Richmond Hill, Ontario
Encyclopedia
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
. It is about 3 miles (5 kilometres) north of the Toronto city limit, Steeles Avenue
and about 12 miles (20 kilometres) north of the downtown core of Toronto. It is the third most populous municipality in York Region and the 28th most populous municipality in Canada.
Once considered the "Rose
Capital of the World", Richmond Hill has in recent years seen a huge population upsurge, being Canada's fastest-growing community in the 1990s. The town is home to the world-renowned David Dunlap Observatory
telescope.
It is twinned with Lakeland, Florida
.
, Dollar
, Langstaff
, Carrville, Headford, Elgin Mills, Jefferson, Bond Lake, Temperanceville
, Lake Wilcox, Oak Ridges
and Richvale. While Richmond Hill was a prosperous, well developed town, many of the outlying areas annexed were far more rural
, with dirt road
s, no water mains or sewers and no streetlights, and the time needed to bring municipal services up in these areas, combined with residual unequal tax assessments caused considerable conflict in the municipal politics for some time. Policing was taken over by the York Regional Police
, but fire protection remained with Richmond Hill, whose firefighting force quickly grew. Having hired its first full time employee in 1967, it had fourteen full time employees by 1971.
Yonge Street through Richmond Hill expanded from two lanes to four in 1971, relieving congestion on what had become known as "Ontario's worst stretch of highway".
The Richmond Hill Dynes Jewellers softball team was the 1972 Softball World Champions. The Royal Canadian Air Farce
was recorded at the Curtain Club Theater in Richmond Hill for its first 5 seasons on radio, beginning in 1973. The Air Farce returned for an anniversary recording in the 1990s. Also in 1973 was the centennial of the town's incorporation as a village, and the town set up a number of celebratory activities, including a beard
growing contest, commissioning a centennial song, a parade
, a street dance
and the unveiling of an historic plaque honoring the town's founding in front of the municipal offices. June 27 was officially declared Russell Lynett Day, named after the town's clerk, only the third in its existence. 1973 also saw the sale of the last of the original rose-growing greenhouses in Richmond Hill. Development had led to increasing property taxes and the H.J. Mills greenhouses relocated to Bayview Avenue and Elgin Mill Road. The site of the greenhouses was developed as a subdivision. The fast growing town set aside significant areas for park
s, with five new parks dedicated in 1973, and two more in 1974. The Richmond Hill Historical Society was founded in 1973. The society was dedicated to preserving the history of Richmond Hill and raising awareness of the town's history. Their first action was to restore 150 year old house, known as the Burr House.
As the 1970s went on, the population growth of Richmond Hill remained large. In 1976, home prices in Richmond Hill were among the highest in Canada. By this time, the town council
was split over whether to keep expanding rapidly. The deadlock over a fifty-five house subdivision named Springmills Estate lead to one councilor saying that it was not the reform council it was dubbed, but a "deformed council". Other housing projects faced similar problems as councilors debated many things, including the need for affordable housing
and the encroachment of homes into the farmland and the Oak Ridges Moraine
.
GO train service was extended to Richmond Hill in 1978, officially opened on April 29, 1978 by Bill Davis
.
Growth in Richmond Hill slowed towards the end of the 1970s, with M.L. McConaghy Public School closing in 1979 due to dropping enrollment. At the same time, Richmond Hill began to make official plan
s for future land development. The first official plan concerned a 700 acres (2.8 km²) industrial park
at Leslie Street and Highway 7
named Beaver Creek. A commercial area within the park spread into the hamlet
of Dollar
. The plan was rejected, however, by the Ontario Municipal Board
, and Richmond Hill was the first municipality in Ontario to have its official plan rejected outright by the board. The whole affair was subject to much controversy in the community, although the town council
eventually declined to appeal the decision.
When the new council convened in 1980, led by new mayor Al Duffy, the town remained without a development plan. The council hired civic planner Peter Walker to produce a new official plan. By September 1981, the new plan was draft, with limited development of northern Richmond Hill, industrial
development centred in the south-east part of town and commercial centres remaining along Yonge Street
. The plan was approved in July 1982 by the Ontario Municipal Board.
A clash over the use of the land in Langstaff
, known as the Langstaff Jail Farm erupted in 1982 between Richmond Hill and Toronto
, which owned the land. The 632 acres (2.6 km²) plot of land had been acquired by Toronto in 1911, and was unused in 1982. Toronto's plans for development clashed with those of Richmond Hill over the balance of industry and residential development, with Richmond Hill favouring more industrial development.
The rose business left Richmond Hill in June 1982, with the closure of H.J. Mills florists. Mills had died in 1980 leaving the company to his son, but the poor economic conditions, combined with increasing property taxes in the growing city made the business unprofitable. A 1984 contest organised by The Liberal had readers submit entries for a new town slogan. The town council choose three of the submissions which residents then voted on, and "A little north, a little nicer" became Richmond Hill's new town slogan.
Richmond Hill's growth continued explosively in the 1990s, fueled in significant part by immigration
. In the early 90s, Statistics Canada
named Richmond Hill as the fastest growing community in Canada. The demographic base began to change too, with the Richmond Hill Association for Multiculturalism founded in 1989 by Jay Chauhan. Today, Richmond Hill is a multicultural town, with a Hebrew school, a Hindu
temple, Chinese language
churches, Italian Community Club, Italian language church services and other facilities serving the needs of the communities.
Richmond Hill's New Logo
Richmond Hill's new logo is meant to reflect the rich history of the Town, but also the modern and progressive community it is today. It denotes a feeling of momentum, a community moving forward with a prosperous future.
The element of people is included with the “R” in “Richmond” being symbolic of a person with open arms, creating a sense of inclusivity and community. The word “Richmond” in a script font pays homage to the Town's rich history.
The font used for “Hill” is tall and strong like a building. The script font, balanced with a more modern counterpart, effectively creates a connection between past and present.
The graphic icon under the name features two hills, symbolic of what is unique to Richmond Hill - its higher geographical elevation, its physical position of being on a hill and the hills that run through the community. The symbol of the hills is also forward-moving and energetic, supporting the theme of progress.
There are two different shades of green. The darker green represents the green shown in the Town’s crest, while the lighter green reflects the Town’s commitment to the environment.
Town Crest
Richmond Hill’s association with the Duke of Richmond started in 1819 with his visit to the area. About 1919, the Council of Richmond Hill commissioned a crest for its signs and stationery. Adapting the crest from the Duke of Richmond’s coat-of-arms, it represented a brave and regal lion standing on a hat with ermine (both symbols of high rank) framed by Richmond Hill’s world-famous roses and the motto “Like the rose I flourish.”
In giving due respect to the Town’s rich history, a modified version the crest remains in use. It continues to feature elements of the Duke of Richmond’s Coat of Arms and 12 roses that speak to the Town's history of once being the rose growing capital of Canada.
Throughout the years, the crest has more or less stayed intact. The revised crest is different from the previous one in that it removes the words ‘Town of’ in order to allow for an enlarged type size for “Richmond Hill”, and removes the banner that was reinstituted in conjunction with the Town’s 125th birthday some years ago. These changes make it easier to read when reproduced, and allows the Town to maintain the integrity of the historic crest.
The crest will be reserved for use by the Mayor and Council for official Town of Richmond Hill business such as plaques, certificates presented on behalf of Council or the corporation, Councillor’s stationery, as well as the Town flag.
Richmond Hill is the only municipal Canadian government to have light pollution
laws in place due to the presence of the David Dunlap Observatory
.
, which operates on a Mayor-Council system with six Ward Councillors and two Regional Councillors, plus the Mayor. The council serves a four year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill.
The council derives its authority primarily from the Municipal Act, 2001 and the amendments
of the Municipal Law Amendment Act, 2006. Richmond Hill is a lower-tier municipality and has the roles and responsibilities of that position. The municipality has a wide purview relating to the interests of the municipality and its residents to develop and maintain policies, practices and procedures through the issuing of bylaw
s relating to highway
s, transportation systems apart from highways, waste management, public utilities, culture, parks, recreation and heritage, drainage and flood control, parking
, animals, economic development and the licensing of business. The town in also responsible for maintaining its finances in order to provide relevant services and for maintaining an official plan to guide development.
. Elected positions include mayor, regional and local councillor and ward councillors (for six different wards) on the Richmond Hill Town Council
, as well as trustees for the York Region District School Board
, the York Catholic District School Board
and for Conseilleres (school trustees) for the Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest
and Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud
. The mayor and regional and local councillors also serve on York Regional Council
.
s and 544 hectare
s of undeveloped natural area for recreation. The largest such park is Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park which includes several baseball diamonds, 2 skating rinks, a 300-person amphitheatre
and a skateboard park.
The Town also has a total of 5 public swimming pools, including Canada's largest indoor Wave Pool
. Additionally, each summer, the town features a concert series entitled "Concerts in the Park". Each concert has a specific theme, such as children's music and "The Beach Boys", and all are very popular. These series are held by Mill Pond and the Richmond Green.
The Richmond Hill Heritage Centre
serves as a museum of the town's history. It also runs a variety of programmes related to the town's history.
The town is also home the Richmond Hill Country Club, which features an 18 Hole championship layout at the Richmond Hill Golf Club, and the Bloomington Downs Golf Course.
In 2009, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
was opened. This 43000 square feet (3,994.8 m²) multi-use cultural facility offers quality entertainments of art and music.
Richmond Hill was a winner in the 2003 National Communities in Bloom competition, with a special mention about the town's floral displays.
, representing 23% growth from the 2001 Census
which was more than four times the Canadian average during that period. Among the forty seven Canadian census subdivisions with populations over 100,000, only Brampton
, Vaughan
, Whitby
, Markham
and Barrie
had faster growth rates. In 2001, the town had been recognised as the fasting growing "large" municipality in Canada by Statistics Canada. The town's population is projected to exceed 200,000 by the year 2015.
, the self-reported visible minority and religious groups in Richmond Hill were:
Based on the 2001 Census, the Town of Richmond Hill had an average household income of $87,636. This is lower than the regional average of $91,878 yet higher than the Toronto CMA average of $76,454. Based on the 2006 Census, 42.62% of families in the Town of Richmond Hill earned over $100,000 and over. The employment rate of the town is 66.36% with the most prevalent occupations being in the business, finance and administration and management sectors. The 2006 Census showed that the unemployment rate is very low at 3.77%, compared with the 7.4% unemployment rate across Canada during the time of the Census.
The 1990s and 2000s are a period of strong economic growth for Richmond Hill; In 1999 industrial, commercial and institutional growth was valued at $
88.9 million, up from $67.9 million in 1998. The economic growth of 1999 won the town's economic development department three provincial awards from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario. The border between Richmond Hill and Markham
is a rapidly growing area for information technology
and high-tech industry with over 1,000 such businesses located along their border in 2000.
Most business in Richmond Hill are small business
es, with more than half of all employers in the town having four workers or less. The town is home to the corporate headquarters
of Acklands Grainger Inc., Compugen Inc., Compuware
, DMC Mining Services, Lexmark
, Rogers Communications
, Science & Medicine Canada, Staples Business Depot
operates 25 public elementary school
s in Richmond Hill, with 5 additional elementary schools in the planning stage. It also operates 5 secondary school
s in Richmond Hill: Alexander Mackenzie High School
, Bayview Secondary School
, Langstaff Secondary School
, Richmond Green Secondary School
and Richmond Hill High School
. Students in schools in the York Region District School Board have scored above the provincial average on the Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary Division (Grades 1–3) and Junior Division (Grades 4–6) since their introduction in 2002. The board's students in academic math streams have performed above the provincial average on the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics every year since its inception in 2002, while those in applied math streams were below the provincial average in 2002-2005, and above the provincial average from 2005-2007.
The York Catholic District School Board
operates 13 Catholic elementary schools
in Richmond Hill. It also operates two Catholic secondary schools, St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School
and Jean Vanier Catholic High School
.
There are also four private primary schools located in Richmond Hill and four private secondary schools, including Holy Trinity School
. and Global Science Academy of Toronto
.
Post-secondary education services are provided to the residents of Richmond Hill by several post-secondary educational institutions in Toronto, some of which have satellite campuses in nearby communities.
Former Governor General
Michaëlle Jean
was a guest at the opening ceremony of a school named after her, in 2008, the Michaëlle Jean Public School
.
is an unincorporated community to the north of Richmond Hill, and has fallen within the limits of Richmond Hill ever since its annexation in 1971. It is largely residential, with most commercial development located along Yonge Street. Located about 16.5 km north of Toronto
and has a population of approximately 20,000 people. The town developed around Lake Wilcox, the largest lake in the area and a community within Oak Ridges, and has continued to expand slowly since its annexation. In the 1990s, Oak Ridges experienced moderate growth, which has spurred environmental action and anti-development movements by numerous organizations.
During the 1990s, Chinese immigrants primarily from Hong Kong
moved to Richmond Hill, where they set up businesses and shops catering to the community. Many shops and restaurants were established in suburban-style shopping mall
s and plazas, such as Times Square, along a stretch of Highway 7
between Bayview Avenue
and Leslie Street.
between Major Mackenzie in the south and Richmond Heights in the north. For years this street was infamous for having an equal amount of churches as there were strip clubs/adults only stores. Directly across from the community centre was the bright pink "Fantasia" strip club. Not far down the street stood Richmond Hill's oldest church. Fantasia burnt under suspicious circumstances although no allegations were ever made by the authorities. Due to various community initiatives, most of the "Adult" stores are now closed and are replaced by more civic-oriented structures. In 2007, the former "Fantasia" property was finally levelled, and development of a new exclusive condominium started, adding to a mix of upscale and small town charm that makes up the much improved downtown area.
The new theatre
was opened in 2009 and provides a modern venue for live performances.
and 16th Avenue. Built in the early 1990s, the subdivision contains large expansive homes.
's AMD headquarters. Built in the early to mid 1990s, the area is serviced by Highway 404, York Region Transit
, and Buttonville Airport. Due to high initial vacancy rates, the current Town Hall was moved to that location in 1994. Since then, many of the buildings have become occupied by various banks and service-related industries.
(DVP). Highway 404 also intersects with Highway 401 in North York, which is one of the most traversed highways on the planet and is the principal east/west route in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
. The town's southern border is defined by the former Highway 7
and a parallel expressway, Highway 407. The latter is a toll route (the only currently existing in the province) and was designed as a bypass for the 401. The combined effect of these highways ensures that Richmond Hill is well integrated into Ontario’s road network and has easy access for all road vehicles. It is worth noting that the ease of accessing the town is threatened by increasing traffic due to growth in the region as the resulting exhaustive commutes (sometimes several hours in the winter) greatly diminish the usefulness of the road network.
Public transit within the town of Richmond Hill is on buses co-ordinated by York Region Transit
(YRT). In September 2005, YRT unveiled a new rapid transit
initiative entitled VIVA
which provides enhanced bus service on major routes using vehicles capable of speeding up traffic lights to lessen the time they idle. YRT also operates several feeder routes on secondary streets in the town. While reaction to the VIVA program has been positive and the funding provided considerable, there hasn’t been as large an increase in commuter use as was hoped.
Commuter train service is provided to the town by GO Transit
on the Richmond Hill line
with two stations in the town, Richmond Hill Station and Langstaff Station. Langstaff Station is near the new Richmond Hill Centre Terminal of York Region Transit at Highway 7 and Yonge Street, and is connected to it by a pedestrian bridge opened in March 2008.
Owing to its proximity to Toronto, there are plans to extend the TTC subway system to the intersection of Yonge and Highway 7. A timeline has not been established.
s moving in a southerly direction amassed a considerable amount of earth in front of them which they carried forward as they grew. Gradually, as the temperature increased the growth of the glaciers lessened and eventually they began to recede to what is now the polar ice cap. The earth that had been collected by the glacier's movement however was left in place and the elevated region that remained comprises modern day Richmond Hill.
The town itself is at a much greater elevation than other communities within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and with exclusion of areas closely alongside its borders, the constituent of York region with the greatest height above sea level. The uneven melting of the glacier that formed the town has led to an extremely varied geography within the town's own borders, leading to such features as kettle lakes, minor tributaries and most notably the Oak Ridges Moraine
.
Kettle lakes are the result of glacier water getting caught in water-tight depressions in the land and are sustained by only rainfall in the immediate area. The Town of Richmond Hill has many of these water bodies and its three largest in order of decreasing size are Lake Wilcox, Bond Lake and Philips Lake. The kettle lakes are predominantly confined to the northern fringes of the town.
Being elevated above the surrounding region, precipitation in the town tends to flow outwards via the multitude of streams and rivers that flow through the town. Principally water flow is in one of two directions, south to Lake Ontario
or north to Lake Simcoe
where they join up with larger tributaries that feed into the water bodies. Of note, are the Rouge
and Don
rivers which receive some of their flow from sources in the town.
Perhaps the most important geographical feature of the Town of Richmond Hill is the Oak Ridges Moraine
. The moraine is a further elevated region of loose soil which comprises a significant portion (roughly the northern third) of the land area of the town. Its porous nature allows the collection and natural filtering of waters that flow through it which are then fed into multiple underground aquifer
s. While the town receives its water from the City of Toronto, these aquifers are an important source for those with their own wells in addition to surrounding communities. The ability of the soil to hold so much water means that despite Richmond Hill's comparatively high elevation, it has a very high water table which poses some problems to construction. The moraine is also host to a staggering amount of biodiversity and in recent years there has been a considerable amount of pressure applied to government to shield the area from development. Consequently, a considerable portion of Richmond Hill is subject to the Ontario Government's Greenbelt
legislation.
, starring Robin Williams
was filmed at Emerald Isle Motel in late 2005. This motel also was featured in the film The Wrong Guy
.
The David Dunlap Observatory
is home to the largest reflecting telescope
in Canada. The 74 inches (1,879.6 mm) telescope was the second largest in the world upon its construction in 1935. The observatory was a research facility of the University of Toronto
.
Elvis Stojko
, figure skater Emmanuel Sandhu, actor Mag Ruffman
, actor R.H. Thomson, author and professor Craig Walker
, television personality and retired professional wrestler Trish Stratus
, professional ice hockey
players Bob Wall, Jeff O'Neill
and Mike Cammalleri
, Major League Baseball
player Peter Orr, popular children's author Gordon Korman
, and Olympic archer Rob Rusnov
.
Famous novelist Farley Mowat
grew up in Richmond Hill, and attended Richmond Hill High School. In addition, a number of prominent musicians and composers cite Richmond Hill as their home town, including the country music & bluegrass band The Good Brothers
, ska-punk band The Flatliners
, singer/songwriter Lorne Clarke
, and Steve Sexton, composer and former member of the rock band Red Rider
. Politicians Frank Klees
and Ontario Education Minister Kathleen Wynne
also hail from Richmond Hill. Director Uwe Boll
also is a resident of Richmond Hill, as is Peter C. Newman
, the well known Canadian author and chronicler of the country's establishment.
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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the 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...
, being located about halfway between Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and 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...
. It is about 3 miles (5 kilometres) north of the Toronto city limit, 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...
and about 12 miles (20 kilometres) north of the downtown core of Toronto. It is the third most populous municipality in York Region and the 28th most populous municipality in Canada.
Once considered the "Rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
Capital of the World", Richmond Hill has in recent years seen a huge population upsurge, being Canada's fastest-growing community in the 1990s. The town is home to the world-renowned David Dunlap Observatory
David Dunlap Observatory
The David Dunlap Observatory is a large astronomical observatory site once owned by the University of Toronto, located just north of the city in Richmond Hill, Ontario within a estate. Its primary instrument is a 74-inch reflector telescope, at one time the second largest telescope in the world,...
telescope.
It is twinned with Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
.
History
The Regional Municipality of York was established by Bill 102 An Act to Establish the Regional Municipality of York of the provincial parliament, passed on June 26, 1970 and coming into force on January 1, 1971. The act expanded Richmond Hill's borders, annexing parts of Whitchurch Township, Markham Township, Vaughan Township and King Township into Richmond Hill, expanding the area covered from 1700 acres (6.9 km²) to 27000 acres (109.3 km²) and the population from a little over 19,000 to some 34,000. The town grew to encompass the communities of GormleyGormley, Ontario
Gormley is a hamlet in York Region, Ontario, Canada that overlaps parts of Richmond Hill, and Whitchurch–Stouffville, two municipalities within the Greater Toronto Area. It was divided into two parts due to the construction of Highway 404. A portion of Gormley situated within Richmond Hill's...
, Dollar
Dollar, Ontario
Dollar is a former community of Markham Township, Ontario, Canada and was located near the corner of Leslie Street and Highway 7. In 1869, Dollar was granted a post office, which was located on the north-west corner of Line 3 and Highway 7. In 1871 Dollar also had general store, a blacksmith shop...
, Langstaff
Langstaff, Ontario
Langstaff is a residential community straddling Richmond Hill and Markham, in Ontario, Canada. Located near Langstaff Road and Yonge Street, the homes in the area date to the 1960s and 1970s...
, Carrville, Headford, Elgin Mills, Jefferson, Bond Lake, Temperanceville
Temperanceville, Ontario
Temperanceville is a hamlet in the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada, straddling two geopolitical jurisdictions, King and Richmond Hill. It is located at the southeastern edge of King and northwestern part of Richmond Hill, east of King City and adjacent to the western part of Oak...
, Lake Wilcox, Oak Ridges
Oak Ridges, Ontario
Oak Ridges is an unincorporated community in Ontario, Canada, and has been part of Richmond Hill's administrative area since its annexation in 1971. Although physically separate and distinct from Richmond Hill, it forms the northern portion of the municipality's boundary. Located about 16.5 km...
and Richvale. While Richmond Hill was a prosperous, well developed town, many of the outlying areas annexed were far more rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
, with dirt road
Dirt road
Dirt road is a common term for an unpaved road made from the native material of the land surface through which it passes, known to highway engineers as subgrade material. Dirt roads are suitable for vehicles; a narrower path for pedestrians, animals, and possibly small vehicles would be called a...
s, no water mains or sewers and no streetlights, and the time needed to bring municipal services up in these areas, combined with residual unequal tax assessments caused considerable conflict in the municipal politics for some time. Policing was taken over by the York Regional Police
York Regional Police
York Regional Police is a law enforcement organization that serves over 1.1 million residents in the York Region, Ontario, Canada, located north of Toronto...
, but fire protection remained with Richmond Hill, whose firefighting force quickly grew. Having hired its first full time employee in 1967, it had fourteen full time employees by 1971.
Yonge Street through Richmond Hill expanded from two lanes to four in 1971, relieving congestion on what had become known as "Ontario's worst stretch of highway".
The Richmond Hill Dynes Jewellers softball team was the 1972 Softball World Champions. The Royal Canadian Air Farce
Royal Canadian Air Farce
Air Farce Live, also credited as Air Farce, previously Royal Canadian Air Farce, and Air Farce—Final Flight! for the final season, was a Canadian comedy series starring the comedy troupe The Royal Canadian Air Farce that previously starred in an eponymous radio show on CBC radio from 1973 to 1997...
was recorded at the Curtain Club Theater in Richmond Hill for its first 5 seasons on radio, beginning in 1973. The Air Farce returned for an anniversary recording in the 1990s. Also in 1973 was the centennial of the town's incorporation as a village, and the town set up a number of celebratory activities, including a beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
growing contest, commissioning a centennial song, a parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
, a street dance
Street dance
Street dance, more formally known as vernacular dance, is an umbrella term used to describe dance styles that evolved outside of dance studios in any available open space such as streets, dance parties, block parties, parks, school yards, raves, and nightclubs, etc...
and the unveiling of an historic plaque honoring the town's founding in front of the municipal offices. June 27 was officially declared Russell Lynett Day, named after the town's clerk, only the third in its existence. 1973 also saw the sale of the last of the original rose-growing greenhouses in Richmond Hill. Development had led to increasing property taxes and the H.J. Mills greenhouses relocated to Bayview Avenue and Elgin Mill Road. The site of the greenhouses was developed as a subdivision. The fast growing town set aside significant areas for park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s, with five new parks dedicated in 1973, and two more in 1974. The Richmond Hill Historical Society was founded in 1973. The society was dedicated to preserving the history of Richmond Hill and raising awareness of the town's history. Their first action was to restore 150 year old house, known as the Burr House.
As the 1970s went on, the population growth of Richmond Hill remained large. In 1976, home prices in Richmond Hill were among the highest in Canada. By this time, the town council
Richmond Hill Town Council
Richmond Hill Town Council is the governing body for the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Council serves a four year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill Town council consists of a Mayor, six Ward Councillors and two Regional and...
was split over whether to keep expanding rapidly. The deadlock over a fifty-five house subdivision named Springmills Estate lead to one councilor saying that it was not the reform council it was dubbed, but a "deformed council". Other housing projects faced similar problems as councilors debated many things, including the need for affordable housing
Affordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
and the encroachment of homes into the farmland and the Oak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
.
GO train service was extended to Richmond Hill in 1978, officially opened on April 29, 1978 by Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
.
Growth in Richmond Hill slowed towards the end of the 1970s, with M.L. McConaghy Public School closing in 1979 due to dropping enrollment. At the same time, Richmond Hill began to make official plan
Development Plan
A development plan is an aspect of town and country planning in the United Kingdom comprising a set of documents that set out the local authority's policies and proposals for the development and use of land in their area...
s for future land development. The first official plan concerned a 700 acres (2.8 km²) industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
at Leslie Street and Highway 7
Highway 7 (Ontario)
King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
named Beaver Creek. A commercial area within the park spread into the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Dollar
Dollar, Ontario
Dollar is a former community of Markham Township, Ontario, Canada and was located near the corner of Leslie Street and Highway 7. In 1869, Dollar was granted a post office, which was located on the north-west corner of Line 3 and Highway 7. In 1871 Dollar also had general store, a blacksmith shop...
. The plan was rejected, however, by the Ontario Municipal Board
Ontario Municipal Board
The Ontario Municipal Board is an independent administrative board, operated as an adjudicative tribunal, in the province of Ontario, Canada...
, and Richmond Hill was the first municipality in Ontario to have its official plan rejected outright by the board. The whole affair was subject to much controversy in the community, although the town council
Richmond Hill Town Council
Richmond Hill Town Council is the governing body for the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Council serves a four year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill Town council consists of a Mayor, six Ward Councillors and two Regional and...
eventually declined to appeal the decision.
When the new council convened in 1980, led by new mayor Al Duffy, the town remained without a development plan. The council hired civic planner Peter Walker to produce a new official plan. By September 1981, the new plan was draft, with limited development of northern Richmond Hill, industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
development centred in the south-east part of town and commercial centres remaining 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 plan was approved in July 1982 by the Ontario Municipal Board.
A clash over the use of the land in Langstaff
Langstaff, Ontario
Langstaff is a residential community straddling Richmond Hill and Markham, in Ontario, Canada. Located near Langstaff Road and Yonge Street, the homes in the area date to the 1960s and 1970s...
, known as the Langstaff Jail Farm erupted in 1982 between Richmond Hill and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, which owned the land. The 632 acres (2.6 km²) plot of land had been acquired by Toronto in 1911, and was unused in 1982. Toronto's plans for development clashed with those of Richmond Hill over the balance of industry and residential development, with Richmond Hill favouring more industrial development.
The rose business left Richmond Hill in June 1982, with the closure of H.J. Mills florists. Mills had died in 1980 leaving the company to his son, but the poor economic conditions, combined with increasing property taxes in the growing city made the business unprofitable. A 1984 contest organised by The Liberal had readers submit entries for a new town slogan. The town council choose three of the submissions which residents then voted on, and "A little north, a little nicer" became Richmond Hill's new town slogan.
Richmond Hill's growth continued explosively in the 1990s, fueled in significant part by immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
. In the early 90s, Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
named Richmond Hill as the fastest growing community in Canada. The demographic base began to change too, with the Richmond Hill Association for Multiculturalism founded in 1989 by Jay Chauhan. Today, Richmond Hill is a multicultural town, with a Hebrew school, a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple, Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
churches, Italian Community Club, Italian language church services and other facilities serving the needs of the communities.
History of the Town Logo & Crest
In September 2010, the Town of Richmond Hill unveiled its new logo and modified Town crest. The new logo will be used to identify all municipal services and property, for the promotion of the municipality, and for all other municipal business. The Town crest remains an important part of Richmond Hill's identity. As such, a modified crest very similar to the one most recently used will remain a part of Richmond Hill's brand and will be used for official Council business only.Richmond Hill's New Logo
Richmond Hill's new logo is meant to reflect the rich history of the Town, but also the modern and progressive community it is today. It denotes a feeling of momentum, a community moving forward with a prosperous future.
The element of people is included with the “R” in “Richmond” being symbolic of a person with open arms, creating a sense of inclusivity and community. The word “Richmond” in a script font pays homage to the Town's rich history.
The font used for “Hill” is tall and strong like a building. The script font, balanced with a more modern counterpart, effectively creates a connection between past and present.
The graphic icon under the name features two hills, symbolic of what is unique to Richmond Hill - its higher geographical elevation, its physical position of being on a hill and the hills that run through the community. The symbol of the hills is also forward-moving and energetic, supporting the theme of progress.
There are two different shades of green. The darker green represents the green shown in the Town’s crest, while the lighter green reflects the Town’s commitment to the environment.
Town Crest
Richmond Hill’s association with the Duke of Richmond started in 1819 with his visit to the area. About 1919, the Council of Richmond Hill commissioned a crest for its signs and stationery. Adapting the crest from the Duke of Richmond’s coat-of-arms, it represented a brave and regal lion standing on a hat with ermine (both symbols of high rank) framed by Richmond Hill’s world-famous roses and the motto “Like the rose I flourish.”
In giving due respect to the Town’s rich history, a modified version the crest remains in use. It continues to feature elements of the Duke of Richmond’s Coat of Arms and 12 roses that speak to the Town's history of once being the rose growing capital of Canada.
Throughout the years, the crest has more or less stayed intact. The revised crest is different from the previous one in that it removes the words ‘Town of’ in order to allow for an enlarged type size for “Richmond Hill”, and removes the banner that was reinstituted in conjunction with the Town’s 125th birthday some years ago. These changes make it easier to read when reproduced, and allows the Town to maintain the integrity of the historic crest.
The crest will be reserved for use by the Mayor and Council for official Town of Richmond Hill business such as plaques, certificates presented on behalf of Council or the corporation, Councillor’s stationery, as well as the Town flag.
Politics
The town's motto is (French for "Like the rose, I flourish"), reflecting either the motto of the Duke of Richmond, or the fact that the town was a centre of rose-growing in the early 20th century. At that time, it was known as the "Rose Capital" of Canada. A more recent motto for Richmond Hill is A little north, a little nicer.Richmond Hill is the only municipal Canadian government to have light pollution
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
laws in place due to the presence of the David Dunlap Observatory
David Dunlap Observatory
The David Dunlap Observatory is a large astronomical observatory site once owned by the University of Toronto, located just north of the city in Richmond Hill, Ontario within a estate. Its primary instrument is a 74-inch reflector telescope, at one time the second largest telescope in the world,...
.
Governance
The town is governed by the Richmond Hill Town CouncilRichmond Hill Town Council
Richmond Hill Town Council is the governing body for the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Council serves a four year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill Town council consists of a Mayor, six Ward Councillors and two Regional and...
, which operates on a Mayor-Council system with six Ward Councillors and two Regional Councillors, plus the Mayor. The council serves a four year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill.
The council derives its authority primarily from the Municipal Act, 2001 and the amendments
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
of the Municipal Law Amendment Act, 2006. Richmond Hill is a lower-tier municipality and has the roles and responsibilities of that position. The municipality has a wide purview relating to the interests of the municipality and its residents to develop and maintain policies, practices and procedures through the issuing of bylaw
Bylaw
By-law can refer to a law of local or limited application passed under the authority of a higher law specifying what things may be regulated by the by-law...
s relating to highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s, transportation systems apart from highways, waste management, public utilities, culture, parks, recreation and heritage, drainage and flood control, parking
Parking
Parking is the act of stopping a vehicle and leaving it unoccupied for more than a brief time. Parking on one or both sides of a road is commonly permitted, though often with restrictions...
, animals, economic development and the licensing of business. The town in also responsible for maintaining its finances in order to provide relevant services and for maintaining an official plan to guide development.
Elections
Elections for municipal offices are held every four years in conjunction with other municipal elections in OntarioOntario
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....
. Elected positions include mayor, regional and local councillor and ward councillors (for six different wards) on the Richmond Hill Town Council
Richmond Hill Town Council
Richmond Hill Town Council is the governing body for the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Council serves a four year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill Town council consists of a Mayor, six Ward Councillors and two Regional and...
, as well as trustees for the York Region District School Board
York Region District School Board
The York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
, the York Catholic District School Board
York Catholic District School Board
The York Catholic District School Board is the publicly funded English-language Catholic school district authority for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Its head office is in Aurora....
and for Conseilleres (school trustees) for the Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest
Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest
The Conseil scolaire Viamonde manages the French-language Public Schools in the central south-western region of Ontario. The area in which this school board operates covers 68,180 km2 of Ontario...
and Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud
Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud
Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud is the Roman Catholic separate, French language school board for the South-Central region of Ontario. It is headquartered in North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
. The mayor and regional and local councillors also serve on York Regional Council
York Regional Council
York Regional Council is the political body for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Created in 1970 it consists of 20 representatives: the mayors of each of its nine municipalities , and an additional eleven councillors from the more populous municipalities—four from...
.
Recreation
Richmond Hill has 166 parks, under the Town of Richmond Hill Parks, Recreation, and Culture department, of which most are small urban parkUrban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
s and 544 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s of undeveloped natural area for recreation. The largest such park is Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park which includes several baseball diamonds, 2 skating rinks, a 300-person amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
and a skateboard park.
The Town also has a total of 5 public swimming pools, including Canada's largest indoor Wave Pool
Wave pool
A wave pool is a swimming pool in which there are artificially generated, reasonably large waves, similar to the ocean's. Wave pools are often a major feature of water parks...
. Additionally, each summer, the town features a concert series entitled "Concerts in the Park". Each concert has a specific theme, such as children's music and "The Beach Boys", and all are very popular. These series are held by Mill Pond and the Richmond Green.
The Richmond Hill Heritage Centre
Richmond Hill Heritage Centre
Richmond Hill Heritage Centre is an 1840s Regency-style dwelling in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, and is a noteworthy example of its style.-Location and former ownership:...
serves as a museum of the town's history. It also runs a variety of programmes related to the town's history.
The town is also home the Richmond Hill Country Club, which features an 18 Hole championship layout at the Richmond Hill Golf Club, and the Bloomington Downs Golf Course.
In 2009, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts is a multi-use cultural facility on of land directly on Yonge Street in the heart of Richmond Hill's downtown core, at the corner of Yonge and Wright Streets....
was opened. This 43000 square feet (3,994.8 m²) multi-use cultural facility offers quality entertainments of art and music.
Richmond Hill was a winner in the 2003 National Communities in Bloom competition, with a special mention about the town's floral displays.
Sport clubs
- Richmond Hill Aquatic Club
- Richmond Hill Canoe Club
- Richmond Hill Curling ClubRichmond Hill Curling ClubThe Richmond Hill Curling Club is a curling centre located in the town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The modern RHCC has been in operation since 1959; however, the original RHCC was established in 1889. The club has a 12-person Board of Directors which is elected by the membership at large...
- Richmond Senators - Soccer
- Richmond Hill Soccer Club
- Richmond Hill Baseball Club
- Richmond Hill Stars - Hockey Club
- Richmond Hill Gymnastics Club
- Richmond Training Centre - Figure Skating
- Richmond Hill Rams - Junior A Hockey Club
- Richmond Hill Lightning - Ringette Club
- Richmond Hill Squash Club
- Richmond Hill Figure Skating Club
- Stars United Baton Club - Baton Twirling
Demographics
Richmond Hill is now one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, with a large and multicultural population. It had 162,704 residents according to the 2006 CensusCanada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, representing 23% growth from the 2001 Census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
which was more than four times the Canadian average during that period. Among the forty seven Canadian census subdivisions with populations over 100,000, only Brampton
Brampton
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
, 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...
, Whitby
Whitby, Ontario
Whitby is a town in Durham Region. Whitby is located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and is home to the headquarters of Durham Region...
, 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...
and Barrie
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
had faster growth rates. In 2001, the town had been recognised as the fasting growing "large" municipality in Canada by Statistics Canada. The town's population is projected to exceed 200,000 by the year 2015.
Ethnic and religious groups
In the Canada 2006 CensusCanada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, the self-reported visible minority and religious groups in Richmond Hill were:
|
|
History
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1877 | 659 |
| 1911 | 652 |
| 1921 | 1,055 |
| 1931 | 1,295 |
| 1953 | 3,300 |
| 1971 | 33,030 |
| 1976 | 35,376 |
| 1981 | 38,685 |
| 1986 | 46,766 |
| 1989 | 66,456 |
| 1991 | 80,142 |
| 1996 | 101,725 |
| 2001 | 132,030 |
| 2006 | 162,704 |
Economy
| Industry | People employed |
|---|---|
| Agriculture and other resource-based industries | 820 |
| Manufacturing and construction industries | 12,200 |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 13,995 |
| Finance and real estate | 7,990 |
| Health and education | 9,960 |
| Business services | 16,925 |
| Other services | 9,850 |
Based on the 2001 Census, the Town of Richmond Hill had an average household income of $87,636. This is lower than the regional average of $91,878 yet higher than the Toronto CMA average of $76,454. Based on the 2006 Census, 42.62% of families in the Town of Richmond Hill earned over $100,000 and over. The employment rate of the town is 66.36% with the most prevalent occupations being in the business, finance and administration and management sectors. The 2006 Census showed that the unemployment rate is very low at 3.77%, compared with the 7.4% unemployment rate across Canada during the time of the Census.
The 1990s and 2000s are a period of strong economic growth for Richmond Hill; In 1999 industrial, commercial and institutional growth was valued at $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
88.9 million, up from $67.9 million in 1998. The economic growth of 1999 won the town's economic development department three provincial awards from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario. The border between Richmond Hill and 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...
is a rapidly growing area for information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
and high-tech industry with over 1,000 such businesses located along their border in 2000.
Most business in Richmond Hill are small business
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
es, with more than half of all employers in the town having four workers or less. The town is home to the corporate headquarters
Corporate headquarters
Corporate headquarters is a term used to describe the entity at the top of a corporation to take full responsibility for the overall success of the corporation, ensures Corporate Governance...
of Acklands Grainger Inc., Compugen Inc., Compuware
Compuware
Compuware Corporation is a software company with products aimed at the information technology departments of large businesses. The company's services also include testing, development, professional services automation, project and portfolio management, cloud-based collaboration and performance...
, DMC Mining Services, Lexmark
Lexmark
Lexmark International, Inc. is an American corporation which develops and manufactures printing and imaging products, including laser and inkjet printers, multifunction products, printing supplies, and services for business and individual consumers...
, Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
, Science & Medicine Canada, Staples Business Depot
Staples Business Depot
Staples is a Canadian office supply retail chain, part of the United States-based office supply company Staples Inc...
| Employer | York Central Hospital York 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... |
Apotex Apotex Apotex is a Canadian pharmaceutical corporation. Founded in 1974, the company is the largest producer of generic drugs in Canada, with sales exceeding one billion dollars a year... |
Bulk Barn Foods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employees | 960 | 800 | 600 |
Education
The York Region District School BoardYork Region District School Board
The York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
operates 25 public elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s in Richmond Hill, with 5 additional elementary schools in the planning stage. It also operates 5 secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s in Richmond Hill: Alexander Mackenzie High School
Alexander Mackenzie High School
Alexander Mackenzie High School is a public secondary school with classes for grades 9 through 12, located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The school opened in 1969 as Don Head Secondary School and was renamed Alexander Mackenzie High School in 1992, in honour of Major Addison Alexander...
, Bayview Secondary School
Bayview Secondary School
Bayview Secondary School is a 9–12, 2-semester high school under the York Region District School Board. It is located just north of the northeast corner of Bayview Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive in the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada....
, Langstaff Secondary School
Langstaff Secondary School
Langstaff Secondary School is a public high school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada which teaches grades 9 through 12. LSS is located at 106 Garden Avenue across the street from Morgan Boyle Park and near Charles Howitt Public School....
, Richmond Green Secondary School
Richmond Green Secondary School
Richmond Green Secondary School is a public secondary school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The school is located off of Leslie Street, just north of Elgin Mills Road. The school is a part of the York Region District School Board....
and Richmond Hill High School
Richmond Hill High School (Richmond Hill, Ontario)
Richmond Hill High School is a secondary school located in the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It the second oldest high school in York Region Municipality, being established in the mid-19th century. Richmond Hill High School had a strong academic standing and reputation, often placing well...
. Students in schools in the York Region District School Board have scored above the provincial average on the Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary Division (Grades 1–3) and Junior Division (Grades 4–6) since their introduction in 2002. The board's students in academic math streams have performed above the provincial average on the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics every year since its inception in 2002, while those in applied math streams were below the provincial average in 2002-2005, and above the provincial average from 2005-2007.
The York Catholic District School Board
York Catholic District School Board
The York Catholic District School Board is the publicly funded English-language Catholic school district authority for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Its head office is in Aurora....
operates 13 Catholic elementary schools
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in Richmond Hill. It also operates two Catholic secondary schools, St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School
St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School
St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School is a Catholic high school in Richmond Hill, a suburb of the Greater Toronto Area in Canada. The school is named after St. Theresa of Lisieux for the little things that she did which changed peoples' lives. The school was founded by the York Catholic...
and Jean Vanier Catholic High School
Jean Vanier Catholic High School (Richmond Hill)
Jean Vanier Catholic High School is a high school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada administered by the York Catholic District School Board. It is a fragrance-free school. In 2009 it opened as a new school. It currently serves the Town of Richmond Hill district of York Region...
.
There are also four private primary schools located in Richmond Hill and four private secondary schools, including Holy Trinity School
Holy Trinity School (Richmond Hill)
Holy Trinity School is a private, co-educational, university preparatory institution located in Richmond Hill, Ontario affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada. There are approximately 800 students currently enrolled from junior kindergarten to grade 12...
. and Global Science Academy of Toronto
Global Science Academy of Toronto
Global Science Academy of Toronto is a private, independent school in Toronto, Ontario. Global Science Academy primarily serves students of several communities in the Greater Toronto Area , particularly residents of High Park, Bloor West Village and Swansea areas...
.
Post-secondary education services are provided to the residents of Richmond Hill by several post-secondary educational institutions in Toronto, some of which have satellite campuses in nearby communities.
Former Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation, from 2005 to 2010....
was a guest at the opening ceremony of a school named after her, in 2008, the Michaëlle Jean Public School
Michaëlle Jean Public School (Toronto)
Michaëlle Jean Public School is a French immersion elementary public school located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada in the York Region District School Board. The school is named after Governor General Michaëlle Jean, and was opened in 2008 for grades 1–3 after overcrowding at the grade 1-8 French...
.
Oak Ridges
Oak RidgesOak Ridges, Ontario
Oak Ridges is an unincorporated community in Ontario, Canada, and has been part of Richmond Hill's administrative area since its annexation in 1971. Although physically separate and distinct from Richmond Hill, it forms the northern portion of the municipality's boundary. Located about 16.5 km...
is an unincorporated community to the north of Richmond Hill, and has fallen within the limits of Richmond Hill ever since its annexation in 1971. It is largely residential, with most commercial development located along Yonge Street. Located about 16.5 km north of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and has a population of approximately 20,000 people. The town developed around Lake Wilcox, the largest lake in the area and a community within Oak Ridges, and has continued to expand slowly since its annexation. In the 1990s, Oak Ridges experienced moderate growth, which has spurred environmental action and anti-development movements by numerous organizations.
Other Regions
Southern Richmond Hill is home to the town's and industrial region housing most of the town's hotels, as well as the main commercial area of the town's Chinese community. The northern part of town is considered to be Old Richmond Hill as it is a historical area. Central Richmond Hill is a very commercial area, housing multiple malls, plazas and entertainment buildings, such as theatres and restaurants. The northern most part of the town is mostly farm land, though it is slowly being developed.During the 1990s, Chinese immigrants primarily from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
moved to Richmond Hill, where they set up businesses and shops catering to the community. Many shops and restaurants were established in suburban-style shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s and plazas, such as Times Square, along a stretch of Highway 7
Highway 7 (Ontario)
King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
between Bayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue is a major north-south route in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. North of Toronto, in York Region, Bayview is also designated as York Regional Road 34.-History:...
and Leslie Street.
Mill Pond
Mill Pond is a park located in the southern region of Richmond Hill that is surrounded by heritage homes. The park surrounds an old mill pond, hence the name Mill Pond. There are many walking trails and the park is home to a variety of wildlife species, including ducks, swans, raccoons, geese, and beavers. The park is the venue for various town events ranging from a winter carnival to concerts and flower shows. Every year, Mill Pond is home to the Richmond Hill Winter and Summer Carnivals.Heritage Estates
Mill Pond is also home to the Georgian-styled neighbourhood of Heritage Estates, centered around Regent Street. The neighbourhood was built in the early 1980s by a local Toronto developer. Some of the homes are situated among the trails and ravines of Mill Pond Park.Yonge Street
The old downtown Richmond Hill is considered the strip of Yonge StreetYonge 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...
between Major Mackenzie in the south and Richmond Heights in the north. For years this street was infamous for having an equal amount of churches as there were strip clubs/adults only stores. Directly across from the community centre was the bright pink "Fantasia" strip club. Not far down the street stood Richmond Hill's oldest church. Fantasia burnt under suspicious circumstances although no allegations were ever made by the authorities. Due to various community initiatives, most of the "Adult" stores are now closed and are replaced by more civic-oriented structures. In 2007, the former "Fantasia" property was finally levelled, and development of a new exclusive condominium started, adding to a mix of upscale and small town charm that makes up the much improved downtown area.
The new theatre
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts is a multi-use cultural facility on of land directly on Yonge Street in the heart of Richmond Hill's downtown core, at the corner of Yonge and Wright Streets....
was opened in 2009 and provides a modern venue for live performances.
Bayview Hill
The Bayview Hill is a subdivision located on Bayview AvenueBayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue is a major north-south route in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. North of Toronto, in York Region, Bayview is also designated as York Regional Road 34.-History:...
and 16th Avenue. Built in the early 1990s, the subdivision contains large expansive homes.
East Beaver Creek
Richmond Hill's current commercial hub is located near Leslie Street and Highway 7, where it borders MarkhamMarkham, 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...
's AMD headquarters. Built in the early to mid 1990s, the area is serviced by Highway 404, York Region Transit
York Region Transit
York Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
, and Buttonville Airport. Due to high initial vacancy rates, the current Town Hall was moved to that location in 1994. Since then, many of the buildings have become occupied by various banks and service-related industries.
Jefferson
Jefferson is a newly developed neighbourhood, with housing begin to occupy in 2007. The community is named after Jefferson Sideroad, a major thoroughfare in the neighbourhood. Jefferson includes a large area, roughly bounded by Gamble Road in the south, Bathurst Street in the west and Bayview Avenue in the east. The community includes a residential subdivision namely Jefferson Forest, located in the southeast portion of the community.Road networks
The town of Richmond Hill is well serviced in terms of transportation facilities for a community of its size. The eastern border of the town is Highway 404, a major highway which leads directly into the downtown core of the City of Toronto via the Don Valley ParkwayDon Valley Parkway
The Don Valley Parkway is a controlled-access six-lane municipal expressway in Toronto connecting the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto with Ontario Highway 401, the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway. North of Highway 401, it continues as Ontario Highway 404. The parkway runs through...
(DVP). Highway 404 also intersects with Highway 401 in North York, which is one of the most traversed highways on the planet and is the principal east/west route in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
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...
. The town's southern border is defined by the former Highway 7
Highway 7 (Ontario)
King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
and a parallel expressway, Highway 407. The latter is a toll route (the only currently existing in the province) and was designed as a bypass for the 401. The combined effect of these highways ensures that Richmond Hill is well integrated into Ontario’s road network and has easy access for all road vehicles. It is worth noting that the ease of accessing the town is threatened by increasing traffic due to growth in the region as the resulting exhaustive commutes (sometimes several hours in the winter) greatly diminish the usefulness of the road network.
Public transit
York Region Transit
York Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
(YRT). In September 2005, YRT unveiled a new rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
initiative entitled VIVA
Viva (bus rapid transit)
Viva is a bus rapid transit service operating in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service is integrated with York Region Transit's local bus service to operate as one regional transit system providing seamless transit service across York Region and connections to northern Toronto.Viva was...
which provides enhanced bus service on major routes using vehicles capable of speeding up traffic lights to lessen the time they idle. YRT also operates several feeder routes on secondary streets in the town. While reaction to the VIVA program has been positive and the funding provided considerable, there hasn’t been as large an increase in commuter use as was hoped.
Commuter train service is provided to the town by GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
on the Richmond Hill line
Richmond Hill Line
The Richmond Hill Line is a surface transit line on Myrtle Avenue in Queens, New York City, United States. Once a streetcar line owned by the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation, it is now the Q55 Myrtle Avenue bus route, operated by the New York City Transit Authority....
with two stations in the town, Richmond Hill Station and Langstaff Station. Langstaff Station is near the new Richmond Hill Centre Terminal of York Region Transit at Highway 7 and Yonge Street, and is connected to it by a pedestrian bridge opened in March 2008.
Owing to its proximity to Toronto, there are plans to extend the TTC subway system to the intersection of Yonge and Highway 7. A timeline has not been established.
Other transportation
Richmond Hill is minimally serviced by other modes of transportation. Its landlocked situation inhibits any water transportation and it lacks an airport of its own, though it does border on Markham's Buttonville Airport. The closest large airport is Pearson International Airport.Geography
The predominant feature of the town's geography, as its name suggests, is its elevation above surrounding regions. Thousands of years ago during the last ice-age, glacierGlacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s moving in a southerly direction amassed a considerable amount of earth in front of them which they carried forward as they grew. Gradually, as the temperature increased the growth of the glaciers lessened and eventually they began to recede to what is now the polar ice cap. The earth that had been collected by the glacier's movement however was left in place and the elevated region that remained comprises modern day Richmond Hill.
The town itself is at a much greater elevation than other communities within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and with exclusion of areas closely alongside its borders, the constituent of York region with the greatest height above sea level. The uneven melting of the glacier that formed the town has led to an extremely varied geography within the town's own borders, leading to such features as kettle lakes, minor tributaries and most notably the Oak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
.
Kettle lakes are the result of glacier water getting caught in water-tight depressions in the land and are sustained by only rainfall in the immediate area. The Town of Richmond Hill has many of these water bodies and its three largest in order of decreasing size are Lake Wilcox, Bond Lake and Philips Lake. The kettle lakes are predominantly confined to the northern fringes of the town.
Being elevated above the surrounding region, precipitation in the town tends to flow outwards via the multitude of streams and rivers that flow through the town. Principally water flow is in one of two directions, south to Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
or north to 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...
where they join up with larger tributaries that feed into the water bodies. Of note, are the Rouge
Rouge River (Ontario)
The Rouge River is a two river system. Little Rouge and Rouge River are in the east and the northeast parts of Toronto and begin in the Oak Ridges Moraine in Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville...
and Don
Don River (Toronto)
The Don River is one of two rivers bounding the original settled area of Toronto, Ontario along the shore of Lake Ontario, the other being the Humber River to the west. The Don is formed from two rivers, the East and West Branches, that meet about north of Lake Ontario while flowing southward into...
rivers which receive some of their flow from sources in the town.
Perhaps the most important geographical feature of the Town of Richmond Hill is the Oak Ridges Moraine
Oak Ridges Moraine
The Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
. The moraine is a further elevated region of loose soil which comprises a significant portion (roughly the northern third) of the land area of the town. Its porous nature allows the collection and natural filtering of waters that flow through it which are then fed into multiple underground aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
s. While the town receives its water from the City of Toronto, these aquifers are an important source for those with their own wells in addition to surrounding communities. The ability of the soil to hold so much water means that despite Richmond Hill's comparatively high elevation, it has a very high water table which poses some problems to construction. The moraine is also host to a staggering amount of biodiversity and in recent years there has been a considerable amount of pressure applied to government to shield the area from development. Consequently, a considerable portion of Richmond Hill is subject to the Ontario Government's Greenbelt
Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)
The Greenbelt is a permanently protected area of green space, farmland, forests, wetlands, and watersheds, located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It surrounds a significant portion of Canada's most populated and fastest-growing area - The Golden Horseshoe....
legislation.
Landmarks
The Emerald Isle motel on Yonge Street is known to display conservative rhymes and provocative quotes on their sign. These quotes usually relate to current events. The film, Man of the YearMan of the Year (2006 film)
Man of the Year is a 2006 Comedy film directed and written by Barry Levinson and starring Robin Williams in the lead role. In addition to Williams, the film features Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, Lewis Black and Jeff Goldblum....
, starring Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
was filmed at Emerald Isle Motel in late 2005. This motel also was featured in the film The Wrong Guy
The Wrong Guy
The Wrong Guy is a 1997 Canadian comedy film directed by David Steinberg. It was co-written by Dave Foley of The Kids in the Hall and Newsradio fame, along with David Anthony Higgins and Jay Kogen...
.
The David Dunlap Observatory
David Dunlap Observatory
The David Dunlap Observatory is a large astronomical observatory site once owned by the University of Toronto, located just north of the city in Richmond Hill, Ontario within a estate. Its primary instrument is a 74-inch reflector telescope, at one time the second largest telescope in the world,...
is home to the largest reflecting telescope
Reflecting telescope
A reflecting telescope is an optical telescope which uses a single or combination of curved mirrors that reflect light and form an image. The reflecting telescope was invented in the 17th century as an alternative to the refracting telescope which, at that time, was a design that suffered from...
in Canada. The 74 inches (1,879.6 mm) telescope was the second largest in the world upon its construction in 1935. The observatory was a research facility of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Media
- Richmond Hill Liberal
- CFMJ AM 640 (AM 640 Talk Radio)
- 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.
Personalities
Famous people from Richmond Hill include world-champion figure skaterFigure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
Elvis Stojko
Elvis Stojko
Elvis Stojko, MSC, MSM is a Canadian figure skater. He is a three-time World champion , two-time Olympic silver medalist , and seven-time Canadian champion ....
, figure skater Emmanuel Sandhu, actor Mag Ruffman
Mag Ruffman
Mag Ruffman is a Canadian comedian, actress and television host.She has played roles in films such as Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea and TV series Road to Avonlea....
, actor R.H. Thomson, author and professor Craig Walker
Craig Walker
Craig Stewart Walker is a Canadian writer, theatre director, actor and educator.Walker graduated from Bayview Secondary School and afterwards, began his career in the theatre as an actor with the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival and the National Arts Centre of Canada and other companies. ...
, television personality and retired professional wrestler Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus
Patricia Anne Stratigias , better known by her ring name Trish Stratus, is a Canadian professional wrestler, actress and television personality currently signed with WWE. She is also a former fitness model....
, professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
players Bob Wall, Jeff O'Neill
Jeff O'Neill
Jeffrey O'Neill is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger in the National Hockey League . During his career, he played for the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs...
and Mike Cammalleri
Mike Cammalleri
Michael Cammalleri is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Junior:...
, Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player Peter Orr, popular children's author Gordon Korman
Gordon Korman
Gordon 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....
, and Olympic archer Rob Rusnov
Rob Rusnov
Robert Rusnov is a Canadian archer. He was born in Toronto.-Athletic career:Rusnov ranked first or second among Canadian archers every year from 1992 through 2000. As a competitor at the 1995 Pan American Games, he won two gold medals and three bronze medals...
.
Famous novelist Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat
Farley McGill Mowat, , born May 12, 1921 is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books. He achieved fame with the publication of his books on the Canadian North, such as People of the...
grew up in Richmond Hill, and attended Richmond Hill High School. In addition, a number of prominent musicians and composers cite Richmond Hill as their home town, including the country music & bluegrass band The Good Brothers
The Good Brothers
The Good Brothers are a Canadian country, bluegrass and folk music group originating from Richmond Hill, Ontario. The band's core members are Brian Good , his twin brother Bruce Good and younger brother Larry Good ....
, ska-punk band The Flatliners
The Flatliners
The Flatliners are a punk rock/ska punk band from Richmond Hill and Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Since their formation in 2002, The Flatliners have been a growing influence in the Toronto punk/ska scene as well as other areas of the Greater Toronto Area. They are currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords...
, singer/songwriter Lorne Clarke
Lorne Clarke (singer)
Lorne Clarke is a Canadian singer/songwriter and concert promoter who first began performing in the mid-1970s in the Toronto folk scene. Raised in the isolated mining community of Schefferville, Quebec, Clarke has since worked at a number of careers, including engineer on Great Lakes vessels,...
, and Steve Sexton, composer and former member of the rock band Red Rider
Red Rider
Red Rider are a Canadian rock band popular in the 1980s. While the band achieved great success in Canada, in the US, the band never had a song in the Top 40....
. Politicians Frank Klees
Frank Klees
Frank Klees is a Canadian politician and the Progressive Conservative member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Newmarket—Aurora north of Toronto. He was a candidate in the 2009 Progressive Conservative leadership election placing second behind victor Tim Hudak.-Early life:Klees was born...
and Ontario Education Minister Kathleen Wynne
Kathleen Wynne
Kathleen O. Wynne is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Don Valley West for the Liberal Party.-Background:...
also hail from Richmond Hill. Director Uwe Boll
Uwe Boll
Uwe Boll is a German director, producer and screenwriter, whose work includes several films adapted from video games. He finances his own films through his Boll KG production company. He is often cited as the worst director of all time.-Early life:...
also is a resident of Richmond Hill, as is Peter C. Newman
Peter C. Newman
Peter Charles Newman, CC, CD is a Canadian journalist and writer.Born in Vienna, Austria, Newman emigrated from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to Canada in 1940 as a Jewish refugee. His father, Oscar, was a self-made wealthy factory owner. Newman was educated at Upper Canada College, where he was...
, the well known Canadian author and chronicler of the country's establishment.