Bob Stiver and Jan Kerr Hornell were instrumental in beginning the Stiver Mill Farmers Market to draw attention to the importance of this historical site. Bob and Jan together with Elizabeth Plashkes and others in the community created the Unionville Village Conservancy with the express purpose of restoring the Stiver Mill. They needed seed money and the MVC forwarded that $5,000 “Lucky Money” to the UVC. This start up money was even more successful in that the UVC and the City of Markham raised $1.9 million, including a contribution from the Government of Canada for the restoration project. The contractor has been working all winter and phase I of the restoration is almost finished. The Stiver Mill will be a community building with delightful walkways and landscaping around it. Congratulations UVC in a job well done.

Elizabeth received Heritage Markham's Award of Excellence for her "Noteworthy contributions to hertiage conservation initiatives in the Town of Markham, particularly in Markham Village.

Elizabeth was awarded the Ontario Heritage Trust's Heritage Community Recognition Award in 2004 for her outstanding volunteer work in preserving Built Heritage in Markham.

Elizabeth led fundraising efforts to save the Markham Village Train Station from demolition, and restore it to it's 1910 appearance.

Founding member of the Markham Village Conservancy, an organization focused on PROMOTING THE PRESERVATION OF THE MAIN STREET RAILROAD STATION.