4930 or lgold@markham.ca.
Previous Winners
21st Annual Mayor’s Seniors’ Hall of Fame Awards (2019) – Thursday, October 3, 2019
The City of Markham celebrated new inductees and nominees to the Mayor’s Seniors’ Hall of Fame at the 21st annual awards presentation on October 3 at the Markham Civic Centre. Some of Markham’s most dedicated volunteers were recognized for their years of service, passion and leadership to make Markham a more vibrant place to live.
The 2019 Mayor’s Seniors’ Hall of Fame Award went to retired track and field athlete and pharmacist, Bill Crothers. In 1963, Bill was named the Lou Marsh Trophy winner as Canada’s top athlete. He also represented Canada in the 1964 Olympics, the 1962 and 1966 British Commonwealth Games, and the 1967 Pan Am Games.
In addition to his participation on several boards within the community including Flato Markham Theatre, Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, Friends of the Markham Museum, and more, Bill is well-recognized for his work in the community and has been honoured by having Bill Crothers Secondary School named after him in 2008.
Two individuals received this year’s Meritorious Awards – Paul Sayal and Eric Tappenden.
Paul is a business owner and philanthropist who has been a resident of Markham for 45 years. He formed Sayal Charitable Foundation 25 years ago as a philanthropic arm of his business, Sayal Electronics. To this day, the foundation supports various charities across the community. Paul also volunteers for the Markham Stouffville Hospital, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Markham Food Bank.
Eric has been an active volunteer in the community since 2003. He continues to serve on the Board of Governors at Markham Stouffville Hospital and since 2011, he has been a co-chair of the York Regional Police Advisory Committee and Police Appreciation Committee.
Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Pam Birrell, Branch Duncan, Pat Howell and Jim Sandiford for their work within the community.
Flowers were also presented to 99 year-old Branch Duncan along with a spontaneous rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung by everyone at the event. Branch will celebrate her 100th birthday on December 6, 2019.
Mayor’s Seniors’ Hall of Fame nominees include: K.S. Ananthan, Andy Cheung, Michael Clare, James Dawes, Virendar Dewan, Donato Fantini, Pravin Gandhi, Carol Janson, John Janson, Shafic Kara, Tian An Liang, Junjin Ma, Peter Miasek, Elizabeth Price, Arul Rajasingam, Leslie Rodrigues, Donald Peter Ross, Don Tom, Shiam Tripathi, and Su Tao Zhang.
The ceremony followed a flag raising by the Community & Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS) to recognize National Seniors Day on October 1, 2019. Event photos are available at markham.ca/photos.
20th Annual Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Awards (2018) — Monday, October 1, 2018
Ken Ng received this year's Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Award. Bill Dawson and Judi McIntyre received Meritorious Awards and Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Satya Arora, Ruxuan Tan and Elaine Vollett.
Flato Markham Theatre 171 Town Centre Boulevard Markham, Ontario, L3R 8G5
19th Annual Mayor's Senoirs Hall of Fame Awards (2017)
Mayor Frank Scarpitti and Markham's seniors committee recognized the winners of the 2017 Mayor's Hall of Fame Awards.
The 19th Annual Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Awards were celebrated at the Markham Civic Centre at a very special ceremony on October 2, 2017. John Buie received this year's Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Award for his service and volunteering throughout the city. Ross Bowser and Rob Hyland received Meritorious Awards, and Certificate of Appreciation were presented to Vijay Ghai, Lorna Rogers and Helen Walter.
18th Annual Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Awards (2016)
Khalid Usman received this year's Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Award for his service and leadership in his community. Khalid has been an active member of Markham's Race Relations Committee for years. He was the driving force behind the "Many Faces of Markham" project that promotes mutual respect and rapport between communities. He has also served as the Chairman of York Region's Peace Tree initiative. Khalid has also made significant contributions to the international community. He was one of the founding directors of the Canadian Federation of Intercultural friendship (CFIF).
17th Annual Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Awards (2015)
John Webster received the 2015 Hall of Fame Award. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, John has been active in many charitable and not-for-profit causes in Markham. As the Official Town Crier, John represents the City in competitions around the world. A member of the Optimist Club of Markham, John has volunteered with many community organizations and events over the years. He is also a chartered member of the renowned Markham Concert Band. He also chaired both the Golden and Diamond Jubilee Committees.
Anne Nicholson and Ardy Reid received Meritorious Awards. Certificates of Appreciation were given to to Javid Khan, Al Wallis, and Dorothy Reesor.
16th Annual Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Awards (2014)
Betty Bell received this year’s Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Award for her tireless work in the community. Betty devoted hours to raising funds for the Breast Health Centre at Markham-Stouffville Hospital and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. She has also been an active volunteer with the Celebration of Hope, the Raffle of Hope, the Culinary Classic Golf Tournament and many other charitable community events. In addition, Betty received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal Award in 2012.
The Meritorious Award recipients were Robert Stiver and Mary Lou Busato. Certificates of Appreciation were given to Jean-Anne Dodge, Ashok Joshi, Carol Smith, and Elaine Wilton.
15th Annual Mayor's Seniors Hall of Fame Awards (2013)
This year’s recipient was Peter Mason. Carol Wong and Angela Morris received the Meritorious Award. Certificates of Appreciation are given to Barbara Taverner, Bruce Brown, and Louise Mills.
The Markham ACRA Award was started in 1985. Every two years, it’s given to someone who has made a unique and outstanding contribution to Markham.
