Thornhill, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Thornhill is a community in the Greater Toronto Area
of Southern
Ontario
, Canada, located on the northern border of the city of Toronto. Once a municipal village, Thornhill is now a community and postal designation geographically split into two municipalities along Yonge Street
, the city of Vaughan
to the west and the town of Markham
to the east. According to the 2001 Census
, the population of Thornhill-Vaughan was 56,361, and the population of Thornhill-Markham was 47,333.
It is immediately south of Richmond Hill
.
Between 1830 and 1848, Thornhill experienced a period of continued growth and prosperity. The business district of Thornhill developed on its portion of Yonge Street, between Centre Street and John Street. Stagecoaches travelled between Holland Landing
(Lake Simcoe
) and York
(Toronto) as Yonge Street's road conditions improved with new stonework. During this prosperous period, several churches, many of which are still standing today, were constructed.
Thornhill's location along Yonge Street, a major transportation route, proved to be beneficial to the community's growth throughout much of the twentieth century. The implementation of an electric street railway along Yonge Street in 1898 towards Kleinburg, Georgina, King and Toronto meant that, for the first time, it was possible for people to reside in Thornhill and work in Toronto. By the 1920s, the prevalence of the automobile further facilitated travel along Yonge Street.
"; before that time, Thornhill had no independent status and was split between the townships of Vaughan and Markham along Yonge Street, since the creation of municipal government in 1850. Before 1931, each township administered its own half of the village. The creation of the Police Village gave Thornhill its own political boundaries. The village was headed by a reeve.
In 1971, York Region was created, part of a wave of municipal re-organization which converted many townships into towns and eliminated many of the municipal forms of organization which had existed within those townships. The establishment of a regional administration effectively eliminated the Police Village of Thornhill. Thornhill's administration reverted to the newly formed towns of Markham and Vaughan at this time.
However, many political and social institutions remained organized around the former municipal entities eliminated in 1971. Like neighbouring communities such as Woodbridge, Maple, and Unionville – as is typical for most urbanized former Greater Toronto Area
(GTA) villages outside of the City of Toronto – Thornhill remained the postal designation for addresses within the former village's boundaries, and community organizations such as local newspapers, sports teams, and schools continued to operate under the Thornhill name and designation. As an example, until the mid-1990s residents of Thornhill seeking to play high-level hockey were required to play for a Thornhill team.
While the old village of Thornhill revolved around Yonge Street between Centre and John Streets
, the community is typically thought to be located between Dufferin Street
to the west, Highway 7 to the north, Steeles Avenue
to the south, and Highway 404 to the east.
Thornhill's growth since the 1960s and 1970s has been largely connected to its location bordering what is now the City of Toronto. Large housing developments, particularly beginning in the 1980s with such projects as the Tannenbaum family's Spring Farm area near Bathurst and Clark. Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
, a large synagogue named after developer and benefactor Joseph Tannenbaum, is an example of an innovative twist on the "anchor tenant" approach adopted by some residential developers.
Growth has continued apace. For instance, an "uptown" village denoted as Thornhill Town Centre, is being developed at the corner of Bathurst and Centre Street, forming a continuous line of development north from the Promenade Shopping Centre also near Bathurst and Clark, whose massive parking lot is dotted by an increasing number of condominium buildings and stand-alone retail plazas.
However, it should be noted that the area being labelled as "Upper" or "North" Thornhill is more traditionally part of Maple
, another former village converted to a community when the Township of Vaughan was converted to a town. Other developments taking place in these new areas include Eagle Hills/Mackenzie Chase/Thornberry Woods at Dufferin and Major Mackenzie. Coronation and Roxborough is being developed at Upper Bathurst between Rutherford Road and Major Mackenzie. The Vaughan planning area that includes Block 18 (East Maple), Block 11 (Thornhill/Maple), Block 12 (Upper Thornhill/Maple) and Block 10 (Thornhill Woods) is expected to grow substantially over the next few years. This area is known as the "Carrville District".
It is home to numerous Jewish synagogues and schools, particularly Ashkenazi and Sephardic Orthodox Jewish synagogues such as the Thornhill Community Shul, Westmount Shul and Learning Centre, the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
, Sephardic Kehilla Centre, and Chabad
centres such as the Jewish Russian Community Centre, as well as Conservative synagogues such as Beit Rayim as well as Reform Jewish institutions such as Temple Har Zion, Temple Kol Ami, and the Leo Baeck Day School
, a major Reform Jewish primary school.
According to 2001 Federal Census data, the electoral district of Thornhill
(which is not entirely congruent with the community) 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).
for Thornhill is Peter Kent
(Conservative
), and the Member of Provincial Parliament is Peter Shurman
(Progressive Conservative
).
Municipally, Thornhill is split into Wards 4 and 5 in the City of Vaughan and Wards 1 and 2 in the Town of Markham. It is represented by Sandra Yeung Racco (Vaughan Ward 4), Alan Shefman (Vaughan Ward 5), Valerie Burke (Markham Ward 1), and Howard Shore (Markham Ward 2). The riding had traditionally been held by Liberal, both provincial and federal MP and MPP's respectively.
Elementary schools
Catholic schools
Jewish Schools
Islamic Schools
in Richmond Hill and North York General Hospital in Toronto. A private hospital, Shouldice Hernia Centre
, is in Thornhill and is one of the world's premiere facilities for the treatment of hernia
s .
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
of Southern
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada, located on the northern border of the city of Toronto. Once a municipal village, Thornhill is now a community and postal designation geographically split into two municipalities along Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
, the city of Vaughan
Vaughan, Ontario
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
to the west and the town of Markham
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
to the east. According to the 2001 Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, the population of Thornhill-Vaughan was 56,361, and the population of Thornhill-Markham was 47,333.
It is immediately south of Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
.
History
Early history
Thornhill was founded in 1794. Its first settlers on Yonge Street in Thornhill were Asa Johnson (who settled on the Vaughan side) and Nicholas Miller (who settled on the Markham side). Of particular importance was the arrival of Benjamin Thorne in 1820, who was operating a gristmill, a sawmill, and a tannery in the community. The settlement came to be known as Thorne's Mills, and later, Thorne's Hill, from which its current name is derived. (Thorne committed suicide in 1848, after a serious wheat market crash.)Between 1830 and 1848, Thornhill experienced a period of continued growth and prosperity. The business district of Thornhill developed on its portion of Yonge Street, between Centre Street and John Street. Stagecoaches travelled between Holland Landing
Holland Landing, Ontario
Holland Landing is a village in the town of East Gwillimbury, located in the northern part of the Regional Municipality of York, in south-central Ontario, Canada. Its major road is Yonge Street and the village has bus service by GO Transit and York Region Transit...
(Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
) and York
York, Upper Canada
York was the name of Old Toronto between 1793 and 1834. It was the second capital of Upper Canada.- History :The town was established in 1793 by Governor John Graves Simcoe, with a new 'Fort York' on the site of the last French 'Fort Toronto'...
(Toronto) as Yonge Street's road conditions improved with new stonework. During this prosperous period, several churches, many of which are still standing today, were constructed.
Thornhill's location along Yonge Street, a major transportation route, proved to be beneficial to the community's growth throughout much of the twentieth century. The implementation of an electric street railway along Yonge Street in 1898 towards Kleinburg, Georgina, King and Toronto meant that, for the first time, it was possible for people to reside in Thornhill and work in Toronto. By the 1920s, the prevalence of the automobile further facilitated travel along Yonge Street.
20th century
In 1931, Thornhill became a "Police VillagePolice village
A police village was a form of municipal government used in the province of Ontario, Canada, beginning in the early 19th century. It was used in cases where the finances or population of the area did not permit the creation of a village....
"; before that time, Thornhill had no independent status and was split between the townships of Vaughan and Markham along Yonge Street, since the creation of municipal government in 1850. Before 1931, each township administered its own half of the village. The creation of the Police Village gave Thornhill its own political boundaries. The village was headed by a reeve.
In 1971, York Region was created, part of a wave of municipal re-organization which converted many townships into towns and eliminated many of the municipal forms of organization which had existed within those townships. The establishment of a regional administration effectively eliminated the Police Village of Thornhill. Thornhill's administration reverted to the newly formed towns of Markham and Vaughan at this time.
However, many political and social institutions remained organized around the former municipal entities eliminated in 1971. Like neighbouring communities such as Woodbridge, Maple, and Unionville – as is typical for most urbanized former Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
(GTA) villages outside of the City of Toronto – Thornhill remained the postal designation for addresses within the former village's boundaries, and community organizations such as local newspapers, sports teams, and schools continued to operate under the Thornhill name and designation. As an example, until the mid-1990s residents of Thornhill seeking to play high-level hockey were required to play for a Thornhill team.
While the old village of Thornhill revolved around Yonge Street between Centre and John Streets
John Street (Markham)
John Street is an east-west arterial road in the Town of Markham, Ontario. It is one of the oldest roads in the Township of Markham and forms the backbone of the 200 year old community of Thornhill....
, the community is typically thought to be located between Dufferin Street
Dufferin Street
Dufferin Street is a major north-south street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a concession road, two concessions west of Yonge Street. The street starts at the foot of Lake Ontario, continues north to Toronto's northern boundary with some discontinuities and continues into York Region where it...
to the west, Highway 7 to the north, Steeles Avenue
Steeles Avenue
Steeles Avenue is an east-west street that forms the northern city limit of Toronto and the southern limit of York Region, Ontario, Canada. It stretches across the western Greater Toronto Area from Milborough Townline in Halton Region east to the Scarborough-Pickering limit. It runs for within...
to the south, and Highway 404 to the east.
Suburbanization
Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto is a synagogue in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, just north of Toronto, and is one of the largest Orthodox synagogues in North America. It emphasizes family values and attracts Jews from a variety of religious backgrounds with what it calls the "warmth of Torah tradition"...
, a large synagogue named after developer and benefactor Joseph Tannenbaum, is an example of an innovative twist on the "anchor tenant" approach adopted by some residential developers.
Growth has continued apace. For instance, an "uptown" village denoted as Thornhill Town Centre, is being developed at the corner of Bathurst and Centre Street, forming a continuous line of development north from the Promenade Shopping Centre also near Bathurst and Clark, whose massive parking lot is dotted by an increasing number of condominium buildings and stand-alone retail plazas.
Expansion
The territory thought to constitute Thornhill has recently begun to expand northward in Thornhill-Vaughan, particularly west of Bathurst, due to the marketing initiatives of residential developers. A new area called "Thornhill Woods" was developed between Highway 7, Rutherford, Bathurst, and Dufferin. Another planned development, "Upper Thornhill Estates", extends well to the north of Major Mackenzie. In 2008 the City of Vaughan held a groundbreaking ceremony for the North Thornhill Community Centre, a new community centre to serve this population which is slated to open in 2010.However, it should be noted that the area being labelled as "Upper" or "North" Thornhill is more traditionally part of Maple
Maple, Ontario
Maple is a high-growth suburban community northwest of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, part of the city of Vaughan in York Region.-Geography:The west branch of the Don River rises to the northwest and flows 1 km west of Maple. Several creeks are to the east and the Black Creek begins slightly west...
, another former village converted to a community when the Township of Vaughan was converted to a town. Other developments taking place in these new areas include Eagle Hills/Mackenzie Chase/Thornberry Woods at Dufferin and Major Mackenzie. Coronation and Roxborough is being developed at Upper Bathurst between Rutherford Road and Major Mackenzie. The Vaughan planning area that includes Block 18 (East Maple), Block 11 (Thornhill/Maple), Block 12 (Upper Thornhill/Maple) and Block 10 (Thornhill Woods) is expected to grow substantially over the next few years. This area is known as the "Carrville District".
Ethnicity
Thornhill has a very ethnically diverse population. It is home to significant visible minorities communities, but is particularly known for its large Jewish community: 36.6% of the population of Thornhill is Jewish, the highest in Canada.It is home to numerous Jewish synagogues and schools, particularly Ashkenazi and Sephardic Orthodox Jewish synagogues such as the Thornhill Community Shul, Westmount Shul and Learning Centre, the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto is a synagogue in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, just north of Toronto, and is one of the largest Orthodox synagogues in North America. It emphasizes family values and attracts Jews from a variety of religious backgrounds with what it calls the "warmth of Torah tradition"...
, Sephardic Kehilla Centre, and Chabad
Chabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
centres such as the Jewish Russian Community Centre, as well as Conservative synagogues such as Beit Rayim as well as Reform Jewish institutions such as Temple Har Zion, Temple Kol Ami, and the Leo Baeck Day School
Leo Baeck Day School
The Leo Baeck Day School is a Greater Toronto Area Reform Jewish day school composed of over eight hundred students from Nursery to Grade Eight. Named in honour of Rabbi Leo Baeck, it has two campuses, in Thornhill and Toronto.- School information :...
, a major Reform Jewish primary school.
According to 2001 Federal Census data, the electoral district of Thornhill
Thornhill (electoral district)
Thornhill is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.It covers the community of Thornhill, Ontario, which is made up of portions of Vaughan and Markham, and was created in 1996 from parts of...
(which is not entirely congruent with the community) 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).
Politics
Thornhill is a federal and provincial riding. The Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Thornhill is Peter Kent
Peter Kent
Peter Kent, PC, MP is a Conservative member of parliament for the riding of Thornhill, and the current Minister of the Environment in the 28th Canadian Ministry.Previously, he was Deputy Editor of Global Television, a Canadian TV network...
(Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
), and the Member of Provincial Parliament is Peter Shurman
Peter Shurman
Peter Shurman is a Progressive Conservative Member for Thornhill in the Ontario Legislature. Prior to his election, he was a radio talk show host on CFRB in Toronto.-Background:Shurman was born in Montreal in 1947...
(Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
).
Municipally, Thornhill is split into Wards 4 and 5 in the City of Vaughan and Wards 1 and 2 in the Town of Markham. It is represented by Sandra Yeung Racco (Vaughan Ward 4), Alan Shefman (Vaughan Ward 5), Valerie Burke (Markham Ward 1), and Howard Shore (Markham Ward 2). The riding had traditionally been held by Liberal, both provincial and federal MP and MPP's respectively.
Public schools
Secondary schools- Stephen Lewis Secondary School, established in 2006
- Thornhill Secondary SchoolThornhill Secondary SchoolThornhill Secondary School in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada was founded in 1955.-History:Originally it served as an elementary school, but in 1956 it opened as a full-time high school with 600 students. The TSS library was established in 1960 and was just recently renovated in 2007...
, established in 1955 - Thornlea Secondary SchoolThornlea Secondary SchoolThornlea Secondary School is a public high school that opened in 1968 and is located in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, on the north east corner Bayview Avenue and Willowbrook Road, just south of Highway 407....
, established in 1969 - Vaughan Secondary SchoolVaughan Secondary SchoolVaughan Secondary School is a high school in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. The school is administered by the York Region District School Board, and is home to RAV-FM, the only Canadian FM radio station licensed to a public high school...
, established in 1989 - Westmount Collegiate InstituteWestmount Collegiate InstituteWestmount Collegiate Institute is a high school in the Thornhill, Ontario district of the greater city of Vaughan. It opened its doors in 1996, as part of the multi-purpose Benjamin Vaughan Complex, named for Benjamin Vaughan, the diplomat for which the city is named...
, established in 1996
Elementary schools
- Bakersfield Public School, established in 2003
- Baythorn Public SchoolBaythorn Public SchoolBaythorn Public School is an elementary school in the portion of the community of Thornhill in Markham, Ontario, Canada. The school is named after Baythorn Drive, on which it is located. It is part of the York Region District School Board. Baythorn Public School is known for its Arts Program, which...
- Bayview Glen Public School
- Bayview Fairways Public School
- Brownridge Public School
- Carrville Mills Public School, established in 2007
- Charlton Public School
- Doncrest Public School
- E.J. Sand Public SchoolE.J. Sand Public SchoolE.J. Sand Public School was founded by Eilert J. Sand, located in Thornhill, Ontario. It is a part of the York Region District School Board. Its graduation ceremonies are held at Vaughan Secondary School.- History :...
- German Mills Public SchoolGerman Mills Public SchoolGerman Mills public School is a school located in Thornhill, Ontario. The school was originally named after a settlement in the area.German Mills P.S. was officially opened on June 5, 1975 in an open concept design. Over time, most of the open spaces have been divided into a more traditional...
- Glen Shields Public SchoolGlen Shields Public SchoolGlen Shields Public School is a public school located in Thornhill, Ontario. GSPS was established in 1983, with a new extension added on in 2000. It is a school managed by the York Region District School Board, located near Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School. The school provides classes for...
- Henderson Avenue Public SchoolHenderson Avenue Public SchoolHenderson Avenue Public School in Thornhill, Ontario was built in 1952 and opened on October 20, 1953. From 1953-1961, the school consisted of a hall and 7 classrooms. In 1962, the school had 13 rooms added to it, bringing it to a total of 20 classrooms. The school stood until July 16, 1998...
- Herbert H. Carnegie Public School
- Johnsview Village Public School
- Julliard Public School
- Louis Honoré Fréchette Public School, established in 1991
- Roberta Bondar Public School, established in 2008
- Rosedale Heights Public School
- Stornoway Cresent Public School
- Thornhill Public School,
- Thornhill Woods Public School, established in 2005
- Ventura Park Public School, established in 1999
- Westminster Public School, established in 1983
- Willowbrook Public School
- Woodland Public School
- Yorkhill Elementary SchoolYorkhill Elementary SchoolYorkhill Elementary School is a public elementary school in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. The school is part of the York Region District School Board and teaches from junior kindergarten to grade eight.-Building:...
Catholic schools
- Blessed (Bishop) Scalabrini Catholic Elementary School
- Holy Family Catholic Elementary School
- St. Elizabeth Catholic High SchoolSt. Elizabeth Catholic High SchoolSt. Elizabeth Catholic High School is a high school in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. St. Elizabeth CHS was founded by the York Catholic District School Board in 1987, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2007. St. Elizabeth is the home of Regional Arts Program for drama, dance, visual arts, and music...
, established in 1987 - St. Joseph the Worker
- St. Robert Catholic High SchoolSt. Robert Catholic High SchoolSt. Robert Catholic High School is a secondary school in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.- History :St. Robert CHS was opened by the York Catholic District School Board in 1975, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2005. St. Robert CHS is named after its patron saint, St. Robert Bellarmine. St...
- St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School
- St. Michael Catholic AcademySt. Michael Catholic AcademySaint Michael Catholic Academy is an art-focused school in Thornhill, Ontario. This Roman Catholic school is operated by the York District Catholic School Board.-School building:...
- St. Luke Catholic Elementary School
Private schools
- Rutherford Private School & Daycare (formerly known as Eligor School)
- Toronto Waldorf School
Jewish Schools
- Associated Hebrew Schools of TorontoAssociated Hebrew Schools of TorontoAssociated Hebrew Schools of Toronto is a private traditional elementary and middle school Jewish day school with two campuses in Toronto, Ontario and one campus in Thornhill, Ontario. The three branches are; the Kamin Education Centre located in Thornhill, the Posluns Education Centre...
- Eitz Chaim Day School
- TanenbaumCHAT
- Leo Baeck Day SchoolLeo Baeck Day SchoolThe Leo Baeck Day School is a Greater Toronto Area Reform Jewish day school composed of over eight hundred students from Nursery to Grade Eight. Named in honour of Rabbi Leo Baeck, it has two campuses, in Thornhill and Toronto.- School information :...
- Netivot HaTorah Day SchoolNetivot HaTorah Day School) is a private Orthodox Jewish elementary school in Thornhill, Ontario. The school is mostly characterized by its Modern Orthodox and Zionist approach to the entire curriculum, with an emphasis on "Ivrit b'Ivrit" and teachers who are shlichim, Israeli emissaries living in Canada on short...
- Cheder Chabad
- Or Haemet Sephardic School
- Blyth EducationBlyth EducationBlyth Education, simply referred to as Blyth, is a private company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that offers secondary education and educational credit programs.- Blyth Academy :...
Islamic Schools
- As-Sadiq Islamic School
Healthcare
There are no general hospitals in the Thornhill area; the nearest are York Central HospitalYork Central Hospital
York Central Hospital is a hospital in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada and one of three in York Regional Municipality.-History:York Central Hospital was founded in 1963 in Vaughan Township, close to the suburb of Richmond Hill, and incorporated into Richmond Hill following the amalgamation of the...
in Richmond Hill and North York General Hospital in Toronto. A private hospital, Shouldice Hernia Centre
Shouldice Hernia Centre
Shouldice Hernia Centre is a hospital in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, that is known for its specialization in external abdominal hernia operations. Shouldice uses a natural tissue, tension free, technique developed during World War II by Dr. Edward Earle Shouldice. Their ten full-time surgeons...
, is in Thornhill and is one of the world's premiere facilities for the treatment of hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
s .
Media
- Salam TorontoSalam TorontoSalam Toronto is the first Persian-English bilingual weekly publication in North America freely distributed and provided to community members living in southern Ontario....
Bilingual Persian-English weekly paper expressing the voice/distributed of/to the Iranian Community of Thornhill, Richmond Hill, North York, Toronto and GTA. - Shalom Toronto Bilingual Hebrew- English weekly paper
Notable people from Thornhill
⋅- John BeckJohn Beck (politician)John Beck was a political candidate in Toronto, Canada. Beck was a Reform Party candidate in the 1993 federal election who was forced to abandon his candidacy after making a series of racially insensitive remarks....
– Heir to the Beck Taxi Company, and candidate for the Reform PartyReform Party of CanadaThe Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
in 1993. - Adrian CannAdrian CannAdrian Cann is a Canadian international soccer defender who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-College:Cann had a college soccer career at the University of Louisville from 2000 to 2003...
– Canadian national soccer team defender - Hayden ChristensenHayden ChristensenHayden Christensen is a Canadian actor. He appeared in Canadian television programs when he was young, then diversified into American television in the late 1990s. He moved on to minor acting roles before being praised for his role of Sam in Life as a House, for which he was nominated for a Golden...
– Actor, most notable for playing Anakin Skywalker in the Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
prequel trilogy - Sidney M. CohenSidney M. CohenSidney M. Cohen is a Canadian television director specializing in live multi-camera productions requiring minimal editing and is also a TV program creator.He was born in Montreal, Quebec and began his career with CFCF-TV and later CBC Television...
– TV Director and Producer The Mad DashThe Mad DashThe Mad Dash is a television game show created by Sidney M. Cohen. It first appeared in 1978 on Canada's CTV network and proved to be a family favourite based on Canada's BBM ratings. It was also popular in parts of the northern United States because CTV affiliates were available to Americans ...
and Thrill of a LifetimeThrill of a LifetimeThrill of a Lifetime was a television reality series created by Sidney M. Cohen and Willie Stein. It was telecast from 1981 to 1988 in Canada on the CTV network. Thrill of a Lifetime gave viewers the chance to live their dreams, with thrills ranging from daredevil adventures to the romantic...
& "Accessibility in Action" - Lauren CollinsLauren CollinsLauren Felice Collins is a Canadian actress that is perhaps best known for portraying Paige Michalchuk on Degrassi: The Next Generation.-Life and career:...
– Actress, notable role of Paige on Degrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
. - Dan David (musician) – Pop Rock violinist, author, minister
- Gillian FerrariGillian FerrariGillian Ferrari is a Canadian women's ice hockey player. She was inducted into the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Her Mother is from Wales and her Father was born in Italy.-Playing career:...
– Won Gold Medal for Canada playing defense for the Canadian women's Hockey team in the 2006 Winter Olympics2006 Winter OlympicsThe 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. - Moxy FrüvousMoxy FrüvousMoxy Früvous was a politically satirical folk-pop band from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. The band was founded in 1989, and was active throughout the 1990s...
- Musical group of the 1990s whose songs featured satirical themes, starring CBC personality Jian GhomeshiJian GhomeshiJian Ghomeshi is a Canadian broadcaster, writer, musician and producer of Iranian descent who was raised in Thornhill, Ontario. Now based in Toronto, he is the host of the national daily cultural affairs talk program, Q, on CBC Radio One and Bold TV... - Alison GoringAlison GoringAlison Goring is a Canadian curler.Goring is a former Canadian champion skip, having won the 1990 Scott Tournament of Hearts. She was also a successful junior curler, having won the 1983 Canadian Junior Curling Championships.Goring won her first provincial championship in 1990...
– Canadian Women's Curling Champion - Corey HaimCorey HaimCorey Ian Haim was a Canadian actor, known for a 1980s Hollywood career as a teen idol. He starred in a number of films such as Lucas, Silver Bullet, Murphy's Romance, License to Drive and Dream a Little Dream...
- Actor, best known for roles in movies, such as LucasLucas (film)Lucas is a 1986 American teen tragicomedy film directed by David Seltzer and starring Corey Haim, Kerri Green, Charlie Sheen and Courtney Thorne-Smith. The film is particularly notable for being the screen debut of actress Winona Ryder.-Plot:...
, and The Lost BoysThe Lost BoysThe Lost Boys is a 1987 American teen comedy horror film directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander, and Barnard Hughes....
. - Fred S. HainesFred S. HainesFrederick Stanley Haines , more commonly known as Fred S...
– (1879–1960) Canadian Painter - Hayden (musician)Hayden (musician)Paul Hayden Desser who records as Hayden, is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Thornhill, Ontario.His early works are a largely eclectic mix of genres from grunge rock to alt country, as demonstrated by his first full album, Everything I Long For, released in 1995. Since then his work has become...
- Folk rock musician and songwriter. - Adam HenrichAdam HenrichAdam Henrich is a professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for Alleghe HC of the Italian Serie A....
, ice hockey left wing/center (HC Asiago of the Italian Serie A) - Michael HenrichMichael HenrichMichael Henrich is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Henrich is currently a member of HC Asiago of the Serie A in Italy. An NHL first-round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 1998, Henrich played several years of professional hockey in North America before moving to professional hockey...
– Edmonton OilersEdmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
1998 first round draft choice. - Tajja IsenTajja IsenTajja Isen is a Canadian actress and singer-songwriter who is best known for voicing the titular character in the television series Atomic Betty...
-Voice Actress - Simcha JacoboviciSimcha JacoboviciSimcha Jacobovici is a Canadian film director, producer, free-lance journalist, and writer. He is a three-times Emmy winner for Outstanding Investigative Journalism....
- Known as "The Naked Archaeologist". - Craig KielburgerCraig KielburgerCraig Kielburger, CM, MSM, OMC is a Canadian activist for the rights of children. He is the founder of Free The Children and co-founder of Me to We. On February 20, 2007, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada.-Early life:Kielburger was born in Thornhill,...
– Creator and founder of Free The ChildrenFree The ChildrenFree The Children is an international charity and youth movement founded in 1995 by children's rights advocate Craig Kielburger. The organization is largely youth-funded, based on the concept of "children helping children." It specializes in sustainable development in countries of Kenya, Ecuador,...
, the largest child-run campaign against child labour and injustice. - Gordon KormanGordon KormanGordon Korman is a Canadian author, primarily of novels for children and young adults. He lives in Long Island's Great Neck, New York, with his wife and three children....
– Author. - Ryan and Dan KowarskyRyanDanRyanDan is a Canadian musical, songwriting and producing duo, consisting of identical twins Ryan and Dan Kowarsky, whose music is a mix of pop, opera, and classical....
– Singers, members of the music group b4-4B4-4b4-4 later on Before Four was a Canadian boy band from Toronto, Ontario. The band was composed of the twins Ryan and Dan Kowarsky, and Ohad Einbinder. They were signed to Sony Records and achieved commercial success in Canada and later on as Before Four in Germany... - Jon LevineJon LevineJon Levine is a singer/songwriter best known as keyboardist and primary songwriter for the Canadian band Philosopher Kings. His brother is Jason Levine, of the pop band Prozzäk, and the former bassist of the Philosopher Kings. He is also the musical director for the childrens television show...
– Musician, Producer – The Philosopher Kings - Robert McGhee – Archaeologist and author specializing in the archaeology of the Arctic, currently Curator of Western Arctic Archaeology at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
- Billie MintzBillie MintzBillie Mintz is an award winning filmmaker and Corporate social responsibility storyteller, CEO of Artists Raising Consciousness . He lives and works in Toronto, Canada....
- Award winning film maker. - Dominic MooreDominic MooreDominic Michael Moore is an Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Moore attended both St. Michael Catholic Elementary School and St. Anthony's Catholic Elementary School in Thornhill, Ontario; St...
– Professional ice hockey player with the Tampa Bay LightningTampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
. - Milos RaonicMilos RaonicMilos Raonic is a Canadian professional tennis player from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.Born in what is now Podgorica, Montenegro, Raonic moved to Canada with his family at the age of 3. Raonic is Canada's highest ATP ranked male singles player and the country's highest ever ranked player since...
– Professional tennis player - Sue RodriguezSue RodriguezSue Rodriguez was an advocate of assisted suicide.She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the given name Sue Shipley, and grew up in Thornhill, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. Her first marriage was short-lived....
-Shipley – Advocate of the right to die with dignity. Her story was the topic of the 1998 feature film At the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez StoryAt the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez StoryAt the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez Story is a 1998 Canadian documentary/drama film about the life of Canadian right to die advocate Sue Rodriguez....
. - Paul RosenPaul RosenPaul Rosen is a Canadian sledge hockey goalie and motivational speaker from Thornhill, Ontario. Rosen suffered a leg injury during a hockey game as a youth, and the resulting damage, infections and pain to his leg plagued him for years until his lower leg was amputated at age 39...
– Won Gold Medal for Canada playing goalie for the Canadian men's paralympic hockey team in the 2006 Winter Olympics2006 Winter OlympicsThe 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... - Dan ShulmanDan ShulmanDaniel "Dan" Shulman is a Canadian sportscaster, currently employed with the American network ESPN as well as Canadian network TSN....
– Sports broadcaster who works for ESPN. - Daniel SpivakDaniel SpivakDaniel Spivak is a Canadian amateur ice hockey defenceman. He plays college ice hockey for the Rochester Institute of Technology, which plays in Atlantic Hockey, part of the NCAA's Division I...
– ice hockey player - Stu StoneStu StoneStuart Stone is a Canadian film, television, and voice-over actor as well as a producer of TV/film and music. Stone also has toured as a comedian and rapper...
– Actor and voiceover performer. - Mike Wise – Guitarist for The Midway StateThe Midway StateThe Midway State is an alternative rock band from Toronto, Canada. The band is signed to Remedy Records worldwide and to Universal Publishing for the world outside North America. The band released their debut album Holes in 2008...
- The Philosopher KingsThe Philosopher KingsThe Philosopher Kings are a Canadian rhythm and blues band who were most commercially successful in the late 1990s. The name of the band is derived from Plato's Republic, in which he outlines the design of an idealistic government, ruled by philosopher-kings...
- Canadian rhythm and blues band - Anne MurrayAnne MurrayMorna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
- internationally known Canadian singing artist - lived in one of Thornhill's oldest districts near the pond for several years - Robert GouletRobert GouletRobert Gerard Goulet was a Canadian American entertainer as a singer and actor. He played the role of Lancelot in the Broadway musical Camelot of 1960.-Early life:...
- well-known singer/performer - lived in Thornhill on Vista View Blvd for at least 1 year in the 60s - Judy & DavidJudy & DavidJudy & David are children's recording artists, composers, television personalities, and live concert artists based in the Toronto, Ontario area. They launched their career in 1993 with the release of Jumpin' Up & Down and the multi-million selling My Little Yellow Bus collection. They are best...
-children's recording artists, composers, television personalities, and live concert artists