City hosts Doors Open Markham, Welcoming Week
From historic schoolhouses to cutting-edge research centres, you’re invited to discover the places where learning, innovation and inspiration come to life during Doors Open Markham 2025.
This year’s theme, ‘Markham’s Learning Landscape,’ celebrates the diverse educational environments that have shaped the city’s identity. This year, there are 14 unique Doors Open Markham sites across the city to explore.
Those sites are Box Grove Community Centre, Cedar Grove Community Centre, German Mills Community Centre (the former German Mills Schoolhouse), Heintzman House, Markham Museum offices (the former Mount Joy Schoolhouse), Markham Village Fire Station No. 97, Markham Village Train Station, McKay Art Centre, Unionville Curling Club, Unionville Train Station, Varley Art Gallery, Village Hive Markham at the Olde School House, York Region District School Board’s Museum & Archives and York University’s Markham Campus.
“Come on in during Doors Open Markham and explore the places that have shaped the city,” says Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “It’s about sharing stories, celebrating history and looking ahead, all by taking in Markham’s unique Learning Landscape.”
Doors Open Markham takes place Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is part of Doors Open Ontario, a provincewide heritage tourism program that provides free public access to unique and historically significant sites across the province.
In addition to Doors Open Markham, the City will also celebrate Welcoming Week 2025.
Welcoming Week is an annual celebration recognizing the people, places and values that help everyone feel included in York Region. While traditionally a one-week event, the City of Markham is expanding the celebration this year with workshops and drop-in programs running over multiple weeks starting Monday, Sep. 15, developed collaboratively by various City of Markham departments.
“Welcoming Week 2025 is all about celebrating the diversity that defines Markham,” Scarpitti says. “It’s about fostering inclusion, building connections, and sharing the many cultures and communities that make our city such a vibrant and welcoming place to call home.”
The Markham Public Library, for instance, will such events as English Conversation Circles, Welcome to Canada: A Checklist for New Immigrants, Foods of Canada, and Permanent Resident to Canadian Citizen: What You Need to Know About Family, Status & Sponsorship.
Photo of Heintzman House courtesy of the City of Markham.