6 things to know about York University’s new Markham campus as it breaks ground

York Region’s first public university campus slated to open in 2023

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 23, 2020

York University held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, Sept. 22 to mark the official start of construction on its new Markham Centre Campus.

Here are six things you need to know about York Region’s first public university campus.

• The 10-storey Markham Centre Campus (MCC), located near the corner of Enterprise Boulevard and Rivis Road immediately west of the Pan Am Centre, is scheduled to open its doors in 2023 to 4,200 students, with the flexibility to respond to future growth demands.

Provincial government pulls funding for York University Markham campus

• The projected cost is $275.5 million, with the capital funding including significant financial commitments from York Region, the City of Markham and donor contributions, as well as the university’s existing capital funds, after the province pulled the plug on commitments to fund the project two years ago. Along with the Markham York campus, the province also cancelled funding for Wilfrid Laurier University’s planned expansion in Milton and Ryerson University's Brampton campus. The City of Markham donated the five-acre parcel of land, worth an estimated $50 million, which contributed to the efforts to keep the project going despite the loss of provincial funds. Premier Doug Ford was, however, at the site in July, where he pledged to provide funding once students arrive.

• Technology and business are the two major themes intertwined in the new programs offered at the campus. York University President and Vice-Chancellor, Rhonda L. Lenton, said the MCC will offer degree programs and micro-credentials with a strong focus on digital technologies, entrepreneurship and experiential education in high demand areas, such as business and entrepreneurship, data analytics, new media and communications. Government, public and private partnerships will provide students with work-integrated learning opportunities while they study, as well as local job prospects when they graduate.

• Officials say the campus will enhance access and affordability in post-secondary education and help meet the future skills needs of the province and the region. The number of 18- to 22-year-olds in York Region is projected to grow by 34 per cent by 2041, which represents the highest growth rate in Ontario. The MCC will allow prospective students to study closer to home while supporting the talent needs of the area’s burgeoning high-tech sector. Located in or near what are considered five provincially-significant employment zones, York Region is projected to create 15,000 jobs annually through 2030.

• The campus is being billed as a magnet for jobs and investment in the area and takes the university’s already-close ties in Markham to the next level. Innovation York, the university’s research and innovation arm, is a major partner in the IBM Innovation Space-Markham Convergence Centre. York’s community innovation hub YSpace supports budding entrepreneurs in Markham. And the university introduced academic programming in Markham for the first time last fall, with classes at the IBM Canada headquarters.

• Sporting hard hats and hoisting ceremonial shovels at the groundbreaking were York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the Region of York Wayne Emmerson, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng, , Markham-Thornhill MP Billy Pang and York University student Hanaa Amir. MPPs Daisy Wai (Richmond Hill), Logan Kanapathi (Markham-Thornhill) and Gila Marteau (Thornhill), as well as representatives of the architect and builder, were also in attendance.