The owner of 13572 and 13586 Bayview Ave in Richmond Hill’s Oak Ridges area has applied to add an underground garage and more units to an approved eight-storey development Underground garage and 10 storeys now proposed for land on Bayview Avenue A developer again says it needs more floors and more units to make a condominium project work on the Oak Ridges Moraine Some Richmond Hill councillors say that’s not their problem The last city council in 2022 approved a four-storey building with 103 units beside the Snively Wetland at 13572 and 13586 Bayview Ave. Last year, the owner returned and got the building boosted to eight storeys and 135 units The developer is now back asking for 10 storeys and 229 units Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Does this image similar to one in an online survey remind you of life in Richmond Hill or is it more like a photo of purple coneflowers or children playing soccer Questions cover how people get information and about 'tone' of city's messages Questions cover how people get information and about “tone” of city’s messages Does living in Richmond Hill remind you of Disney Those are some of the questions (real ones) the city is asking as it seeks to “refresh” its brand “We would like to understand how you currently interact with and experience the city, and what feelings you have about our community,” explains an unusual online survey the city is encouraging residents to take by May 20. It asks how residents get information from the city which places in Richmond Hill they visit and how people want the city to talk to them Some questions try to gauge how residents react to words or pictures “What words or phrases make you feel instantly disconnected or uninterested?” asks one before listing such phrases as “Just get over it,” and “You’re on your own.” “Which of these images feel most representative of your experience of Richmond Hill?” asks another The city, which lately has been looking at its use of social media also asks residents to describe “the tone or personality” of its public communications Then there’s the question about which company brand “comes to mind” when people think about Richmond Hill Does the city evoke “seamless interconnectivity” like Amazon listing other brands that might seem like a better fit The branding project is “about developing one unified voice that truly represents who we are as Richmond Hill,” the city said in a May 1 release Richmond Hill’s Alexander Mackenzie High School went into lockdown on April 29 after an announcement was inadvertently triggered York Region District School Board offers mental health support after incident Tense moments followed at Richmond Hill’s Alexander Mackenzie High School when a lockdown apparently happened by accident Tuesday An automated lockdown announcement “was inadvertently triggered,” and the reason for that “is still being investigated” by York Region District School Board staff,” Principal Krista Luks wrote to parents later that afternoon “We realize that this incident may affect students in different ways and we will offer support to our students through board mental health professionals as needed,” Luks added There was no triggering incident and no threat to students and staff but the school continued to follow the lockdown protocol as a precaution a board spokesperson said in a statement Thursday “The lockdown was lifted very shortly after it began and classes resumed as normal.” said the school later announced the lockdown but administrators had not checked classroom doors to see if they were locked People at the school were also told the lockdown was set off by an electrical issue The student also said she believes loud post-election arguments between students may have triggered the lockdown adding the school on Major Mackenzie Drive West has seen washrooms temporarily closed during this school year after vandalism with antisemitic overtones maintained the lockdown was purely accidental “It was not linked to any incident at the school and there would be no truth to any rumours to that effect,” she wrote Arkfield has acquired a 2.4-acre site in Richmond Hill for the development of a new townhouse community The site is approved for 44 townhouses and is situated in Oak Ridges Moraine near Yonge Street The acquisition adds to Arkfield’s growing portfolio of low-rise communities The real estate firm has been focusing on delivering family-oriented housing across the Greater Toronto Area and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" info@mediaedge.ca www.mediaedge.ca Sign in Join now, it's FREE! You can immerse yourself in the vibrant culture rich history and dynamic arts scene of Richmond Hill at Doors Open Richmond Hill and Studio Tour on May 10 The annual event offers residents and visitors a chance to uncover hidden gems explore creative spaces and celebrate the city’s diversity and heritage As part of the provincewide celebration of community heritage Richmond Hill opens the doors to some of the city’s most unique and historic locations giving the public an exclusive chance to experience them first-hand a City of Richmond Hill news release stated Highlights include returning favourites Curtain Club Theatre George Field Centre and Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club New this year are the Mary-Lou Griffin Local History Room at Richmond Hill Public Library Richard Vanderburgh House hosted by the Richmond Hill Board of Trade and St John the Baptist Community Church hosted by Light on the Hill Church Participate in both guided and self-guided tours and enjoy live entertainment at some of the stops Pre-registration is required for a tour of the Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory and to ride the Kettle Lake Boat Cruise at Lake St the Richmond Hill Business Improvement Area (BIA) invites you to explore the historical charm of Main Street with its array of local shops and eateries offering culinary delights from around the world This free event is part of Doors Open Ontario, launched in 2002 under the Ontario Heritage Trust. For a full list of open properties and more details, visit RichmondHill.ca/DoorsOpen Celebrate the creativity and talent of local artists in this free Explore Richmond Hill’s vibrant arts scene as local galleries studios and artists open their doors to the public engage with the artists and experience the creative process in person From paintings and pottery to photography and textiles there’s something for every art lover Participating artists and collectives include Bita’s Living Art Centre Markham Group of Artists at the Boynton House Art Exhibition Space the Spinners and Weavers Guild and the Hill Potters’ Guild at Burr House Richmond Hill Group of Artists at Mill Pond Gallery Discover the full lineup and additional details at RichmondHill.ca/StudioTour More Spotlight > You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Richmond Hill South 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 253 of 253 polls are reporting as of 4:21 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 253 of 253 polls are reporting as of 4:21 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to win in Richmond Hill South is in second place with 25,991 votes (44.37%) and Ebrahim Astaraki Jowhari has represented the riding since 2015 Richmond Hill South used to be named Richmond Hill The riding’s boundaries were updated for the 2025 federal election 23,318 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Account processing issue - the email address may already exist The Afro-Caribbean Student Association (ACSA) at Richmond Hill HS School is giving Black-identifying students a safe space to connect and lead meaningful change in their school community the club was created to provide a positive environment where students could share their experiences and organize events that reflect their voices and interests Grade 11 and Vice-President of ACSA.  Through events like Black History Month celebrations and activities like cultural games and food sharing ACSA is helping to educate and unite students of all backgrounds.  “It’s about giving students a voice,” said guidance counsellor Janine Lane and we want to make sure they’re heard not just in the school Hear more from the staff and students who are part of ACSA.  2025 /CNW/ - Arkfield has acquired a 2.4-acre land in Richmond Hill for development of a new townhouse community The site is approved for 44 townhouses and benefits from its prime location in Oak Ridges Moraine and proximity to Yonge Street The acquisition adds to Arkfield's growing portfolio of low-rise communities and reinforces the firm's focus on delivering family-oriented housing across the Greater Toronto Area Arkfield is an integrated real estate group that owns and develops commercial and residential assets across Ontario Arkfield actively manages its investments to deliver superior results on a risk-adjusted basis Arkfield's real estate portfolio totals over 6.7 million square feet of residential density with an estimated completion value of $5.5 billion.  Aria Moghimi, [email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: The city of Richmond Hill announced on its social media page that Sterling Creek Park is temporarily closed for maintenance The post does not go into further details but encourages residents to visit other parks in the city Gregory International Park on Cedar Street "We want to express our sincere appreciation for the many comments we received highlighting how much the community enjoys Sterling Creek Park," a statement from the Richmond Hill Facebook page read "This closure will allow us to thoughtfully review Our goal is to ensure Sterling Creek Park remains the welcoming and family friendly haven our community envisions Thank you for your patience and support as we work to maintain this special place." located at 1700 Elbow Swamp Road and encompassing 187 acres of hiking and biking trails Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 219 of 219 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 219 of 219 polls are reporting as of 4:20 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to win in Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill Menegakis has 32,518 of 61,837 votes (52.59%) is in second place with 26,461 votes (42.79%) and Tom Muench Taylor Roy has represented the riding since 2021 25,543 voters cast ballots at advance polls Police seized more than 100 kilograms of suspected cocaine and arrested a full patch member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club and three other individuals following a three-month drug trafficking investigation spanning from the Greater Toronto Area and the Niagara area into Nova Scotia the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Biker Enforcement Unit (BEU) with assistance from Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) York Regional Police (YRP) and Halton Regional Police Service began an investigation into suspected drug trafficking activity by outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG) members in St The investigation revealed that large quantities of cocaine were being trafficked throughout the GTA and distributed to the East Coast of Canada YRP #2 District and YRP Forensic Identification Unit executed a search warrant at a residence in Richmond Hill where the following items were seized: four individuals were charged with a total of eight offences have each been charged with the following two offences contrary to the Criminal Code (CC) and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA): They are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Niagara on May 29 was arrested and charged with the following two offences contrary to the CC and CDSA: The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Niagara on April 24 members from the NRPS Intelligence Unit and Tactical Response Unit executed additional search warrants at two residences in St Police said the following items were seized: The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $10.1 million the OPP-led BEU provided information to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Nova Scotia The RCMP conducted a vehicle stop and located approximately five kilograms of suspected cocaine The driver of the vehicle has been charged by Cumberland County District RCMP Anyone with information regarding illegal activity associated with OMGs is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online.  "Outlaw motorcycle gang involvement in drug trafficking networks and other criminality is a top priority for law enforcement The inter-provincial nature of this investigation demonstrates the importance of collaboration between law enforcement on a national level The OPP is grateful for the partnership with York Regional Police Niagara Regional Police Service and Halton Regional Police Service I also want to thank the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their joint effort to disrupt this drug trafficking network and protect our respective communities," - OPP Det. Insp. Scott Wade "Organized crime networks cross inter-provincial boundaries and have an impact on our communities The relationships with the OPP and municipal policing partners demonstrates the impact we can have when we work together to tackle organize crime," said RCMP Supt Armed carjackers failed in an attempt to steal several luxury vehicles in Richmond Hill early Saturday.    The victims were outside a residence near Bathurst Street and Canyon Hill Avenue in a rented Ferrari SF90 when a black sport utility vehicle pulled up and at least three suspects exited Saturday April 5 at approximately 12:50 a.m., York Regional Police said The victims were threatened at gunpoint and their valuables were stolen The suspects attempted to steal the Ferrari but were unsuccessful as they could not locate its keys The suspects fled after a victim managed to contact police No vehicles were stolen and there were no injuries were reported Investigators are looking for at least three suspects who are described as male Investigators are appealing for any witnesses to come forward Officers would also like to speak with anyone who may have video surveillance or dashcam footage in the area at the time of the incident Anyone with information is asked to contact York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com York Region Public Health officials conduct regular inspections of personal service setting facilities such as barbershops/hairdressing salons The Leslie Street location was inspected March 18 York Region Public Health officials charged a Richmond Hill spa during a recent inspection The location was included in a roundup of businesses cited for various Health Protection and Promotion Act violations during the week of March 17 and 23 Lu Dream Head Spa, an Asian head spa offering hairdressing and other services at 9861 Leslie St. the following compliance infractions were observed: Charges do not necessarily result in a failure of the health inspection — they simply highlight problems for which the establishments were penalized The businesses are given a chance to get back into compliance and pass the health inspection The website for the YorkSafe inspection program is york.ca/yorksafe It is designed to provide the public with information about inspections of food establishments day nurseries and recreational water facilities (pools wading pools and receiving basins) in York Region Conservative Vincent Ho is the new MP for Richmond Hill South Liberal Majid Jowhari has represented the riding since 2015 Mark Carney has a mandate to form a fourth straight Liberal government but veteran Richmond Hill MP Majid Jowhari won’t be part of that a corporate lawyer who says his campaign knocked on 80,000 doors in the riding since being nominated last March Ho said Richmond Hill lacked representation for 10 years under Jowhari They want to stop the crime,” he said at the Orient Bistro on Vogell Road after receiving congratulations from supporters “This isn’t just my win or the Conservative party’s win; this is your win,” he told them Standing near the podium was Ho’s pregnant wife Ho was part of miniwave of Conservatives who managed to wrest seats in Ontario’s 905 belt from Liberals Jowhari has had to fight hard for each of his three victories As supporters ate and a lion dance troupe waited to perform but there were a lot more people in the riding who were undecided People were torn between the sovereignty and affordability issues the Liberals and Conservatives were championing “They were not sure about the leaders either Renamed Richmond Hill South and redrawn slightly to include the Rouge Woods neighbourhood south of Elgin Mills Road the area was Conservative when Jowhari was first elected in 2015 running in the neighbouring Aurora-Oak-Ridges-Richmond Hill this time stressed his “proven record of service,” meaning his constituency work and the federal funding he says he has brought to the riding over a decade Jowhari, soon after becoming an MP, supported restoring diplomatic relations with Iran In a riding with a large Iranian-Canadian population and opposition to the Iranian regime Jowhari has not been forgiven by certain constituents who suspect his motives or who want their MP to take a harder line against the Islamic Republic Statements at the close of a debate from New Democratic candidate Ebrahim Astaraki show Jowhari’s views on Iran continue to antagonize some residents Ho zeroed in on the challenges of living in Richmond Hill South: unaffordable housing — a “housing hell” produced by Liberal policies Conservatives distributed bilingual Chinese-English flyers in the riding which has a large Chinese-Canadian population suggesting the Liberals would legalize heroin and fentanyl and “force drug dens” into Richmond Hill neighbourhoods representing the Canadian Future Party and Yan Wang Campaign signs on Bathurst Street in Richmond Hill South New Democratic Party candidate in Richmond Hill South Liberal incumbent Majid Jowhari is running for re-election in Richmond Hill South Alison Lam is the Green candidate in Richmond Hill South Yan Wang is an Independent candidate in Richmond Hill South Juni Yeung is a candidate for the Canadian Future Party Six contenders in the riding talk about issues in their own words Voters in Richmond Hill South have a choice to make on April 28 We sent all seven candidates in the riding questions they could answer in their own words Here are the six responses on tariffs and bail reform TARIFFS: How should the federal government support York Region workers laid off or York Region businesses harmed by the imposition of U.S in particular in the auto parts and technology sectors Buy Canadian by our city and higher government levels Run entrepreneurial seminars to help our businesses and want-to-be businesses succeed Initiate more co-operative ventures with government and business entities We fail by allowing others to take these businesses away has a buy American for SME (small and medium-sized enterprises.) Why don’t we We must become self-sufficient to fight Trump When Richmond Hill began in the early 1800s The Liberal government has previously expanded the Work-Sharing Program to protect jobs during economic disruptions To further support York Region workers and businesses impacted by U.S The federal government must provide immediate relief for York Region workers and businesses impacted by U.S To combat Canadian dependence on American markets in general some ideas proposed in the Green Party platform include strengthening Canada by lowering interprovincial trade barriers so that provinces are not so siloed diversifying global trade partners so that we are not simply relying on the United States to purchase our exports and providing retraining for individuals and incentives for companies to work with other trade partners Strengthening domestic manufacturing and fostering innovation will ensure long-term economic stability The federal government’s actions to “protect workers” with tariffs are directly causing layoffs Import tariffs are a tax paid by Canadians They protect certain industries from economic dumping by sacrificing others The government needs to stop meddling in the economy We don’t live in fascist Italy; that socioeconomic system didn’t work then You can’t win a trade war with a country 10 times larger by using counter-tariffs We need massive deregulation and tax cuts to come out of this alive and to create jobs let’s focus on strengthening our local economy we will turn this challenge into an opportunity to create a more resilient and sustainable economy for the future let us have the York region emergency support plan: We will support Canadian and York Region businesses first by removing interprovincial trade barriers By making it easier for Canadians to buy Canadian we can help offset the impact of losing business with the U.S we support increasing trade with our allies in Europe and Asia This will ultimately help keep businesses open and workers employed We also support strengthening and developing our domestic military production capabilities which will create new jobs These jobs in particular would often be related to the technology and automotive sectors which would be well suited for anyone impacted by layoffs in those sectors BAIL REFORM: Do you believe changes to Canada’s bail system are necessary and what changes can be made that don’t infringe on the rights of people charged with crimes ASTARAKI: Bail appears to be a sore point with our justice system Our courts are overrun and criminals are let go because our system cannot hold a trial within a reasonable period This also means that the innocent who are held are potentially jailed while waiting for trial The Ministry of the Attorney General is overwhelmed Its load can be reduced by moving the engineers and architects to other ministries more able and competent to handle them JOWHARI: Bail reform is necessary to enhance public safety while respecting Charter rights I am committed to toughening the Criminal Code and making bail laws stricter for violent and organized crime and human trafficking — particularly targeting repeat offenders LAM: Bail reform should balance public safety with the rights of the accused Violent offenders must face more serious consequences the Green Party has always stressed the high social and financial costs of incarceration and supported opportunities for holding offenders accountable outside the prison system and community-based monitoring can enhance safety without infringing on constitutional rights Those who post bail also need to be held accountable if the accused does not show up in court SIDERIS: One of the big criticisms of our bail system is the high financial cost of detaining people I believe there’s some validity there the last thing we should be doing is putting that person back into the public immediately after catching them There might be room for improvement when it comes to the efficiency of the system I support reducing the number of victimless crimes so that courts can focus on cases that have the most impact on public well-being WANG: We need to focus on rights-protecting we have to address the root cause of the crime: poverty All too often crimes are being committed by repeat offenders Our leniency on bail is jeopardizing Canadian lives and this needs to stop The Canadian Future Party commits to working with relevant stakeholders to address these critical gaps in Canada’s bail system to keep Canadian’s safe Conservative candidate Vincent Ho did not responded to the questions townhouses and a public park are planned for properties on Brookside Road Naughton Drive and Yonge Street in Richmond Hill A 23-storey building is proposed on this vacant land at 24 Brookside Rd More than 2,000 units planned in six highrise buildings west of Yonge Street People living on Brookside Road in Richmond Hill’s Westbrook have no complaints apart from peak-hour traffic and the line for a Starbucks drive-thru at their corner of Yonge Street But highrise development plans for both sides of the street totalling more than 2,000 units on lands now vacant would drastically change what residents say is a quiet area The plans might also produce 1,000 new affordable homes and a one-acre park along a Rouge River tributary Wondering what’s going on somewhere in your community? Send an email to newsroom@yrmg.com Liberals will form the next federal government but party candidates shut out in York Region except for these 2 ridings While the Liberals will form the next federal government they were virtually shut out of York Region with the majority of ridings going to Conservative candidates Liberal Helena Jaczek won a comfortable victory over Conservative Niran Jeyanesan in Markham-Stouffville With 178 of 217 polls reporting she had a 2,405 vote lead Tim Hodgson has won the Markham–Thornhill riding earning 54.2 per cent of the vote with 193 out of 199 polls reporting Conservative candidate Lionel Loganathan followed with 41.9 per cent show a number of Conservative gains in York Region ridings Conservative Michael Guglielmin took over the Vaughan-Woodbridge riding in a decisive win over incumbent Liberal Francesco Sorbara Melissa Lanstman easily retained her Thornhill riding with well over 43,00 votes by the end of the night Conservative Costas Menegakis has been declared the winner of the Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill riding unseating Liberal incumbent Leah Taylor Roy Conservative Sandra Cobena has been declared the winner of the Newmarket-Aurora riding over Liberal Jennifer McLachlan Conservative Michael Ma defeated Liberal Peter Yuen for the Markham-Unionville seat with 51.3 per cent of the vote Jacob Mantle has been declared the winner over Liberal candidate Rob Grossi in the new riding of York-Durham Conservative Vincent Ho turns new riding of Richmond Hill South Tory blue And incumbent MP Anna Roberts kept King–Vaughan as a Conservative riding in a sweeping victory on Monday With more than seven million Canadians already having voted in advance polls the Canada Elections Act allows the counting of ballots cast at advance polls to start one hour before polls close on election day with a large number of voters who turned up to vote in advance “Given the high turnout for advance voting in this election the counting of ballots from advance polls can begin two hours before polls close on election day,” Elections Canada said on its website Ballots from advance polls are counted at the local Elections Canada office or at a local polling place in front of candidates’ representatives or other witnesses Results are never shared before local polls close poll workers will begin to manually count votes after the polls close Electoral districts are often referred to as ridings Here’s a guide to York Region’s ridings and the candidates criticized Liberal incumbent Majid Jowhari and his party’s record at a Richmond Hill South candidate debate on Wednesday New Democratic candidate Ebrahim Astaraki claims Richmond Hill South residents are unhappy because Liberal incumbent Majid Jowhari “takes no stands against” the Iranian regime Jowhari called the remarks “unsubstantiated.” A man asks a question from the audience on Wednesday during a debate featuring all seven federal candidates for Richmond Hill South tell him to bring it,' Jowhari says of New Democratic candidate tell him to bring it,” Jowhari says of New Democratic candidate said this election is about Canadian sovereignty “and being Canadian.” Jowhari’s NDP opponent used his closing statement to steer attention back to Jowhari and his record on Iran said the Liberal keeps “closing his eyes and closing his mouth” when atrocities happen there The Iranian regime interferes in Canadian elections and threatens protesters and dissidents here while Jowhari does nothing “He takes no stands against them,” the educational consultant told an audience Wednesday evening called Astaraki’s remarks “unsubstantiated” afterwards “I have not had any relationship with the Iranian regime,” Jowhari told a reporter adding he has stood up against the regime and opposes it in the “strongest” terms He endorsed a petition in 2016 calling for resumption of diplomatic relations with Iran and for embassies for both countries to be re-opened Richmond Hill is a strong point of resistance in Canada to the Iranian regime — some 50,000 people rallied by the city’s central library in 2022 after Mahsa Amini died in custody in Tehran — and some from the riding’s sizable Iranian community watch Jowhari’s statements on Iran closely said the MP met Iranian parliamentarians at his office to discuss re-opening the embassies He challenged Jowhari to prove he has stood up to Iran and has no connections with the regime said Astaraki should go to RCMP or CSIS with any evidence of his dealings with Iran; both organizations have “greenlit” him numerous times and wouldn’t if he had ties to the regime All seven candidates attended the debate that Richmond Hill Board of Trade organized at Bayview Hill Community Centre and Pool Conservative Vincent Ho attacked the Liberals and Jowhari at every opportunity Ho said Jowhari “sides with foreign regimes,” but put more emphasis on what he said was Liberal responsibility for crime not bail,” and said Liberals allowed a crime wave worse than Canada has seen before Jowhari called this “typical Conservative misrepresentation,” but said he’ll push for youth who commit serious crimes to be tried as adults People’s Party candidate Joshua Sideris said the government should “go hard on crime” or let Canadians defend themselves Sideris called the system leading to Liberal or Conservative rule in Ottawa a “plague on our democracy.” said friends told her she’s not going to win “It’s clearly a red-blue (Liberal-Conservative) race in this riding,” said Lam but added people aren’t obligated to vote blue or red said it supports a royal commission to reform Canada’s tax system and shifting trade away from countries that aren’t democratic described herself as a conservative person and said Richmond Hill South voters face “a choice between worse and bad,” athough she supports Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s “three-strikes-and-you’re-out” approach to crime York Regional Police officers are searching for multiple suspects after releasing video of a home invasion in Richmond Hill where the perpetrators were captured stealing the victim’s vehicle and using it to drive through the homeowner’s garage Authorities were called to a residence in the area of Arnold Avenue and Guinevere Court near Major Mackenzie Drive and Yonge Street just before 3 a.m on March 18 for reports of a home invasion Officers learned that three masked suspects forced their way into the residence and demanded car keys and a suspect entered the vehicle parked in the garage Home surveillance video shows the suspect reversing the car and smashing through the garage door and the gate at the end of the driveway The vehicle was found abandoned a short distance away Police noted that three adults were in the home at the time of the incident The suspects are believed to have arrived in a dark-coloured sport utility vehicle driven by a fourth suspect The three suspects seen in the surveillance footage are described as male They wore dark-coloured clothing along with face masks or coverings Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators A Canadian man arrested on vacation has been proven innocent Melissa Nakhavoly with why he is still being held in the Dominican Republic Warmer temperatures but showers are expected on-and-off for the next few days Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai has your seven-day forecast Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to prioritize a list of projects including the proposed Highway 401 tunnel a mentally ill man who was killed in an Ontario prison is calling out the provincial government over the lack of correctional reform listen to NewsRadio Toronto live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews Toronto anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices The City of Richmond Hill has six active accounts on X city councillors voted to keep using the platform Councillors who wanted to 'ease the city away' from X lose vote Councillors who wanted to “ease the city away” from X lose vote Councillors who wanted to “ease the city away from” supporting the social media platform lost a narrow vote on April 16 Carol Davidson, who represents Oak Ridges, supported a slow transition to other platforms such as Threads or BlueSky, saying X no longer matched Richmond Hill’s values because of the actions of its owner “That’s not cutting it off or losing a tool,” she said arguing the city’s communications could eventually “get more eyes from different groups” this way council rejected this option in favour of the “status quo,” though the city will consider posting on new platforms such as Threads and BlueSky Mayor David West called trying another platform like BlueSky a good compromise “it’s hard enough to get the word out on anything we do,” and posts on X get good engagement from the public We can’t move away from a platform because we disagree with its owner’s views Richmond Hill started posting on the former Twitter in 2010 and now has six different accounts Asked to investigate last month staff looked at platforms similar to X (Threads have suspended X or are considering it while many others (York Region and its municipalities among them) aren’t Staff found the city typically gains followers on X during emergencies; its main account, @myrichmondhill Investigators with the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit are releasing images of a male suspect for identification in relation to a March 2025 home invasion in the Town of Aurora police were called to a residence in the area of Murray Drive and Kennedy Street for a home invasion The female victim told officers she answered the door after someone was knocking aggressively a male suspect forced his way into the residence and attempted to restrain her attempted to intervene and was violently assaulted The suspect fled the residence in an unknown direction on foot without making any demands for valuables or stealing anything Investigators have since obtained images of a male suspect seen on security camera at a store in the area of Yonge Street and Murray Drive York Regional Police would like to warn the community to always know who is at your door before opening it This can be done from a window where the person would not be able to see you use security cameras or peepholes to verify who is at the door before opening it trust your instincts and call 9-1-1 right away Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. To leave an anonymous tip online, visit www.1800222tips.com Visit our Community Safety Data Portal for complete stats and crime data within York Region. Crime prevention is our shared responsibility. Learn more about Operation Streetview Prepared by:    Constable Kevin Nebrija                       25-73521                       May 5 47 Don Hillock Dr. Aurora, ON  L4G 0S7 TF: 1-866-876-5423Contact Us Richmond Hill’s Volunteer Achievement Awards have demonstrated how proud and thankful Richmond Hill is for the exceptional efforts of individuals organizations and groups who help make our community the vibrant and welcoming place it is today The 58th Volunteer Achievement Awards were presented by Mayor David West and members of council to this year’s honourees – 21 individuals and five organizations — in a ceremony April 22 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts the awards recognize volunteers for their unwavering commitment and the meaningful impact they have on the lives of Richmond Hill residents “As a longtime resident of Richmond Hill I am proud to celebrate the outstanding contributions of this year’s honourees whose dedication and passion make our community thrive," Mayor David West said in a news release. "Their volunteer work makes a lasting impact and we are deeply grateful for the difference they make to Richmond Hill." The awards come just ahead of National Volunteer Week passion and spirit of service the volunteers bring to the community Here is the full list of award recipients and certificates, visit RichmondHill.ca/VolunteerAwards Jefferson Community Association - 10 Years of Service Oak Ridges Lions Club - 70 Years of Service  Richmond Hill Mobility Accessibility Foundation - 25+ Years of Service Shia Imami Ismaili Community of Richmond Hill - 25+ Years of Service The Richmond Hill Social & Bocce Club - 25+ Years of Service an Ontario Super Hockey League expansion team won the semi-pro league’s Central Division championship on March 29 Next goal for semi-pro OSHL club is a sold-out game Players in the Ontario Super Hockey League hit hard the Richmond Hill Coyotes had the mix of grit and skill needed to be champions On March 29, the semi-pro club swept a second-round series and captured the OSHL’s first Central Division trophy with a 5-3 victory on home ice at Elgin Barrow Arena. Now the team has a new goal: a sold-out game during the 2025-26 season The Coyotes have players from around the world including members of national teams in Kyrgyzstan and Chinese Taipei another Coyotes player and the assistant general manager wanted to start an OSHL team in the Greater Toronto Area Marchisello said the semi-pro Coyotes knew they would enter the OSHL as “huge underdogs.” Marchisello said his Coyotes teammates ranged in age from early 20s to late 40s Fans who “like watching the rough stuff” won’t be disappointed But the Coyotes had trouble filling Elgin Barrow which has 1,500 seats and standing room for 500 more fans Though they broke even during the playoffs, the owners lost $2,000 to $4,000 a game before that and had to contend with a municipal strike that shut down Richmond Hill’s arenas for a few weeks “We definitely took a bit of a hit,” said Marchisello who will be looking for more sponsors over the summer is “not just going to happen right away,” but his hopes are more people will check out the Coyotes next season “They’re a really entertaining hockey team,” Richmond Hill Mayor David West said this week adding he’s looking forward to games this fall the Richmond Hill Rampage of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League The Rampage finished its first season in February with a home loss at Elvis Stojko Arena and a season record of 4-37-1 Suspects attempted to steal a rented Ferrari SF90 The victims were outside of a home near Bathurst Street and Canyon Hill Avenue in a rented Ferrari SF90 when a black SUV pulled up just before 1 a.m Three suspects managed to steal keys to a Porsche and BMW but failed to find the keys to a Ferrari during a carjacking attempt in Richmond Hill last weekend The victims were outside a home near Bathurst Street and Canyon Hill Avenue in a rented Ferrari SF90 when a black SUV pulled up just before 1 a.m At least three suspects — armed with at least one gun — got out of the SUV and threatened the victims leading to the theft of valuables and keys for a BMW and Porsche The suspects also attempted to steal the Ferrari No vehicles were stolen and there were no injuries reported Investigators are looking for at least three suspects described as men wearing dark clothes Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-876-5423 Police are looking to speak with anyone who witnessed an attempted carjacking in Richmond Hill over the weekend Officers from the York Regional Police service were called to the area of Bathurst Street and Canyon Hill Avenue just before 1:00 a.m Investigators say the victims were sitting in a rented Ferrari SF90 outside a residence when a black sport utility vehicle pulled up Three male suspects allegedly jumped out of the black vehicle and threatened the victims at gunpoint including keys for a BMW and a Porsche,” police said in a news release issued Monday “The suspects attempted to steal the Ferrari but were unsuccessful as they could not locate its keys.” The three men then fled the area after one of the victim managed to contact police.  “No vehicles were stolen and there were no injuries,” officers said Investigators continue searching for the three suspects who are described as Black men and were last seen wearing dark clothing Police are encouraging any witnesses to come forward A man is facing a sexual assault charge from an incident on a bus in Richmond Hill alleging that they were travelling on a bus from Yonge Street in Richmond Hill to Finch Station in Toronto when an unknown man sat beside her and touched her in a sexual manner The woman yelled at the suspect and reported the incident to the bus driver Police released his image as they believe there could be additional victims Anyone with information is asked to come forward Kathleen Mochnacki and Cheryl Geness are among those hoping a supportive housing project can be built on city land in Richmond Hill Tony Wong Place near Kennedy Road in Markham is considered a model for people and agencies proposing a supportive housing project in Richmond Hill “There's very few options out there” in York Region “There’s very few options out there” in York Region where are people with serious mental illnesses able to not just live but live well a social worker who has a family member with a mental illness thanks to work she and other advocates are doing with social services agencies and the City of Richmond Hill If the Richmond Hill Supportive Housing Collaboration (RHSHC) Mochnacki leads is successful a suitable place will be built with federal funds on land the city provides Supportive housing is very scarce in the region Mocknacki’s family member, she said, has lived not only in a shelter but also in for-profit “housing with supports,” a licensed form of housing found in the region’s north that seems to offer people with serious mental illnesses little supervision or medical help. “There’s very few options out there,” Mochnacki said in a recent interview people with disabilities and mental illnesses can contribute to our society; once employed Caring families are an important resource for such people so it’s important to have supportive housing close to home in York Mayor David West is sympathetic to the group’s aims “There’s a need for what they’re doing,” he said last month confirming the city is looking at municipal properties that are unused or could be used another way as possible sites for a supportive housing project “We’re looking at all possibilities,” said West adding a report on a site will likely reach city council this year Money for the project would come from $31 million promised to Richmond Hill through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has said he’ll axe the fund if he wins the next federal election “We have no choice but to plow on,” she said A model for the Richmond Hill building already exists: Tony Wong Place a 120-unit building for individuals and families that opened in 2008 near Kennedy Road in Markham it’s a well-run place that “looks like any condo you might see anywhere,” said Mike Claire of MICAH (Markham Interchurch Committee on Affordable Housing) an all-volunteer group that has built 330 affordable housing units in that city said Tony Wong Place provides space to agencies such as Participation House in Markham and 360kids which provide programming for their floors Supporters cheer Costas Menegakis at his election night party @AuroraTodayca The former MP is set to return to Parliament Hill after winning in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill pic.twitter.com/C0zXBgErCM Liberal Taylor Roy is on stage acknowledging that she has lost her seat to Conservative Menegakis, who had pulled into a strong lead with 85 of 219 polls reporting “It’s not the result we wanted we know this area up and down Yonge is tough and all the ridings up and down right now are not looking great but that's OK,” she told her disappointed supporters AuroraToday has been barred from entering Menegakis' event Volunteers are nibbling on hors d'oeuvres watching election night coverage and in a cheerful mood at the Liberal election night party at Chez Reza in Oak Ridges Leah Taylor Roy started with an early lead when the polls closed that slowly narrowed to a neck-and-neck race with Conservative Costas Menegakis with 10 of 219 polls reporting a steady trickle of Leah Taylor Roy’s supporters and volunteers were coming through the doors at the Persian restaurant on Yonge Street Campaign volunteer Marie Baker said it had been a grassroots campaign and that she was happy to be backing “a really fantastic candidate we're just behind her all the way.” “I started doing this back in the '60s when I was just a little kid knocking and put literature out and mailboxes,” said Baker of campaign volunteering “My mother was always very involved and it was a thing you just did as a kid.” and while he said election nights are always fun “Well, it’s not the end for us because we have to take all the signs down “Lot easier taking them down than putting them up,” laughed Baker AuroraToday's reporter and photographer were barred from attending Menegakis' event at the Aurora Soccer Club Only about 20 people were seen to be in attendance Elections Canada's website is up and running Elections Canada's website is down for many people We will update you here when it's back up and running.  The final voters in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill will head to polls by 9:30 tonight Campaign manager for Liberal Leah Taylor Roy said the campaign has "been overwhelmed with volunteer support." "Our team is in full swing!  We have been overwhelmed with volunteer support — over 200 volunteers calling, canvassing and eventually scrutineering. Not to mention the drivers the lovely women who feed all of us and the team of data entry volunteers," the campaign manager for Leah Taylor Roy said in an email. "As of right now we have already reached every house that has indicated they will be voting Liberal. Our goal is to remind them where to vote and remind them how important this election is.  We will go back later this afternoon once we have updated our lists." A response from the Conservative campaign wasn't received before publication The population of Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill is 117,750 There are 89,302 electors on Election Canada’s voter list After some boundary tweaks the riding is 96 square kilometres in area with the border in Richmond Hill running along Elgin Mills Road East and West from Bathurst Street in the west to Highway 404 in the east.  The northern boundary extends north to Wellington Street except between Yonge and Bathurst streets The riding is bordered by several other electoral districts Information on where and when to vote can be found here Five candidates are vying for the seat.  Costas Menegakis is running for the Conservative Party incumbent Leah Taylor Roy is running for the Liberal Party and Igor Tgorov is running for the People’s Party of Canada in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill Liberal MP Leah Taylor Roy won the riding with 20,764 beating out the incumbent Conservative Leona Alleslev Alleslev won re-election in the riding in 2019 after crossing the floor and switching from the Liberal Party which she represented in the 2015 election Alleslev received 23,568 votes or 44.4 per cent beating out Liberal candidate Leah Taylor Roy won election with 24,132 votes or 47.34 per cent beating out Conservative candidate Menegakis Menegakis obtained 23,039 or 45.19 per cent of the vote The 2015 election was the first time the riding was contested with the first polls closing in Newfoundland at 8:30 p.m. NDT (7 p.m EDT) and the last polls closing in the west at 7:00 p.m. PDT (10 p.m About one in four eligible voters cast their ballots before election day According to preliminary figures from Elections Canada 7.3 million people voted in advance polls — a 25 per cent increase from 2021 Liberal Leader Mark Carney triggered the election on March 22 after serving as prime minister for just over a week he has positioned himself as the best person to take on U.S President Donald Trump and lead the country through an economic crisis Carney said the question voters must answer is this: "Who's going to be negotiating with President Trump and who's going to be managing the finances of this country?" Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has run on a platform of change asking voters to deny the Liberals four more years in power change," he said in Hamilton last week "Change so you can afford food and housing Change so we can bring home our jobs and strength Public polling shows that the Liberals opened up a lead over the Conservatives at the outset of the campaign Those polls have not been kind to Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party which has been polling in a distant third place Singh has been urging voters to rally around NDP incumbents and send them back to Ottawa to hold what he expects to be a Liberal government accountable The Green Party and its co-leaders, Jonathan Pedneault and Elizabeth May are hoping to protect the party's incumbents May in Saanich—Gulf Islands and Mike Morrice in Kitchener Centre and re-elect former MP Paul Manly in Nanaimo—Ladysmith The party has also singled out Pedneault's riding of Outremont as well as Fredericton—Oromocto and Guelph Meanwhile, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet recently made headlines for riling up his sovereigntist base for calling Canada "an artificial country with very little meaning." You can follow the results of the election as they come in here, and on our Canada Votes home page This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page This simulated photograph by Doncrest residents shows how a cell tower at 120 West Beaver Creek Rd Federal department can approve West Beaver Creek plan anyway Richmond Hill councillors have said no to a new cellphone tower in the city’s Doncrest neighbourhood, but not because they believe residents’ claims it will put their health in danger. It seemed enough for council most people in the area don’t seem to want the structure Approving new towers for Rogers isn’t something the city is required to do “If building a cell tower nearby makes our residents uncomfortable saying it’s “right and proper the council express the community’s will.” has said since 2022 a 27-metre (88.58-foot) tower is needed at 120 West Beaver Creek Rd Staff in various city departments see no reason to reject the application but residents and occupants of the industrial building on West Beaver Creek remain opposed they repeated arguments the tower will lower their quality of life and radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation from it will endanger families and children at Doncrest Public School “This is about protecting our neighbourhood,” resident Donna Chan told council Some councillors stated they don’t believe such radiation causes cancer Health Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society say there’s no evidence council voted unanimously to tell the federal government’s innovation science and economic development (ISED) the city does not “concur” with the application Mayor David West said ISED may approve the tower anyway “The reasons that we have for turning this down are not creating a really strong case,” he added This isn’t the first time the city has rejected a new cell tower The applicant can ask for a dispute resolution process The West Beaver Creek property is 100 metres (328 feet) from the nearest homes to the south and 130 metres (426.50 feet) from homes to the west Rogers rejected council’s recommendation to locate to the east side of West Beaver Creek or within its chosen site so it would be further away from the neighbourhood and school The telecommunications giant also told the city there are “no suitable existing structures” in the area its signal-boosting equipment can be mounted on CUPE 905 members at the City of Richmond Hill have voted in favour of a new agreement that makes important gains for members bringing an end to a 3-week strike that began on November 22 our members have said this is about fairness and the need for meaningful salary increases that help address the rising cost of living and I am proud to say that we were able to achieve that,” said CUPE Local 905 Unit Chair Jake Matta we showed that we were willing to fight for a fair deal We stood strong on the picket line and as a result were able to make these important and long overdue gains.” CUPE 905 members at the City of Richmond Hill include workers who maintain parks ensure clean drinking water and produce all events at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts “This is a win not just for CUPE 905 members at the City of Richmond Hill but for all municipal workers across York Region and the GTA” said CUPE 905 President Katherine Grzejszczak “This strike showed that when workers fight together We refuse to accept crumbs while municipalities pile money into compensation for upper management – after all it’s us doing the work.” CUPE 905 also thanked the community for their patience as well as the many unions who offered their support during the strike “Whether it was a honk of your horn or showing up to join us on the picket line the support from Richmond Hill residents and from the labour movement helped boost our spirits and gave us the resolve to continue our fight,” Matta said “We look forward to returning to work and continuing to serve our community.” CUPE 905 members will be back at work on Thursday Ontario K1G 0Z7 Tel: (613) 237-1590 Fax: (613) 237-5508  Toll free: (844) 237-1590 Tommy Dolan has spent plenty of time playing a range of sports on land and water “They’re very rambunctious,” he says with a laugh Dolan often drove north of the city to Lake Wilcox so the boys could run around the splash pad on warm summer days The largest kettle lake on the Oak Ridges Moraine Lake Wilcox sits at the headwaters of the East Humber River It’s a refuge for fish and wildlife in some areas with lots of space for humans to walk on the boardwalk and trails When the COVID-19 pandemic closed down most public gathering spots Dolan was one of the many who yearned for more outdoor space He began to think about a move to the rural setting of Lake Wilcox which sits within the boundaries of the larger City of Richmond Hill “We were a little bit a part of that wave,” Mr The boys already attended private school in Richmond Hill Dolan concentrated his search in that area A four-bedroom detached house in the community of Oak Ridges provided a large tree-lined lot and easy access to the lake from a parkette at the end of the cul-de-sac Dolan figured there would be lots of activities for the boys when he purchased the property two years ago One of the first changes he made was to use a mineral-based paint to give the outside a fresh look in white and charcoal grey “It was almost a complete makeover for the outside.” the two-storey home’s main floor has formal living and dining rooms along with a spacious kitchen with a breakfast nook with sliding doors to the deck there’s a primary bedroom and three additional bedrooms The lower level was only partially renovated so he had it finished to create a recreation room for the boys A home gym area is set up for martial arts training The plumbing was roughed in for a bathroom Dolan created a luxurious room with a stand-alone tub and a walk-in shower Dolan ran into a snag: “My pickup truck wouldn’t fit,” he says He expanded the opening by replacing two small doors with one large one and upgraded the electrical service and electrical vehicle charger the family began spending lots of time at Lake Wilcox which they can reach from the end of the street we go to the lake almost every day,” he says “I take a 12-foot paddleboard and we all go out together.” they head to Lake Wilcox Park for the splash pad members of the community play hockey and set up ice fishing spots on the lake Dolan often works in his vegetable garden while the boys play street hockey out front I really don’t have to think about it because it’s so safe.” There is easy access to the lake from a parkette at the end of the cul-de-sac.UniqueV Tour Dolan says the location in an area of vintage cottages and more modern infill homes is extremely peaceful The tiny parkette provides two benches next to the water for local residents “We’ve got blue herons that just decide to land on the street and walk up to the parkette,” Mr The quiet is noticeable – especially compared with their previous location under a flight path for commercial jets “It’s my favourite thing about the house.” Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions The City of Richmond Hill is continuing to offer more pickleball courts and wants residents' feedback on additional locations The city is proposing to re-line tennis courts at Macleod’s Landing Park Re-lining tennis courts means adding lines to the existing courts to facilitate both tennis and pickleball play according to a City of Richmond Hill news release The survey is open until April 22 at RichmondHill.ca/Pickleball In response to community input provided in 2023 and 2024 the city has re-lined tennis courts at Morgan Boyle Park 80 Red Cardinal Trail, and Russell Farm Park 290 Bantry Ave. increasing the number of dual-lined courts in the city that support both tennis and pickleball play The city currently offers recreational pickleball drop-in programs an adult league and lessons at city facilities Langstaff Community Centre and Elgin West Community Centre seasonal pickleball courts at Richmond Green Park Future plans for pickleball in Richmond Hill include: Voters in Richmond Hill South have a choice to make on April 28. To help compare the riding’s seven candidates, YorkRegion.com recently sent them two questions from Metroland’s IDEA (Inclusion It is very important that those who come to Canada have good job opportunities The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (forerunner to the modern day NDP) initiated economic planning in the depression days of the 1930s Rather than letting the hand of the marketplace randomly slap us about we decided what we wanted and where we would spend money for optimum benefit to our society Why can we not create “immigration planning” A patriotic Canada embraces the contributions of newcomers ensures equal opportunities for all and fosters social integration We must invest in community-building initiatives and ensure that inclusion remains a core value in both government policy and everyday life Patriotism is about building a future where every Canadian The Green Party of Canada is just one of over 100 Green parties and movements around the world forming a confederation that shares a charter and six key principles We foster a community of collaboration and diversity frequently working together for global climate advocacy and creating resolutions and statements in support of each other through our Global Greens family we manage this without losing our individuality and that which makes us unique it is absolutely possible to remain true to our Canadian heritage while still respecting and embracing the diversity that exists around the world we must change our immigration strategy so that the vast majority of our immigrants aren’t coming from two countries and piling into three Canadian cities We need to set high standards for the people who come here so that Canadians know we are bringing in the best there is Patriotism is not mutually exclusive to multiculturalism; we should have both I believe patriotism and multiculturalism thrive together when we define “Canadian” as open fair and proud of its mosaic — not fearful of difference We need to highlight what unites us: democracy equality and mutual respect — all strengthened by diversity I believe this is one of the reasons many people chose to come to Canada to start their new life and we must work tirelessly to defend and protect them Modern Canada’s pride and joy is in its no-strings human rights charter continual policies ensuring fair opportunities and equitable success in our citizens’ welfare to achieve world-leading innovation and insight From bolstering national media to encouraging community and art & culture initiatives we must project to ourselves and the world that this is the popular idea that drives Canada to be a modern democratic superpower in contrast to the popularism of our times The NDP has always been and remains a strong advocate of diversity This is reflected in who we choose for candidates We must elect diverse members to ensure their voices are heard in the places of power equity and inclusion make Canada more just and competitive fair economy and society where all individuals have equal opportunities to succeed fostering innovation and ensuring that our collective growth benefits everyone I am the gender critic within the shadow cabinet of the GPC and the co-chair of the women’s caucus My doctoral studies involve the intersection of climate and social justice Respect for diversity and social justice are two principles of the global Greens I’ve met incredible people of all genders orientations and backgrounds who worked hard and didn’t need (or want) special treatment DEI diminishes the accomplishments of these individuals making it impossible to separate merit from charity Canada is a highly diverse nation with people from a wide range of cultural DEI initiatives play a significant role in shaping the country’s future It is crucial to foster open dialogue and mutual understanding between different communities respecting the rights and beliefs of all individuals I had the privilege of growing up and discovering my trans identity in a non-judgmental evidence-based environment with a ready government bureaucracy — something my Hong Kong hometown and many other countries still fight and sacrifice lives to achieve CFP stands to defend DEI as fish is to water Conservative candidate Vincent Ho did not respond to these questions People’s Party candidate Joshua Sideris did respond After the Ontario Land Tribunal approved a 10-storey apartment building at 9861 Yonge St the owner reapplied to build a 21-storey building The size of a proposed apartment building on Yonge Street in Richmond Hill turned into a moving target after the developer won its case at the Ontario Land Tribunal An “interim decision” in 2023 saw the approval of a 10-storey building at 9861 Yonge St but the builder last year decided to propose a 21-storey structure instead Things had changed in barely a year to justify higher density on the three lots and because the decision still rests with the OLT Richmond Hill city council members say they cannot do much to challenge a larger proposal Wondering what’s going on somewhere in your community? Send an email to newsroom@yrng.com Six contenders for the riding answer in their own words IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEES: Was the federal government right to reduce the number of international students coming to Canada and which principles should guide our policies on Canada’s acceptance of refugees The feds accept many engineers but Ontario also graduates many 80 per cent of Ontario engineering grads do not get their engineering licence (Over 40,000 young engineers — at $8 billion cost!) This talent could make Canada more self-sufficient Why do we educate potential threat actors on how to cyber attack us Some programs must have security clearance before accepting students Co-operative partnerships with religious organizations may help to evaluate legitimate refugees and incubate them into Canada The federal government’s temporary reduction in international student numbers is necessary to address pressures on housing I will advocate for a sustainable immigration plan that addresses Canada’s labour shortages and supports industry development by matching immigrant skills with local needs our refugee policy should continue to reflect Canada’s humanitarian values prioritizing the most vulnerable and ensuring successful long-term integration We need international students; my last doctoral course had deeper learnings thanks to classmates who are also environmental activists from China and Kenya Massage workers in Richmond Hill who have been working for over a decade are now required to shut down because they are not licensed RMTs but they also provide affordable care for those who cannot afford RMTs Rather than providing supports for the underprivileged Canada must uphold its commitment to vulnerable populations while maintaining a sustainable immigration system Immigration is one of the ways that rich countries attract talent we absolutely need to have a discussion about how much immigration is the right amount Canadian schools should be focused on educating Canadians first 50,000 foreign students entered our country Our population has grown by 20 per cent since 2015 but our housing has only grown by eight per cent I am concerned by how impulsively our government make major policy decisions The sudden policy shift has left schools scrambling and current students in limbo like restricting work permits rather than reducing student visas not reputable institutions) and aligning with labour needs The international students contribute significantly to school revenue we should make tuition more competitive to attract more international students It is a humanitarian duty to accept refugees we should have a better system to accept them the province of Manitoba set up temporary tent shelters to accommodate the newcomers But the Trudeau government accepted thousands of refugees without adequate plans for housing or integration creating avoidable challenges for both newcomers and communities Security vetting is another measure as well as regional balance to avoid over-concentration in major cities Canada was once a nation blessed by geography: vast land But after nine years of Trudeau’s leadership No longer can we claim peace as our birthright reverberates through our streets with destabilizing force The Liberal government’s immigration policy was driven by short-term economics and politics A target of 500,000 new arrivals per year and over three million temporary residents has overwhelmed Canada’s systems Immigrants are not at fault — government mismanagement is HOUSING: How should the federal government encourage the creation of more housing and once again put owning a home in Richmond Hill within reach of the middle class ASTARAKI: Start by restricting foreign ownership and speculation that drive up land costs We can build a lot more homes much faster by applying assembly line methods that engineers use in many industrial sectors Prefab structures permit far greater efficiencies to be applied Such houses can be pre-built with all the modern infrastructure already installed water systems including dual potable and grey water systems We can make better homes much faster for less cost the Liberals’ Build Canada Homes plan will: We believe in higher density housing near public transport hubs That would serve the dual Green purpose of getting cars off the streets since public transit would be more accessible I intend to encourage the development of a diverse assortment of affordable units suitable for families I would also advocate for programs that assist residents in entering the housing market and push for stronger regulations that protect renters from unfair practices and exorbitant rent increases SIDERIS: Everything the federal government does makes homes less affordable to Canadians A cynical part of me almost feels like this is the intent as it inflates our GDP and the balance sheet of large corporations (making our economy seem healthier than it is and lining the pockets of rich corporations with government connections) The easiest thing the government can do to reduce stress on the housing market is to return to 2015 levels of immigration YEUNG: The CFP is committed to restoring federal leadership in housing Our housing plan addresses today’s crisis with practical tools to advocate for housing and community as a holistic plan for local gainful employment Too often we hear only numbers and quotas to achieve without fundamentally changing how we plan community space to address issues of loneliness and social disconnection on top of affordability The great suburban sprawl of the 1950s started with government building starting the paradigm and it defined the culture and lifestyle of an era so it shall be the government again who shall take charge with starting the initiative with the next neo-urban generation of design GLOBAL WARMING: Since a consumer carbon tax has proved unpopular how should the federal government encourage Canadians to produce less greenhouse gases or otherwise ensure Canada can meet its international commitments on climate change ASTARAKI: Heating and transportation are by far the most significant producers of greenhouse gases in Ontario incentives and interest free loans to install geo exchange systems (with ground source heat pumps) will significantly help but our electrical distribution systems need to be enhanced Installing charging stations to parallel gas stations thinking is a waste of time and money Disruptive technologies require innovative thinking The distribution transformers supplying homes need to be increased This will help charge EVs and power the heat pumps in multiple new devices JOWHARI: To meet Canada’s climate goals and lower costs for families LAM: Canadians must understand how climate disruptions impact daily life A late spring snowstorm is clearly an example of climate change but also leads to challenges in the agricultural sector this could mean a choice between food and housing this could lead to higher food costs and needing to choose between food on the table and after-school programs for their children The government needs to be clearer on making these connections to show how climate change truly impacts our everyday lives SIDERIS: A recent Oxford study has shown that carbon taxes may increase CO2 waste by incentivizing businesses to offshore production to developing countries that pollute massively Data shows that poor countries pollute more than rich ones; going green is a luxury for wealthy nations If our solution to end climate change is to make Canadians poor we will fail at our goal to protect the environment Let’s deregulate and produce what we need here to save the planet WANG: I oppose any tax increases under the current circumstances People are already overburdened by heavy taxes and suffering immensely We must absolutely not impose any additional taxes on the country we should explore every possible way to cut taxes There are countless ways to protect the environment without raising taxes Take Seattle teen Akash Shenmue’s research: he calculated the annual jet emissions of 163 celebrities and found that a single top billionaire’s private plane produced over 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide the emissions equivalent of almost 200 average Americans Asking ordinary families already choosing between groceries and gas I believe real changes start with everyday actions YEUNG: Canada must continue implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission the government must prioritize funding research and development for cleantech innovation and provide incentives for consumers and industry to accelerate their carbon emission reductions Canada needs to be equipped to face the upcoming environmental crises strengthening democracy at home and around the world is a critical part of protecting the environment as it is only democracies that place any importance on addressing the environmental crisis Conservative Vincent Ho has not responded to the questions and People’s Party Candidate Joshua Sideris did not send a photograph YorkNewsYork Region reports measles exposure at 2 sites in Richmond Hill, MarkhamBy Laura SebbenOpens in new windowPublished: March 28, 2025 at 6:43PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved The City of Richmond Hill is implementing a “made in Canada” procurement approach to further support Canadian and local businesses in response to potential tariffs from the United States "Richmond Hill already supports local as most of the suppliers that the city procures goods and services are located in Canada suppliers constitute less than one per cent of the city’s total procurement expenditures," accoridng to a city news release In anticipation of the tariffs on Canadian goods in the U.S. Richmond Hill is ensuring procurement practices prioritize Canadian goods and services when possible The city is working with small businesses to better understand the impact of tariffs would have on their companies. Richmond Hill business owners are encouraged to complete our business outlook survey that will help city staff provide timely resources to businesses In addition, Richmond Hill’s economic development team will continue to support businesses during this time, by offering services that include business consultations, seminars and workshops. For more information, visit the city’s tariff response resources I understand the implications tariff threats can have on a small to medium-sized business are paying close attention to the economy and the tariff threats and doing what we can to support our local business community We want local business owners to know that we stand behind them and will continue to prioritize our support to help keep our local economy strong,” Mayor David West said Moustafa Ragheb of Richmond Hill won a $1-million top prize with Instant Millionaire Multiplier Moustafa Ragheb won $1 million with Instant Millionaire Multiplier A Richmond Hill resident became an instant millionaire after winning a top prize in an instant lottery game from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Millionaire Multiplier is available for $100 a play and offers a top prize of $1 million Ragheb’s winning ticket was purchased at Esso/Express Mart on Yonge Street in Richmond Hill A news release from the OLG did not specify how Ragheb plans to use the cash Canada's largest music store will be taken over by Long & McQuade BY Megan LaPierrePublished Mar 13 Cosmo Music — the musical instrument superstore in Richmond Hill with the largest selection in the country — has announced that with Long & McQuade taking over the location The Herbert family announced the news of their "difficult decision" yesterday (March 12) We made significant technology investments to stay ahead but they were expensive and didn't go as planned these challenges became too much to overcome." They went on to say that the store will remain open for the time being with an exact closing date yet to be determined based on "remaining inventory and other factors." Sale details will also be announced soon with the processing of refunds for customers with existing orders "Cosmo Music has been more than just a store — it's been a place where musicians found inspiration and shared their passion for music," the Herbert Family concluded "We are truly grateful for the opportunity to have supported your love for music." The business was founded in 1966 as Cosmo Guitars and expanded into a Downsview retail store in 1968 Cosmo Music relocated to Richmond Hill in 1971 offering a wider range of instruments as well as music lessons with brass and woodwind instruments introduced in 1975 Five years after moving to a larger Yonge Street location in 1985 the Herbert family opened the Brass and Woodwind Centre and became a leader in the field Cosmo Music combined its locations into one superstore North America's largest musical instrument retailer location Watch the Herbert family's farewell video below, and stay tuned to the Cosmo Music website for further updates. Be the first to get our biggest stories delivered to your inbox. re-elected for a third term in the riding of Richmond Hill YORK REGION VOTES 2025: Progressive Conservative wins rematch with Liberal Doug Ford hugged her at her campaign office and it wasn’t long before Richmond Hill’s Progressive Conservative MPP had won a third term there were difficult days canvassing in a winter campaign we can only do our best,” Wai said as campaign staff and volunteers enjoyed cakes and tea at a bakery and restaurant on Bayview Avenue She said she convinced the residents she met that the snap election called by Ford wasn’t a waste “When they realize we are going through these challenges for them tariffs — for which the PC party is preparing training and financial support for workers who lose jobs — that got voters returning her to office but her ongoing work on things such as bail reform and sharing with constituents happy moments in their lives “I haven’t been able to do everything but I’ve been doing my best and they can see it,” she said Wai concentrated on getting supporters out to vote and her low-key approach worked for her again Wai thanked her volunteers at the Maxim Bakery and Restaurant on Bayview Avenue Wai’s opponents had tried to focus on issues other than protecting Ontario from U.S Farhadi stood in front of Mackenzie Health Richmond Hill to say Liberals will get Ontarians a family doctor and “fix the hallway health care crisis Ford has created.” our doctors are under so much stress and the quality of care has gone down This is because they’re not getting the resources and the support that they need from Ontario’s government,” Farhadi added in another post are leaving Richmond Hill and taking their talents with them Alison Lam ran for Ontario’s Greens and Allison Brun was a candidate for the New Blue Party First elected as the PC Party took the province in 2018, Wai was re-elected solidly that year with 52 per cent of the vote while taking on Farhadi The family of former mayor William Bell joined Richmond Hill Mayor David West and members of council to present Owen Knowles with the 2024 William F Bell Young Entrepreneur Award in recognition of his summer business recognizes a successful young entrepreneur who takes part in Summer Company an annual three-month program helping students ages 15 to 29 learn how to run their own business “Summer Company has been an incredible experience for a young entrepreneur like me especially as someone who grew up watching my family members run their own businesses Having completed two years of my four-year BBA program at Trent University before applying to Summer Company really helped me further develop and reinforce what I’ve learned in school," Owen said but I know for sure that I’m in the right field I’m excited to see what tomorrow brings for opening my eyes to all the opportunities ahead of me,” he added 19-year-old Owen operated a mobile interior car detailing service under his business to help busy Richmond Hill and surrounding area residents save time and effort by providing mobile interior car detailing and cleaning directly at their homes or workplaces Owen enhanced his marketing and sales knowledge and gained valuable mentorship that helped him to build trust with his clients and stand out in a competitive market "His perseverance and ability to deliver exceptional service resulted in over 60 clients and more than 100 vehicles serviced generating more than $8,000 in revenue in just four months." “I am always so impressed to see Richmond Hill young entrepreneurs in action The array of businesses being offered in 2024 was very inspiring none more so than Owen Knowles with his determination and dedication to bringing his business to reality I look forward to seeing where the future takes you as well as all the participants from this year’s Summer Company program Your path to future successes shines bright,” Mayor West said Owen was one of 12 Richmond Hill students to take part in the 2024 program creativity and a passion for entrepreneurship The year’s participants also included: the group collectively generated over $40,000 in revenue Bell Young Entrepreneur Award is named in honour of mayor Bell If you are a student with a business idea, you can apply for this year’s Summer Company program. Applications are due by May 15. Learn more at RichmondHill.ca/SummerCompany Funded through the Ontario government’s Summer Company program students receive up to $3,000 each in start-up funding along with comprehensive online business training and mentoring co-ordinated through Richmond Hill’s Small Business Enterprise Centre Richmond Hill’s Summer Company program has provided 180 local young entrepreneurs with foundational support to start and grow a business Riding with aging hospital losing young families as growth slows The Richmond Hill riding covers the city from Highway 407 in the south to Elgin Mills Road Shirley Drive and Major Mackenzie Road in the north and Highway 404 in the east to Bathurst Street in the west It includes a small pocket of Markham south of Highway 7 and west of Highway 404 the Richmond Hill riding has a prominent ethnic Chinese community and large number of residents identifying as Iranian Progressive Conservative MPP Daisy Wai won with 52.2 per cent of the vote over Roozbeh Farhadi is running for the New Democrats and Alison Lam is the Green Party candidate was elected the riding’s MPP in 2018 and has championed infrastructure projects such as the Yonge North Subway extension who has served on various boards including York Regional Police Services and Mackenzie Health A small business financial services expert and community advocate Farhadi immigrated to Toronto from Iran as a child He holds an MBA and describes himself as being deeply involved in the Richmond Hill community for over a decade isn’t working for most people in the riding He hopes to present himself and the New Democrats as an alternative Scholar and activist Alison Lam is running for the Green Party of Ontario Allison Bruns is a candidate for the New Blue Party Richmond Hill is experiencing slower growth these days as the price of housing there gets further out of reach for most people The city could not make its targets for new housing the Progressive Conservative government assigned for 2023 and is unlikely to make them for 2024 Though new developments have been approved and denser new communities are planned particularly around the future Yonge Subway North terminus in Richmond Hill Centre builders have been slow to turn approvals into construction There’s evidence the riding’s population is aging and young families are leaving the city for more affordable places Mackenzie Health’s Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital opened in 2021, but the riding’s Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital was founded in 1963, and added new wings in 1974, 2000 and 2009, so parts of Richmond Hill’s hospital are showing their age. Also in the riding is the nearly completed Schroeder Ambulatory Centre which, though it would be run as a non-profit, would compete for public funds with local hospitals as a private surgical clinic. Residents are also concerned about traffic congestion Richmond Hill’s pickleball club isn’t pleased by city proposals to reline tennis courts to accommodate the increasingly popular sport Pickleball hub at David Dunlap Observatory Park approved in 2022 Richmond Hill’s plan to reline tennis courts for pickleball feels like déjà vu for pickleball players who say this would pleases fans of neither sport “Lining tennis courts to accommodate pickleball isn’t a solution — it’s a stopgap,” Mike Bowcott founder of the Richmond Hill Pickleball Club and it creates tension between user groups.” The city is asking residents online if tennis courts at Macleod’s Landing Park and Newberry Park should be relined but Bowcott said the tennis and pickleball communities both consistently reject this approach is what Richmond Hill City Council promised in 2022: 16 new dedicated pickleball courts at David Dunlap Observatory Park Council at the time voted 5-4 in favour of starting construction in 2023 disappointing what Bowcott said is one of the largest and most active pickleball communities on the Global Pickleball Network Richmond Hill relined courts at Morgan Boyle Park Oak Ridges Lions Club Park and Russell Farm Park for dual use The city plans to open four new pickleball courts at Bayview Hill Park this spring will add others to Mill Pond Park as part of its revitalization and might add more at Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park where it opened some seasonal outdoor pickleball courts in 2022 The city has created new outdoor pickleball courts in parks already undergoing revitalization Richmond Hill is also looking at ways to provide more time for pickleball play in gym facilities while balancing the other recreational needs of residents “continues to receive requests from residents” to provide dual-lined courts in neighbourhood parks to allow recreational pickleball play Chan said council paused the pickleball hub at David Dunlap “to allow time to monitor the impact of the outdoor pickleball facility improvements being made between 2022 and 2024,” and to wait for a tennis and pickleball strategy staff expect will start in May or June Bowcott said the city continues to run pickleball programs in gyms and “on makeshift courts that are overcrowded and often in poor condition,” while residents drive to other municipalities such as Aurora “Richmond Hill had the opportunity to be a leader in this space,” he wrote we’re seeing the opposite: a Band-Aid approach that frustrates both pickleball and tennis players.” A Newmarket man and two Richmond Hill men are among six men convicted of hunting offences under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and fined a total of $14,750 for their participation in concealing the illegal harvest of a deer according to the Ministry of Natural Resources Hamidreza Rostami of Newmarket pleaded guilty to possessing illegally killed wildlife and knowingly making a false statement to a conservation officer Nader Gharkholonarehe of Richmond Hill pleaded guilty to possessing illegally killed wildlife and knowingly making a false statement to a conservation officer Ezzatollah Adhami-Dorrani of Richmond Hill pleaded guilty to possessing illegally killed wildlife Saman Karimi of North York pleaded guilty to trespassing for the purpose of hunting unlawfully transporting illegally killed wildlife unlawfully possessing illegally killed wildlife and knowingly making a false statement to a conservation officer He was fined $4,500 and is prohibited from possessing an Ontario hunting licence and engaging in any hunting activities for two years Samad Karimi of North York pleaded guilty to hunting big game without a licence He was fined $3,500 and is prohibited from possessing an Ontario hunting licence and engaging in any hunting activities for two years Arman Naziri of Etobicoke pleaded guilty to hunting big game without a licence possessing illegally killed wildlife and knowingly making a false statement to a conservation officer a conservation officer was conducting a vehicle patrol in Hershel Township Naziri was found to be deer hunting without a licence The inspection continued at the group’s hunting camp property where a vehicle was located matching the description provided in a public complaint about trespassing to hunt that had occurred the previous evening in Monteagle Township A lengthy investigation determined that DNA recovered from Saman Karimi’s boots Samad Karimi’s vehicle and from a location on the property where a deer had been previously hung matched DNA from a deer that was unlawfully harvested on private property Subsequent investigation determined that Samad Karimi dropped Saman Karimi off at the private property in Monteagle Township to conduct illegal deer hunting activities Saman Karimi alerted Samad Karimi to pick him up after an antlerless deer was harvested on the private property It was determined that none of the involved hunting parties were licensed to harvest an antlerless deer The deer was transported to private property in Herschel Township where the six men possessed the illegally killed wildlife Involved individuals knowingly provided false statements to conservation officers in an attempt to conceal their illegal hunting activities Peltzer heard the case of Naziri in the Ontario Court of Justice Chapelle heard the cases of Gharkholonarehe and Rostami in the Ontario Court of Justice Harris heard the case of Adhami-Dorrani in the Ontario Court of Justice Dombrowsky heard the cases of Saman Karimi and Samad Karimi in the Ontario Court of Justice To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry tips line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrtips An illuminated Richmond Hill sign will be part of Dave Barrow Civic Square Park At least 50,000 Iranian Canadians rally following the death of Mahsa Amini on land Richmond Hill has approved for Dave Barrow Civic Square Park Supporters of the movement Amini inspired want a memorial to her as part of the park Work on civic square named for former mayor Dave Barrow starts in 2026 Richmond Hill just approved a major new park on Yonge Street, earmarked as a “central gathering space” that will bear the name of a beloved former mayor But the city’s sizeable Iranian community thinks a name is still missing from Dave Barrow Civic Square Park one that inspired the largest gathering in Richmond Hill’s history who died in police custody in Iran on Sept “united the Iranian diaspora in the quest for justice and liberty,” sparking the Women told Richmond Hill councillors before a vote on final plans for the park on March 19 At least 50,000 people rallied in Amini’s name near the city’s central library on what is now land for the new park west of Yonge Street and south of Major Mackenzie Drive Councillors that year approved Deputy Mayor Godwin Chan’s motion to declare Sept 16 Mahsa Amini Memorial Day and pledged to find space for a bench tree planting and a memorial plaque in her honour Kashani said the Iranian community has worked with Chan and city staff since on a 30-foot-square memorial site in the park which is worthy of Amini’s legacy and will commemorate victims of violence in Iran Final plans for the park don’t reflect the community’s proposals for a memorial Council members acknowledged the need to include a place for Amini but were otherwise pleased with the park which Mayor David West said will be one of the city’s jewels and a canvas to fill every day with community events a Richmond Hill sign that changes colours at night a rollout skating rink and a plaza for events near the library building West compared the space to North York’s Mel Lastman Square and Toronto’s Christie Pits saying it “reflects a lot of what Richmond Hill values” and could help revive Richmond Hill’s old village area north of Major Mackenzie Chan said he’s very hopeful the memorial to the “courageous young lady” will be in the park and senior staff said they will report to council with a preferred site Barrow was Richmond Hill’s mayor from 2006 to 2021 and died in 2022 The city plans to start work in Unity Park this fall on a memorial to passengers of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight PS752 shot down over Tehran by the Iranian military on Jan An Aurora man is among four men and a male youth charged with numerous offences following a home invasion investigation in Richmond Hill March 19 Three masked suspects had forced their way into the residence at Arnold Avenue and Charles Street Tuesday The suspects demanded car keys and when the victim complied, one suspect entered a vehicle parked in the garage, then crashed through both the closed garage door and gate at the end of the driveway The victim’s vehicle was later found abandoned a short distance away None of the three adults in the residence at the time were injured canine and the mobile and investigative support units arrested four men and a male youth in the area of Matheson Boulveard East and Creekbank Road in Mississauga All five males are now facing various charges some of which are in relation to the home invasion some of the offenders were out on separate release orders or probation for unrelated offences Three of the offenders were wanted by other police agencies Anyone with information is asked to contact York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or online at www.1800222tips.com With the official list now finalized by Elections Canada voters in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill have a choice of five candidates vying for MP The April 28 election comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney triggered a federal election As part of our continuing election coverage AuroraToday has compiled a rundown on the candidates seeking to be the next MP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill Danielle Maniuk is the NDP candidate in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill.  Maniuk is the president of the Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong NDP Electoral District Association. Maniuk did not respond to a request for an interview but said in a statement she is "deeply rooted in local organizing through community groups “Danielle is running with the NDP because she believes government should work for everyone—not just the wealthy few compassionate voice to Parliament that puts people and planet first." Former MP Costas Menegakis is running for the Conservative Party He was the MP for Richmond Hill from 2011 to 2015 During that time he served as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration He ran in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill in 2015 when he was defeated by Liberal Leona Alleslev He also ran in Richmond Hill in 2019 and 2021 losing to Liberal MP Majid Jowhari on both occasions.  Menegakis is also the founder and CEO of Tilwood Inc. a product fulfillment and logistics company previously based in Richmond Hill but now operating in Brampton Campaign staff for Menegekis rejected multiple requests for interviews for this article. Read our election primer on Menegakis Former Richmond Hill councillor Tom Muench is running for the Green Party in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill Muench served as a councillor from 2014 to 2022 He is currently vice-president of government relations at United Chargers a Richmond Hill-based electric vehicle charger manufacturer Speaking previously with AuroraToday Muench said he is “very disappointed that we're talking more about hate and about blame than we are talking about the issues.”  Muench said the Green Party is “pro-business” and “pro-jobs,” adding the federal government needs to incentivize investment and collaborate with other levels of government to help tackle the “housing supply and affordability crisis.” Leah Taylor Roy became MP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill in 2021 after defeating Conservative incumbent Leona Alleslev Taylor Roy worked for the World Bank and as a consultant for McKinsey and Company Taylor Roy said under the leadership of Mark Carney the Liberals will focus on the economy as it “is the way to address affordability.”  “Because affordability is just not the cost of living,” she said “Affordability is whether you can cover the cost of living like you have enough money to pay your bills if we build our economy so more people are employed in higher paying jobs then people can afford things or at least to a greater extent.” She added that she thought Carney was best leader to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump, describing him as not just “a gift to the Liberal Party, but he's been a gift to Canada.” Read our election primer Taylor Roy here Igor Tvorogov is running for the People’s Party of Canada in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill Tvorogov is a software developer based in Richmond Hill He has run for the PPC in the riding of Richmond Hill in 2019 and 2021 Tvorogov did not respond to a request for an interview To find more coverage of the federal election go to AuroraToday’s Canada Votes page York Region says an air management facility on King Road in Oak Ridges should be operating this summer York Region says the start date is “currently anticipated for Summer 2025.” After recent delays, an air management facility for Richmond Hill’s Oak Ridges area is finally on the verge of operating That means the foul smells hanging over the neighbourhood will finally be dealt with at their source the York-Durham Sewage System on Yonge Street It’s terrible and we’ve been living with it a long time,” Carol Davidson said this month after residents brought forward fresh complaints about the stench Davidson told them the facility at 57 King Rd — which the region decided was needed after a 2016 study — was delayed by the late delivery of a generator exhaust stack and an overhead crane system as well as a hydro connection that wasn’t completed until December “I’m just grateful to get the thing going,” she said in an interview The region said the necessary equipment has arrived and work on the building exterior is finished as is duct work connecting the facility tunnel to the main sewage pipe under Yonge an event “currently anticipated for Summer 2025,” bio-scrubbers and carbon absorption units will remove odour-causing compounds from the sewer York Region Public Works’ senior project manager for capital infrastructure services “Most of the work is now limited to the facility interior where we continue to make progress on mechanical and electrical work,” he added the region continues to treat odours with two air scrubber columns installed near Yonge and King The region already has seven other air management facilities operating constantly along its sewage system in Markham The City of Richmond Hill is travelling to Germany to champion local technology and innovation at the world’s largest industrial trade fair and conference in from March 31 to April 4 Canada is this year’s featured country at the Hannover Messe 2025 in Hanover innovation and commitment to sustainable solutions "Canada has much to offer the international business community including cutting-edge advanced manufacturing capabilities in areas of automation e-mobility and more," a City of Richmond Hill news release stated Richmond Hill is home to a variety of leading high-tech companies making an impact in the featured areas "The City is incredibly proud that Richmond Hill’s own Maple Advanced Robotics Inc just won Hannover Messe’s 2025 Robotics Award for their Autonomous Adaptable Robotic System an AI-driven robotics platform that facilitates rapid no-code programming," the release stated. Mayor David West will attend Hannover Messe 2025 along with Richmond Hill economic development staff, to explore investment and trade opportunities and partnerships They will join representatives from all levels of Canadian government along with local and nation-wide businesses in showing the world that the community and country are the partners of choice for innovative advanced manufacturing solutions that are green “We have a lot of smart people here in Richmond Hill with a lot of great ideas. Hannover Messe showcases industrial trends and transformations that attract decision makers from around the world This trade fair offers us the opportunity to talk with companies who may be interested in having a Canadian operation and it also allows us to showcase the amazing innovative companies that we have in our city any opportunity to spotlight local business and help them to expand where they sell their products and services is positive I’m looking forward to the trade mission and helping to make this happen,” West said