Publications
Spring 2010 Ward 2 Newsletter
date posted: 2010-05-19
After a generally mild winter, I hope everyone has been able to enjoy the early Spring sunshine and pleasant temperatures. It seems Mother Nature is anxious to show off her Spring blooms and green trees and grasses. I am pleased to present another of my regular Ward 2 newsletters to bring you up to date on what is happening in our Town and in Ward 2.
Annual Visits to Seniors Homes
Once again this year, as I do every year, I will be visiting seniors in each of the Seniors buildings in Ward 2 to bring you information and updates on Town activities. I enjoy these annual sessions and always come away with some good ideas and suggestions. This year I will have a guest from the Fire Prevention Section of our Town Fire Department who will discuss tips and fire safety items - especially for our senior citizens. Watch for notices of the day and time I will be in your building and please try to attend.
Marc was a wonderful young man who died tragically in a car crash some years ago. His family and friends formed a foundation in his honour and have contributed a great deal of money to York Central Hospital and other worthy causes in our community. I am proud to support and know such fine people.
Coming Soon
Marc Santi Foundation Annual Golf Tournament
Monday, August 16, 2010 at Diamondback Golf Club
Shotgun Start - 1:00 p.m.
Gourmet Dinner - 6:30 p.m. - LeParc
For entry fees and more details please visit www.themarcsantifoundation.org or call 905-884-5361.
Watch For -
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for The Special Olympics. The Run will take place on Thursday, June 3rd and will include runners, motorcycles, bicycles, and police cars travelling from the Station on Major Mackenzie Drive then north on Yonge St. to Bernard Ave., Please watch the local papers for more details and support our Police and Special Olympians on June 3rd.
Heritage Village Day - June 12, 2010
Downtown Richmond Hill turns into a festive pedestrian mall. Walk our downtown and see for yourself the great changes taking place and be part of Heritage Village Day.
Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament
Monday, June 21st. As a co-founder, I am proud that we have raised over one million dollars over the last 16 years for local charities. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For information, please contact me at 905-771-2535.
Canada Day
A fantastic day for everyone to celebrate our Nation's Birthday at Richmond Green - all day events and activities - and don't forget one of the biggest municipal fire works displays in the country. Happy Birthday Canada.
Concerts in the Park
Take place throughout the Summer at Mill Pond Park and Richmond Green. Visit the Town web-site at www.richmondhill.ca for show details - all concerts are free of charge.
One of the Best Places to Live - Richmond Hill
The Conference Board of Canada recently selected our Town as one of the very best places to live in all of Canada. We were one of only six municipalities to receive an 'A' grade with emphasis on our diversity and quality of life. The events listed above help us celebrate our Town. Of course, those of us who call Richmond Hill home knew all along how much we enjoy living here.
Town Projects
The Town has embarked on its most active and ambitious season of construction projects ever. In addition to our annual capital projects to improve parks, roads, and sidewalks; we have taken advantage of Federal and Provincial infrastructure monies to accelerate some already planned improvements.
As the Budget Chair for the Town, I am particularly proud that Council has had the wisdom to protect your assets by careful stewardship of Town funds and reserves. Our reserves permitted us to react quickly to the offer of stimulus funds and therefore, many Town improvements you will see this year are being completed by spending only 33 cents of your local dollar from our reserves per dollar of infrastructure improvements.
Ward 2 has benefitted with a number of projects as shown below:
Axminster Drive
This road, water, and sewer project got an early Spring start and is well ahead of schedule thanks to our early Spring weather. The project should be completed by mid-Summer.
Becker Rd., Alverna Rd., Felix Rd. and Bonita Cres.
This is a major reconstruction project and will begin by mid May. Residents are asked to be patient as construction of this magnitude will take time and will come with some inconvenience. If all goes well, the project should be completed by September.
Crosby Park Tennis Courts
The replacement of the courts, fences, and upgrade of the tennis clubhouse will all be done this summer.
Crosby Park Fieldhouse
The last phase of making all aspects of Crosby Park fully accessible will be the re-furbishment of the field house and washrooms. In the meantime the water play, play structure and picnic areas will remain open. This has become one of our most visited parks and is a project I am very proud to have led.
Crosby Park Soccer Field
And if all of the above is not enough, the soccer field will become one of three new artificial turf soccer fields in Richmond Hill offering an extended season to the fastest growing sport in Richmond Hill.
Skopit Park
Phase 2 of the improvements to the park will be completed this year. I have sent a separate notice to residents in the area to advise them of timing and details. This phase will be completed by Fall.
Harrington Park
Changes to the play structures are scheduled this year. I have asked area residents to provide your suggestions and feedback on how to improve the play equipment in this park. Improvements will be completed by Fall. 
Election 2010
This year municipal elections will take place on October 25th throughout Ontario. I encourage all Ward 2 residents to participate and vote this Fall in the municipal election.
Dorothy Price Park
Thank you to all the residents who took the time to respond to my request for suggestions to improve this popular local park. As a result of your feedback, we have incorporated many of the suggestions in to the last phase of improvements. I have asked that some extra amenities for seniors be added to this park as a service to our seniors in the Dunlop St. buildings. Of course, the new playground caters to some of our younger citizens as well. Work will be completed this Summer.
Elgin Barrow Arena Complex
This Ward 2 icon is undergoing some significant changes. First opened in 1954 and having had several additions since; with the help of infrastructure funds; the complex will be completely rehabilitated. Improved lighting, lobby areas, change rooms, as well as the installation of energy efficient equipment are all included in the project.
Sussex Park
Thank you to the more than 60 people who attended our tree planting event at Sussex Park on May 1st. Despite the rain, 115 trees were planted to help beautify the park and walkway. Thanks, again.
Environmental News
Richmond Hill will soon have a Regional re-cycling depot next to our Operations Centre on Elgin Mills, something I have long advocated for. In the meantime you can drop off your re-cyclables at several depots in York Region (including electronics). For specific details, please visit the Town's web-site at www.richmondhill.ca to determine which site best suits your needs.
- Thanks to our residents, the Town continues to be a leader in re-cycling. Last year 67% of our garbage was diverted from land fill sites.
- Plastic bags will continue to be accepted in green bins until May 2011, but "compostable bags" are a better choice for the environment. Look for "compostable bags" and try to use them in your green bin. Did you know that plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to breakdown, while "compostable bags" break down in weeks. Think about it!
"Person of the Year"
Last December, the Richmond Hill Post named me as its Person of the Year. The full front page color photo and article was certainly a surprise and an honor. I would like to thank the many residents who contacted me with their congratulations and best wishes. Serving as your Councillor is a privilege; however, receiving this recognition was indeed rewarding. To view the article go to www.postcity.com and click on the Richmond Hill edition, Person of the Year.
The Kathy Anne Warner Memorial Bursary
Kathy Anne Warner was a Registered Nurse and Team Leader in the Emergency Department at York Central Hospital from the time she graduated in 1972 until her untimely passing in 2009. She was the longest serving nurse in the history of the department. Kathy was widely admired by her peers, physicians, and her patients for her compassion and professionalism and her dedication to the highest level of patient care at all times.
She held all those around her to these same high standards always putting the interests of her patients first. In the words of her colleagues; she was strong, caring and compassionate; a teacher and friend; and a dedicated, dynamic leader. Kathy was committed to constantly upgrading and improving her skills and always felt she was a better nurse as a result. She encouraged her peers to continuously learn and advance their skills.
The Kathy Anne Warner Memorial Bursary is an Endowment Fund established by her family to honour Kathy's devotion to being a great emergency room nurse and life-long learner. The capital is invested and a percentage of the interest earned annually will be disbursed to eligible emergency department nurses for classes and conferences.
Funds for this bursary will be managed by York Central Hospital Foundation through its Endowment Fund. To support the Kathy Anne Warner Memorial Bursary, simply note this on the memo portion of your cheque payable to York Central Hospital Foundation or call the foundation office at 905-883-2032, or call me at 905-771-2535.
Thank You
For taking the time to read my newsletter. As always, I appreciate your comments and feedback and can be reached at my office at 905-771-2535 or by e-mail at awarner@richmondhill.ca.
Have a safe and wonderful summer.