The supplies run is the easy part of back-to-school. The part that actually books out in late August is appointments. Here is the local checklist, with the best-evidenced picks from our directory.
1. The eye exam
New classroom, new screens — September is when undetected vision problems surface as "trouble focusing." The directory lists 14 optometrists. Starlite Vision holds a 5.0 Google rating across 189 reviews; Liberty Square Optometry (4.3 across 51) lists myopia control among its services — worth asking about specifically if your child's prescription changes every year.
2. The dental check
Get it done before schedules fill with practices and homework. Of the 56 dentists listed, Liberty Square Dental Centre holds a 4.7 across 109 reviews, and Liberty Orthodontic Centre (4.8 across 275) is the strongest-evidenced orthodontic option if this is the year for braces or Invisalign. Our family-dentist guide covers what to ask.
3. The haircut
Book the week before Labour Day and you will fight everyone else for a chair. The directory lists 35 salons; Cataldo Hair Design holds a 5.0 across 41 reviews.
4. The tutoring decision
If last year ended with a gap, decide the plan now rather than after the first report card — good centres fill in September. Our tutoring guide covers formats, questions, and red flags; the directory holds 25 tutoring listings.
5. The teen driver
A high-schooler starting the G1 ladder this year needs an MTO-approved school: the directory lists Safe Gear Driving School (beginner education through winter driving) and City Line Driving School (online beginner courses plus in-car lessons).
The supplies run, sanely
Wait for the school's actual list before buying anything beyond basics — half of what gets bought in early August is the wrong half. The deepest discounts land in the last two weeks of August. And refresh rather than replace: most kids genuinely need a few new items, not a full re-kit. For local shops, the directory is searchable by category.
Data verification: every business named in this article is a record in the MarkhamBusiness.com directory, and every number is computed from those records as of August 20, 2026. Details change — each linked page carries the current record. Run a business that belongs here? Claim or add your listing.
About the Author
Business Tips Editor
Priya Sharma is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. She has spent over fifteen years advising small and medium-sized businesses across the GTA, with a particular focus on owner-operated firms in Markham and Richmond Hill. Priya runs a small consulting practice in Richmond Hill and writes about practical business management, tax planning, hiring, and growth strategies for local entrepreneurs.
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