Richmond Hill | Office of Economic Development

Quality of Life

Housing & Amenities

Housing Mix
Richmond Hill offers a wide selection of homes in either urban or rural settings including waterfront
homes, condominiums, apartments, semi-detached and single family homes. The largest portion consists of single-detached family dwellings representing approximately 63.66% of the housing mix (as per the 2006 Census).

Housing Prices
Housing prices in Richmond Hill are competitive and economical for most housing dwelling types. The average two-storey detached home sells for approximately $420,000 (source: Royal LePage Survey of Canadian House Prices, 4th Quarter 2007)

Rental Accomodations
The cost of renting a unit in Richmond Hill is quite affordable and price competitive compared with other Greater Toronto Area (GTA) municipalities.

Recreational Services and Facilities
Whether you enjoy physical fitness activities or pursue a more passive style of leisure, Richmond Hill has numerous first rate services, programs and facilities available to residents. For more information about recreational activities and programs contact Richmond Hill’s Parks Recreation and Culture Department at (905) 771-8870 or visit the website at www.richmondhill.ca.

Lois Hancey Aquatic Centre
The Town of Richmond Hill has made a commitment to providing residents with recreational facilities and services of the highest standard. The fully accessible Lois Hancey Aquatic Centre is an excellent example of this. The Aquatic Centre is a unique facility because it is the only publicly operated aquatic centre in the Greater Toronto Area with a wave pool. Other amenities at the aquatic centre include: a swirlpool, an on-deck sauna, a thrilling 160 ft. twisting water slide, male, female and family changerooms, aquafitness, lane swims, leisure swims and swimming lessons for all ages and levels.

Golf Courses
Richmond Hill residents have access to several golf courses in the area catering to various skill levels.

Public Libraries
Richmond Hill offers four local libraries to meet the information and educational needs of local residents. Services at these libraries includes: books, newspapers, magazines, DVDs, CD-ROMs, videos, audio cassettes, government documents, talking books, job listings, community information, visiting library service, business services, local history, photocopiers, meeting rooms, exhibits, story-time programs, children and adult programs. For more information call the Richmond Hill Public Library Board at (905) 770-0310 or visit www.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca

Richmond Hill Central Library
Opened in the summer of 1993, the Richmond
Hill Central Library is a state-of-the-art facility
designed to meet the needs of the current
population and future generations. Located at the
corner of Major Mackenzie Drive and Yonge Street this 60,000 square foot facility is the largest in York Region, housing a collection of more than 175,000 volumes, videos, CD’s, and other information sources. The building has won the Governor General’s Award for Architecture (1994), the Portland Cement Association Concrete Building Award (1994) and the Financial Post Design Effectiveness Award
for Architectural Design (1995).

The library also provides information to meet the needs of the local business community. Meeting rooms can be rented for business events, seminars and meetings. The Central Library also has access to a variety of commercially supplied databases with up-to-date business information outlined below.
For more information call Richmond Hill Central Library at (905) 884 - 9228, to book a tour contact extension 304 or to book a meeting room contact extension 758.

Infomart: Full text of a variety of major Canadian newspapers.
Cancorp: Contains more than 8,000 company records.
Infoglobe: Includes full text of the Globe & Mail and the Who’s Who in Canadian Business
Dialog: Canadian Business & Current Affairs, Dunn & Bradstreet, Business Review

Other Attractions
The Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts, Richmond Green Sports Facility, Lake Wilcox, Mill Pond, Lois Hancey Wave Pool, Phyllis Rawlinson Park, Rouge Woods Boccee Courts and a multitude of trails and parks are just some of the key attractions that can be found locally within the Richmond Hill community.

Meeting, Conservation and Accommodation Facilities
If you are planning a meeting or convention, or simply require accommodations for a business trip, the Richmond Hill area offers many high quality to economical hotels and convention facilities to meet visitor’s needs.

Other Greater Toronto Area Attractions
Richmond Hill’s location in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) gives local residents access to a multitude of cultural and entertainment amenities. From theatrical productions to concerts, professional sports to amateur recreation, the GTA offers a high quality lifestyle.

Police Protection
Richmond Hill is effectively served by the York Regional Police Force who look after the security needs of over 983,100 residents (York Region, December 31, 2007). The police force also offers a number of community service programs such as Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch, Crime Prevention and Emergency Response.

Fire Protection
The Richmond Hill Fire Department is a modern, well equipped department that provides protection to Richmond Hill’s population of over 183,000 residents. The Department possesses state-of-the-art equipment used by highly trained crews ready to provide services such as rescue, first aid, hazardous materials and chemical containment as well as fire fighting. The education of the public in regard to fire safety and fire prevention is provided by the Fire Prevention Bureau staff through inspections, demonstrations, public information sessions, and school visits by the Public Relations Officer and “Squirt” the department mascot.

Health Care
York Central Hospital
York Central Hospital, located in Richmond Hill, is a full-service 412-bed community hospital serving over 300,000 residents in York and Simcoe Regions. It is Ontario’s fastest growing community hospital.

York Central has an annual operating budget of over $133 million that has a dedicated and professional health care team of over 1,700 staff, 323 physicians, and 700 volunteers. The hospital received $35 million in community support through donations to the York Central Hospital Foundation for the Phase 1 expansion; benefits from over 77,000 hours of volunteer service; and $2 million raised since 1962 by volunteers through a wide variety of fundraising activities.

The hospital began a major expansion and redevelopment including its; Emergency, Dialysis, Critical Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Operating Rooms, Mental Health and Women and Child Facilities (including a new Family Birthing Centre, and Breast Health Centre).

For more information, contact York Central Hospital at (905) 883-1212 or visit their Website at www.yorkcentral.com.

Health Care Facilities and Offices
Richmond Hill also recognizes the increasing importance of available elderly services and facilities. As a result, York Region’s Long-term Care and Seniors Services offers a variety of programs, including long-term care facilities, housing support services, day activity programs, short stay/respite programs. Approximately 600 staff provide services to promote the health, well-being and independence of individuals who can no longer live independently. The Long-term Care and Seniors Services currently operates one 132-bed and one 100-bed Long Term Care and Seniors Branch, the Newmarket Health Centre and the Maple Health Centre, with plans for further expansion.
There are also 46 private long-term care facilities in the Richmond Hill area, 130 doctors/medical clinics and 73 dental offices.

Municipal Government Representatives
Richmond Hill Town Council consists of the Mayor and eight members of Council who are elected by qualified electors every three years. They are the resident’s voice and represent their interests in the governing of the Municipality and the Region of York.
Ultimately, the Mayor and Council decide on policy matters and oversee all administrative and fiscal responsibilities of the Town of Richmond Hill.

The Mayor and Members of Council are available to address the day-to-day concerns of residents, attend official functions, address administrative matters and communicate with the public directly and through information prepared by Town staff. They also liaise with Provincial and Federal members of government, the Boards of Education and many other agencies on behalf of the Town.

Mayor
David Barrow

Regional and Local Councillors
Brenda Hogg
Vito Spatafora

Local Councillors
Greg Beros (Ward 1)
Arnie Warner (Ward 2)
David L. Cohen (Ward 3)
Lynn Foster (Ward 4)
Nick Papa (Ward 5)
Godwin Chan (Ward 6)

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