The Markham City Council is the governing body of the city of Markham, Ontario, Canada. It consists of the mayor, eight councillors who each represent one of the city's eight wards, and four regional councillors who, along with the mayor, are elected via double direct election to represent the city at York Regional Council.
The most recent municipal election was held in 2022.
History
Markham Village was incorporated as a township in 1850, establishing a council with one reeve, one deputy reeve, and three councillors.[1] This system was used until 1 January 1971, when municipalities in York County were reorganized into the Regional Municipality of York, and Markham was newly incorporated as a town when Markham Village merged with Unionville and Thornhill east of Yonge Street.[1] An electoral system based on six wards was established, and this numeric ward system remains mostly unchanged since its creation. Two wards were added, one in 1976 (Ward 7), and another in 1984 (Ward 8).[2]
Minor boundary changes have taken place (1978, 1982, 1997 and 2006) with no impact on the numbering.[2]
Most ward changes require approval by the Ontario Municipal Board (in the case of 1976 and 1997) with only the 2006 changes not requiring prior approval.[2]
Changes were made to the boundaries for all 8 wards for 2014 elections with Thornhill assigned to Ward 1 to replace the former Ward 1 and 2 split.[2]
The changes also take into consideration existing neighbourhoods, natural boundaries, better representation by population, effective representation and accommodation for future growth of Markham.[2]
Then still under town status, the mayor, town councillors and regional councillors were elected by the residents of Markham every 3 years until 2006. Provincial legislation extended the election period to 4 years.
Cornell, Mount Joy, Unionville's Berczy Village, Vinegar Hill, Greensborough
Dan Horchik
6
West Unionville, and the surrounding Unionville neighbourhoods including Cachet, Victoria Square, Cashel, Angus Glen, Cathedraltown
Logan Kanapathi
7
Box Grove, Armadale, Legacy
First elected politician in Canada from the Canadian-Tamil community
Alex Chiu
8
Milliken Mills
Former Ward 7 councillor
Regional Councillors
Regional councillors are elected at-large to represent the city at York Regional Council. By default the mayor is also a member of the Regional Council.
Appointed in September 2009 after the death of Tony Wong.;[3] former Ward 3 town councillor
Gordon Landon
Markham
Conservative candidates for the federal riding of Markham in next federal elections
Town Council (2010-2012) and City Council (2012-2014)
The council elected in the 2010 municipal election took office on December 1, 2010. The town council members became city council members on July 1, 2012 when Markham changed from a town to a city.[4]
Buttonville, Brown's Corner, Cachet, Victoria Square, Cashel, Angus Glen, Cathedraltown
Logan Kanapathi
7
Box Grove, Armadale, Legacy, Cedar Grove
Alex Chiu
8
Milliken Mills, Hagerman's Corner
former Ward 7 councillor and owner of retail store at Market Village Mall
Regional Councillors
Regional councillors are elected at-large to represent the city at York Regional Council. By default the mayor is also a member of the Regional Council.
Conservative candidates for the federal riding of Markham in next federal elections; Development Services Committee - Chair of Transportation
Joe Li
Markham
former Progressive Conservative/Conservative candidate during past federal elections - Scarborough—Rouge River (1997 federal elections) and Markham—Unionville (2004 and 2006)
City Council (2014-2018)
The council elected in the 2014 municipal election took office on December 1, 2014. Wards boundaries were changed with former Ward 1 and 2 combined as one (with portions moved to other wards), former Ward 6 became Ward 2.
Angus Glen, Berczy Village, Wismer Commons (North of Bur Oak), Dickson Hill (West of Markham Road)
This is a newly created Ward 6 taking some parts of Ward 2 & 4
Khalid Usman
7
Box Grove, Armadale, Legacy, Cedar Grove
Alex Chiu
8
Milliken Mills, Hagerman's Corner
former Ward 7 councillor and owner of retail store at Market Village Mall
Regional Councillors
Regional councillors are elected at-large to represent the city at York Regional Council. By default the mayor is also a member of the Regional Council.
former Progressive Conservative/Conservative candidate during past federal elections - Scarborough—Rouge River (1997 federal elections) and Markham—Unionville (2004 and 2006)
Thornhill, Langstaff, Steeles Corner, German Mills, Thornlea
Alan Ho
2
Buttonville, Brown's Corner, Cachet, Victoria Square, Cashel, Cathedraltown
Reid McAlpine
3
Unionville, Downtown Markham
Karen Rea
4
Mount Joy, Wismer Commons (South of Bur Oak), Markham Village, Ramerville
Andrew Keyes
5
Cornell (Grand Cornell, Upper Corner), Vinegar Hill, Quantztown, Locust Hill, Dickson Hill (East of Markham Road)
Amanda Yeung Collucci
6
Angus Glen, Berczy Village, Wismer Commons (North of Bur Oak), Dickson Hill (West of Markham Road)
Khalid Usman
7
Box Grove, Armadale, Legacy, Cedar Grove
Isa Lee
8
Milliken Mills, Hagerman's Corner
33-year council veteran and incumbent Alex Chiu did not run[5]
Regional Councillors
Regional councillors are elected at-large to represent the city at York Regional Council. By default the mayor is also a member of the Regional Council.
Deputy Mayor (2018-2022), former Ward 3 councillor (2009-2018)
Joe Li
Markham
former Progressive Conservative/Conservative candidate during past federal elections - Scarborough—Rouge River (1997 federal elections) and Markham—Unionville (2004 and 2006)
Thornhill, Langstaff, Steeles Corner, German Mills, Thornlea
Ritch Lau
2
Buttonville, Brown's Corner, Cachet, Victoria Square, Cashel, Cathedraltown
Reid McAlpine
3
Unionville, Downtown Markham
Karen Rea
4
Mount Joy, Wismer Commons (South of Bur Oak), Markham Village, Ramerville
Andrew Keyes
5
Cornell (Grand Cornell, Upper Corner), Vinegar Hill, Quantztown, Locust Hill, Dickson Hill (East of Markham Road)
Amanda Yeung Collucci
6
Angus Glen, Berczy Village, Wismer Commons (North of Bur Oak), Dickson Hill (West of Markham Road)
Juanita Nathan
7
Box Grove, Armadale, Legacy, Cedar Grove
Isa Lee
8
Milliken Mills, Hagerman's Corner
Regional Councillors
Regional councillors are elected at-large to represent the city at York Regional Council. By default the mayor is also a member of the Regional Council.
City council vacancies are filled by a by-election, as in the case in 2009 when then Ward 3 councillor Joseph Virgilio resigned to become Regional Councillor and Don Hamilton elected as the new Ward 3 councillor.
Prior to the Ward 3 by-election Joseph Virgilio was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the death of Regional Councillor Tony Wong.
Committees
Committees are created and chair and represented by city councillors to deal with issues and by-laws that impact the city. The chair and vice-chairs are elected selected by the mayor.
STANDING COMMITTEES
Development Services Committee
General Committee
Committee of the Whole
OTHER COMMITTEES
Cornell Hub
Langstaff Implementation
Licensing
Parking Advisory
Environmental Issues
Thornhill
Toronto Liaison
Green Print Steering
Public Realm Advisory
Storm Water Management Liaison
School Board Liaison
Seniors Hall of Fame Awards
Stiver Mill Preservation
ADVISORY COMMITTEES
Committee of Adjustment
Heritage Markham Committee
Achievement & Civic Recognition Awards (ACRA)
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Pandemic Readiness Emergency Plan (PREP) Steering
Public Art Advisory
Seniors' Hall of Fame Awards
Environmental Advisory
Race Relations
Advisory Committee on Accessibility
Animal Care
Environmental Issues
Cycling & Pedestrian Advisory
SUB-COMMITTEES
Communications Committee and Information Technology
Budget
Licensing
Milliken Mills
Parking Advisory
Southeast Community Centre & Library Design
References
^ abChampion, Isabel; Champion, Mary B.; Johnson, Frank H.; Lunau, John W. (1989). Champion, Isabel (ed.). Markham: 1793–1900. The Markham District Historical Society. pp. 343–351. ISBN0969090005.
