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Spring has Sprung
I always remember the joy that mid March brings. The end of winter and the emergence of spring time and March break - what could be finer! I hope everyone will have a chance to enjoy this time of year, whether you have the week off or can just enjoy the coming of spring!
Speaking of spring - don't forget to mark your calendars for the 1st Annual Maple Syrup Festival in Ward 4. It will happen on March 25th and more details can be found below in this newsletter. With a little luck the sap will be running that day. The Maple Syrup Festival will feature tree tapping and sap boiling demos, lots of fun activities for the family, and pancakes with real Maple Syrup to enjoy. Most of all I hope that it will be a time when the community can come together to celebrate a truly Canadian harbinger of spring - Maple Syrup.
It has been a particularly busy month on Council as a number of important plans and projects have come to fruition. One of these important plans is the Downtown Secondary Plan. After many years of work, on Februrary 27th, Council passed the Downtown Secondary Plan. This plan will provide the vision and guide the future of our Historic Village Core (the area between Harding Blvd. and Levendale Rd.). The plan gives more granular detail to the already in place Official Plan and adds clarity to how we expect our Historic Village Core to redevelop and revitalize over time. There is more on this subject below.
Another important project that recently came to completion was the Richmond Hill Operating Budget. While the budget is sometimes viewed as a fairly "dry" document, it is really important to a municipality, as it is a monetary reflection of all the things we value in our community. It is the foundation to the delivery of important municipal services and facilities. The budget guides the delivery of all of the services we need for Richmond Hill to be successful and vibrant - from garbage disposal to maintenance of green space, and from fire protection to opportunities for children's hockey and soccer. The budget lays out Council's commitment to invest in these and many more services. I have included more detail related to the budget below in the newsletter.
As a member of Council, I believe that it is really important to accurately communicate information to the residents that I represent. Community input to elected officials that comes from well informed residents is crucial in maintaining a well represented and vibrant community. This e newsletter is published once a month, but I am also active on Facebook and Twitter. Please feel free to send a Facebook friend request (
www.facebook.com/davidwestrichmondhill/) or follow me on Twitter (@davidwestrh). Also, if you have friends who might like to sign up for this e newsletter please let them know to send me an email with "newsletter" in the subject line. Alternatively feel welcome to share this newsletter using the "forward this email" feature at the bottom.
Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter.
I always appreciate hearing your comments about any issue in our community. It is through this collaboration that we all make our community the vibrant and active place that it is. P
lease do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email at any time.
My email address is
david.west@richmondhill.ca
, my cell number is 416-346-3090 and my office number is 905-771-2480.
David West
Ward 4 Councillor Richmond Hill
Banner Photo - The Maple Sap is Running - a sure sign of spring!
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Council News and Highlights
1. Hands and Hearts For Africa
I had an enjoyable evening at the Richmond Hill United Church sharing good food and music with neighbours. The Grandmothers for Africa hosted their Hands and Hearts for Africa Sock Hop in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation - great music, a great cause, and great company!
2. Me to We Day 3
A full house of guests at the theatre experienced the 3rd Me to We Day celebration in Richmond Hill last month. Inspritational messages about how people, especially young people, can work to make the world a better place were delivered by a variety of speakers and performers. I loved the message that - we all have gifts that we can give - some gifts will have a global impact, some impact just our corner of the world, but all of these efforts are important! One of the really important guest speakers, pictured to the left, was Craig Keilburger. Mr. Keilburger, when he was in Elementary School, started the organization, Free the Children. Since that time, he and his group have created a better world for many people in many countries across the world - not bad for a young kid from Thornhill!
3. Chinese New Year Celebrations
There were many Chinese New Year Celebrations during this past month in our Town marking the arrival of the Year of the Rooster. I have had the pleasure of attending a
number
of them this year. One of these celebrations was MPP Reza Moridi's (pictured to the left). Kung Hei Fat Choi to all!
4. Council Passes Downtown Secondary Plan
 Council recently passed the Downtown Secondary Plan after many years of work and deliberation. This work included extensive public and stakeholder consultations dating back to 2008. This plan lays out a clear vision and framework related to how we want to see our Village Core redevelop, and most importantly, at the same time, revitalize. This vision that is central to this document reflects a vibrant, pedestrian friendly, commercial and residential area, that respects and celebrates the Village Core's existing heritage assets.
The plan is multifaceted and speaks to many aspects of development in the area. One of the more interesting themes in this plan is the eventual addition of laneways, courtyards and access points to areas behind the existing buildings that are currently not accessible to the public. This means that the "back" areas of buildings can be available for the public to park, walk in, and enjoy amenities like cafes and public art. I believe that this plan will create a vibrant space for residents and the shopping public, while at the same time, creating opportunities to create additional interesting, vibrant, and quality retail and service opportunities for local businesses.
There was some resistance from some land owners to this plan, but in the end I am comfortable with the aspect of the plan that restricts development in the central core of the village to a lower density than what would be allowed under this plan to the north and to the south of the Village Core area.
I have written a number of previous articles on this issue, One of these articles can be found here. You can also view the final plan
here.
I am excited by the possibilities that this plan provides for our community and I have no doubt that the Downtown Secondary Plan will represent the next step towards providing additional and much needed revitalization of this important, historic, and central part of Richmond Hill.
5. Council Passes 2017 Richmond Hill Operating Budget
At a Special Council Meeting on February 28, Richmond Hill Council approved the 2017 Operating Budget along with the 2017 capital asset sustainability fee. The fee, first introduced in 2016 to ensure the municipality has the funds to repair and maintain infrastructure such as roads, parks and buildings, will increase to $30 per tax account in 2017.
The Operating Budget includes an increase to the Town's Fire and Emergency Services budget to hire eight additional firefighters and a Fire Prevention Inspector. Richmond Hill's newly adopted Fire Master Plan identified a need to increase the total number of firefighter positions to meet best practice standards as set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
"There is much more than monetary value in the services that taxes pay for," said Mayor Dave Barrow. "Our budget this year has a focus on safety, which includes funding for our new firefighters to respond to our growing, more urban community. We're also investing in the library and other key staff positions to provide the services and facilities that residents value."
The $161.99 million Operating Budget will result in a 4.39 per cent increase to the municipal portion of the total property tax bill, which includes a 1.46 per cent increase for Fire and Emergency Services. Richmond Hill is also responsible for collecting taxes on behalf of others. The municipal portion only accounts for approximately one quarter of the total tax bill. When combined with the Region of York and school board impacts to the tax bill, Richmond Hill residents will see an overall tax rate increase of 2.6 per cent. This is equal to $171.93 in property taxes on an average home assessed at $856,300.
The implementation of Richmond Hill's Asset Management Plan is also a feature of the 2017 Operating Budget. Richmond Hill has $1.85 billion in infrastructure assets that need to be maintained for the safe use of residents. Investment in a Manager and Project Manager for Asset Management Planning will ensure Richmond Hill's assets are managed for the long-term in the most cost-effective way.
"This budget came together over time with a lot of discussion and consideration," said Budget Chair, Regional & Local Councillor Brenda Hogg. "It reflects the priorities of the community and our needs for the future - such as maintaining our services and infrastructure and ensuring our funding sources are fully sustainable."
The 2017 Operating Budget provides for new programs and services including the Richmond Hill Arts Awards, Canada 150 Celebrations and the development of Richmond Hill's first Comprehensive Zoning By-law, which is a Planning Act requirement. New staff positions will also be added to improve service delivery including a Director of By-law Licensing and Enforcement, Manager of Economic Development, a By-law Enforcement Officer and an Access and Privacy Coordinator. The new Oak Ridges Library, which is expected to open before the end of 2017, will include a new Children's Librarian and Systems Specialist to ensure a smooth transition to the new, larger space.
Council also approved the 2017 Water, Wastewater and Stormwater budget. The nine per cent increase on water and wastewater takes effect April 1, 2017 and represents the exact increase York Region will charge Richmond Hill for these services. The nine per cent increase to the Stormwater Management Rate will increase the annual rate to $62.24 for residential properties.
At the February 28 meeting, Council also increased the Seniors' Tax Assistance Grant to $377 per eligible applicant.
Approval of the Operating Budget and Water, Wastewater and Stormwater budget is the final phase of Budget 2017, a public process which included a business community information session in October 2016, a public information session in January at the Central Library, four Budget Committee of the Whole meetings and a short video, "How Richmond Hill's Budget Works" which was posted on Richmondhill.ca and shared through social media. Council previously approved the 2017 Capital Budget of $61.8 million in November 2016.
"We work hard to find efficiencies and operating savings, including core service reviews and service improvement initiatives," said Mayor Barrow. "Town staff also look for revenue sources other than taxation, which only accounts for 66 per cent of our 2017 Operating Budget."
Visit
RichmondHill.ca/Budget
for more information about Richmond Hill's 2017 Budget, including a tax calculator, infographics, departmental draft budgets and presentations.
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**CANCELLED - TO BE RE-SCHEDULED**
**STAY TUNED**
Community Engagement Session
Mackenzie Health Update
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Ward 4 Development Applications - Update
There are a number of development applications active in Ward 4 that continue to generate significant interest from residents. This 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 development applications in the ward, but a brief synopsis of select applications. Information that is new since the last newsletter is marked as "**NEW**" Please feel free to contact me at
david.west@richmondhill.ca
if you have questions about an application that is not included here.
1. 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 and I hosted a well attended Residents' Meeting in the fall 2015. The applicant then 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 is scheduled to hold a hearing on this file on March 20th, 2017.
** New** A With Prejudice Settlement Offer was presented at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on February 6th. This offer included a significant increase in the number of Townhouse units that had been previously proposed (88 - up from the previous proposal of 37) and a number of other changes, including 3 quite large single detached units facing Arnold Cres. as well as increased setbacks to the lots on Highland Lane from the proposed units south of Arnold Cres. While I appreciate that there are some improvements to the plan relative to the original plan, it still remains a poor fit for the neighbourhood in my opinion. I moved a motion at Council on February 13th to deny this application because I feel that while the plan has some improved features (relative to the original plan), it is not yet addressing some key issues that have been identified by the neighbourhood throughout this extensive process. Sending the plan back to the OMB would mean the neighbourhood residents and the Town's representatives would have additional time to work toward a more positive and acceptable outcome. Unfortunately this motion failed to pass on a 5-4 vote at Council. As such, staff was directed to proceed to the OMB with an endorsement of this plan. I am very disappointed by this outcome as I do not believe this was in the best interests of the community in this historic part of our Town.
2. Condo Proposal South West corner of Gamble and Yonge St.
In 2014 our Planning Staff was presented with an application for an 8 and 5 storey condo on the south west corner of Gamble Rd. and Yonge St. The applicant had a Council Public Meeting shortly after this time where a number of issues were identified, including the project's proximity to a floodplain. No other news has been reported on this application for a number of months.
3. 129, 133, 141 Arnold Cres and 230 Major Mackenzie Dr. W.
This site is owned by The Acorn Development Corporation. At this time the developer is working to complete an application for
redevelopment of this site
. The applicant will need to go through the regular planning process prior to obtaining any approvals to building anything new on the site. It is my intention to host a meeting for the neighbourhood residents as soon as any plans by the developer have been solidified. This meeting will serve to make the community aware of the details of this application. Presently there is no timeline set for such a meeting but I will ensure that the community is informed in a timely manner when a clearer picture becomes available.
4. 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 from my office, informing the neighbourhood of this application. The applicant has since appealed this application to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The OMB hearing was scheduled for December 12th, 2016.
Council recently passed an Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) that effectively "freezes" development in this area while a Secondary Plan is produced for the portion of the lands that are included in the Key Development Area designation under the Official Plan. This Secondary Plan process will begin immediately and take place over the next year.
See #5 below as this application is within the same ICBL area
5. 47 and 59 Brookside Road and 12 and 24 Naughton Drive
This proposed development application includes 188 townhouses, 4 condo towers and a public park. I hosted a
Resident's Meeting on Wednesday, August 10th, 2016. At this meeting residents voiced significant concerns about a number of issues related to the application. Included in these concerns was the overall density of the proposal and the height of the 4 buildings being proposed (as high as 29 storeys), as well as issues related to vehicular access to the site and related traffic concerns.
A very well attended Council Public Meeting was held regarding this application on October 5th, 2016. Many residents spoke to council about their concerns with the proposal. Most council members, including myself, reflected these concerns and spoke in support of the residents.
Subsequent to these meetings, Council approved the implementation of an Interim Control By-law (ICBL) for an area around the intersection of Yonge Street and Bernard Avenue. The Interim Control By-law temporarily prohibits the use of land, buildings or structures within the specified area for one year while staff conducts a Planning Study, develop a Key Development Area Secondary Plan and an Implementing Zoning By-law for this area. The ICBL will allow Richmond Hill to obtain input on the Secondary Plan from residents and stakeholders. It will also help ensure that development in the area meets the standards of municipal and provincial policy such as Richmond Hill's Official Plan, York Region's Official Plan and Ontario's Growth Plan. Richmond Hill will contract with Urban Strategies Inc. to prepare the Planning Study and Yonge/Bernard Key Development Area Secondary Plan and Implementing Zoning By-law. Staff will report back to Council before the end of July 2017 on potential adjustments to the ICBL boundary in accordance with the study findings.
The Interim Control Bylaw that was passed by Council has been appealed to the OMB by several of the landowners in this area. Details of these appeals will be announced when they are available.
As a part of the KDA development process, public input will be invited on the following two dates. I would encourage all interested area residents to attend one of these meetings. The input received from these meetings will help to shape the KDA Secondary Plan and the related development in this area.
Event #1: Public Workshop
When:
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Time:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where:
Elgin West Community Centre (Palisade Room)
11099 Bathurst Street, Richmond Hill
The purpose of this workshop is to engage the public and provide an opportunity to be involved in the KDA planning study. At the workshop, a short presentation will be made, and there will be opportunities to participate in a number of smaller roundtable thematic discussions to obtain feedback and input.
Event #2: Community Open House
When:
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Time:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where:
Elgin West Community Centre (Palisade Room), 11099 Bathurst Street, Richmond Hill
The Community Open House will provide the public with an opportunity to view the background work and draft options for the KDA that have been developed by the consultants and Town staff, based on input received from the public, agencies, and other stakeholders.
If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact me at 905-771-2536. For more information on the Yonge/Bernard KDA project, please visit the study webpage at:
http://www.richmondhill.ca/bernardKDA
At the Council Public Meeting held on October 25th, 2016 a zoning bylaw amendment application was considered by Council in order to provide relief from the current zoning bylaw governing building at 100 Mill St. The applicant is applying to sever the existing lot and create two homes on the two proposed lots. A number of residents attended the meeting and/or expressed their concerns to me in writing primarily about the size and height of the proposed buildings. Some expressed that it was unnecessary and inappropriate for these proposed buildings to be so large, when many other newer homes in this area have done a good job "fitting" into the existing neighbourhood. All comments from this meeting will be referred back to planning staff. At this meeting the applicant has made a promise to work with staff and the community to propose something more appropriately sized as the process moves forward. At the present time our planning staff will continue to work with the applicant so that a revised application can be brought to Council in the future.
7. 35 Wright St.
The proposed application at 35 Wright St. seeks to amend the Zoning By-Law to permit a 6 storey office building to be constructed on the subject lands.
**New** I hosted a Residents' Meeting on Tuesday, February 28th. At this meeting issues of height of the building, proposed parking supply, setbacks to the existing property lines and traffic were expressed by residents. The next step in this process will be a Council Public Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 22nd at 7:30 in the Council Chambers (see information below). Your input regarding this application can also be submitted to myself at
david.west@richmondhill.ca and to the staff planner on this file at
katherine.faria@richmondhil.ca
Council Public Meeting
Concerning a Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment
A Public Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 7:30 PM in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Offices, 225 East Beaver Creek Road, to notify the public and receive comments on the following application that has been received by the Town.
Inquiries Refer To:
Town File: D02-16030
A request from Igor Kotler to amend the Zoning By-law for lands described as Part of Lots 8 and 9, Plan 647 and municipally known as 35 Wright Street.
The purpose of the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment is to permit the construction of a 6-storey office building on the subject lands.
Lands Containing Seven (7) or More Residential Units:
A copy of this notice must be posted by the owner of any land that contains seven (7) or more residential units in a location that is visible to all of the residents.
Any person
may attend the meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment. Written comments by any person unable to attend the meeting should be made in person, or by mail to the Town Clerk, The Corporation of the Town of Richmond Hill, 225 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3P4, or fax to 905-771-2502, or by email to
clerks@richmondhill.ca
and is to be received no later than 12:00 noon on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Please ensure that you include your name and address so that you may be contacted if necessary.
Zoning By-law Amendment Appeal:
If a person
or public body does not make oral submissions at the public meeting or make written submissions to the
Town Clerk, The Corporation of the Town of Richmond Hill
before the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment is passed or refused, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Council of the Town of Richmond Hill to the Ontario Municipal Board and may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to do so.
If you wish to be notified
of the passing or refusal of the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment, you must make a written request to the Town Clerk, The Corporation of the Town of Richmond Hill, 225 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3P4 or by e-mail at
Notice of Collection:
Personal information is collected under the authority of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13 and may be contained in an appendix of a staff report, published in the meeting agenda, delegation list and/or the minutes of the public meeting and made part of the public record. The Town collects this information in order to make informed decisions on the relevant issues and to notify interested parties of Council's decisions. It may also be used to serve notice of an Ontario Municipal Board hearing. Names and addresses contained in submitted letters and other information will be available to the public, unless the individual expressly requests the Town to remove their personal information. The disclosure of this information is governed by the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.M.56. Questions about this collection and disclosure should be directed to the Office of the Clerk at 905-771-8800 or by e-mail at
clerks@richmondhill.ca
.
Additional Information:
For more information about this matter, including information about preserving your appeal rights, please contact the Office of the Clerk at 905-771-8800 or by e-mail at
clerks@richmondhill.ca
.
Questions about the information and recommendations contained in the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment Staff Report should be directed tothe Planning & Regulatory Services Department by calling 905-771-8910 between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. You can pick up the Staff Report at the Office of the Clerk, located on the Ground Floor of the Municipal Offices, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 after 3 PM. The Staff Report will also be available on RichmondHill.ca. To find it, selectthe Calendar and click on the relevant meeting for a list of items.
Town of Richmond Hill
225 East Beaver Creek Road
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3P4
Telephone: 905-771-8800
Fax: 905-771-2502
Stephen M.A. Huycke, Town Clerk
Dated this 23rd day of February, 2017
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First Annual Ward 4 Maple Syrup Festival
Maple syrup is one of the many icons for which Canada is known around the world. We are blessed in Ontario and Quebec with many Sugar Maple trees and each year spring sap from these trees is collected and boiled down to syrup. It has become a delicious tradition in our country and it is enjoyed worldwide.
Maple syrup has also been a part of my family's culture for a long time. Since the early 1900s, members of my family have made and sold maple syrup when they lived on their farm in Northern Ontario.
Given that this is Canada's 150th birthday, I wanted to create a festival in Ward 4 that would celebrate this unique aspect of our culture. Please join me for pancakes and real maple syrup, Maple tree tapping and sap boiling demonstrations in the Twickenham forest, many activities for the family and kids, an opportunity to buy maple syrup (with all profits going to the Richmond Hill Historical Society) and most importantly, a good reason to come out and celebrate the coming of spring in Richmond Hill and Canada's 150th.
I hope you will join me and your neighbours on March 25th between 10AM and 2PM at the Elgin West Community Centre!
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Richmond Hill's Job Growth is on the Rise
Richmond Hill continues to be a preferred destination in attracting exceptional business leaders and talent. According to data from the
2016 Richmond Hill Employment Survey
, Richmond Hill's employment growth of 2,230 new jobs (or 3.4 per cent) between mid-2015 and mid-2016 surpasses the regional average of 3.1 per cent, as well as the provincial and national averages of 0.5 per cent and 0.4 per cent. The Town of Richmond Hill has added over 25,300 jobs to its employment base since 1998.
Highlights from the 2016 employment survey results include:
* Over the past ten years, the health care and social assistance sector was the primary driver of growth, increasing by 3,340 jobs. This is followed by the professional, scientific and technical services sectors which grew by 2,400 jobs between 2006 and 2016.
* The manufacturing sector experienced the most growth between mid-2015 and mid-2016, increasing by 500 jobs.
* Since 2006, full-time employment in Richmond Hill has grown by approximately 6,500 jobs and accounted for 67.7 per cent of the Town's employment in 2016.
* Share of part-time employment has decreased from 24.9 per cent in 2005 to 21.9 per cent in 2015.
* The number of businesses surveyed has grown by 13 per cent or approximately 550 businesses since 2006.
Small
 businesses (employing less than 20 employees) accounted for 85 per cent of total businesses in 2016. Similarly, medium-sized businesses (employing 20-99 employees) are also thriving, growing from 10.6 per cent to 12.8 per cent of businesses since 2006.
"Cultivating strong ties with Richmond Hill's business community and helping them succeed is a key priority for Richmond Hill and a vital part of our
Economic Development Strategy
," said Mayor Dave Barrow. "Richmond Hill is a great place to live, work and play and our job growth certainly speaks to that."
The
2016 Richmond Hill Employment Survey
shows there are currently 4,643 businesses in Richmond Hill employing 67,866 employees. While Richmond Hill does place a focus on its
four key sectors of strength
, it is clear that job growth is occurring across many other industries including manufacturing, retail trade and educational services.
Richmond Hill businesses have access to a highly educated workforce with nearly three-quarters of residents holding a post-secondary education. Statistics Canada (2011 Census) recognized Richmond Hill's growing talent pool as the Most Educated Workforce in Canada. Compared with the rest of Ontario, Richmond Hill's population is a magnet for youth with nearly half of residents between the ages of 20-49.
Over the years, Richmond Hill businesses have been awarded prestigious rankings including
Profit Magazines 200 Fastest Growing Companies, Deloitte Technology Fast 50, Branham 300 Award
recognizing Canada's top IT companies and
Profit 500 Canada's Top Female Entrepreneur Awards.
For more information about Economic Development and our key service areas, visit
BusinessRichmondHill.ca.
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Supporting Heritage
At Council on February 27th, I moved a motion in support of a Private Member's Bill before the House of Commons that would provide an income tax incentive to people who own and revitalize a heritage listed property. Heritage buildings are an important part of the character of a number of communities in Richmond Hill and my motion, in support of this Private Member's Bill, would provide an incentive to landowners who want to restore heritage properties and also provide an incentive to owners that might want to provide an adaptive reuse of their buildings in areas like our Village Core.
Councillor West's Motion Passed in Support of MP Van Loan's Private Member's Bill
Whereas Richmond Hill citizens value our community's heritage assets, especially our wide variety of heritage buildings.
Whereas these historic buildings are enjoyed and provide value to everyone in the community whether they are privately owned or publically owned. The existence of these buildings give us a link to our past, and contribute to an important and desired character to many neighbourhoods in our town.
Whereas MP Peter Van Loan has tabled a Private Member's Bill (bill C323) to create an income tax credit to be applied to owners of Heritage Properties when they restore a heritage building. This income tax break will provide a significant financial incentive to revitalize and/or care for heritage buildings.
Whereas this bill, if passed, would act in a positive manner to encourage restoration of heritage buildings. The passing of this bill would encourage owner of Heritage Buildings to restore their buildings, to the benefit of municipalities like Richmond Hill
Therefore, be it resolved that a letter be sent from Richmond Hill Council in support of MP Van Loan's private member's bill to the FCM, AMO, The Chair of York Region, MP Jowhari and MP Aleslev as well as the leaders of all three Federal Parties to express Richmond Hill's support of this initiative.
Below is an interesting article related to this issue.
"Posted with permission of the publisher of NRU Publishing Inc. Original article first appeared in Novae Res Urbis - GTHA, Vol. 20, No. 4, Wednesday, January 25, 2017."
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The Richmond Hill Youth Action Committee
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Great Things To See And Do Around Town
Looking for interesting things to do this month in our Community? Look no further - below is a listing of various community events that I would like to promote on behalf of the various organizers. For a complete listing please click on the links below. These links will take you to my website where the full details of the listing for each event can be found.
1.
Richmond Hill Beading Artists 8th Annual Beaded Art Show and Sale, April 6th, 7th and 8th, at the Boynton House. A wide range of beautiful beaded art pieces will be on sale from a number of beading artists. Partial proceeds from this show will be dedicated to support 360 Kids. Click
here for more information.
2. Celebrating Culture in our Community - Richmond Hill Cultural Summit, Thursday, March 30, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. The Richmond Hill Cultural Summit is an event for artists, creative industry professionals, culture organizations, students, volunteers and culture lovers. Click here for more information.
3.Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra presents "Pride Lands", Wednesday April 15th, 8PM, with a pre-concert talk at 7:15 p.m. Click here for more information.
4. Voices from the Engraver - a Travelling Exhibit on loan from the Bank of Canada Museum. Exhibit runs February 7 - April 29 at the Richmond Hill Heritage Centre. Click
here for more information.
5. Growing with Canada - As Canada celebrates the 150th anniversary of Confederation, let's look at how Richmond Hill has grown up. Exhibit runs from February 25 - December 19, 2017 at the Richmond Hill Heritage Centre. For more information click here.
6. Chorus York - Spring Sing, A celebration of renewal
Lift your spirit through song, Saturday, March 25, 7:30pm at St. Matthews United Church. Click here for more information.
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Ward 4 Community Corner - Your Shot
If you have a great photo taken in Richmond Hill I would love to feature it here. Send it to me at
david.west@richmondhill.ca to be in next month's e-newsletter!
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