Welcome

Chapter 1 Incoming Events in January 2025:

 25m Flush Mount Monopole public meeting:

Rogers Communications Inc. (Rogers) is proposing a 25m Flush Mount Monopole telecommunications facility and an ancillary equipment structure to be located on the North side of 10815 Bathurst St. This tower is aimed to enhance local coverage for community members, businesses, and those on the surrounding travel corridors.

A Community Consultation Meeting at the Elgin West Community Centre (11099 Bathurst St), in Gym B, will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025, between 6pm to 8pm. Information session attendees will be requested to provide their names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers for notification purposes:

Date: January 10, Friday, 6-8pm

Address: Elgin West Community Centre.

Mayor West's New Year's Levee

Mayor West looks forward to welcoming Richmond Hill residents to exchange good wishes for 2025 on January 11th, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Langstaff Community Centre atrium. Your presence and participation would make a tremendous impact for the residents who visit and Mayor West would be honoured to have you at this inaugural event. It is planned to be an informal social event with light refreshments for attendees.

Date: January 11th, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m

Venue: Langstaff Community Centre atrium

Mars Madness and Stargazing Party  :

Earth is catching up and will pass closest to Mars when the distance between the two planets is at its smallest, making Mars appear much larger when viewed through telescopes here on Earth.Join us at our Mars Madness event for a chance to see Mars at its very best. We will have views through  telescopes (weather dependent), interesting facts and stories about Mars and its exploration, special guests, and fun activities.  Ages 12 years plus. Pre-registration is required.

• Sunday, January 12, 2025 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
• Monday, January 13, 2025 8:30 pm
• Friday, January 17, 2025 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Venue: Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Drive, L4C 1T3

Health & Wellness Workshop - Memory and Mental Sharpness

Boost your brain health with foods that support memory and mental clarity. This workshop explores essential nutrients and lifestyle habits to enhance cognitive function, reduce memory decline, and keep your mind sharp as you age.

https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/richmondhill/activity/search/detail/113684?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm

Venue: Ed Sackfield Arena and Fitness Centre

Ink Spots of Richmond Hill

This special art exhibit is part art show and part educational experience. It will feature ten different  artists and thirty ink paintings. These paintings are all made with ink produced from locally foraged plants and trees.  You will be amazed at the variety of rich coloured inks that can be made from plant and tree materials found right here in Richmond Hill. Discover and learn what colours can be made from black walnut, sumac, wild grape, acorn caps, goldenrod, beech leaves, and buckthorn and then marvel at the  ink paintings that feature showcase how this ink can be used to create art.

Reservations are required.  https://forms.richmondhill.ca/Community-Services/Afternoon-Tea-Reservation-Request

Date: January 25 and 26, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Venue: Richmond Hill Mill Pond Gallery 

Chapter 2 Community, City and Regional Service Changes

Melinda Clark Parkette Revitalization

City is planning to revitalize Melinda Clark Parkette,  your comments are highly appreciated. Please see the following details and contact information. Please engage Mohammad Kashani and Kristina White.

Our public consultation process for the revitalization of Melinda Clark Parkette will occur between December 4, 2024 and January 5, 2025. A project banner and public notice will be posted on our website to improve public awareness during the Canada Post strike.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the following.

Mohammad Kashani, M.Eng, P.Eng, PMP

Manager, Design and Construction

905-771-5479

Planned Design Work

Plans are underway to revitalize Melinda Clark Parkette, this includes the replacement of the playground, safety surfacing, site furniture, signage, walkways, pedestrian lighting, connection to Yonge Street, and planting. Construction is scheduled for 2025, pending budget approval. Public comments accepted until Sunday, January 5, 2025.

To review the proposed plans and provide feedback through the online comment form, visit RichmondHill.ca/ParksProjects or scan this QR code. For more information or if you are unable to access the website, please contact the project lead.

Kristina White, Project Manager

T: 905-747-6397, E: Kristina.white@richmondhill.ca

Project Location: Melinda Clark Parkette,  47 Royal Chapin Crescent

Heritage estate area city services including sidewalk, boulevard, trees, street light, street maintenance, etc. 

My office has been engaged by many residents living in the Heritage estate area, including , but not limited to the following streets, related to sidewalk, boulevard, trees, lights and other service concerns. A few meetings have been set up with the operation team to discuss the approaches and what the city has done and what will conduct.  Please see the following information, let us continue to work out with community and city staff. 

• Regent
• Ellsworth
• Ellery 
• Whitelodge
• Baybards Ln
• Bridlewell
• Gatcombe
• High grove
• Mill street
• Willet 
• Theobalds
• Oatland
• Trench 

For 2024 city operation has done:

A quick summary of the maintenance related work performed by the City on the sidewalks, horticulture and forestry in the Heritage Estates neighbourhood this year.  This is over and above other routine public works services provided here and throughout the city:

• Two separate sidewalk inspections to identify trip hazards in the interloc were undertaken.  Spring and fall deficiencies identified through the program were completed.
• An additional targeted $110,000 interloc upgrade of sidewalks on the following streets was completed:  Regent street, Oatlands Circle, Bridewell Crescent, Theobalds Circle, Baynards Lane, Mill Street, Falkland Place pathway and Trench Street.  This was over and above the repairs performed following the above inspections.  This work was carried out using added funds reallocated by Council this fall.
• Ellsworth traffic island improvements completed in November 2024.   As above, carried out using additional funds allocated by Council.
• New trees planted during 2024 included :  15 on Regent, 1 on Ellery, 1 on Gatcomb, 1 on Ellsworth.
• Horticulture improvements during 2024 included:  265 t-island shrubs replaced on Ellery and Regent, 55 on Rigs/Ellery/Ellesworth, 35 in area walkway blocks.

For 2025 city operation team will do:

As you may know, a modest capital project submission was submitted for 2025.  This was titled “Public Realm Horticulture Rehabilitation Program”.  The project did not score high enough for 2025 funding and was therefore deferred for reconsideration in 2026.

There are also other capital initiatives related to improving pathway lighting (Illumination)  that have been designed for this neighbourhood and are about to be awarded.  These include: 

• Walkway between White Lodge Cres (S) and White Lodge Cres (N);
• Walkway between Falkland Place and Oatlands Crescent;  
• Walkway between Ellery Drive and Theobalds Circle;   
• Walkway between White Lodge Crescent (N) and Cowles Court;
• Walkway Between Gatcombe Circle & Regent Street

For 2026, city operation team will do:

• A capital submission that was made for 2026 to 2030 funding - related to upgrading entrance features.  This would include Heritage Estates and other similar features in the Bayview Hill neighbourhood.  This submission is for $900,000 starting in 2026 so will only be scored and assessed for funding in mid-2025.