Upper Canada Mall is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a $50,000 donation to Southlake Foundation.
The mall has remained a fixture in the community since its opening in 1974. It said it has partnered with many organizations since then, including Newmarket’s hospital, Southlake Regional Health Centre.
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“The region has expanded dramatically in the past 50 years and Upper Canada Mall has been keeping pace with this growth,” Upper Canada Mall director and general manager Ryan Da Silva said in a May 8 news release. “We can’t wait to see where the next 50 years take us as we continue to bring the brands people love closer to home.”
The doors to Upper Canada Mall were opened May 1, 1974, with parking for more than 2,500 and a workforce of more than 700. Since then, the mall has continued to grow, including a 100,000-foot expansion in 2009 and a 40,000-foot expansion in 2018, according to Da Silva.
The mall said it has continued to aid other charitable organizations since it started, including Easter Seals, York Pride and Girls Inc.
“We’ve been very fortunate at Southlake to be supported by long-standing organizations, like Upper Canada Mall, who have shared in our vision of access to leading-edge care, close to home for our community,” Southlake Foundation president and CEO Jennifer Ritter said. “We’re honoured to receive this generous and thoughtful gift from Upper Canada Mall in celebration of their 50th anniversary. Upper Canada Mall has been a longtime partner of the hospital, and we’re so grateful for their continued support.”
The mall will host a birthday party May 25 and 26 at Market Court from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The half-century celebration will feature party games, prizes, a retro photo booth and more. A visual timeline will also be located adjacent to the court, with a large gold 50 structure placed there for photo opportunities until the end of June.
You can find more information at uppercanadamall.com/ucm-50.
