Richmond Hill Council voted unanimously to proceed with a number of initiatives to celebrate Canada’s 150^th anniversary (2017). Most notably, Council approved funding to host SESQUI – a 360° cinematic experience, complete with interactive content, live events, online activities and education programs showcasing the best in Canadian culture and innovation. The festival is housed in a village of portable dome structures. SESQUI, short for sesquicentennial, will travel across the country in 2017 to celebrate the once-in-a-generation anniversary of Confederation. Richmond Hill is one of 23 municipalities the festival will visit on its tour and the only stop in York Region. In addition, Richmond Hill will undertake a variety of initiatives to mark this milestone, including planting red and while flowers in the Town’s floral planters; a stationary exhibit at the Heritage Centre, along with a travelling exhibit; an interactive lumberjack show; and a lineup featuring Canadian artists a the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts; and many more. Richmond Hill staff were directed to seek funding partners to offset the costs associated with Richmond Hill’s Canada 150 programming. For information about SESQUI, visit SESQUI.ca. For more information about Richmond Hill’s Canada 150 programming, contact Christine Morgan, Manager, Event Services, at 905-771-5507.

 

Council approved a grant request from the Richmond Hill Mobility Accessibility Foundation in the amount of $50,000 to support mobility initiatives in Richmond Hill. The grant is funded from the Disabled Parking Reserve, which was established in December 2004, and is funded from 50 per cent of the revenue from disabled parking offences. The grant will be used to purchase equipment and to assist with overhead costs. The Richmond Hill Mobility Accessibility Foundation is a registered charity with a mandate to fund equipment to assist Richmond Hill residents with daily living. The organization is integral in making Richmond Hill a more accessible and inclusive community. For more information, contact David Dexter, Acting Commissioner, Corporate & Financial Services and Treasurer, at 905-771-2484.

 

Council congratulated Richmond Hill staff and the Richmond Hill Lifesaving Club (RHLC) members chosen to represent Canada at the 2016 World Lifesaving Masters and Interclub Championships. The team will represent Richmond Hill and demonstrate their specialized pool, ocean and emergency response skills in the Netherlands this September. In addition, Dennis Cook, a Richmond Hill staff member and RHLC Senior Head Coach, was chosen to compete as a member of the 2016 National Canadian Lifesaving Team (also taking place in the Netherlands in September). The 2016 team members include Michelle Amar, Chris Bari, Dennis Cook, Daniel Lena, Dennis Plotnik and Charlene Pugh. For more information, contact Donald Hearn, Manager, Administration & Marketing, at 905-771-2503.

 

Council approved a tender for the supply, planting and maintenance of 2,522 trees to TBG Environmental Inc. Beginning in the fall, a variety of species will be planted on public property to replace ash trees lost as a result of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an insect that attacks and kills ash trees. Of the 2,522 trees, 1,934 will be planted along streets and 588 in parks. Planting is expected to be complete by December 2016 (weather permitting). Since 2012, Richmond Hill has been implementing a plan to manage the impacts of EAB through a combination of monitoring, pesticide treatment, tree removal and replacement, public education and tree maintenance. For more information, visit RichmondHill.ca/EAB or call Grant Taylor, Director, Public Works Operations at 905-771-2966.