Thornhill, Ontario
Thornhill is a suburban district in the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. The western portion of Thornhill is within the City of Vaughan and its eastern portion is within the City of Markham, with Yonge Street forming the boundary between Vaughan and Markham. Thornhill is situated along the northern border of Toronto, centred on Yonge, and is also immediately south of the City of Richmond Hill. Once a police village, Thornhill is still a postal designation. As of 2016, its total population, including both its Vaughan and Markham sections, was 112,719.[2]
Thornhill
Canada
1794[1]
1931 (Police village)
1971 York Region from York County
Vaughan: Chris Ainsworth (Ward 4)
Gila Martow (Ward 5)
Markham: Keith Irish (Ward 1)
62.90 km2 (24.29 sq mi)
112,719
1,791.9/km2 (4,641/sq mi)
Thornhiller
Demographics[edit]
Ethnicity[edit]
Thornhill has a very ethnically diverse population. It is home to a significant number of Jewish, Chinese, Korean, Iranian, Indian, and Italian people.
According to 2001 Federal Census data, the electoral district of Thornhill (which is not entirely congruent with the neighbourhood) consists of Chinese, the largest visible minority, accounting for almost 11% of total residents (12,610), followed by South Asian (6,595), Black (2,665), Korean (2,660), Filipino (2,535), and West Asian (2,355).[6]
According to the 2009 Report of Canada's Demographic Task Force, Thornhill-Vaughan was in 2001 home to more than 33,000 members of the Jewish community out of 55,000 in this area.[7]
Government[edit]
Thornhill is split into Wards 4 and 5 in the City of Vaughan and Ward 1 in the City of Markham. It is represented by Chris Ainsworth (Vaughan Ward 4), Gila Martow (Vaughan Ward 5), and Keith Irish (Markham Ward 1).
Thornhill is also a federal and provincial riding. The Member of Parliament for Thornhill is Melissa Lantsman (Conservative), and the Member of Provincial Parliament is Laura Smith (Progressive Conservative).
Infrastructure[edit]
Healthcare[edit]
There are no general hospitals in Thornhill, but a private hospital, Shouldice Hernia Centre, is located there.[8]
Thornhill Community Centre[edit]
Located at Bayview and John Street (on the Markham side), the community centre features a double arena (home to the Thornhill Skating Club, Markham Majors and Islanders hockey clubs (with an east rink named for Bib Sherwood in 1999), therapy pool, gym room, running track, multi-purpose rooms and Markham Public Library branch. The complex was opened in 1975.[9]
Thornhill Community Centre is home to the Markham Cat Adoption Centre & Education Centre, which was launched in 2016 and is partnered with the Ontario SPCA. It was the first cat adoption and education centre in the Greater Toronto Area, and the first cat adoption centre to be municipally funded in Ontario. The centre has housing for 18 cats and provides an accessible space for education in the area. [10]
The Thornhill Seniors Club, also located in the community centre, was established in 2004 following expansions to the centre that began in 2003. [11] It features a variety of activities for seniors in a space that boasts a TV lounge with a fireplace, full kitchen, activity rooms, and more.[12]
The community centre hosted the Markham Thunder of the Canadian Women's Hockey League from 2017 to 2019.
Thornlea Pool is a public swimming pool located further north of the community centre near Thornlea Secondary School.
Farmer's market[edit]
York Farmers Market has existed on Yonge Street since 1953. Unlike many of York Region's farmers markets that are outdoor, it is housed in a permanent building structure.[18]