Watch out Toronto, there is a new city in your midst.

Councillors in Markham voted unanimously in favour of shedding their town status and officially becoming the City of Markham Tuesday evening.

The vote took place after lengthy discussion and a 90-minute public consultation where more than 50 local residents attended and many offered their opinions on the municipal upgrade.

“Our residents don’t see any tangible benefit to them as taxpayers. Is it going to ease congestion, curb growth, bring an LRT to Markham faster?” said resident Gordon Walter. “This is really about trying to establish a corporate identity,” he said.

A number of business owners spoke in favour of the city status.

“It’s a little like watching your kids grow up,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. He said his family moved to the town to get away from city life but it has now become a municipality of more than 310,000 residents and a business hub.

It was a personal victory for councillor Alex Chiu who brought forth the motion in April but has been pushing for the change for the past decade.

When the issue last came to council in the 1990s, there was opposition from residents who feared it would change the rural feel of the community. Many expressed similar concerns Tuesday.

But now with Markham touting itself as an urban centre big enough to lure an NHL team, the municipality is working to break out of its small-town personality.

The rebranding of sorts will come at a “minimal cost,” said staff, and not be more than a few thousand dollars. Branded material would be updated and replaced over time or as previously scheduled. Changes to highway signs have been accounted for in Markham’s budget.

The town will officially change its status on July 1 to coincide with Canada Day celebrations.

The change is mostly honorific and brings no added perks or privileges, according to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

In Ontario, the process of becoming a city is simple. There are no population or size requirements, and a municipality can do so as long as it doesn’t take a name already in use. All that is required is enacting a bylaw based on council agreement, and sending a copy to the municipal affairs minister.

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