Markham Centre OVIN Demonstration Zone

Chris collaborated with the City of Vaughan to secure $2.5 million in funding from the Province of Ontario to establish an Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Demonstration Zone in Markham Centre. The initiative provides a real-world urban environment where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can pilot and showcase advanced mobility solutions—including electric vehicles, robotics, integrated mobility systems, and connected/autonomous vehicle technologies. The zone is now operational across downtown Markham and Vaughan.

See the website.

Markham is More: Markham’s Economic Development and Culture Strategy

Chris co-authored “Markham is More,” the City’s integrated Economic Development and Culture Strategy for 2023–2027. The strategy breaks new ground by uniting economic development and cultural planning into a single roadmap—recognizing the critical role of arts and culture in shaping livable cities and attracting top talent. With five strategic goals, the strategy lays out a vision for Markham’s future focused on business growth, innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative economy development.

It also positions the City to capitalize on major developments, including the arrival of York University’s new campus, Canada’s largest semiconductor cluster, and the planned Markham Innovation Exchange (MiX)—a 1,900-acre employment zone for next-generation manufacturing.

View the Strategy.

Markham Economic Development Website

Chris led the design and launch of a new economic development and culture website for the City of Markham, aimed at showcasing local business success stories and attracting new investment. The site provides a centralized hub for economic resources, municipal services, and talent attraction, while also telling the story of Markham’s transformation into one of North America’s top tech and innovation hubs.

Explore the new website at MarkhamBusiness.ca

Markham Economic Development and Culture CRM

Chris modernized the City of Markham’s Economic Development and Culture Department by designing and implementing a new CRM system using the Zoho platform. The project consolidated data across teams, streamlined workflows, and improved reporting, enabling more responsive service to businesses and better tracking of economic development outcomes.