Aileen-Willowbrook Residents Association (AWRA) Latest News

 Support our efforts by joining or renewing your membership today. Continued membership helps sustain community initiatives and ensures that our area remains a wonderful place for everyone.

Please Renew or Join by sending $20 to awra.thornhill@gmail.com

Visit Membership Webpage for details.

Learn about the good work we have done over the past year, and about the continuing challenges our area faces and for which we need your support.

Our special guest will be Councilor Keith Irish, who will give an update on Ward 1 happenings and will be available for your questions.

Visit AWRA AGMs Webpage for details.

Markham is considering to add Windrow Cleaning service at $4 million cost in the next budget cycle.
If you are interested to provide you feedback, Regional Councilor Alan Ho is conducting a survey here.

You can check out how this service is done across the GTA here.

The City currently offers a Snow Windrow Removal Assistance Program for senior over 60 years old or the individual is unable to shovel snow. Access form here.

On Dec 2, 2025, Markham received an application proposal for 18 townhouse dwellings units.

For more details check out the  Public Meeting information Report (PMIR) and Proposal Documents on MappIT.

A Statutory Public Meeting (SPM)  to consider the Applicant’s proposal will take place on  February 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM

On Jan 20, 2026, Development Services Committee (DSC) received a Recommendation Report to refuse the development application. You can read the report here. For more details check out the  Proposal Documents on MappIT.

DSC gave more time for the developer to update the proposal (expected around May)

Visit Bayview & John Visioning Exercise for details and next steps

A Draft Staff Visioning Report and public meeting is expected before June 2026.

For years AWRA has been lobbying for the creation of a comprehensive development plan for Thornhill Centre (a.k.a. Bayview-John area) which the Markham Official Plan portraits  as a "Local Centre" and we believe to become the “heart” of the Markham-Thornhill community.

On June 25, 2024  Development Services Committee passed a motion  to start a visioning exercise of the area. Markham conducted  3 working sessions:  Jan 13,  Jan 22 and Feb 13, 2025 at the the Thornhill Community Centre. 

Over 140 residents attended and discussion with Markham elected officials and staff was lively. 

A consolidated session report was published on May and presented to DSC on June 10th.

Click here for Session Details and Session Summaries!!!

Visit Thornhill Square Redevelopment webpage for details and next steps

Thornhill Square is a key component in the creation of a urban vision for the Bayview & John area

As of Dec 5th, 2025,  more than 2 years after the settlement agreement, no solution on the sewage capacity has been provided to the OLT tribunal. OLT considers the case closed (no further action) until the parties are ready to re-open it.

On Sep, 2024 the Property was listed for sale

On Feb 5th, 2024 AWRA sent a formal letter to Council Rejecting Thornhill Square Settlement Agreement.

This letter follows our previous  Nov 6, 2023 Letter Correcting inaccurate information entered into evidence at the Ontario Land Tribunal Hearing Case No. OLT-22-003917, held Friday October 13, 2023 

Visit our Windy Hill Park webpage for details or contact secretary.awra.thornhill@gmail.com

• Meet by the gazebo, rain or shine 
• Everyone is welcome 
• Students can get volunteer hours, bring your form 
• Bags and gloves will be provided