As Mayor and as a past small business owner for most of my life, I recognize the value to a community of a strong, innovative and resilient local economy. Now more than ever, we need to do all we can to deliver an environment that fosters innovative and dynamic companies that employ our very highly skilled Richmond Hill residents. This gives more people a chance to work closer to where they live, it fosters all the economic spin offs available to communities with high value businesses, it reduces the reliance on the residential tax base, and most of all helps creates the best, most dynamic community possible. 

In April, we travelled to Germany to represent Richmond Hill on an important Trade Mission, continuing to showcase our city at key, strategic meetings and events with the goal of positioning Richmond Hill as the ‘go to destination’ for the innovative business we want to attract.

We attended Hannover Messe, the world’s largest Industrial Technology Trade Fair, representing Richmond Hill on the world stage. This particular trade fair has resulted in $500M in increased trade for Canada over the past three years. We participated to strengthen our Richmond Hill economic ecosystem and at the same time to represent as a part of a large Canadian contingent who recognizes Europe as an important and reliable trading partner that Canada wants to further leverage.

Building relationships is so important and I have worked hard to grow the recognition of Richmond Hill abroad and here at home. During the Trade Mission, I met with MPP Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development and Job Creation and MP Melanie Joly, Minister of Industry, and also represented York Region on the NGen Conversation Podcast in support of York Region Economic Development.

While in Germany, I signed a letter of intent with the Augsburg Innovations Park, a group providing innovation incubation for technology based businesses who will be a welcome partner as we continue work on our own Sustainability Transitions Accelerator of Canada (STAC), a new Richmond Hill based initiative in partnership with the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH). Through STAC, Richmond Hill will help local and Ontario businesses prepare for international markets by connecting them with global expertise, training and partnerships. The program supports companies working in areas such as clean technology, climate resilience, water and health solutions, helping them diversify beyond traditional markets, advance commercialization and build international connections that translate into growth, investment and jobs here at home.

On behalf of our great city I am always proud of Richmond Hill but on Trade Missions like this where I have an opportunity to promote my home community and the specific things that make Richmond Hill a great place to live and do business, I could not be happier to be Mayor of our home of Richmond Hill.