Corporate Markham In The News
December 22, 2003 – Zhongguancun Science Park, China’s largest high-tech industrial development zone, located in Beijing, has opened a satellite liaison office in Markham, Canada’s High-Tech Capital. Beijing’s Vice Mayor Fan Boyuan commented, “The liaison office will be the window between Beijing’s and Canada’s high-tech manufacturing and trading communities.” The Park is comprised of 213 research institutions and 1,500 research and development labs including those of tech giants IBM, Microsoft, Mitsubishi and Motorola and accounted for 60 per cent of Beijing’s economic growth in 2001. Since its inception in Beijing two decades ago, the Park now employs 406,000 people and generated $38.7 billion in annual income. The region also boasts the highest concentration of intellectual talent in China with four of the country’s top learning institutions located there – Beijing University, Tsinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Science and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Chen Xiaoling, China’s Consul General in Toronto commented, “By opening an office in Markham, we certainly hope to open a brighter future for Canada and China.” There are now sites in the world’s leading technology areas in San Jose, Amsterdam and Toronto.
December 11, 2003 – ATI Technologies Inc. headquartered in Markham, announced today that it has been added to the NASDAQ-100 Index®. ATI stock will also be included in the NASDAQ-100 Index Tracking Stock (Amex: QQQ). “ATI’s inclusion in the NASDAQ-100 signals our company’s emergence as one of the leading innovation companies in the world,” said K.Y. Ho, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ATI adding, “This achievement is testament to the hard work of the people at ATI who have built a world-leading visual processor company.” The announcement comes at the end of a year in which ATI has led the PC graphics market in terms of performance and technology, began shipping media co-processors in large volume to Motorola for its high-selling “triplets” phones, announced HDTV technology wins with companies including Samsung and Sony, and announced technology development contracts with Nintendo and Microsoft’s Xbox division. With 2003 revenues of over U.S. $1.3 billion ATI has more than 2,200 employees in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
November 26, 2003 – DataMirror Corporation, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire one hundred percent control of PointBase, Inc. of Santa Clara, California. PointBase is a leading provider of nano footprint, java based relational database and synchronization solutions designed to lead the industry’s move toward software that delivers on the promise of platform independence. PointBase’s proven trio of offerings -- PointBase Embedded, PointBase Micro and PointBase UniSync -- provide effective Java-based data storage, enterprise mobility and data synchronization with corporate databases. PointBase technology is currently being used by leading software providers and companies including BEA, Checkmate International, Extensity, Leadscope, Macromedia, Raytheon and Sun Microsystems. With the implementation of PointBase technology, these companies have gained numerous business benefits including application mobility, reduced total cost of ownership, increased developer productivity, accelerated product release, increased customer satisfaction, and greater customer ROI. Over 1,750 companies have gone live with DataMirror software including Debenhams, GMAC Commercial Mortgage, the London Stock Exchange, OshKosh B’Gosh, Priority Health, Tiffany & Co., and Union Pacific Railroad. DataMirror is headquartered in Markham, Ontario, and has offices around the globe.
October 31, 2003 – Canadian Tire has opened Canada’s largest retail location in Markham, Ontario. A total of four “New Concept” stores were opened in Ontario in Kitchener, Pembrook and Markham and another in Prince George, British Columbia. These store openings represent the culmination of more than a year of retail design, planning and execution and a decade of learning developed from building and replacing more than 300 stores in Canadian Tire’s store expansion program. The new stores called “Concept 20/20” are targeted to increase retail sales by up to 20 per cent in their first year and feature 20 per cent more retail space. The store layout has been anchored with 'Driving', 'Playing', 'Fixing' and 'Living' areas representing Canadian Tire's unique product mix in cornerstone categories - automotive, leisure and sporting goods, hardware and tools, home décor, home maintenance and repair, outdoor living and lawn and garden products. "We've added about 12,000 square feet of retail space which we have used
to expand our assortment and create an easier, more pleasant and inspirational shopping experience for customers. It's unlike any other Canadian Tire store and we think our customers will find it exciting, energetic and easy to shop," commented Mark Foote, president of Canadian Tire Retail division. The Markham store is located in the south-west corner of Markham Road and 14th Avenue in south Markham and includes a state-of-the-art automotive service centre.
September 2, 2003 – ATI Technologies Inc. of Markham, Ontario today announced it has acquired certain assets of AMI Technologies Corp., ATI’s exclusive sales organization for Taiwan and China since 1992. The acquisition strengthens ATI’s direct presence in these critical and rapidly growing markets. ATI’s customers will benefit from better service through increased investment in application and engineering support. The arrangement is expected to reduce ATI’s operating expenses. “This is a natural progression in AMI’s evolution,” said Billy Wang, former CEO of AMI and now ATI’s Vice President, APAC. “AMI has been ATI’s exclusive representative in Taiwan and China for 11 years to the day, and this move allows us to bring our customers even closer to our product developers.” ATI will assume the leases of AMI’s offices in Taipei and Beijing. The Shanghai office will be moved to a new site within the city. The majority of AMI’s sales, marketing, and field applications personnel will join ATI and the rest will stay employed by AMI as it continues to act as an ATI sales agent. An industry pioneer since 1985, ATI is the world’s foremost visual processor unit (VPU) provider and is dedicated to delivering leading-edge performance solutions for the full range of PC and Mac desktop and notebook platforms, workstation, set-top and digital television, game console, and handheld markets.
August 31, 2003 – Angus Glen Golf Club has won several major awards by Score Golf magazine’s annual Golfers Choice awards. Angus Glen was named best public course, best clubhouse, best service and best halfway house meal. The selections were based on over 3,300 votes cast on the magazine’s poll from March to May. Score Golf is Canada’s largest golf publication and widely followed by golf enthusiasts. Angus Glen has won the best service award since the magazine began it poll eight years ago and has won the best public course award since readers were given the right to vote in 2001. The 36-hole golf course was home of the prestigious Bell Canadian Open in 2002 and will again host the event in 2007.
July 31, 2003 – CoolBrands International Inc. of Markham has acquired several high-profile brands valued at over CAD $200 million from Nestlé SA for CAD $13.5 million after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ordered a divestiture by Nestlé after it announced plans for a U.S. $2.5 billion takeover of Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Inc. CoolBrands now owns the Dreamery and Whole Fruit ice cream brands, as well as rights to Godiva and Haagen-Dazs brands in 10 American states. CoolBrands co-chairperson Michael Serruya commented “The deal takes us from being a mid-tier player in the market to the number three largest player in the world.” CoolBrands also announced the acquisition of American Foods LP, a manufacturer of several frozen dessert lines which are distributed through a number of restaurant chains and retailers, including Wal-Mart’s popular Sam’s Club discount outlets. The company also announced a deal with Tropicana Products to franchise retail outlets bearing the Tropicana name and featuring blended fresh fruit drinks.
June 1, 2003 – The Town of Markham has announced that it will be the first ever municipality in North America to offer electronic voting over the Internet in the next fall’s municipal elections. Voters will have the convenience of casting their ballots anytime between Monday Nov. 3rd to Friday Nov. 7th either online using the Internet or at traditional advance poll booths. There will be no online voting on election day Monday November 10th. The system was tested by the Town’s partner Elections Systems and Software during May municipal elections in two Scotland towns and raised voter participation by 20 per cent. Markham’s voter turnout is traditionally at 30 per cent and the Town expects a dramatic increase with an extensive public awareness campaign in which every resident will be mailed an information kit containing security and PIN numbers. A link from the Town’s website will lead voters to the ES&S data centre which is integrated with its vote processing system. CorporateMarkham.com Inc., operators of CorporateMarkham.com, Markham’s largest online information services directory, also hopes to finalize arrangements with the Town to offer online voting on its popular website. Markham Mayor Don Cousens commented, “Markham is the high-tech capital of Canada and this is a tribute to our staff and their leadership. There is a prestige and pride we take in breaking new ground and doing new things.
May 5, 2003 – The Town of Markham has been named as one of the 10 most enlightened suburban areas in North America by Utne Magazine in the United States. The article states that the 10 communities, including Palm Beach, Phoenix, and Chicago are models of civic spirit and liveability. Markham is the only Canadian municipality to receive the honour. Markham Mayor Don Cousens commented “This is another proud moment for our award-winning community. It says a lot about our vision for the future, and shows how our commitment to working with the community is creating a dynamic and desirable place to live.” Utne is a bi-monthly American publication with a paid circulation of 225,000 in Canada and the United States, and has been nominated three times for the National Magazine Award for General Excellence.
April 15, 2003 – L.C.B.O. has opened a new flagship retail store in Markham. The 9,300 square-foot is replacing the old L.C.B.O. store at Highway 7 and Bullock Drive and will offer more than 2,900 types of wine, spirits and beer. The Ontario wine selection alone includes 387 varieties and the outlet offers over 300 domestic and imported beers and lagers. The facility also boasts a state-of-the-art sampling counter and a mixed drink display for popular cocktails. The new outlet is located across from the new Loblaws on Bullock Drive, east of McCowan Road and will cater to Markham’s expanding residential base.
March 6, 2003 – DapaSoft Inc. a Markham-based software developer, has won an international award from Microsoft – Health Care Users Group for creating software that reduces the time medical workers need to prepare patients for transfer to other facilities. DapaSoft’s Critical Care Transfer Unit system cuts an average of 18 minutes off the preparation time for transferring patients. The system has been in use at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre since May 2002 and uses a wireless handheld device such as a Pocket PC to transmit patient’s medical information to the hospital’s on-call physicians. This allows doctors to relay direct medical orders to paramedics en route using their Pocket PCs. Michael Lonsway, DapaSoft’s Senior Project Manager commented, “DapaSoft is proud of this recognition from both Microsoft and MS-HUG. It’s been exciting to see the impact of this solution.” DapaSoft develops software and Web solutions for businesses and offers on-site or off-site consulting, custom programming and testing. The company serves clients throughout North America and employs over 55 staff at its Markham head office on Citizen Court.
February 1, 2003 – Markham-Stouffville Hospital has announced that the Province of Ontario has approved a $120 million expansion plan which includes an expanded emergency department, a six-bed cardiac care unit and a new diagnostic imaging facility. The hospital will be transformed into a full-service health care campus that includes the construction of a wellness centre for preventative and alternative health programs, a larger ambulatory care unit and a new surgical centre, all of which will be linked to the existing hospital building. MSH President and C.E.O. Dr. Jim MacLean commented, “There are a number of very interesting things about this region – its growth, its diversity and we’ve cornered the market on baby boomers. We need to be prepared to deliver quality health care in all those areas.” The hospital was intended to serve a population of 77,000 but there are now 230,000 residents as the area’s business and residential community continues to expand. Despite those challenges, MSH is consistently ranked among the best in Ontario. “Doctors here have created what is arguably the finest community hospital in the country” added Deepak Shukla, MSH board chair.
January 14, 2003 – Markham Community Library has won approval by Markham Council to receive $3 million for immediate expansion. The Hwy. 7-Hwy. 48 facility served a surrounding population of 49,000 in 2001 and is operating well above its current capacity as Markham continues to attract new residents and businesses into the area. The Town intends to add 10,500 square feet of new space to the library this year, including space for the Markham Public Libraries administration department, now operating out of a separate building on Apple Creek Boulevard. An additional $2 million renovation of the library’s interior will be included in the Town’s 2004 operating budget. Other local communities in Markham will also benefit from library expansion plans, including Milliken Mills in south Markham, the newly developed Angus Glen neighbourhood and award-winning Cornell in east Markham.
January 10, 2003 – Markham-Stouffville Hospital has received a perfect 5-star rating for patient satisfaction, one of only nine hospitals in Ontario to receive the score among the province’s ninety-two hospitals. The survey was sponsored by the Ministry of Health and the Ontario Hospital Association. The hospitals were ranked on a number of criteria including patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes and financial performance. Overall, 89% of patients surveyed said they received good or excellent care from the hospital. MSH President Dr. Jim MacLean commented, “Our community’s growth has strained every department and service at the hospital. To not only maintain but to improve our satisfaction ratings under these conditions is especially rewarding to us.” Dr. MacLean also noted that the hospital improved in a number of areas such as access to coronary angiographies, time spent on patient care and hospital/community relationships. The hospital is also undergoing an expansion to accommodate the demands from one of Canada’s fastest growing communities.
January 1, 2003 – Enterprise-Rent-A-Car, based in Markham, has been named one of the 50 Best Companies to Work For in Canada. The company was ranked 14th in the national survey published in the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine. Jill Lane, Vice President and General Manger at Enterprise’s head office in Markham, commented that the honour affirms the company’s efforts to engage and retain its workforce. This includes efforts to promote employee involvement and opportunity together with adhering to a policy of promoting from within. She added “The company continues to believe in a small company dynamic, no matter how large we grow.” Enterprise has grown to over 425 employees in the G.T.A. since establishing its presence in Canada 10 years ago. It is now the largest rental car company in North America with over 50,000 employees worldwide, a fleet of over 530,000 vehicles and revenues of over $6.5 billion in 2002.
See our profile in the Markham Economist & Sun
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Corporate News - 2003
