Located northeast of Toronto, this growing tech hub has the highest percentage of Asian residents in Canada and includes North America's largest indoor Asian mall, Pacific Mall.
Markham, 30 kilometers northeast of Toronto, has evolved into one of Canada's major technology centers, with over 900 tech companies including IBM and Huawei. Walk the streets of Unionville where 19th-century buildings now house cafes and boutiques, see Canadian masterpieces at the Varley Art Gallery, or browse through 450 shops at Pacific Mall, North America's largest indoor Asian mall. The city's large Asian population influences its food scene - you'll find hundreds of restaurants serving Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisine.
Getting Around Markham
Navigate the city via its grid-pattern roads based on the concession system. Highway 404 and the 407 ETR link Markham to Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Take the GO Transit Stouffville line for regular train service between Markham and downtown Toronto, with stations at Main Street Unionville, Centennial, Markham, and Mount Joy.
Arts and Culture Scene
Watch live performances at the Markham Theatre For Performing Arts, which runs shows from September to May. Visit the Varley Art Gallery to see Canadian art collections and join their art camps and classes. Local groups like the Kindred Spirits Orchestra perform classical music concerts, while Markham Little Theatre stages four productions annually.
Parks and Walking Trails
Explore Rouge National Urban Park's hiking trails and wetlands that extend into Markham. Walk or cycle along 22 kilometers of paths connecting neighborhoods across 12 bridges. In Milne Dam Conservation Park, follow 2.3 kilometers of trails along the Rouge River to spot deer, foxes, and various bird species.
Shopping Experience
Browse through 450 small shops at Pacific Mall, where vendors sell electronics, fashion, and Asian goods. Shop at CF Markville's 160 stores including major Canadian retailers, or explore King Square Shopping Mall's 500 mini-shops. Most malls in Markham display signs in both English and Chinese.
Year-Round Events
Join the Night It Up! Night Market in July to try Asian street food from over 100 vendors. Visit the Markham Fair in October, a county fair running since the 1800s with agricultural shows and carnival rides. In summer, attend the Taste of Asia Festival to sample pan-Asian cuisine, or enjoy live music at the Markham Jazz Festival.
Technology Center
More than 1,000 technology and life sciences companies operate in Markham's business district. IBM employs thousands of workers here, while companies like AMD, Huawei, and Lenovo maintain significant operations. This concentration of tech companies has created a hub for IT professionals and contributed to the city's economic development.
