RICHMOND HILL – In a year of challenge and change, the environment continued to be a top priority for Richmond Hill Council and our community in 2020. Through the City’s award-winning environmental programs, we continued our work together to protect, enhance and restore our local natural environment.

With health and safety protocols in place to protect participants and the community, we saw great success, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights include:

• Partnering with local schools, businesses and community groups to plant 8,800 trees and shrubs and restore 5 hectares of land in parks and natural areas through the Community Stewardship Program
• Distributing 915 trees and shrubs, 2,350 wildflowers, 350 rain barrels and 300 backyard composters purchased by residents for their own property at an affordable cost through the annual Healthy Yards Program
• Giving out 200 free Monarch-friendly plant kits to residents to help restore butterfly habitat by planting a pollinator garden on their property
• Providing residents opportunities to grow nutritious food, learn about growing native plants, meet new people and engage in healthy outdoor activity through our eight community gardens. The City is currently accepting applications for collective gardens, which are run and maintained by community groups and/or organizations.

Special thanks to our partners at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF), Ontario Streams, York Region and community volunteers for helping to care for our natural environment. 

Learn more about Richmond Hill’s green initiatives and how you can get involved at RichmondHill.ca/Environment.

Quotes

“Our outdoor spaces have never been more important to our health and well-being. I’m proud of our community’s ongoing commitment to protecting our natural environment. Let’s continue this great work together, so our beautiful, green city can be enjoyed for generations to come.” - Mayor Dave Barrow 

"We are proud to work in partnership with the City of Richmond Hill to enhance local biodiversity through native tree and shrub plantings on public lands. Our accomplishments this year, serve as inspiration for what we can achieve together in the future." - Janet McKay, Executive Director, LEAF  

“TRCA has a long history of working with the City of Richmond Hill and partners with them annually to deliver projects through their Community Stewardship Partnership (CSP) program. The CSP provides a great opportunity to leverage TRCA funding to deliver valuable community stewardship opportunities and engage local residents, schools, community groups and corporate groups in a wide range of activities, including native tree and shrub planting, meadow restoration, monitoring and maintaining newly restored sites, invasive species management, nesting structure installation and monitoring and watershed clean-ups at priority sites across the City of Richmond Hill.” - Vince D'Elia, Senior Project Manager, TRCA

Media Contact
Ash O’Malley, Communications Advisor
ash.omalley@richmondhill.ca