jan-2018

78 79 frastructure throughout the region, and managed to receive the third largest investment outside of Toronto for the 2015 PanAm ParaPan Games. The Markham PanAm Centre is now a legacy for sports development and sports tourism in the community, allowing young athletes to train and compete provincially, nationally, and internation- ally. Recently, the Centre hosted the 2017Wom- en’s Table Tennis Championships –only the third time it’s been held outside of Asia, and the first time in Canada. “I think we’re one of the most progressive com- munities in the country,” Scarpitti reports. “For the size of our population, even some of the bigger cities would be proud to achieve what we have. We embrace tech–over 70 services you can in- teract with on the city website. It may sound like a simple thing, but tradespeople are thrilled to go online for a permit with one click of a button, rather than physically going from one depart- ment to another.We use technology to get value for taxpayers, and deliver a higher standard of service. Next year will be the fifth election where we’ve had internet voting, allowing people to participate in the democratic process from wher- ever they are. “We operate with a strong entrepreneurial spir- it; partnership, technology, innovation, allowing staff to come up with new ideas. And through it all, we’ve managed to have the lowest tax in- creases for the past ten years.While we didn’t set out to do it, we now have the lowest commercial tax rate in the GTA.” Markham enjoys a strong relationship with MARKHAM, ONTARIO n Municipal Connections n Emergency watermain repairs n Mainline Watermain and Sewer Installations n Sewer Repairs n Fire Hydrant Repairs, Service, Maintenance and Installation n Environmental / Contaminated Soil Removal n Vacuum Truck Services n Water Service Box, Valve and Box Replacement n Directional Boring n Excavation / Demolition n Rectifying Site Deficiencies n Fully stocked inventory of parts for all emergency repairs Our approach has always been to deliver the best work to our community. We live here and the pride we take in all of our projects reflects that. FDM Contracting specializes in: 24-hour emergency service 905-889-5671 FDM Contracting Co. Ltd is a site specialist operating in the Greater Toronto Area for more than 40 years. We service private and munic- ipal clients for their water main, sewer, fire hydrant, connection and excavating needs. It is imperative to us that our clients can depend on the work we provide; installing and repairing key components on site and our professionalism to get the job done right and on time. With an energy ally, you can see what’s possible. Alectra’s family of energy companies, owned in part by the City of Markham, distributes electricity to nearly one million customers and three million people in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe area and provides innovative energy solutions to these and thousands more across Ontario. We strive to be an ally to our customers and are bringing forward new technologies that will help shape the energy being used in our homes, workplaces and communities. Learn more at alectrautilities.com @alectranews AlectraNews AlectraNews AlectraNews Alectra TREES FOR TOMORROW Ever the tree hugger, Mayor Scar- pitti launched the Trees for Tomorrow program during his first term in 2006. Over 130,000 trees were planted in those first four years, and since then the city has planted almost one tree for every resident in the community, in an effort to increase tree cover, and have better biodiversity. Due to the loss of 17,000 ash trees to the Emerald Ash Borer, the city has also enhanced funding to replace those trees along residential streets and in the parks. the development community. And even though re- quirements can be tough, developers perform beyond expectations. Scarpitti acknowledges, “I’m proud of the Times Group– their condominium building is one of the few in Canada to achieve Platinum Leed certifi- cation. Another is the Remington Group; a major land owner in Markham Centre, where we’ve planned for 40,000 to live, eventually, and another 40,000 to work. I give them full marks for investing big dollars in public art and urban design in downtown Markham. At the heart is a beautiful, multi-million-dollar carousel they commissioned an artist to create. It’s made of recy- cled and repurposed material sourced from across the country, and called the Pride of Canada. York University is also building a new campus in the emerging down- town area. It will house over 4,000 students when it opens in 2021, and eventually close to 20,000.”