Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services, briefly introduced Giulio Cescato, the new Director of Planning and Urban Design, advising that a more comprehensive introduction will be provided at tomorrow’s Development Services Committee meeting.
Mr. Prasad advised that the City of Markham is currently undertaking the development of a new five-year Economic Development and Culture Strategy, and that this will be a strategic planning exercise to share economic and cultural insights into Markham and identify potential priorities that could be integrated into the strategy.
Chris Rickett, Director, Economic Development, Culture and Entrepreneurship, introduced the Economic Development and Culture Staff and spoke of the uniqueness of and importance of integrating Markham’s Economic Development and Culture Strategy, as art and culture play a key role in attracting investment and talent to Markham.
Mr. Rickett provided a presentation titled “Economic Development and Culture Strategy Workshop”. Mr. Rickett presented the Departmental Overview and Update.
Committee discussed the following relative to the staff presentation:
- The programs the Markham Campus of York University will offer, including the possibility of it having health related programs in the future;
- Markham’s semiconductor and tech industry and the role ventureLAB has played in building a semiconductor supply chain in Canada;
- The role Markham could play in the renewable energy industry and how semiconductors play a role in this industry.
Paul Blais, Managing Director, and Evelyn Paul, Manager, Deloittee LLP, conducted the Economic and Development and Culture Strategy Workshop. They asked the Committee four questions to obtain Members of Council’s input on what they think should be prioritized in the new Economic Development and Culture Strategy. Members of Council and Staff provided their input on a virtual whiteboard.
The Committee requested that Staff summarize the feedback received from today’s session and email it to Members of Council.
Mr. Rickett advised that staff will report back at a future Development Services Committee on the feedback from the consultation sessions that will be undertaken on the new Economic Development and Culture Study.