Earth Month 2025
Every year the City of Markham celebrates Earth Month in April. This celebration demonstrates the city’s commitment and support for conservation and protection of our environment, and sustainability for our community and the planet.
Celebrate Earth Month with the City of Markham!
As a leader of sustainability, the City of Markham through the Greenprint Community Sustainability Plan is committed to providing cultural vibrance, social wellbeing and economic vitality for the community.
This Earth Month, Markham and its partners will be hosting a wide range of events for residents and community members to join in on the fun! These events are open for all ages and provide an interactive and educational perspective on Markham’s environmental initiatives.
Contact
101 Town Centre Boulevard
Markham, ON, L3R 9W3
Hours
8 AM to 5 PM
Learn about what we have planned!
Here is the list of events that will be offered as we celebrate Earth Month!
- Earth Month Events
Home Efficiency Retrofit Orientation (HERO) Virtual Workshop
If you are looking to improve the energy efficiency of your home through upgrades, then we have the right event for you! Home Efficiency Retrofit Orientation (HERO) is a free virtual workshop that will provide you with insights on how to save money, improve home comfort and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Learn about the current rebates that may apply to your project from a Certified Energy Manager. Learn more about home energy retrofits and register to save your spot
Date Time Location Tuesday, April 15, 2025 6:30 - 8:30 PM Virtual Event
Register to attendCelebrate Earth Day - Compost Giveaway 2025
Starting Tuesday, April 22, Markham residents can register online to pick up two free bags of compost. While supplies last. Registration space is limited on a first come, first serve basis. Pickup events are held rain or shine.
For online registration details, dates and locations, visit Yard Material
Curbside Giveaway Day (rain or shine)
Markham residents are invited to place their unwanted, gently used items at the curb for others to browse and take for their own use, free of charge. Clearly mark them as “FREE”.
Anything that does not find a new home must be taken back in by 7PM on the same day, as there will be no special municipal collection.
For more details visit Curbside Giveaway Day
Date Time Location Saturday, April 26, 2025 7 AM to 7 PM Citywide Markham's Youth Science Exhibition
Come check out Markham’s young science enthusiasts at Milliken Mills Library. This exhibition will feature projects from students passionate about the environment, research, design and engineering to tackle local issues around climate change and the natural environment.
Date Time Location Saturday, April 26, 2025 10 AM to 2 PM Milliken Mills Library
7600 Kennedy Road
Markham, Ontario, L3R 9S5Economic Development
If you are a local entrepreneur, startup or an enterprise looking for the latest sustainability trends, expert insights, and networking opportunities, then you have come to the right place.
This Earth Month we are offering a variety of virtual events to help you develop business plans with a sustainability lens, learn about Competition Bureau of Canada and prepare your business for international trade. Visit our website to learn more about these events and to register for your favorite one
Earth Day Tour: A Focus on Sustainability in Heritage!
Discover how the past can inspire a greener future with Markham Museum. Explore historic sustainability practices, from beekeeping to food preservation, and engage in fun, interactive activities. Don't miss this exclusive event!
Date Time Location Saturday, April 26, 2025 12 PM to 3 PM Markham Museum
9350, Markham Road,
Markham, Ontario, L3P 3J3Sunday, April 27, 2025 12 PM to 3 PM Markham Museum Karen Kar Yen Law: Better Bitter art exhibition
This Earth Month, visit Varley Art Gallery to experience sustainable art by Markham-based artist Karen Kar Yen Law. Her art is greatly shaped by her Chinese heritage and her practice integrates the idea of recycling by using and re-using materials to their full extent! She works primarily with monoprints, blending the structured layers of printmaking with the fluid expressiveness of painting to explore a range of ideas. Visit the website to learn more about this exhibition
Date Time Location Wednesday, January 25 to Sunday, May 4, 2025 12 PM to 4 PM Tuesday to Friday
10 AM to 5 PM WeekendsVarley Art Gallery
216, Main Street,
Unionville, Ontario, L3R 2H1Upcycling for Earth Month: Magazine and Book Drop-off at the Varley Art Gallery
Celebrate Earth Month with the Varley Art Gallery. Donate your gently used magazines, and books to help reduce waste, and fuel creative art projects. Recycle, repurpose, and help kids create.
All donors can enter into a raffle to win a membership to the Varley Art Gallery. This membership includes exclusive benefits like free admission to more than 70 galleries, discounts on Varley art classes and camps, and more. Learn more about the donation guidelines
Date Time Location Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, May 4, 2025 12 PM to 4 PM from Tuesday to Friday
10 AM to 5 PM on weekendsVarley Art Gallery
216, Main Street,
Unionville, Ontario, L3R 2H1Park Cleanups
Community, faith, adopt-a-park, ratepayers groups and others register to clean local parks across Markham.
Dates, time and locations for the park cleanups will be shared soon.
Mulch Giveaways
Residents can pick up free wood chip mulch - self service. Time of the event will be shared soon.
Date Time Location Saturday, May 3 and Sunday May 4, 2025 TBC 8100 Warden, (parking lot)
Markham, Ontario, L6G 1B4
- Free Live and Virtual Events
Seed Library Sessions: Planting for Pollinators: Creating Spaces for Pollinators with Native Plants
- Presented by: Markham Public Library
- Register: Visit the website to register
- About: Join us at Thornhill Village library to explore how native plants like milkweed support essential insects such as butterflies, bees, and beetles. Learn about the unique relationships between plants and insects, and how habitat loss threatens these connections. Discover how you can select native plants for your garden to protect these vital species and their ecosystems.
Date Time Location Saturday, March 22, 2025 11 AM to 12 PM Thornhill Village Branch
10 Colborne Street
Thornhill, Markham, L3T 1Z6Seed Library Sessions: Seed Pick-Up
- Presented by: Markham Public Library
- Register: Drop in event, no registration necessary
- About: Drop-in and pick up a packet of seeds for your spring garden!
Date Time Location Saturday, March 22, 2025 12 to 1 PM Thornhill Village Branch
10 Colborne Street
Markham, Ontario, L3T 1Z6Sewing 101: Reusable Pads
- Presented by: Markham Public Library
- Register: Please visit the website to register
- About: Learn a new skill and help tackle period poverty! Reusable menstrual pads are a sustainable solution to the high cost of disposable products and are the perfect project for those who are new to sewing. This workshop will familiarize participants with sewing machines, teach them basic techniques, and guide them as they make a reusable menstrual pad from scratch in support of Help A Girl Out. All tools and materials will be provided. This program is designed for those ages 13 and up.
Date Time Duration Tuesday, April 1, 2025 5:30 to 7:30 PM Thornhill Village Branch
10 Colborne Street
Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 1Z6Rouge National Urban Parks Guided Walks
- Presented by: Parks Canada
- Location: Rouge National Urban Park
- Register: Drop in event, no registration necessary
- About: Discover Rouge National Urban Parks natural, cultural and agricultural stories with friendly and knowledgeable Parks Canada volunteer leaders and staff. Visit the webpage to learn about the theme, schedule and meeting point of each guided walk.
Date Start Time Duration Trek / Trail Location Saturday, April 5, 2025 1 PM 1.5 hours Tallgrass Trek Sunday, April 6, 2025 10 AM 2 hours Central Trail Wednesday, April 9, 2025 6:30 PM 1.5 hours Reesor Way / Tanglewood Trail Saturday, April 12, 2025 10 AM 2 hours Harvest Trail Sunday, April 13, 2025 1 PM 2 hours Woodland Trail Saturday, April 19, 2025 1 PM 2 hours Reesor Way / Tanglewood Trail Sunday, April 20, 2025 10 AM 2 hours Mast Trail Saturday, April 26, 2025 10 AM 2 hours Monarch Trail Sunday, April 27, 2025 1 PM 2 hours Northeast Trail The Marker House Craft Corner
- Presented by: Markham Public Library
- Register: Drop in event, no registration necessary
- About: Come and check out the Marker House at the Milliken Mills branch on Saturdays in April! Created by SecondWave, a youth-led sustainability initiative based out of Markham, the Marker House is a self-guided crafting corner for children and families to explore sustainability through creative projects.
Date Time Location Saturday, April 5, 2025 All day Milliken Mills Branch
7600 Kennedy Road
Markham, Ontario, L3R 9S5Saturday, April 12, 2025 All day Milliken Mills Branch Saturday, April 19, 2025 All day Milliken Mills Branch Saturday, April 26, 2025 All day Milliken Mills Branch Seed Library Sessions: The Art of Container Gardening with Edibles
- Presented by: Markham Public Library
- Register: Please visit the website to register
- About: Join the Lake Simcoe South Master Gardeners to learn how to transform small spaces into thriving edible gardens! This presentation is perfect for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike who want to explore the versatility of container gardening. Whether you have a balcony, patio, or just a sunny windowsill, you’ll discover how to grow delicious, nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, and herbs in containers. We’ll cover everything from selecting the right plants to ensuring they thrive in limited spaces. Aesthetic design tips for integrating edibles into decorative spaces as well as the basics of soil and pest management will also be discussed.
Date Time Location Thursday, April 10, 2025 6:30 to 7:30 PM Thornhill Village Branch
10 Colborne Street
Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 1Z6Birds and Beyond: Spring Nature Walk with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
- Presented by: Markham Public Library
- Register: Please visit the website to register
- About: Listen to the sounds of spring! Join the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for an interactive walk starting at the Unionville Library to learn all about how birds communicate and how to identify them! Enjoy interesting bird songs and learn some tips to remember them! We will be demonstrating how to use binoculars, field guides and great birding apps to prepare you for your next birding adventure! This program is for ages 6 and above.
Date Time Location Saturday, April 12, 2025 10 to 11 AM Unionville Branch
15 Library Lane
Unionville, Ontario, L3R 5C4Repair Café
- Presented by: Markham Public Library
- Register: Registration begins March 17, 2025. Please visit the website to register
- About: Repair Cafés are a chance to bring broken items back to life. Have you been holding on to an item that just needs a quick fix? It could be a button to be sewn, a vacuum needing a new cord, or a bicycle needing wheel alignment. Then Repair Café may be the place for you. Visit the event webpage to learn about qualifying repairable items and house rules.
Date Time Location Saturday, April 26, 2025 10 AM to 2 PM Milliken Mills Library
7600 Kennedy Road
Markham, Ontario, L3R 9S5Seed Library Sessions: Planning Your Vegetable Garden
- Presented by: Markham Public Library
- Register: Please visit the website to register
- About: Join the Lake Simcoe South Master Gardeners for this presentation that describes planning your vegetable garden, including requirements for site selection and gardening methods. There will be a review of different vegetable growing requirements and how to select the right vegetables for your specific growing conditions.
Date Time Location Wednesday, April 30, 2025 7 to 8 PM Cornell Branch
3201 Bur Oak Avenue
Markham, Ontario, L6B 0T2York Region Native Plant Sale
- Presented by: York Region
- About: More information coming soon!
Date Time Location Saturday, May 24, 2025 9 AM to 2 PM Clatworthy Arena (parking)
2400 John Street
Thornhill, Ontario L3T 6R8LEAF Backyard Tree Planting (Subsidized)
- Presented by: LEAF
- About: All Markham homeowners are eligible to have a subsidized tree planted in their backyards. To learn more about LEAF's tree planting programs in Markham, please visit their website. More information about the event will be coming soon.
10,000 Trees for the Rouge – Tree Planting
- Presented by: 10,000 Trees
- About: 10,000 Trees is offering two sessions at the tree planting event.
- Register: Please visit the website to register
Date Time Location Saturday, May 10, 2025 Session 1: 9 to 11 AM
Session 2: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PMAustin Drive Park
Austin Drive
Markham, ON L3R 6M6
- How You Can Participate and Take Action?
There are many ways to protect our planet! Here are some topics and ideas to get you started. Remember, you don’t have to do it all, but every little bit you do can make a difference! Find what interests you, opportunities to learn, and take action today.
Power Up and Save Energy!
- Improve the energy efficiency of your home through home retrofits to save money, improve home comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Consider the following retrofit options: air or ground heat pumps, air sealing (building envelope, ducts and windows, doors), Energy Star water heater replacement, smart thermostats with zone control, high efficiency furnace (Energy Star), Solar PV options with battery storage
- Attend a Home Efficiency Retrofit Orientation (HERO) Workshop to learn about upgrading the home to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency. Check the Home Energy Retrofits page to register for the next workshop
- Reduce your energy consumption by unplugging any unused electronics or switching power bars to eliminate phantom power, turning off lights when you leave the room, and taking shorter showers
Good Food for a Good Life
- Reduce your carbon food-print and support local businesses by purchasing locally produced ingredients which you can find through the York Farm Fresh Multilingual App
- Try out a plant-based meal — check out the York Region Food Network for a list of recipes
- Learn tips on how to reduce food waste at Love Food Hate Waste and the Good Food Challenge
Why Waste? Recycle Right, Recycle More!
- Not sure how to sort your recycling, organics and garbage, check out using the What Goes Where search tool
- Don’t miss the truck! Access your recycling and garbage collection schedule online or on the Access Markham mobile app
- Protect your pipes by disposing of fats, oils and grease (also known as F.O.G.) in the green bin, and never down the drain
- Drop off your unwanted textiles to one of Markham’s textile donation bins so they can be recycled into new products
Nearby Nature
- Plant a tree through the LEAF Backyard Tree Planting Program , including a contactless delivery option and discounts
- Contact the City before you prune or cut down trees to abide by Markham’s Tree Preservation By-law which protects the urban forest.
- Experience Forest Therapy through Shinrin Yoku, the Japanese practice known as Forest Bathing or Forest Therapy by visiting a self-guided Shinrin Yoku trail in the City of Markham
- Learn how to use water efficiently by reading the Water Efficiency: At-Home Guide
- Explore the world of water online through the Water Education Program
- Visit a park or trail in your neighbourhood
- Explore walking and cycling in Markham
Keep on Learning!
- Calculate your carbon footprint, foodprint, and plastic consumption to identify ways you can reduce your impact
- Visit Markham Public Library for Earth Month events, reading lists, and blogs to learn more!
- How is Markham Taking Action?
Programs and Initiatives
- Active Transportation
- Adopt a Park
- Bird-Friendly Guidelines
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
- Enviro Packs
- Environmental Conservation
- Gardens & Agriculture
- Invasive Species: Emerald Ash Borer
- Keep Markham Beautiful
- LEAF Backyard Tree Planting Program
- Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund
- Markham Wildlife
- Textile Recycling Program
- Tree Care
- Tree Maintenance Program
Related Links
We encourage you to learn about climate change and the ways that you can take action to help protect the planet. Celebrate Earth Month with us and take a stand to live a more sustainable lifestyle all year long.