|
|
David West
Richmond Hill Ward 4 Councillor
Monthly Newsletter
June 2019
|
|
Access Richmond Hill: 905-771-8800 -
After Hours Emergency Number: 905-884-8013
|
 |
|
We are Proud to Call Richmond Hill Home
Recently Richmond Hill staff commissioned a survey soliciting citizen opinions about life in Richmond Hill. As has been demonstrated in the past, an
 overwhelming majority (92%) of citizens are quite satisfied with the quality of the community that we all call home. In particular people expressed an appreciation that Richmond Hill is close to amenities, we have lots of Parks and Open Spaces, and that we are a close knit community. Like any great City however we need to keep moving forward and keep looking for ways to improve upon and maintain a livable and vibrant community.
As such, the survey also outlined a few issues that citizens feel require our attention. These issues include addressing traffic pressures, improving public transit, issues related to urbanization, over crowding and population growth, as well as improving our roads system. It was also important to note that the survey outlined an increase in the perceived importance of creating greater options related to housing affordability in our community. The opinions expressed in this survey related to the need for affordability corresponds to what I am hearing more frequently from residents in one form or another, and I agree the issue needs to be tackled by this council in a comprehensive manner. On that note, in the last budget Council approved a study to determine how we can encourage the development of more affordable housing choices and I look forward to seeing the findings of this study.
Consistent with the survey findings, I too am proud of Richmond Hill. Like any growing and increasingly urban community we need to continue to address a number of issues, and this process needs to include listening to the needs of the citizens and providing a strong two way communication between citizens, stakeholders and our municipal staff. To view the complete survey report please visit
https://pub-richmondhill.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=24130
In the past month I introduced three motions to Council. For complete details of the Reducing Single Use Plastic Motion, my motion to control and regulate Real Estate Open House signs, and my motion recognizing urgent need for action on Climate Change, please see the Council News section below in this e newsletter. I believe that each of these motions work toward the important goal of maintaining Richmond Hill as a vibrant community.
If you have any questions, comments, kudos, or concerns please feel free to contact me. I am always happy to speak to residents about our great community.
David
Sincerely,
David West
Ward 4 Councillor Richmond Hill
Cell -416-346-3090
Office 905-771-2480
Banner Photo - Courtesy of City of Richmond Hill - Opening of the Oak Ridges Youth Park Area (more details below)
|
|
|
Councillor Highlights
1. Dodge Ball Tournament and Food Drive for 360kids
Local resident, Sonny Dhillon recently hosted yet another memorable community fundraising event. His latest dodgeball tournament collected over 6000 pounds of food in support of 360kids and the Richmond Hill Community Foodbank! Thank you to all the youth that came out to support the event and for the incredible generosity of Sonny and his family.
2. Go Raptors Go!
Richmond Hill came out and cheer on our Toronto Raptors at a number of "Jurassic Parks" set up in our City, including one at Richmond Green. It was great for my family to celebrate the Raptors win with our neighbours and it was really exciting to see our Toronto Raptors victorious in the end. The fan support from all across the country was incredible!
3. Clean Up Green Up Weeks - Results
As I reported in a previous e newsletter, Richmond Hill citizens, community groups, staff, and businesses all worked together this spring to clean up Richmond Hill. A record 10,300 individuals participated in this project and I want to thank all those involved for their participation and for caring for our community.
4. Bike to Work Day
Bike to Work day is an annual event that is hosted and organized by Smart Commute Markham Richmond Hill. I have supported this event for many years, as the Council liaison on the Smart Commute Advisory Group and a participant. The event promotes using biking and active transportation to get to work in Richmond Hill and Markham. Many bike riders participated including both enthusiasts that already regularly bike to work, and others that are interested in biking to work periodically and want to learn more about their options. Thanks to the organizers for scheduling this on a beautiful sunny day like they always do.
5. Al Nadwa Educational Islamic Iftar Dinner and Eid al Fitr
It was a pleasure and honour to attend a Muslim Iftar Dinner. The Iftar Dinner marks the breaking of the daily fast during the month of Ramadan. The event was hosted in partnership with the
Al Nadwa Educational Islamic Center along with Richmond Hill
Council and the York Regional Police.
I was also honoured to attend the Eid al Fitr prayer service on June 5th in Richmond Hill. This celebration is shared around the world by millions of Muslims and marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. During the service the Imam delivered a message relating to the importance of building strong communities for all, and a message of thanksgiving that this celebration includes.
6. Addressing Human Trafficking in York Region
The Meeting House Church hosted a seminar at the Richmond Hill United Church regarding the issue of Human Trafficking in York Region. The event was focused on finding solutions to this issue and supporting the work that Law Enforcement agencies, including our York Regional Police are currently doing to curb this illegal activity. The message that was delivered at this seminar, was that Human Trafficking is happening in York Region, and it is likely happening to a greater degree than most people think. I look forward to learning more about this issue and to explore ways that our community can work in partnership with law enforcement agencies, like York Regional Police, to eliminate this terrible problem.
7. Lullaboo Nursery and Childcare Centre Fundraiser for Sick Kids Hospital
A local business in our community, Lullaboo Nursery and Childcare Centre, recently invited me to participate in their annual fundraiser in support of Sick Kids Hospital. So far they have raised over $120,000 for the hospital and more was raised this month. Thank you to the owners, staff, and clients at Lullaboo for their generosity toward improving healthcare for children in our community and beyond.
8. Pride Flag Raising in Richmond Hill
 As a proud supporter of various LGBTQ groups in our community I was happy to participate in a flag raising at the City Hall to mark Pride Month in Richmond Hill. Our community is an inclusive community and we are proud of it!
9. Heart and Stroke Big Bike
|
|
 |
|
Photo courtesy of Marj Andre
|
|
For several years in a row I have been invited to peddle the Big Bike with the Connecting the Community Team. Each year this group raises a great deal of money to support Heart and Stroke research. Over the past few years we have raised over $75,000 for the cause. Thank you Marj Andre for leading this group and for the great work of the Heart and Stroke Foundation that Connecting the Community supports.
10. Med Edge in Richmond Hill
 Richmond Hill recently hosted the Med Edge conference that brings together companies who participate in the medical technology field. This well attended annual event also helps promote Richmond Hill as a location for companies in the field of Medical Technology.
|
|
|
Richmond Hill Council News
1.
2019 Socio-Economic Study Results
Council received the findings of Richmond Hill's 2019 Socio-Economic Study report. The report provides an updated picture of Richmond Hill, which allows for a better understanding of our community. It uses data from the 2016 Census as a primary source of information and provides details about the people, communities, businesses and context of Richmond Hill. The data is grouped into five themes: demographics, economics, transportation, housing and affordability. Some highlights of the study include:
- Richmond Hill has a diverse economy with the highest proportion of jobs in health care and social assistance industry.
- Richmond Hill is a multicultural community, with immigrants comprising 57.4 per cent of the population and residents representing 174 different ethnicities.
- Richmond Hill remains the most educated community in York Region, with more than half of its residents between the ages of 25 and 64 having earned a university certificate or higher.
This is the third Socio-Economic Study for Richmond Hill. Previous studies were conducted in 2008 and 2015. Many of the findings of the 2019 Study are consistent with those in the previous 2015 Socio-Economic Study. The report findings will help inform and guide future City plans and policy decisions. For the complete findings, visit
RichmondHill.ca/SocioEconomicStudy
.
2. Provincial Regional Government Review
Council received an update about the Province of Ontario's Regional Governance Review. At the beginning of this year, Ontario appointed two special advisors to review Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara and Peel Regions, Muskoka District, Oxford County, the County of Simcoe and their lower tier municipalities. The advisors will provide recommendations to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing based on their expertise and assessment of the feedback received through a consultation process (the special advisors have already met with the Regional Chairs, Mayors and the public). Richmond Hill Council passed a resolution in support of the current two-tier Regional government structure, while also supporting a review of options to optimize service delivery and to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness for residents within that structure. The Regional Government Review is expected to be complete this fall. The Region of York was founded in 1971 and includes nine local member municipalities, including Richmond Hill.
3. York Region Rapid Transit Update
Council received a presentation from York Region Rapid Transit about the Yonge Subway Extension (more on the subway plans are below in this e newsletter) and the Yonge Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects taking place in Richmond Hill. Work progressed well this winter on many aspects of these projects, including more than 80 per cent of the new four-kilometer watermain being installed as part of the BRT project. As road, boulevard and curb work continues in off-peak hours (southbound 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and northbound 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), daily road closures will be required. Additional traffic calming measures will be installed, including dedicated left-turn traffic signals for motorists, access to mid-block entrances with U-turns at intersections and two-stage crossings for pedestrians at Vivastations. York Region Rapid Transit/vivaNext will continue to inform stakeholders about these construction projects through their project newsletter, construction notices, and on-street signs, as well as on their
website
and social media accounts.
4. Eliminate/Reduce Single Use Plastics
It is becoming increasingly apparent that our collective use of Single Use Plastics, and the inappropriate disposal of this material, is causing a problem for us and our natural environment. A number of Ontario municipalities (as well as the Provincial and Federal Governments) have begun to take action, and a number more are in the process of showing leadership to be a part of a solution to this rather complex problem.
Richmond Hill has taken a positive first step in the efforts to eliminate/reduce Single Use Plastics in our municipality. A motion that I introduced directed staff to produce a staff report
outlining things that we can do, as a City, and as a corporation, to reduce and/or eliminate Single Use Plastics. In order to be successful we will need to work in concert with other jurisdictions including York Region, stakeholders, and the public, to reduce the amount of plastic that we consume, with the ultimate goal being the reduction of plastic that makes its way into our environment. Thanks to the many residents and my council colleagues who supported my motion. I am proud that we are taking this step and showing leadership on this issue!
I look forward to hearing back from staff and the public about how we can work collectively to this end.
Passed Motion
Whereas, single use plastics such as plastic straws, cutlery and grocery bags have become a significant litter issue in our community and across Canada, and;
Whereas, most single use plastics cannot be recycled and end up being disposed of as garbage or contribute to blue box contamination at a cost to municipalities, and;
Whereas, York Region has communicated their intent to explore ways to reduce single use plastics as part of the update to the Regional Waste Master Plan (SM4RT Living Plan), currently underway;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved: that staff report back to Council regarding practical and feasible strategies that Richmond Hill may use to reduce single use plastics within our own corporation and within the municipality as a whole by working in partnership with York Region, and with other interested stakeholders.
5. Real Estate Open House Signs
Over the past few years I have received a number of calls from people about the proliferation of Real Estate Open House Signs that seem to appear on our street corners each weekend. The abundance of these signs are not visually pleasing and many of them do not, in actual fact, advertise actual open houses. The complaints have come equally from the public and Real Estate Agents themselves who point out that with so many of these signs on any given street corner, the value of the legitimate signs are lost.
I have worked in the past with the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) and our bylaw staff to correct this situation but the problem has not been adequately addressed for a number of reasons. In an effort to propose a solution to the problem I put forth a motion (see below) that was passed by
Council. This motion
directs staff to report back to Council with a set of criteria that will make enforcement easier in the future so this problem can be controlled effectively and efficiently. I wanted to thank TREB for their involvement and support in this effort. I look forward to the staff report before the summer recess outlining the new rules.
Passed Motion
Whereas, the City of Richmond Hill's current sign bylaws prohibits the installation of Real Estate Open House Signs and does not provide any provision for permitting this type of sign;
Whereas, a number of Real Estate Agents have expressed a concern they can't erect Open House signs to advertise these events and these signs are an important part of their market strategies; and
Whereas, a number of Real Estate agents have also complained about the practice of having too many signs erected; and
Whereas, citizens have also expressed concerns about the unreasonable level of sign pollution that too many of these signs create.
Now Therefore be it resolved that staff utilize Vaughan's Real Estate Open House Sign permissions for the formulation of changes to Richmond Hill's permissions for this type of sign with the change to the Vaughan Model to allow for a maximum of 5 signs, and a requirement that the date and time of the Open House be clearly outlined on the sign. This template would make reasonable allowances for a limited and restricted number of open house signs to be installed under a set of restrictions. (See Vaughan's By-Law - Appendix 1)
Now Therefore Be It Further Resolved: that a staff produce a report outlining a proposed amendment to Richmond Hill's sign bylaw and that these changes will be brought back to council for consideration before summer recess.
Appendix 1
17.2 REAL ESTATE OPEN HOUSE SIGNS
Real Estate Open House Signs are permitted for a dwelling that is presently for sale, rent or lease shall be
permitted in accordance with the following:
a. Signs shall be displayed for a maximum 72 hours;
b. A maximum of three (3) Signs per Open House;
c. Signs shall have a maximum size of 0.60 metres by 0.60 metres and a maximum Sign height of 0.60 metres;
d. Signs shall be setback a minimum of 1.0 metres from the street curb and sidewalk or 3.0 metres from the edge of the pavement where there is no curb; and
e. Signs are required to list the address of the property being advertised.
6. Richmond Hill's 2019-2023 Corporate Energy Plan
Council received an update on Richmond Hill's 2019-2023 Corporate Energy Plan. The Plan guides energy management activities for 61 City facilities and more than 16,000 street, park and parking lot lights. The goal of the Corporate Energy Plan is to reduce energy consumption, costs and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Over the last five years Richmond Hill has implemented 89 projects with energy conservation components, which resulted in approximately 4,300,000 ekWh/year in energy savings, equivalent to roughly $660,000/year in cost avoidance and a reduction of 370 tonnes/year of GHG emissions.
7. Bill 108 More Homes More Choices Act 2019
Creating more affordable housing options is a significant and complex challenge but it is very important that this goal be achieved. The general direction, proposed in Bill 108 speaks to this objective and I am in full support of this goal. However, as I reported in the last edition of my e newsletter (click here to read item #3 in this article), the recently passed provincial Bill 108 also contains a number of negative consequences for municipalities like Richmond Hill.
I am particularly concerned about the sections of this bill that roll back the positive and hard fought changes that have been made to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Under the previous provincial government the old OMB was replaced with Local Planning Appeals Tribunal (LPAT). The new LPAT was designed to give power back to municipalities when a council decision on a planning application is appealed. Bill 108 will effectively scrap all of these changes and revert the current LPAT back to the OMB in all significant aspects except the name.
There has been a great deal of concern from many municipalities and elected officials about these potential changes. Over 400 municipalities in Ontario belong to the Association of Ontario Muncipalities (AMO) and this provincial umbrella organization has made the following comments to the provincial government on our behalf, but it would appear that most have been
ignored.
|
AMO's comments include:
- A return to de novo hearings at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) is a big step backwards and is not supported. Local councils take their democratic responsibilities seriously.
- There is great municipal concern that legislation could result in lowering the development charge revenue that is needed so growth can pay for growth. Municipalities need to be able to support growth in our communities.
- There is concern that changes will increase the municipal administrative burden.
- The shortening of timelines means greater emphasis on the need for complete applications.
- The objectives of Bill 108 are worthy - to increase the mix and speed of housing development, especially affordable housing.
- Municipal governments agree with the objectives. The municipal sector will monitor whether its implementation achieves the expected outcomes.
|
|
|
|
A number of other municipalities in Ontario, including the Region of York, have taken the opportunity to echo AMO's concerns and sent their own specific comments directly to the provincial government. In Richmond Hill a member motion was put forward to submit our comments and suggestions related to Bill 108 (To read this motion click here). While I fully supported this motion at Richmond Hill Council, it was unfortunately defeated.
While there are positive aspects of Bill 108 related to increasing housing affordability, it is crucially important that municipalities like Richmond Hill have the power to shape the communities that we know best. Reverting back to the old OMB rules will see this unelected appeal body overturning local council decisions as we have clearly seen in the past.
8. Recognizing the Need for Urgent Action on Climate Change in Richmond Hill
Earlier this month I introduced a motion to recognize the importance and urgency of Climate Change for Richmond Hill. The motion is outlined below.
Unfortunately,
Council decided to refer this motion for six months in order to receive more information from our staff. I pointed out that this motion would have provided immediate leadership in supporting the Climate Change actions that Richmond Hill is currently undertaking and is planning to undertake in the near future, and the motion would reinforce Richmond Hill's commitment to find practical solutions to a problem that is impacting all of us. The motion would also support the work of a number of citizens' groups that have recently formed to address Climate Change at a grass roots level. These groups provide leadership for our citizens in order to help promote local individual action which is important in addressing this global problem.
Finally the motion would have also provided support for the almost 400 other municipalities in Canada that have passed similar motions. I would have preferred that this motion passed for the above reasons.
Given Council's decision to refer the motion, we can instead expect a report to come back to Council early next year outlining more information about Climate Change, its impacts on municipalities like ours, and the actions that we are taking, and expecting to take as a municipality, to prevent and respond to future impacts of Climate Change.
Motion as proposed
WHEREAS the October 2018 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) demonstrates that climate change will continue to have severe and worsening economic, social, and environmental impacts around the world, and that significant and structural reductions in carbon emissions in the next 10-12 years are needed to avoid the worst effects; and
WHEREAS the federal government's April 2019 "Canada's Changing Climate Report" indicates that Canada is experiencing warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, and the provincial government's November 2018 "Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan" states that "climate change threatens... our homes, communities and businesses, infrastructure, our locally grown food and crops... as well as the health of ecosystems"; and
WHEREAS many jurisdictions have jointly and independently committed to taking action on climate change (e.g. 2015 Paris Agreement, Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, TransformTO, etc.); and
WHEREAS southern Ontario, including York Region, has experienced several recent extreme weather events with substantial impacts to the natural environment, community safety, and municipal finances; and
WHEREAS climate models predict more extreme weather conditions in York Region, including intense rainfall, heat waves, ice storms, increased freeze/thaw cycles, and high wind speeds; and
WHEREAS citizens with diverse backgrounds and ages continue to raise the issue of climate change in their communities, including in Richmond Hill, and to urge greater and faster government action; and
WHEREAS a growing list of municipal councils across the world, including 331 in Canada, have passed climate emergency declarations; and
WHEREAS the City of Richmond Hill has demonstrated its commitment to environmental protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation through ongoing and upcoming actions related to energy efficiency and conservation, active and public transportation, stormwater and natural area management, and sustainable development; and
WHEREAS the City of Richmond Hill recognizes both the financial costs of inaction and the opportunities for economic development and job growth tied to climate action and participation in the low-carbon economy;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved: that the City of Richmond Hill joins citizens and jurisdictions across Canada and the world by declaring a climate emergency, in recognition of the urgent need for climate action, and as a commitment to protect our community and the current and future generations who call Richmond Hill home.
|
|
Ward 4 Development Applications - Update
There are a number of development applications active in Ward 4 that continue to generate significant interest from residents. This newsletter section is intended to keep everyone informed and updated about the status of these applications. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all active development applications in the ward, but a brief synopsis of select applications. Information that is new since the last newsletter is marked as "**NEW**" Please feel free to contact me at
[email protected]
if you have questions about applications described below or questions about an application that is not included here.
Current and ongoing applications with little or no significant developments to report are listed below with a brief summary of the application only. New applications, since last month, or ones with significant developments since last month are listed with greater detail below.
Current Applications with no significant Changes to report since last month
1. 129, 133, 141 Arnold Cres and 230 Major Mackenzie Dr. W.
Potential townhouse development near Arnold Cres. and Major Mackenzie Dr.
2. 35 Wright Street
Redevelopment of a Heritage designated home on Wright Street just west of Yonge Street.
New Applications / Older Applications with new changes since the last month to report
1. 116 Lucas St City Files: D02-18010 (related Site Plan application D06-18020).
The applicant is seeking Council's approval of its proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application to facilitate the construction of one semi-detached dwelling (2 units) on the subject lands. The proposal reflects what was presented at the Residents Meeting held on February 27, 2019. There will be a staff report with a recommendation to approve this modified plan at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on June 18th. The community, staff, and the applicant have worked together to address a number of concerns with the original application including modifying the proposal to reduce it to 2 storeys and reduce the Gross Floor Area to conform with various Council passed plans for the area. The full staff report is available at
https://pub-richmondhill.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=26293 . If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
|
|
|
Richmond Hill Centre Secondary Plan Public Open House
|
 |
|
Yonge Subway Extension Communications Overview
_________________________________________________________________________________
Preliminary Planning, Design and Engineering for Yonge Subway Extension Overview
The Yonge Subway Extension [YSE] is a 7.4 kilometre extension of the TTC's Line 1 from Finch Station in Toronto to Highway 7 in Richmond Hill. This critical rapid transit link will include up to six stations at Richmond Hill Centre, Langstaff/Longbridge, *Royal Orchard (TBD), Clark, Steeles and Cummer/Drewry.
The preliminary planning, design and engineering [PDE] phase of the YSE is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2020.
The PDE phase includes all necessary work to finalize preliminary design and engineering and includes the following activities:
- Refine the project scope of work
- Geotechnical and hydrological investigations
- Infrastructure design including alignment, track, tunnel, station, systems, and utility design
- Construction and operational work plans
- Development of a project schedule
- Completion of an updated project cost estimate
- Support an updated business case and economic analysis
- Community and Stakeholder Engagement
To complete the PDE phase for the YSE, the Government of Canada committed $36 million and the Province of Ontario, through Metrolinx, committed $55 million. In April 2019, the Province of Ontario announced $11.2 billion to support capital construction for four major rapid transit projects, including the Yonge Subway Extension
Over the next several months, you may see crews surveying and conducting geotechnical testing along Yonge Street and some side streets from Finch Avenue in Toronto to Hwy. 7 in Richmond Hill.
For more information about the YSE project, please contact your community liaison:
Leslie Pawlowski
Community Liaison, York Region
Email:
[email protected]
Phone: 905.505.1430
Toll Free: 1.844.727.2663
*The status of Royal Orchard station will be confirmed as part of the preliminary design phase.
|
|
|
Richmond Hill Blooms 2019
Richmond Hill Blooms is a program designed to encourage residents to play a role in making Richmond Hill a more beautiful place to live, work and play by creating attractive, colourful and well-maintained front gardens and recognizing them. Neighbours, friends and relatives can nominate front gardens for recognition. You can even nominate your own garden!
The 2019 Nomination Period is Friday, May 31 to Friday, July 5.
Once the nomination period is open, you can nominate a garden by emailing
[email protected] or by calling 905-780-2977. Please be sure to include the address(es) of the garden(s) you are nominating, along with your name, address, telephone number and email address.
Other important dates Shortlist Judging: Wednesday, July 10 - Friday, July 26 I Final Judging: Monday, July 29 - Friday, August 16 Richmond Hill Blooms Gala: Thursday, September 19
Judging
Every
nominated residential front garden is acknowledged with a recognition sign for their garden as part of the Richmond Hill Blooms program two-step nomination. Following this recognition, a short list of best gardens are identified by Richmond Hill staff horticulturalists. The Richmond Hill Garden and Horticultural Society then select the top three gardens per ward based on the Ontario Horticultural Association's Garden and Special Planting Criteria.
Program Changes
To ensure fa
irness and provide equal opportunity to all residents, first place winners in each ward will be ineligible from winning first, second or third place for a period of one year beginning with the 2019 program. This means that the 2018 first place winners can still be n ominated, however, they will not be considered for the Top Three Gardens in their ward this year.
|
|
|
Lake Wilcox Park Youth Area Now Open
June 8 marked the official opening a
t Lake Wilcox Park (located south of the Oak Ridges Community Centre, 12895 Bayview Avenue) .
The Lake Wilcox Park Youth Area is the latest phase in the revitalization of the shoreline - now completed and ready for recreational use. The Youth Area includes a skate park, four beach volleyball courts, two multi-use courts for basketball, futsal soccer, ball hockey, fitness equipment and free Wi-Fi access.
Learn more about the youth area by viewing the:
|
|
My Waste is now Recycle Coach
Recycle Coach is a free app that is available to help citizens make the most of the waste collection services available at the City of Richmond Hill. It is an easy to use and useful app and I highly recommend it to find out anything you need to know about where various waste products should be placed for disposal, as well as determining waste collection dates for any address in our City.
|
|
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
2019-2020 Season
To view this season's line-up and to purchase tickets please click
here
|
|
Mill Pond Park - Concerts in the Park
You know summer has arrived in Ward 4 when the Mill Pond Park Concert series begins and that date is July 4th.
Bring a lawn chair, blanket or cushions to sit back and enjoy the Concert in the Park series.
During summer Thursday evenings 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. enjoy the following listed concerts. Also, while supplies last, enjoy a barbecue from King Henry's Arms and an ice cream from the
Mr. Freezer ice cream truck (items for a nominal fee).
|
Date
|
Entertainment
|
|
July 4
|
Canada Gold
|
|
July 11
|
Trilogy - Styx, Foreigner and Journey
|
|
July 18
|
Canadian Rock
|
|
July 25
|
Billy Joel Tribute
|
|
August 1
|
Richmond Hill Has Talent
|
|
August 8
|
The Good Brothers
|
|
August 15
|
Songs and Stories of Stompin' Tom
|
|
August 22 - last concert!
|
Bee Gees
|
|
|
|
RHCPA Speaker Series
Thursday September 12, 2019 - 7:30 pm (
only evening talk) ~ Bernie Farber : A Canadian Genocide: Canada's Historical Treatment of its Indigenous People
Thursday, September 26, 2019 (10am to 12pm) ~ James Lockyer: Wrongful Convictions in Canada
Thursday, October 3, 2019 (10am to 12pm) ~ Helena Moncrieff: Discovering the Urban Orchard
Thursday, October 10, 2019 (10am to 12pm) ~ John Lorinc: The Ward
Thursday, October 17, 2019 (10am to 12pm) ~ Dr. Aurel Braun: Assessing the Middle East Chessboard
Thursday, October 24, 2019 (10am to 12pm) ~ Carolyn Harris: Royal Parenting from Medieval to Modern Times
November 7, 2019 (10am to 12pm) ~ Ted Barris: The Great Escape: A Canadian Story
To purchase tickets click on your preference. Or call the box office at 905 787-8811
- Speaker Series (all 6 daytime talks) - $70 . click HERE
- Bernie Farber - $20 Click HERE
- Speaker series + Bernie Farber - $85. Please call the box office to purchase this discounted package
|
|
|
TRCA Summer Community Events in Richmond Hill
Summer Solstice Paddle
Date: Saturday, June 22
Time: 9am-11am
Location: Lake St. George Field Centre, 950 Bethesda Side Road, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3G2
Description: Learn the basics of recreational canoeing or enjoy a leisurely paddle around Lake St. George! Beginner and seasoned paddlers welcome.
Cost: Adult $25 +HST, Child (6-16) $17 +HST
Sunset Paddle
Date: Thursday,
July 4, Thursday, July 18, Thursday, August 8
Time: 7pm-9
pm (July), 6:30pm-8:30pm (August)
Location: Lake St. George Field Centre, 950 Bethesda Side Road, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3G2
Description: Learn the basics of recreational canoeing or enjoy a leisurely paddle around Lake St. George at sunset! Beginner and seasoned paddlers welcome.
Cost: Adult $25 +HST, Child (6-16) $17 +HST
Registration:
Paddle Lake St. George
Date: Saturday, July 6
Time: 1pm-3pm
Location: Lake St. George Field Centre, 950 Bethesda Side Road, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3G2
Description: Learn the basics of recreational canoeing or enjoy a leisurely paddle around Lake St. George! Beginner and seasoned paddlers welcome.
Cost: Adult $25 +HST, Child (6-16) $17 +HST
Youth Volunteer Event: Tree Maintenance at Phyllis Rawlinson
Date: Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Time: 9am-2:30pm
Location: Phyllis Rawlinson Park, 11715 Leslie Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3R7
Description: Get outside and help maintain newly planted trees! Together we'll pull invasive plants and add mulch to help these young trees grow into a forest. Age Range: Youth entering or returning to secondary school in September 2019. Students can receive volunteer hours for participation.
Cost: Free
Tree Maintenance at Newberry Park
Date: Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Time: 6pm-8pm
Location: Newberry Park, 227 Bernard Avenue, Richmond Hill, ON L4S 1E2
Description: Get outside and help maintain newly planted trees! Together we'll pull invasive plants and add mulch to help these young trees grow into a forest. High school students can receive volunteer hours for participation.
Cost: Free
Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Time: 6pm-8pm
Location: Ozark Park, 70 Old Colony Road, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3G4
Description: Get outside and help maintain newly planted trees! Together we'll pull invasive plants and add mulch to help these young trees grow into a forest. High school students can receive volunteer hours for participation.
Cost: Free
Bird Box Monitoring
Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Time: 6pm-8pm
Location: Oak Ridges Community Centre, 12895 Bayview Ave, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3G2
Description: Learn about common songbirds and help collect data on nesting boxes around the lake. Then we'll mulch newly planted trees to help them grow into a forest! High school students can receive volunteer hours for participation.
Cost: Free
Bumble Bee Watch
Date: Thursday, August 1, 2019
Time: 7pm-8:30pm
Location: Oak Ridges Community Centre, 12895 Bayview Ave, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3G2
Description: Discover the diversity of native bees! Learn how to identify a bee from a wasp and to name common bumble bees in the Greater Toronto Area. Then we'll venture outside to collect and identify local bees and learn how to use Bumble Bee Watch!
Cost: Free
Eyes on the Sky Night Hike
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2019
Time: 7:30pm-9pm
Location: Oak Ridges Corridor, Grovewood Park trailhead, 0 Grovewood Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 4X4
Description: Join us for an evening walk through the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve (ORCCR). Explore nature at night and search for bats, moths, stars and more!
Cost: Free
Summer Nature Camp at Lake St George
Dates: August 6-30, 2019
Time: 9am - 4pm (Optional Extended Care: 8am to 9am and 4pm to 5:30pm)
Location: Lake St. George Field Centre, 950 Bethesda Side Road, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3G2
Description: Play and discover the natural world with us this summer! Campers will develop outdoors skills, build shelters, paddle the lake, create nature art and explore the forests of Lake St George!
For ages 5 to 12 years. Optional extended care and healthy, warm lunch available. Register weekly or for multiple weeks and save!
Cost: Child (5-12) $280/full week (August 6-9: $224). Optional Extended Care: $15/day or $60/week. Optional Healthy, Warm Lunch: $6/day.
|
|
|
Great Things To See And Do Around Town
Looking for interesting things to do this month in our Community? Look no further - below is a listing of various community events that I would like to promote on behalf of the various organizers. For a complete listing please click on the links below. These links will take you to my website where the full details of the listing for each event can be found.
Curtain Club Theatre
400 Newkirk Road
Click
here
for more information or to buy tickets.
Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra
June 23 - 7:30 p.m.
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
Carribbean Family Day - Sunday June 30, 2019
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
Free Admission!
Canada Day - Monday, July 1, 2019
Every year, thousands of people in Richmond Hill and the GTA come to Richmond Green Park to celebrate Canada's birthday. It's a fun-filled day full of activities with something for everyone.
Support the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank and drop-off non-perishable food donations at any of the four information stations on-site.
For more information on this great event please click here.
Home on the Hill Supportive Housing and
Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club
Joint Fundraiser - Sunday July 7
HOW CAN YOU HELP MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL DAY?
If you would like to make up a team of four persons to participate as lawn bowlers, please contact Susan Horne @ [email protected].
If you would like to sponsor this exciting day, please contact Maggie Veltheer at [email protected]
If you have an item to donate to the silent auction (retail value $50 or more), please contact Maggie Veltheer at [email protected]
If you would like to come and watch the lawn bowlers or participate in the silent auction, please feel free to join us! Watch our websites for more details:
www.home-on-the-hill.ca
www.rhlawnbowling.com
|
|
|
Ward 4 Community Corner - Your Shot
Photos courtesy of Chris Robart
|
|
Artifact of the Month
Lady's Straw Hat
From the City of Richmond Hill Collection
Courtesy of: N. Brash & J. Mirrless 010.09.12
Now that summer is here, a lady must wear something to protect her face from getting too much sun, which might result in a sun tan or worse a sunburn. Why not this pretty wide brimmed straw hat? This particular straw hat was donated to Richmond Hill from two long-time residents.
This type of straw hat was quite popular from the mid-1860s well into the 1940s. The early female residents of Richmond Hill might have worn a straw hat along with gloves as they headed off to Church and the following Sunday afternoon picnic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
