News from Ward 4 Town of Richmond Hill

I wished everyone a "Happy Spring" in last month's newsletter, but since spring has not really arrived until this week, I feel it appropriate to wish everyone a Happy Spring again!

For those of you that celebrated Holi recently, and for those that are about to celebrate Passover or Orthodox Easter, I wish you all the best! There are clearly a lot of festivals to celebrate at this time of year and they all add to the richness and beauty of springtime in our community of Richmond Hill.

In this newsletter I have described a number of events that are taking place in our community in the coming weeks. I have also tried to encapsulate some of the more interesting or important decisions and activities of Council over the past month as well as providing an update regarding some development applications taking place in our area. I hope this newsletter helps to keep residents of Ward 4 informed and engaged.

Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email at any time. My email address is [email protected] , my cell number is 416-346-3090 and my office number is 905-771-2480. I also have a website (www.davidwest-richmondhill.ca) that hosts further information and articles from past newsletters.

If you have friends or neighbours that you think might want to receive this newsletter you can forward it to them using the "Forward this Email" link in the footer of this email. Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. I always appreciate hearing from you regarding any issue in the town. It is through this collaboration that we all make our community the excellent place that it is!

Sincerely,

David West

Ward 4 Councillor Richmond Hill

Banner photo taken at the Mill Pond looking north on the first day of "Spring Take 2"

Council News and Highlights

1. Richmond Hill Museum Feasibility Study

Council recently considered the recently completed Museum Feasibility Study. For complete details please click here and here. There are several possibilities outlined in this report intended to fulfil the need for a museum in Richmond Hill that will properly represent the history of our community. In the immediate future Council have directed staff to consider upgrades to the existing museum facilities at Elgin West Community Centre and at our Amos Wright House Facility on Church St. so these facilities can better serve our community in showcasing our history.

2. Raising the Flag for Autism

April 2nd was proclaimed World Autism Awareness Day in the Town of Richmond Hill. Autism Ontario joined members of Council to "Raise the Flag" for Autism again this year. It is always a pleasure meeting these representatives and learning more about Autism Ontario and the great work that they do in our community.

3. Qingming Festival and Announcement of Chinese Memorial Garden

In Chinese tradition, there is the Qingming Festival on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. The Qingming Festival is an opportunity for celebrants to remember and honour people's ancestors at grave sites. In recognition of this occasion members of Council were invited to a press conference announcing a new Chinese Memorial Garden being built on Bethesda Road in Oak Ridges.

4. Bowl for Kids Sake

Each year Council have participated in Bowl for Kids Sake to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters of York Region. It is a great cause and a great promotion for this worthwhile organization. It is also an event that reminds me that professional bowling is not something that will be in my future!

5. Cultural Summit Report

At the third annual Cultural Summit, held in March, visitors learned about current Richmond Hill Cultural Plan projects and activities that took place in 2015. The annual event featured the premiere of films produced during the Digital Storytelling Workshop that was held last fall. The result of this workshop was six heartfelt films created by six Richmond Hill residents. Each film shares their experience as newcomers to Canada. Visitors to the Summit also enjoyed music and performances by local artists including Oleg Samokhin, York Region Chamber Music, Carman Chu and Justin Lui, RGSS Jazz Combo, and Opera York with a special opening and closing ceremony by Jacob Charles, First Nations drum and pipe carrier, CEO of First Nation Cultural Tours on Georgina Island. In addition, community art organizations were on hand so visitors could learn more about local programs, events and how to get involved. This is a really great event as it showcases, strengthens and connects artists in our community. To view some of the Capturing Stories or Cultural Icon Videos produced in past years visit www.richmondhillculturalplan.com and follow the menu to Capturing Stories and Cultural Icons Videos. (part 5 in the Capturing Stories Section - The Future of Richmond Hill is very funny - I recommend it)

6. Richmond Hill High Fives 2016 Sports Champion Award Winners

Each year council hosts an event to honour excellence in our sporting community. A number of awards were given out this year. Included in this year's award winners were David Stewart (Sprint Kayaking), Denis Shapovalov (Tennis), Mark Gorodnitsky (Figure Skating), Conrad Orzel (Figure Skating), Cara Pekos (Cross Country Skiing), Alec Guinzbourg (Figure Skating), 2014-2015 Richmond Hill Stars Peewee AA (Hockey), Tessa Shapovalova (Tennis Coach Award), Kaelyn Thom (Soccer Coach Award). I had the honour of presenting to the Richmond Hill Raiders 2001 OPDL Boys (Soccer). For more information about nominating a coach, team, or individual athlete for the 2017 the Sports Awards click here.

7. Richmond Hill's Leading Women and Girls

Recently 25 women were honoured in our community in a ceremony hosted by MPP Reza Moridi and

Minster Responsible for Women's Issues Tracy MacCharles. These women are proven leaders in our community. The honourees are Jathusha Mahenthirarajan, Zahra Akhavian; Nika Baghaie; Josie Brunetto-Manella; Franca D'Abruzzo; Christina Doyle; Badri Ghahreman; Dr. Jian Guan; Shelagh M. Harris; Ferial Khabiri; Rain Liu; Ushpreet Mehta; Enid Mills; Sahar Mirshafie; Kathleen Mochnacki; Bertha Mohl; Karen Mortfield; Maryam Nazemi; Fatima Sajan; Mariam Labib Saleh; Mona Samadi; Mahnaz Shahbazi; Rhelda Stockall; Maggie Veltheer; Minnie Wang. For a synopsis of the event including photos please visit

http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/6389077-richmond-hill-s-leading-women-girls-honoured/. Congratulations to all honourees!

8. Pleasantville Public School - Family Fitness Night

Earlier this month Pleasantville Public School hosted a night of fun and family fitness. A great time was had by all attendees - both kids and their parents. Events such as Drum Fit, Boot Camp, Zumba and Family Twister were available for attendees to participate in and have fun as a family while doing so. It was a great event that delivered an important message about the value of fitness for the whole family. Thanks to the staff and many parent volunteers for making this happen. It seems that fitness is a "family affair"!

Ward 4 Development Applications - Update

There are a number of development applications active in Ward 4 that continue to receive significant interest. This section in the newsletter is intended to keep everyone informed and updated about the status of these applications. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all active in Ward 4 development applications but a brief synopsis of select applications. Please feel free to contact me at ([email protected]) if you have questions about an application that is not included here.

1. 71 Regent St. - An application was submitted to Richmond Hill planning staff in the summer of 2015 for approval of a proposed development of 28 townhouses at 71 Regent St.. I hosted a well attended Residents' Meeting in the fall of 2015 for this application. The applicant is currently working toward an application that can be brought to council for a Council Public Meeting. Stay tuned to the Liberal Newspaper (Richmond Hill pages) and this e newsletter for the date of this meeting.

2. 44, 48,54 and 60 Arnold Cres. - An application for 37 townhouses and 4 single detached homes was submitted to Richmond Hill planning staff in the summer of 2015. I hosted a well attended Residents' Meeting in the fall 2015 for this application. The applicant had a Council Public Meeting in the fall of 2015 where comments from the public and Council members were heard. In the winter of 2015 the applicant elected to appeal this application to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The OMB will hold a pre hearing meeting for this application on June 1st, 2016 in Committee Room 2 at the Town Offices at 225 East Beaver Creek Road.

3.Canyon Hill and Yonge St (10922, 10944 and 10956 Yonge St) - An application for 160 townhouses was submitted to staff this spring. Letters to area residents were sent out to inform them of this application. To view this letter click here . A site plan application will be scheduled for a future committee of the whole meeting for consideration by Council.

3. 107 Hall St - An application for 22 townhouses and the preservation and restoration of the historic Langstaff house was submitted to our planning staff in the summer of 2015. A Residents' Meeting and a Council Public Meeting were held in the fall of 2015. This application is presently with our planning staff undergoing a review. The next step in the process for this application will be for a staff report with recommendations to to be considered by Council at a future Council Meeting. Stay tuned to the Liberal Newspaper community pages, and this e newsletter for the date of this meeting.

4. 168 and 176 Elgin Mills Rd W- An application for 20 townhouses was received in spring of 2015. This application has gone to a Council Public Meeting in the fall of 2015. I have been working with a group of neighbouring property owners and the applicant, to address concerns about this application. The application will be coming to another Council Public Meeting in the near future before any Council approvals will be sought.

Strides for Stroke Road Closures

Due to the 2nd Annual Strides for Stroke Run on behalf of Mackenzie Health Hospital there will be some road closures on the morning of May 7th, between 7:30 AM and 10AM. If you live in the Mill Pond area or plan to travel through this area on that morning, please take note of the information below. For further information please visit stridesforstroke.ca. To participate in the run see the article article below for full details.

Strides for Stroke - Supporting Mackenzie Health Hospital

High Notes Gala for Mental Health

Mill Pond Splash / Kid's Run for Nature

Volunteer Opportunities

Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra

April 15, 2016, 8 p.m. (Pre-Concert Talk at 7:15 p.m.)

Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts

The countries that ring the Arctic Circle at the northern edge of Europe may be small, but their music has had a big impact. Nordic music has a distinct sensibility that can only be described as sublime. Edvard Grieg, Jean Sibelius and Carl Nielsen not only composed music reflecting the landscape and nationalistic sensibilities of their countries, but they also provided us with some of the most endearing sound the symphonic orchestra can produce. Experience music that is extraordinarily fluid, epic in character, and wonderfully individual, and take home a breathtaking experience.

Visit the RHPO's website www.rhpo.ca for ticket information.

Youth Action Committee - Applications for 2016-2017

AIDS Committee of York Region - A Taste for Life

Richmond Hill Garden and Horticultural Society

Spring Plant Sale

Hill Potters' Guild Spring Sale

Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club

Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club members are getting ready for the club's ninety-eighth year. Situated behind the Elgin Barrow Arena at Church and Lorne Streets, the club has daytime and evening bowling several days of the week from mid-May to the end of September. Most of the bowlers enjoy playing recreational games while some choose to play competitively.

In partnership with the Town of Richmond Hill, there will be an eight week Summer Fun League running through July and August for youth ranging in age from 12 to 18 years. There will also be a Lawn Bowling Introduction session for youth in May and another for families in June. These programs are listed in the Spring & Summer 2016 Community Recreation Guide. Registration for these programs is made through the Town of Richmond Hill.

The club also participates in the Town's Doors Open event and will be open to the public on May 14th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Everyone is welcome to come by and find out about the club's history and to give lawn bowling at try. For more information about the club, check out the web-site rhlawnbowling.com.

18th Annual Mill Pond Splash Eco-Festival

For more information please visit www.millpondsplash.ca