Yorkregion.com - Richmond Hill - It’s official: Richmond Hill rocks
It’s official: Richmond Hill rocks
Sydney Isman of Pleasantville Public School tries on a firefighters’ suit while touring the Major MacKenzie facility. Firefighters Darryl Kaszper and Jack Thornhill help her with the gear.
Richmond Hill
May 03, 2008 11:47 PM
By: David Fleischer
They are the future of Richmond Hill, they care about the town and, like any self-respecting youngsters, they love firefighters and free pizza.
Ten Richmond Hill students had their civic activism rewarded on Monday with a tour of the town’s main fire station, on Major Mackenzie Drive, west of Yonge Street.
The tour was part of Richmond Hill’s People Plan, an effort to get the public involved in the strategic plan that lays out the future of the town.
That effort included asking Richmond Hill schoolchildren to write an essay, or compose a drawing, capturing what they think makes Richmond Hill great.
The more than 100 submissions were narrowed down to 10 winners.
The children, accompanied by parents and teachers, got the executive tour from local firefighters.
From the downstairs dormitories and weight room to the dispatch centre and, of course, the bay filled with shiny, red fire trucks into which they could climb.
They heard about grueling 24-hour shifts and saw how quickly firefighters can climb into their cumbersome gear.
Amy Thompson’s submission was a picture, capturing the fun experience of biking to school every day with her mother, Lillian.
“It’s amazing how many people will wave at you and make eye contact, as opposed to when you stay in the car,” Ms Thompson said.
“If you don’t think Richmond Hill rocks, you will after this,” wrote Julian Smith-Voudouris, a Grade 4 student at Pleasantville P.S.
Other students came from Walter Scott P.S., O.M. Mackillop P.S. and 16th Avenue P.S.
“There’s good hospitals, firefighters, a lot of places to play sports, like Elgin Barrow (Arena), and schools, like the one I go to,” he said of what makes his hometown great.
Fellow Pleasantville student Kathryn Kodam’s submission included a picture and an essay saying, “Important people, convenient places, a great environment and . . . safety precautions are all things that make Richmond Hill great.”
Other children lauded the library, though some suggested more computers and parking are needed, while others still praised the town’s dance schools, churches and diversity.
The latter quality has come strongly to the fore lately.
The first phase of People Plan consultations centred of getting community input about the future of the town. A second phase has begun, with nine focused roundtable discussions.
As part of the plan, several studies are being released, the most recent of which was a socio-economic profile of the town (see sidebars).
The in-depth analysis captures Richmond Hill’s diversity as well as the changes that have hit over the last decade, and anticipates what things are likely to look like down the road.
Public involvement in the plan has been a driving force of the campaign.
“Trying to get people to pay attention, that’s the hard part,” said Mayor Dave Barrow, who attended Monday’s event along with Councillor Lynn Foster.
Along with an active Internet presence, the town has made presentations in schools and used the “What Makes Richmond Hill Great?” campaign to reach out to schoolchildren.
Future of Richmond Hill
We can all see how much Richmond Hill has changed in a short time, but what does the future hold? The study makes a few guesses.
Even within five years we can expect the traffic and rental situations to get worse.
Countering that, the number of Richmond Hill residents working within the town grows to 23.7 per cent.
As seen across the country, manufacturing is on the decline but trade and professional services will increase in Richmond Hill as the commercial-industrial base broadens.
By 2026, there will be 219,000 residents and 119,000 jobs in the city though the rate of growth will slow from the 5,000 people-per-year we have seen.
Most of those new people will be 55 and older, leading to an aging population with different needs.
We will also be wealthier with the average household income growing to $133,950 in 2006 dollars.
At the same time, food bank use is up in Richmond Hill and social housing stock is low meaning that the income gap will widen if things don’t change.
Our skyline will also look different with more apartments and multi-unit dwellings. The region hopes 50 per cent of all new housing will be of that type by 2026.
Money
• $98,972: Average household income;
• $35,700: Average per capita income;
• 12.6%: Population with low income;
• 11,334: People who used the food bank in 2006, up 1,500 from 2005;
• 86.8%: Businesses in Richmond Hill with 20 or fewer employees and;
• 5.4%: Current unemployment rate, lower than most of the GTA but higher than York Region.
Housing and people
• 103%: Population increase since 1991
• 51.5%: Population who are immigrants
• 86.3%: Homeownership rate
• 11,334: Residents who used the food bank in 2006
• 41.8%: Residents with at least some university education
Biggest employers
• 900: York Central Hospital
• 830: Apotex (pharmaceuticals)
• 600: Town of Richmond Hill
• 500: Rogers Cable/TV
• 350: Quebecor World (publishing)