History of Thornhill Markham
Thornhill Markham got its name from a man named Benjamin Thorne, who arrived in the valley that is now known as Thornhill in 1820. Thorne set up a sawmill and a grist mill, along the banks of the Don River. Later he expanded his operations to include a flour mill, tannery and general store. It’s no wonder that when the village post office opened in 1829 they decided to call it Thornhill.
Lifestyle
Centerpoint Mall is situated at the intersection of Steeles Avenue and Yonge. It offers a variety of shops, restaurants and services. Some of the stores, at the mall are Canadian Tire, NoFrills and Hudsons Bay. Throughout the year Centerpoint organizes promotions and events that draw in residents from the area. Additionally there are options for grocery stores, along both Steeles Avenue and Bayview Avenue. View homes currently for sale in Thornhill, Markham
Centerpoint Mall Redevelopment
Developers have put forward proposals, to the City of Toronto for the demolition of the 55 year Centerpoint Mall with plans to replace it with a mix of buildings ranging from four to 50 storeys in height. While the exact number of buildings has not been specified in the documents the proposed development covers than 7 million feet of space.
Out of this area a substantial 6.8 million square feet is set aside for purposes while the rest will be used for commercial activities such as retail and office spaces. The proposal also includes provisions for a park and areas that although privately owned will be open to the public.
Situated at 6464 Yonge Street in North York the process involves demolishing the mall and constructing buildings along with creating park spaces and establishing a street layout over an extended period.
Before any construction can commence approval must be obtained from the Toronto City Council regarding their design plans—a step that typically takes months. This isn’t the time that redevelopment considerations have been raised for the Centerpoint Mall location; back in 2019 City Planning identified it as a site, for transforming into a mixed use neighbourhood.
Thornhill Community Centre & Library
The Thornhill Community Centre holds a position, in our neighbourhood, located at the corner of Bayview Avenue and John Street. It boasts an modern design offering amenities such as a dedicated space for youth, an indoor track for walking and running two ice rinks, a therapy pool squash courts and even a cycle studio. Additionally you’ll find a gymnasium, a dance and wellness studio as a spacious community hall that can accommodate up to 500 people. Notably it serves as the hub for the Thornhill Seniors Club.
If you head north from the Thornhill Community Centre along Bayview Avenue for a few minutes you’ll discover Thornlea Pool. Tucked behind Thornlea Secondary School on 8075 Bayview Avenue this indoor pool offers swimming programs and lessons tailored to all age groups throughout the day.
For nature enthusiasts looking to explore Pomona Mills Parks conservation area situated off Henderson Avenue (north of John Street) there are access points available. The park is home to the meandering east Don River where scenic walking paths can be found on both sides of its banks. Spanning across 11.6 acres Pomona Park also features facilities such as soccer pitches and playgrounds. Notably nestled within its ravine setting is the Pomona Valley Tennis Club with its three courts—a favourite spot among tennis enthusiasts.
It’s worth mentioning that this park is quite popular, among dog walkers too. The Markham Conservation Committee, Thornhill High School, Johnsview Public School, Thornhill Horticultural Society and Thornhill Lions Club actively participate in the reforestation efforts of this park. Grandview Park is a community park situated along Grandview Avenue, west of Henderson Road. It features two ball diamonds (one of which’s illuminated) two lit tennis courts and a playground for children to enjoy.
Ladies Golf Club of Toronto
The Ladies Golf Club of Toronto can be found at 7859 Yonge Street. Established in 1924 as the Thornhill Golf Club, this exquisite eighteen hole course was skillfully designed by renowned golf course architect Stanley Thompson. Notably the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto stands as the golf club, in North America where women are given priority access, to tee times. Men are warmly welcomed as guests. May opt to play by becoming Guest Card Holders.
Transit
In this neighbourhood there are a total of 55 transit stops. In Thornhill specifically the majority of people who live here rely on vehicles, for their commute. Many of them travel to neighboring cities for work or other commitments.
Commute Destination for Residents
- Commute within the city – 19%
- Commute to another city – 81%
Types
- Vehicle – 69%
- Transit – 24%
- Walk/bike – 4%
Commute Times of Residents
- 15 to 29 minutes – 31%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 24%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 14%
- 60 minutes and over – 15%
- Less than 15 minutes – 14%
Thornhill Markham Elementary, Secondary, High schools
In this area you’ll find top elementary and secondary high schools along, with specialized programs for both levels. Thornhill is served by a total of 5 schools, 5 Catholic schools, 1 private school and 1 alternative/special school. In addition, the local schools also offer programs such, as the International Baccalaureate, French Immersion, Special Education School and Advanced Placement options.
Public Schools
5
Catholic Schools
5
Private Schools
1
Public
- ÉÉ Paul-Demers
- Woodland PS
- EJ Sand PS
- Thornhill SS
- ÉS Norval-Morrisseau
Catholic
- St Robert Catholic HS
- ÉSC Renaissance
- St Anthony Catholic ES
- St Rene Goupil-St Luke Catholic ES
- ÉÉC Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys-Markham
Private
- IAMSS Private School
Thornhill Markham Parks & Facilities
You can easily have a time, at the parks in this area. The neighbourhoods parks offer playgrounds, for children. Thornhill has a total of 4 parks and 10 recreational facilities combined. On average each park has 2 facilities.
Number of Parks
4
Number of Recreation Facilities
10
Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks
- Playgrounds – 2
- Basketball Courts – 2
- Ball Diamonds – 2
- Sports Field – 1
- Sports Court – 1
- Trails – 2
Thornhill Markham Homes
The Thornhill Markham Heritage Conservation district situated along John Street showcases a collection of homes constructed mostly between the mid 1800s and early 1900s. These houses embody various architectural styles that were prevalent, during that era, such as Victorian Gothic, Queen Anne, Georgian, Colonial, Edwardian and Craftsman style bungalows.
The neighbouring residential areas of Royal Orchard to the north and Grandview Estates to the south have drawn inspiration from this enclave. With ample lot sizes, tree lined streets and houses that reflect adaptations of architectural designs cherished by Thornhill families for generations the community exudes a timeless charm.
In addition to these established residences Thornhill also offers clusters of townhomes at price points. One notable community is Johnsview Village—an assemblage of 548 condominium townhouses nestled along Bayview Avenue and John Street. For those seeking high rise living options in the neighbourhood The World On Yonge condos and Landmark of Thornhill condos, on Bayview Avenue are choices that provide an entryway into this community.
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