Wismer Commons is a residential area of

Markham Markham may refer to: Biology * Markham's storm-petrel (''Oceanodroma markhami''), a seabird species found in Chile and Colombia * Markham's grass mouse (''Abrothrix olivaceus markhami''), a rodent subspecies found on Wellington Island and the ne ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, north of 16th Avenue, west of

Markham Road Markham may refer to: Biology * Markham's storm-petrel (''Oceanodroma markhami''), a seabird species found in Chile and Colombia * Markham's grass mouse (''Abrothrix olivaceus markhami''), a rodent subspecies found on Wellington Island and the ne ...

and east of

McCowan Road McCowan Road is a major north-south thoroughfare in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. It runs through the city of Toronto and into the Regional Municipality of York where it ends at the Town of Georgina. The road was named for the McCowan ...

. Wismer Commons is named after the Wismer Family, one of the founding pioneer families of

Markham, Ontario Markham () is a city in Regional Municipality of York, York Region, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately northeast of Downtown Toronto. In the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 Census, Markham had a population of 338,503, which ranked it the largest in ...

. The family of David Wismer, originally from

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

and subsequently

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

, arrived in Markham Township in 1806. After the deaths of David and Lydia Wismer in 1856, the Wismer family continued to donate property to community organizations, including the land for the area's first school. This original one-room schoolhouse, near the south west corner of 16th Avenue and Markham Road was replaced around 1864 with a new school to the north near the present

Markham Museum Markham Museum (originally founded as The Markham District Historical Museum) is a open-air museum located in Markham, Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, ...

. The name Wismer Commons can be found on stone plaques on both sides of the road at main arterial road entrances of developed regions of the community, such as the intersection of

Bur Oak Avenue A bur (also spelled burr) is a seed or dry fruit or infructescence that has hooks or teeth. The main function of the bur is to spread the seeds of the bur plant, often through epizoochory. The hooks of the bur are used to latch onto fur or fa ...

and McCowan Road.

San Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Elementary School

''San Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Elementary School'' opened on September 4, 2007, and is operated by the

York Catholic District School Board The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB, known as English-language Separate District School Board No. 42 prior to 1999) is the English-language public-separate school district authority for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Cana ...

(YCDSB). It is one of the feeder schools of

Brother André Catholic High School A brother (: brothers or brethren) is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly ...

Future developments

Future developments will include construction of more: community schools, churches, plazas, public facility buildings (i.e. Emergency Services Stations), recreational facilities (i.e. Community Centres). According to the Markham city planner, at Markham Road and Bur Oak Avenue, on the east edge of Wismer Commons, an area is reserved and proposed for a new shopping mall or plaza.

References

{{Communities of Markham Neighbourhoods in Markham, Ontario