A Case Study of Markham and Brampton
BENEFITS OF Diversity:
A Tale of Two Cities
A Case Study of Markham and Brampton
By Sarah B. Hood
Diversity can be a strength— and the Ontario municipalities of Markham and Brampton are proving the truth of this idea. So what are they doing right?
Markham“ Markham thrives because we are an immigration receptor,” says Stephen Chait, Markham’ s director of culture and economic development.“ We’ re very fortunate that we’ re able to accommodate ambitious people who come from overseas and choose to live in Markham. They bring with them an extraordinary amount of talent.”
Recent census figures( 2011) give Markham’ s population as 301,709. More than half its residents( 171,875) report a mother tongue other than English or French. Chinese languages make up three of the four top reported mother tongues. According to Statistics Canada’ s 2013 National Household Survey, Markham is Canada’ s most diverse community, with more than 70 per cent of its residents being members of visible minorities.
As a high-tech industry node, Markham and its businesses are competing with the world for top employees.“ A city with a global perspective inspires innovation from diverse communities and enables investment and entrepreneurship,” says Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.
That perspective was reflected in Markham’ s Economic Competitiveness Strategy( Markham 2020), launched in 2008 as a blueprint to shape Markham as a leading community in the knowledge-based economy. Richard Florida, one of North America’ s foremost urban experts, hailed the document, saying,“ I see economic strategies all over the world. This is certainly the tightest, the smartest and the best one I’ ve ever seen.”
The global approach has paid off handsomely. Known as Canada’ s hightech capital, Markham has grown to be the proud home of 1,000 information technology and communications companies that generate 37,000 jobs, as well as more than 400 Canadian head offices.
Ensuring a prosperous future means creating a place that’ s attractive to the international talent pool.“ Our employers seek the support of the
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