Town of Richmond Hill residents, along with Mayor William F. Bell, Members of Council and other dignitaries

Will be celebrating at the official opening of the Robert Holland Interpretive Centre

At Phyllis Rawlinson Park, 11715 Leslie Street (north of 19th Sideroad)

On Monday, October 3, 2005 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (the official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 3 p.m.)

The historic “Shaw House” was donated to the Town in 1997 primarily through the efforts of Mr. Robert Holland, a resident of Richmond Hill and a member of the Rouge Valley Foundation. The house, estimated to have been built between 1801 and 1834, has been restored and sits as a focal point within Phyllis Rawlinson Park, as the Robert Holland Interpretive Centre.

Having the unique advantage of being positioned in the ecologically sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine within Phyllis Rawlinson Park, the Robert Holland Interpretive Centre will provide opportunities for residents to participate in environmental studies, native studies, pioneer life, tree planting, trail maintenance, habitat construction and interpretive hikes. Historical displays within the Centre will also educate people on the history of the “Shaw House” and the Rawlinson family. This Centre will allow people to interact with the environment and nature in one of Richmond Hill’s oldest heritage homes.

This project was supported by the Province of Ontario with a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.