From the Desk of Mayor David West
Late Summer - Early Fall E-Newsletter 2026
Dear Neighbours,
As we approach the conclusion of the 2022-2026 term of Council, I am both happy with the progress we’ve achieved in Richmond Hill and equally, I feel passionate to continue that work with this positive momentum.
I am proud to be a resident of this great city. For over 3 decades, I have lived and worked here – I’ve held leadership roles in our community through the Board of Trade and as a small business owner, I’ve volunteered in community organizations, enjoyed all that Richmond HIll has to offer including our theatre and recreation facilities, and watched our city grow and change. In my humble opinion, Richmond Hill is a complete city – no matter what I’m looking for, I can always find it here.
We are facing serious challenges right now. Across the country, affordability for new home owners and families continues to be a big hurdle, and the City of Richmond Hill is working to control the costs under their jurisdiction, while I continue to advocate for our city at the Provincial and Federal levels to make our needs known. There is more work to do, but our progress to date and the plans we have for the future give me every reason to be confident about what comes next.
Importantly, Richmond Hill continues to attract new businesses – over and over, both small businesses and cutting edge high tech companies choose our city and this matters because each business means more job opportunities close to home, and revenue streams that don’t come from the residential taxpayer.
I realize that sometimes the changes don’t happen as quickly as we would like but I am really positive about the direction we are moving in. I couldn’t be more excited about the future of our city. I am always happy to talk to residents about their hopes and aspirations for our community – drop me a note anytime.
In October of this year, we will have Municipal Elections so, in compliance with Richmond Hill’s election rules, this is my last enewsletter of this term. You can continue to follow me on my social media to get news about our city and I will be fully available through all the regular channels.
I look forward to seeing you around the city!
Mayor David West
City of Richmond Hill
Appreciation
Thank you to all the dedicated volunteers and community organizations who work tirelessly to make our city vibrant and inclusive. Each event I am priviledged to attend reminds me of the importance of community
Community Safety
I want Richmond Hill residents to know that I hear your concerns about safety in our city. As your Mayor, I am listening and working to do all I can to ensure our city is a safe one.
Community safety, security, and inclusion are foundational to our great city. The past 4 years have demonstrated serious challenges with crime and safety, and through working collaboratively with YRP we have made significant progress. More work needs to be done, but the progress we’ve achieved has come through a closeworking relationship with the York Region Police District 2 team and with Superintentant Kolin Alexander specifically. He is laser focused on the safety and well being of Richmond Hill and I personally appreciate his dedication and hard work to both policing our city and to being engaged and present in the community.
The YRP 2025 Annual Report is out. It outlines their progress:
- on strategic objectives
- on new initiatives to improve our services
- how they are making an impact in our community and
- information about keeping York Region safe and secure
Whether it was reducing violent and property crime, dismantling organized crime networks, recruiting a more gender-diverse workforce, making our streets safer with the latest technology, or teaching children to be better citizens, all York Regional Police members worked to make 2025 a successful year.
See for yourself. Explore the 2025 Annual Report website.
For breaking news of importance to Richmond Hill, I encourage you to follow YRP on X. This is where they post time sensitive announcements such as road closures, collisions reported, community alerts, and more.
Congratulations to YRP’s newly sworn in Deputy Chief Ahmad Salhia and thank you for your 23+ years of service.
News from the
Office of the Mayor
Richmond Hill Receives More Than $5.9 Million Through Provincial Building Faster Fund
Richmond Hill is receiving more than $5.9 million from the Ontario government’s Building Faster Fund, recognizing our success in advancing housing development and meeting provincial housing targets after Richmond Hill surpassed its 2025 housing target by breaking ground on 2,228 new homes.
Under my leadership, Richmond Hill has surpassed provincial housing targets, implemented a Housing Affordability Strategy, and advanced planning policy changes that help bring new housing to market more quickly.
In this term of Council, we have:
- successfully secured more than $31 million through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, funding through Ontario’s Building Faster Fund, and investments for major community and infrastructure projects.
- taken significant steps to support housing development, including adopting a Housing Affordability Strategy, and updated planning policies to streamline approvals.
Funding from the Ontario Building Faster Fund will help support critical infrastructure projects needed to accommodate growth, including watermain upgrades, roads, sidewalks and storm sewer improvements. These investments will enable new housing development while reducing financial pressure on Richmond Hill taxpayers.
By working together across all levels of government, Richmond Hill continues to make progress on one of the most significant challenges facing communities across Ontario: creating more housing while building complete, connected and sustainable neighbourhoods
I remain committed to ensuring Richmond Hill receives its fair share of support from other levels of government while advancing practical solutions that create housing opportunities, strengthen neighbourhoods and protect taxpayers.
Dave Barrow Square - One Step Closer
“It’s all about community.” That was our former Mayor Dave Barrow’s favourite saying and this month we moved a step closer to realizing a space that I believe Dave would have loved – our new Civic Square, named in his honour. It will be a place where neighbours meet to visit, creating memories and celebrating community. It was important to me that we get moving on this essential project, and I am really happy to see the positive momentum as a result of my Member Motion in 2023 to create a Civic Centre on this site.
Some of the planned elements of the Dave Barrow Civic Square include:
- a natural outdoor amphitheatre and a permanent stage for shows, concerts, and community performances with a permanent screen for our future movies and watch parties. (This is where Richmond Hill will gather to cheer for Canada in future championships – baseball, soccer, or maybe even hockey!)
- an events plaza and terrace for organized events and also everyday enjoyment
- a winter skating rink that converts to an events lawn for spring, summer and fall programming.
- natural spaces (a pollinator meadow, a natural grass meadow and marsh, a teaching garden for outdoor learning and some woodland)
- a fabulous ‘placemaker’ RICHMOND HILL sign – the backdrop for countless photos shared across the city and beyond.
It is fitting that at the heart of our city, we are creating a space dedicated to bringing people together.
Construction is expected to take place from summer 2026 until the end of 2027. To learn more about the project visit RichmondHill.ca/ParksProjects.
Primary Care Close to Home
This month, funding was announced for the Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health team, which will provide primary care for 13,000 Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and King residents and provide support to the “Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team“.
Thank you to the Provincial government for this investment in local healthcare, supporting our residents to get the services they need, close to home.
Thank you Richmond Hill Community Food Bank
Every year, it has been my pleasure to disburse charitable donations with the funds from my annual Maple Syrup Festival. This year, I am able to support two organizations in our community who embody the saying ‘rooted in community’.
It was my distinct pleasure to present the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank a $10,000 cheque, in support of the essential work they do in our community. Earlier this summer I visited the Hill House Hospice to make the other donation, totalling $20,000 in donations made possible through my Maple Syrup Festival fundraising.
Year over year, the increase in clients at the RH Food Bank is sobering. When you add in the rising cost of groceries that Canadians are experiencing, it makes running the food bank more challenging than ever. But the good news is that local grocery stores & restaurants continue to be amazing partners and supporters of the RH Food Bank, generous residents make fabulous contributions, and local gardeners share the bounty of their harvest every year.
Together, we are working to support our whole community. Thank you Richmond Hill, and Thank you to the amazing staff and volunteers at the RH Food Bank.
Yonge North Subway Extention
Richmond Hill has been waiting a long time for the Yonge North Subway Extension but there is real, visible progress happening! Last week, we acknowledged the completion of the launch shaft. (If you look to the south from the 407, just east of the Yonge Street bridge, you can see the completed launch shaft.)
For the next step, the tunnel boring machine is on its way from Germany, so work will begin soon and at the same time the station and rails projects will progress. It was interesting to hear from the Project Engineers about how the project will proceed, including the complicated engineering involved and the materials needed to tunnel between Finch Station and Richmond Hill. While there is no final estimate on the timeline, this huge project should be ‘on track’ to open in the early 2030’s. You can read all the details in the Province’s New Release.
One of my priorities this term of council was to make Council meetings civil and welcoming to Richmond Hill residents, while also ensuring that Council was effective and maintained decorum and respect for staff, residents, and Council colleauges.
That’s why on the evening of our swearing in as a Council in November 2022, we each signed the inaugural Council Pledge and I am proud of how this Council has worked collaboratively to uphold this pledge and serve Richmond Hill residents.
It is important to me that everyone in Richmond Hill feels able to attend the meetings shape our city. You can visit the City of Richmond Hill website and select “Council, Council Calendar” to get to the search page shown here and learn about what your elected official are discussing. Please remember that you can attend Committee of the Whole meetings and Council Public Meetings in person at City Hall Council Chambers, watch live from home, or watch the recordings of any meetings you missed at the link below.
Thank you for your civic engagement.
City of Richmond Hill - What's on in August
What's on in September
Community and Cultural Grant -
Investing in a Vibrant City
Back in 2022, I knew the Community and Cultural Grant program was an important investment that we should be making in our community. That’s why one of my first motions of the 2022-2026 term of Council was to reinstate it.
Since then, I have been delighted to see the outcomes of projects and programs funded through this grant over the past years. This grant program is intended to support the City’s Strategic Plan vision of “A vibrant and inclusive city of neighbours.”
One example of the projects funded is the “TD x Play Forever Community Garden”, located at the Crescent Village housing complex. This garden serves as a vibrant hub for sustainable urban agriculture and active community connection.
Community Events and News
Smart Starts for a Safe School Year
As families prepare for September routines, August is a great time to review safety basics with children. Building these habits 
early helps kids feel confident and prepared. Here are a few back‑to‑school safety topics to review together:
· Practice home escape plans, ensuring kids know two ways out of every room and where to meet outside.
· Teach them how to recognize the sound of a smoke alarm and when to call 9‑1‑1.
· For older students, discuss safe charging habits for phones, tablets, and e‑bikes – devices should never charge under pillows or on beds.
Building these habits early helps children feel confident and prepared.
Safety is a lesson that lasts a lifetime. For more information visit RichmondHill.ca/Fire
A Founder's Memorial
A community-led project is underway to honour Colonel David Bridgford, a War of 1812 veteran and one of Richmond Hill’s early community builders. Bridgford helped establish local institutions including the Richmond Hill Agricultural Society and Richmond Masonic Lodge, and served the community as a councillor, magistrate, coroner, and Reeve of Vaughan.
Although Colonel Bridgford and his wife Lucy have been buried in the Richmond Hill Presbyterian Cemetery since the 1800s, only Lucy’s deteriorated headstone remained, and the Colonel’s grave was never properly marked. Following the recent rediscovery of Lucy’s original headstone, plans are underway to install a new memorial recognizing both Lucy and Colonel Bridgford and preserving their legacy for future generations.
The new headstone will be unveiled on October 3, 2026. Those wishing to support the project through a donation or message of encouragement can contact Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church.
Nature Photography Walk at Richmond Green
Join the Richmond Hill Photography Club for a free Nature Photography Walk at Richmond Green as part of the Canadian Association of Photographic Arts Annual Photo Walk.
On September 20th photographers of all skill levels are welcome to connect with fellow enthusiasts, learn new tips, and capture the beauty of nature along the scenic Richmond Green Loop. Bring your camera or smartphone and enjoy a fun morning outdoors.Click the link for event details and registration information.
What's On in #myRichmondHill
The calendar of events in Richmond Hill continues to offer something for everyone.
Here are a few ideas to fill your free time. Please also visit the following calendars for local events:
Richmond Hill July Events
Here are a few of the events I was privileged to participate in lately, on behalf of the City of Richmond Hill
Congratulating the Summer Company student entrepreneurs
Important Numbers and Information
ACCESS Richmond Hill
905-771-8800
Ac****@**********ll.ca
City services, updates on damaged City property, snow clearing, streetlight maintenance
Animal Services
905-832-2281
Animal control and shelter services contracted through City of Vaughan
Alectra Utilities
1-833-253-2872
Hydro outage information, downed power lines
Inclement Weather Hotline
905-771-5487
City facility closures and recreation program cancellations
Parking Control
905-771-8860
Cars parked illegally on the street
York Region Roads
1-877-464-9675 ext 75200
Snow removal on regional roads
York Region Transit/Viva
905-762-2100
Snow removal at bus stops