Serving the Markham Community for Over 38 years
Markham is a city in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) of Ontario, Canada. It is the fourth-most populous municipality in the GTA and the former global headquarters of the Canadian National Railway (CN). Markham has evolved from a farming village to a major metropolitan area, with the fastest growing population in Canada. If you have never been to Markham, you are missing out on some great places for shopping, dining, arts, and culture. The best part, Markham is filled with diversity making it one of the best multicultural cities in the GTA.
Markham is more than just a city, for us Markham feels like home and we could not be happier that we are located in the heart of such a vibrant and diverse city. But don’t just take our word for it, read on below to learn more about Markham and all the beauty that it has to offer.
The People
Let’s start with the most important part, the people in the town of Markham. Markham is a beautifully diverse and multicultural city with people of all walks of life residing together peacefully. It is a true representation of the multiculturalism present in Canada and the cultural mosaic that we Canadians are so proud of. The people of Markham have welcomed us with open arms, and all of us feel like we truly belong as part of this vibrant community. We aim to please and we love bringing glittering white smiles to these great people.
The Convenience
The Highways
Markham is in an easily accessible location, making it to be a central hub in the GTA. The city is just a few minutes north of the two main Greater Toronto Area highways, the 401 and the 404. This makes it accessible for everyone, regardless of the direction from which they are coming. This also allows us to service not just the people of Markham but also people from other areas such as Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton, Etobicoke, Woodbridge, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Aurora, and Newmarket. Our clients enjoy coming in for their dental services and then heading out to eat at one of the world star restaurants or going to shop. As they would say, it makes the drive to Markham worth it.
The toll road, Highway 407 also services the whole area making it convenient to travel through the city. This east/west road is one of the greatest things that ever happened in the GTA.
Public Transit
If you don’t have access to a car, not to worry, the public transit system is very convenient in the area. Commuters can choose from a wide range of options based on their destination, including but not limited to; the Go Transit (bus and train), the Toronto Transit Commission, Viva York Regional Transit, and the York Regional Transit. All of these systems strive to ensure that they meet the needs of our everyday commuter, across the city.
Other Ways to Travel
Finally, if you’re thinking you’d rather not drive at all, you’re definitely in luck. Markham is the proud home of two airports, both Markham and Buttonville. Alternatively, if you want to help take care of the environment, the city is currently developing a network of almost 400 kilometers of on and off-road bicycles routes. Once these are complete, this network will include cycle tracks, multi-use pathways, bike lanes and on-road signed routes.
The Businesses
Markham is home to a wide range of businesses, each boasting their own high-quality professionals. Some of the companies include, IBM, and several other multinational companies like Honda Canada, Hyundai, Johnson & Johnson, Motorola, Toshiba, and Honeywell. While it is nice to have so many global company neighbors, we are equally fortunate to also have 400 Canadian head offices and over 1,000 technology and life sciences companies based in Markham.
Additionally, the Markham Chamber of Commerce & Industrial Association, is a wonderful organization that is designed to promote, foster, and encourage the businesses in the area. They provide us with resources and tools to aid our growth and have really helped to turn Markham into the technological hub which it is today.
Markham Is At The Center Of The 2nd Largest Tech Cluster In Canada
Markham is anchored by 1,500+ technology companies that generate 37,000 jobs. Defined by its rich heritage, well-planned communities, high quality infrastructure, a talented workforce, and a pro-business environment, Markham’s business community includes outstanding companies and organizations providing globally competitive banking, financing, engineering, design, technical, and commercialization services.
A high concentration of Canadian head offices are located here- including industry leaders such as IBM, AMD, Redline Communications, Real Matters, OnX Enterprise Solutions, Huawei Technologies, Lenovo, GE Energy, Nexeya, Toshiba, Adastra, CDI, Qualcomm, and Genesys.
We at Vitality, fit right into this environment, offering modern digital technologies to make your dental visits quicker and easier. Utilizing the most current technologies, Today’s dentistry offers restorations that are stronger, more accuate and can often be less invasive and more conservative that traditional restorations, and can sometimes be completed in few (sometimes only one!) visit.
The Recreational Activities
Golf Courses
The City of Markham is home to 9 different golf courses, making it practically a gold mine for an avid golfer. Some of these are open to members only such as the prestigious York Downs Golf & Country Club as well as the Bayview Country Club which was designed by Doug Carrick and Robbie Robinson.
If you aren’t a member, that’s no stress at all! Angus Glen Golf Club is one of the best public courses in all of GTA and it has hosted many PGA Tour events. Alternatively, Remington Parkview Golf Club and Markham Green Golf Club are great courses to play a round. With so many amazing options, Markham is a haven for golf lovers.
Indoor Activities/Community Centers
If you are not a fan of the outdoors, be sure to check out the amazing recreational and community centers which offer all sorts of indoor activities. The Angus Glen Community Centre or Milliken Community Centre is a great place to go for a quick swim. The Centennial Community Centre boasts a great squash court to get your game on. The R.J. Clatworthy Community Centre, Markham Village Community Centre and Mount Joy Community Centre all have indoor skating rinks; a great place to check out during winter break.
Pan Am Centre
Created in November 2014 for the Paralympic games, the Pan Am Centre in Markham is one of the largest facilities in the city. It features a 10 lane, 500m swimming pool which meets Olympic standards, a 36,000 square foot gym and so much more. This premier sports center also plays host to International, National, Provincial, and Regional events including swimming, water polo, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics and more. If you are in the area, make sure to add the Pan Am Centre to your list of must-see places in the city.
Joyride 150
Still not convinced that indoor activities are the way to go? Well, Joyride 150 is an indoor bike area where you can ride anytime and anywhere. This indoor bike park features ramps, skinnies, and lines, and an 800m mountain bike trail which is sure to keep you on your toes. This place has fun for the whole family with an area for beginner and more advanced mountain bikers. Spend a day here and we can almost guarantee that your bike game will be 10x stronger!
Hike/Parks
Aside from the golf courses, Markham is known for its picturesque and breathtaking parks. The Milne Dam Conservation Park is a gorgeous one with 2.3 kilometers of trails that are perfect for hiking. Along the way the nature trail is packed with picnic areas and washrooms, allowing you to comfortably enjoy your visit while also enjoying the natural scenery. A wide range of birds and species tend to migrate here in the summer and there is also stunning vegetation, wetlands, and forests to explore!
Another great park is Toogood park which is famous for its pond. It is located in the infamous Unionville and makes for a great afternoon stroll. If you take a walk around the pond you will have a breathtaking view of the stunning scenery that surrounds the area.
These are not the only two parks in the City. Markham is proud to boast over 50 parks across the city. Some other good ones to check out include German Mills Settlers Park, Berczy Park and Crosby Memorial Park.
The Entertainment Activities
Restaurants
Markham hosts a diverse community and as such they are fortunate to have access to a wide range of cuisine. Markham has every different type of cuisine available which you can imagine, from Mexican, to Indian, to Japanese, to Italian or even some grub from a typical English pub.
If you are in Unionville or Old Markham for the day, they have a plethora of dining options available. Finally, you must not leave without tasting the Chinese food available in the area. Markham is home to some of the most authentic Chinese food restaurants. Of course, if you’d rather stick with a well-known food chain, you’ll find that there are ample of those available across the city.
Museums
If you want to learn more about the history of Markham, check out the Markham Museum. This stunning museum is made up of nearly 30 buildings and really tells the story of what life used to be like in the city. There are also many artefacts on display from excavations done between 1968 and 2009. And depending on the time of year, you may also see some temporary exhibits that are fun to explore.
After your museum tour, take a minute to sit back and enjoy a picnic in the lovely surrounding gardens. If you’re planning to stay a while, be sure to enroll your kids in the day programs so they can learn more about this great city.
Art Galleries
For all of our art lovers, be sure to take some time and visit the Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery. This gallery is named after a member of the Group of Seven, an infamous group of Canadian artists. The gallery boasts over 100 pieces by this member of the group and has been showcasing gorgeous artwork since 1977.
The local art community is also vibrant in the area. Be sure to visit the McKay Art Centre, as this gallery is housed in a historic house that is rented to local artists to display their work.
Theatre
The main theatres in Markham are the Markham Little Theatre, Unionville Theatre Company and FLATO Markham Theatre. These theatres offer a wide range of shows including Stand-up comedy, plays, dance theatre and musicals. The Kindred Spirits Orchestra is another great one to check out if you’d like to hear some symphony.
If you’re going with a family of young children, be sure to check out the Markham Youth Theatre, which has great shows available for kids.
Malls
We all know that shopping is the best way to relax after a long hard day. And while the pandemic may have shifted our current spending habits to be online, we all know that there is no better feeling than walking out of a mall, laden with shopping bags. We’d say that’s a day well spent!
Luckily for you, there are plenty of shopping centers available in the city, from small town boutiques to big box stores in traditional malls. Some of our favourite small boutique stores include Village Market, a Chinese Market with over 170 family run stores. As for larger malls, Pacific mall is the go-to place and is designed to represent Pacific Place in Hong Kong. If you’re looking for more international brands, then CF Markville is the place to be.
The History and Culture
Markham is one of the few cities which has so much history and heritage to offer both residents and those new to the area. The old neighborhoods have gorgeous architecture making for a picturesque walk through these cities.
In particular, Unionville is a great place to explore. It is a city which dates back nearly 200 years! This unique neighborhood is made up of beautiful homes, quaint boutiques, and some great restaurants. This is also home to the Unionville GO Station which is nearly as old as the Markham GO Station and is now used as a community center. A visit to Markham cannot be complete without a walk-through Unionville.
Another wonderful community along Main street is Markham Village. In this area, the exquisite homes have been converted into shops and restaurants for the people to enjoy. One can even see the village train station (currently the Markham GO Station) which has been there since 1871 and later restored in 2000. This was designed in the classic Railway style, making for some beautiful architecture. Talk about a lot of history!
Markham Fair
If you happen to be in Markham around Thanksgiving, then checking out the Markham Fair is an absolute must. This is one of the oldest country fairs in Canada and it is done by one of the largest community-based volunteer organizations in Canada.
The fair takes place during the week leading up to Thanksgiving and it features an array of attractions such as midway rides, games, live bands and shows, a horse show, a demolition derby, monster trucks and so much more.
Still not convinced? The fair also has a gymnastic demonstration, sheep shearing demonstration and cooking demonstrations. There is also a farm, food stalls and vendors that sell everything from vaporizers to homemade pies. If you’re in the area, be sure to check out the Markham Fair, we promise you will not regret it!
Events
If you aren’t going to be in the area during Thanksgiving, you are still in luck! Markham hosts many other events throughout the year which means that you can have fun at an event no matter what month you come by to visit.
The Taste of Asia Festival is another one of the city’s largest annual events. This is the largest Asian festival in all of Canada with over 150,000 people each year.
Some other great events to check out during the year include, the Tony Roman Memorial Hockey Tournament, Thornhill Village Festival, Unionville Festival, and Doors Open Markham. For our meat lovers, be sure to check out the Markham Ribfest and music lovers should definitely see the Markham Jazz Festival.
Markham Dental Clinic
Dentistry at Vitality Health
If you’ve read through this much of the article, we’d also like to share that Vitality Dentistry, a leading dental practice is located in the heart of the City of Markham. At Vitality Dentistry, we offer more than just dental services, we provide customers with the confidence to smile again. With a range of services from dental implants to crowns and veneers to simple checkups and annual cleanings, we offer a whole slew of services to make your smile as beautiful as can be. Give us a call today to find out about our different services, we can’t wait to see you here!
