Beverley Glen, Vaughan Neighbourhood Guide: Eclectic Housing Styles

The neighbourhood of Beverley Glen is an established community sandwiched between Highway 407 and Centre Street in Vaughan. A tranquil and thriving community, it’s a popular choice for commuters due to the surrounding network of highways and close proximity to Toronto. Over the past 10 years, this neighbourhood has blossomed into a sought-after and family-friendly community with many desirable amenities.

Vaughan’s intriguing past began when this peaceful area was inhabited by First Nations Peoples. These industrious individuals lead quiet lives, farming, fishing, and hunting.

In the 1800s, immigrants from Pennsylvania, mostly of German heritage, arrived in the area followed by British and French immigrants from the US. Many of these immigrants worked as merchants, carpenters, and in other assorted occupations.  By 1840, Vaughan had a robust community of 4,300 settlers. 

After the Second World War, Vaughan’s economy began to flourish and it was incorporated as a town in 1971. In 1991, it was established as a city. Today, Vaughan retains its proud heritage with 19th-century historic buildings scattered throughout this traditional community, like The Doctor’s House in Kleinburg and the Vellore Township Hall in Maple.

Vaughan is also one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Ontario. A vicinity with a proud Italian population, in 2016, Italians made up the largest ethnic group here. 

A thorn in Vaughan’s heritage is its dishonourable namesake. John Graves Simcoe, who was the lieutenant-governor in 1792, named the town after Benjamin Vaughan, a wealthy British diplomat. However, Vaughan was also a slave owner and an outspoken supporter of slavery. In 2020, with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, the citizens of Vaughan proposed changing the name of the city. 

Although the city’s name wasn’t altered, the August civic holiday known as Benjamin Vaughan Day is now called Simcoe Day (the name used until 2013). Simcoe was an abolitionist who supported the end of slavery.

Beverley Glen is a mostly residential neighbourhood consisting of highrise apartments, single-detached homes, semi-detached and linked homes, and townhomes. In fact, about 45% of the accommodations here consist of large apartment buildings, making this community a desirable spot for renters.

Some of the older homes were constructed in the 1980s and the 1990s and feature attractive architectural details from these decades. 

The Beverley at the Thornhill development, a new glass-and-concrete finished, 15-storey condo, is attracting new homebuyers. It will be at Bathurst Street and Beverley Glen Boulevard and will have 206 units when it opens in 2023.

Although large entertainment venues exist in Richmond Hill (like the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts), you don’t have to travel that far from Beverley Glen to access local theatre. City Playhouse Theatre, on New Westminster Drive, is a 386-seat theatre. This multi-purpose venue features intriguing live performances, and you can also rent out the theatre to stage your own unique production. 

For a change of pace, you could forego large entertainment venues to enjoy the theatre and support local drama in your own backyard.

Residents of Beverley Glen also have convenient local amenities. Along the shopping corridor on Centre Street, you’ll find SmartCentres Thornhill at Centre and Bathurst Streets. This mall features Walmart and a Bulk Barn, Loblaws Superstore, Great Clips, CIBC, and eateries, including Bagel World, Maple Sushi, and Marble Slab. 

Walking further west on Centre Street, you’ll reach the Rio Centre Thornhill, featuring the anchor stores Winners, HomeSense, No Frills, and a Pizza Nova, among others. 

Continuing westbound at Centre Street and Dufferin Street, food connoisseurs will appreciate Greco’s Fresh Markets, a specialty grocer featuring fine natural and conventional foods.

Not lacking in shopping conveniences, this neighbourhood also has Centerpoint Mall at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue West. Centerpoint Mall has been a staple in this community for 55 years.

An attractive feature of this area is the Promenade Mall. Located just southeast of the Rio Centre, the Promenade Mall in Thornhill is modern and spacious. It features 150+ stores with mainstream shops like H&M and premium brands like Pandora and Artizia. Enjoy an entertaining movie at the cinema or gather with friends at the food court.

A spot for relaxing and watching the world go by, Starbucks at New Westminster Drive and Bathurst Street is a neighbourhood hub. Minutes away, you’ll find What a Bagel, where you can enjoy bagels freshly prepared on the same day.

Further south at Centre and Bathurst Streets, the iconic Swiss Chalet offers time-tested recipes. Just west of here on Centre Street, you’ll find an opportunity to try an award-winning deli sandwich at Centre Street Deli, serving the community since 1988. 

Other restaurants on the Centre Street corridor include A Yiddishe Mame, a comfy Jewish eatery serving homestyle favourites and catering to this Jewish neighbourhood. Also on Centre Street, Copper Branch is a vegan restaurant, serving bowls, sandwiches, and burgers with an organic flare.

If you’re looking for a conventional restaurant to enjoy familiar favourites, check out the assortment of eateries in the local food courts.

An exceptional selling feature of the Beverley Glen neighbourhood is its plethora of community parks. Walking around the area, you’ll come across Beverley Glen Park, Oakhurst Parkette, King High Park, Ventura Park, Worth Park, and Thornhill Green Park.

The landmark green space in this neighbourhood is Concord/Thornhill Regional Park on Racco Parkway. Here, you’ll find an artificial turf soccer field, baseball diamonds, a tennis court, a splash pad, and a playground. A colourful hot air balloon and planes create an imaginative spot for the splash pad.

If you want to explore a nearby park, the walking trail at Concord Park twists and turns its way to nearby Worth Park. This green space is adjacent to Highway 407, making it easily accessible but a little noisy.

Families and singles alike can head to the local Rosemont Community Centre and Park to enjoy their favourite fitness passion. Inside Westmount Collegiate Institute, this venue features an indoor ice rink, a gymnasium, and fitness rooms. It might be the only indoor rink in Vaughan that offers public skating on a Saturday afternoon in 2022!

Pickup basketball attracts local-area teens looking for fast-paced exercise and adults enjoy the aerobics and yoga classes.

Local golf courses cater to this community’s upper-income residents. You’ll find a leisurely play at Thornhill Golf and Country Club, Uplands Golf and Country Club, and the Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club.

It’s easy to access outlying communities with a network of nearby highways, including Highway 407 and Highway 7. This community is also within a short drive of Highways 400, 401, and 404.

The Viva rapid transit line conveniently offers quick trips to destinations in Toronto, the Region of Peel, and throughout Vaughan. You can access Viva transit at the Promenade bus terminal on Centre Street, which also has access to the TTC and York Region Transit.

Beverley Glen is an established community that features modernized transit, cohesive subdivisions, and towering condominiums, which is fuelling an influx of homebuyers looking for accommodations close to the city. 

The wide range of housing stock is attracting a diverse group of residents, from renters to homeowners. These residents are seeking out plentiful green space within commuting distance to downtown.