Richmond Hill — The City Council sparked both celebration and debate Wednesday morning as it approved a series of development and public safety initiatives while honoring the city’s Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Mayor David West opened the session by praising local Legion members and city staff for their efforts in restoring cenotaph inscriptions and organizing the city’s remembrance events, noting strong community turnout. West also revealed that federal funding has been allocated for the upcoming Unity Park PS752 Memorial, calling it a “vital space for remembrance and community healing.”
Council then turned to public safety, hearing from Roberta Scott of the AED Foundation Ontario about the province’s new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) registry under Bill 141. Council unanimously voted to register all city-owned AEDs with the provincial database and encouraged private organizations to follow suit, highlighting that timely access to AEDs can save lives during cardiac emergencies.
The meeting moved into development matters, approving zoning changes for 181 and 187 Elgin Mills Road East to allow residential intensification and mixed-use construction. Council also granted a Class 4 noise classification for Schlegel Villages at 11300 Yonge Street, clearing the way for the project under updated noise guidelines — a decision some local residents have already flagged as potentially disruptive.
Administrative updates included the addition of a Council Public Meeting on December 8, 2026, multiple by-law adoptions, and an update to the council remuneration by-law. In a move that drew attention for its transparency, Council opted against a closed session and publicly appointed Thomas Raeburn as the city’s next Fire Chief, effective December 1.
The session wrapped up at 11:12 a.m., leaving residents to weigh the city’s balancing act between honoring the past and shaping Richmond Hill’s future.