This Christian faith-based community centre is devoted to bringing positive changes to the neighbourhood. The Centre is an active place, offering recreational facilities and programs, youth services and a food bank. At its heart is the Cultural Café, offering food, drink and fellowship. Please bring non-perishable items for the food bank. Tours will be offered in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

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Markham’s newest community centre is a stunning example of contemporary architectural design. “Aaniin” is the Ojibwe word for “welcome.” The building – designed by Perkins+Will – features a library, climbing wall, aquatic centre, gym, teaching kitchen and more. The design is intended to reflect an urban idea of space that is suited to hosting a variety of community events.

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Those who appreciate quality coffee beans and care about how and where they are grown will appreciate Hatch Specialty Coffee. A coffee lab, roaster and brewer, they source many of their coffee beans by direct trade from coffee growers. The roasting style is strongly influenced by Scandinavian-style light roasts. Tours of the roaster and brewer will be offered, with tastings.

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Heintzman House is one of the oldest buildings in Markham. Originally built as an adobe brick cottage dating from the early 19th century, the house was enlarged by Colonel George Crookshank in 1817. Charles T. Heintzman, grandson of the founder of Toronto’s Heintzman Piano Company, purchased the property in the 1930s and transformed the house into its present, elegant form.

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This golf club was begun by women for women. The clubhouse, in the Georgian revival style, was originally a country estate constructed in 1922 for Strafford Watson (son of a prominent Toronto lawyer) as a wedding present. The course was designed by the distinguished golf course architect, Stanley Thompson. Champion golfer Ada Mackenzie was the force behind the club's establishment.

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The buildings in this heritage subdivision – each one rescued from potential demolition – date from 1825 to 1916. A variety of architectural styles are represented here. In addition to preserving cultural heritage resources that would have otherwise been lost, the Markham Heritage Estates showcase best practices for residential restoration, a resource often visited by people interested in restoring older homes.

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Everyone is fascinated by fire trucks and firefighting technology. Fire prevention and firefighting are an important part of the City of Markham’s administration. This building’s design was inspired by late-19th-century fire halls. It features a replica hose drying tower, common to most fire halls in the past. The hall was designed to fit into the context of historical Markham Village.

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The restoration of this Toronto and Nipissing Railway station was the first major project of the Markham Village Conservancy. When the railway opened in 1871, the station became a busy commercial and industrial hub. The exterior has been restored to its c. 1910 appearance. The station continues to serve GO Transit commuters, and functions as a community centre.

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This distinctive example of Ontario vernacular architecture features Gothic revival and classical revival detailing. It was originally the home of Salem Eckardt, a local auctioneer. Group of Seven artist Frederick Varley lived here in his later years; he had a studio in the basement. The space now showcases the work of local artists and provides a studio for art instruction.

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Among the unique cultural experiences in downtown Markham during Doors Open is the Pride of Canada Carousel. Visitors can enjoy free carousel rides on 44 whimsical characters – including a mermaid, a telephone, the Bluenose, a crescent moon, a lobster and a mountie. This one-of-kind solar-powered carousel was created by artist Patrick Amoit from recycled and repurposed materials.

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The Remington Contemporary Art Gallery is the epicentre of The Remington Group’s public art initiative in downtown Markham. Come and take a self-guided tour, which features a curated collection of indoor and outdoor public artworks comprising freestanding sculptures and street art located throughout downtown Markham. Across the street is the Pride of Canada Carousel, a rideable work of sustainable art.

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An 1850 map showed a brewery on the banks of the Rouge River at the south end of Markham Village. Today’s Rouge River Brewing Company – Markham’s first craft brewery – features award-winning hop-forward American-style ales, sour beers and Belgian farmhouse-style ales. Beers are brewed on site and can be sampled in the tap room or enjoyed in the brew pub.

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This place of worship boasts a unique architectural design, combining ancient tradition with contemporary appeal. The Coptic Church was established in Egypt in the first century AD and came to Canada with Coptic immigration in the mid- 20th century. The complex features a community centre complete with a gymnasium, banquet hall, daycare centre, recording studio and classrooms.

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St. Philips on-the-Hill's history goes back to early Unionville days when Lutherans and Anglicans worshipped together under Reverend Vincent Mayerhoffer. The congregation split during the tumultuous days of the 1837 Rebellion in Upper Canada. In 1910, the congregation moved into the village of Unionville. In 1986, they returned to a new building on the original site.

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Unionville's restored Stiver Mill, a local landmark, now serves as a community centre and farmers’ market. Originally built as a grain elevator, the western portion of the structure is one of the last of its kind in the region. A feed mill was added to the east end in the 1930s. Come and enjoy family fun activities during Doors Open.

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This house, which was converted into a public library in the 1970s under the direction of restoration architect Napier Simpson Jr., fits comfortably into Colborne Street’s historical streetscape. The library was featured in Deborah Kerbel’s 2010 ghost story, Lure. The ghost of Ellen Ramsden, the building’s original owner, is said to make an appearance from time to time.

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Situated in Unionville’s historical village core, the Varley Art Gallery is an excellent example of post-modern architecture that contrasts with its neighbouring heritage buildings. The gallery – named after Group of Seven artist Fred Varley, who lived in Unionville in his later years – is home to a fine collection of the artist’s works, as well as those of other Canadian artists.

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Wayne’s Cup is a not-for-profit café and life-skills centre dedicated to the development of adults with special needs, which includes but is not limited to autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome and developmental delay. Supportive training is provided to develop skills in running the café, as well as life skills, in a fun working environment that promotes social interaction.

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This church, a post-modern-style place of worship within Markham’s Cornell community, stands on the same property as the William Grant House, a late-Victorian farmhouse that provides the church’s program and office space. The house’s unusual stucco treatment imitates ashlar stonework (re-created based on surviving original sections). It’s an excellent example of adaptive re-use within the context of new development.

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This remarkable expression of contemporary architecture is home to the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, dedicated to inner spiritual development through the practise of the ancient art of tai chi. It is a modern sacred space that houses a dynamic Taoist community. Winner of the 2016 Governor General's Medal for Architecture.

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