Markham, ON Area Guide

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Family friendly Public transit is accessible Walkable to grocery stores Yards are well-kept Lots of parks Walkable to restaurants Friendly neighbors Safe at night Pet friendly Streets have sidewalks A quiet area Sense of community

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Markham, ON

Markham is a city in the GTA, sitting around 30 kilometres northeast of Downtown Toronto. It is the fourth most populous city in the GTA and the 16th largest city in the country. Markham’s main industry is in business services, though it also has a strong technology sector. A number of multinational companies have their head offices here, which has been a big factor in the city’s growth. In fact, before July 2012, Markham was a town. Today, it is home to six main communities, some of which are industrial and others that are predominately residential areas.

Many of the communities in Markham are original villages from the 19th century, making it quite a lovely city to live in. Of these, Unionville and Markham Village are the most picturesque, both of which have some lovely boutiques, restaurants and bars, many of which are set in period buildings. These communities is where any Markham local will tell people to explore; walking along the main streets to see the beautiful historic architecture. Both of these areas are great areas to live in, though they are not cheap.

Downtown Markham is one of the newer developed areas of the city, having the highest density of commercial, retail and residential structures. This is also one of the most accessible areas in terms of public transportation, with both the VIVA bus rapid transit system, the TTC and the YRT all having bus routes in this area. There are also five GO train stops that link Markham to Downtown Toronto. Still, many Markham residents prefer to drive, or drive to a GO station to commute to work.

Markham is extremely family friendly, as there are numerous schools found in nearly all areas of the city. As well, Markham students have some of the highest test scores in the province, with most continuing on to university. It is a city of young families, with the median age being around 40 years old. Markham is also highly multicultural, with less than 40 percent of the country speaking English as a first language. This has resulting in places like the Chinese malls Market Village and Pacific Mall, the Taste of Asia Festival and a plethora of Chinese restaurants to choose from. A Markham guide will also mention places like Whittamore's Farm, Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, the Markham Museum and Markville Shopping Centre.