The Campaign Begins

Dear Richmond Hill,

I can’t say the F-word yet, but with Labour Day around the corner, it is unofficially arriving, bringing our short summer to an end. Some of us left Richmond Hill, or Canada, for a vacation or family visit. I briefly visited Honduras, where I dipped my feet into the pristine blue waters off its beaches.

What Honduras Taught Me About Traffic

Granted, Canada is the best country in the world, but what visits like this offer us is a lesson in humility and an opportunity to learn. Even places that are not as fortunate as we are may do certain things better.

In Tegucigalpa, the capital, I encountered a range of unfamiliar sights, from privately owned and operated minibuses, with conductors hanging out of their open doors, to street designs that might offer lessons for easing traffic congestion here. 

Don’t get me wrong, Tegucigalpa is not known for having the smoothest traffic, even within Central America. But the city uses a tool, albeit imperfectly, that makes the psychologically difficult part of traffic congestion a little more bearable. Rather than having a traffic light at every intersection, it has roundabouts. Instead of waiting at a red light, then speeding for a short distance only to reach the next red light, you are almost always moving.

I say Tegucigalpa’s roundabouts are imperfect because the way they are designed does not consider the safety of people outside cars at all.

Could We Work Closer to Home?

As one of our August analysis pieces shows, there is more than one way to ease traffic congestion within and around Richmond Hill. In “Could Neighbourhood Co-working Spaces Help Richmond Hill’s Traffic?” we looked for better and more effective ways to improve traffic flow than building wider roads. As obvious as the solution might seem, 70 years of building highways has only added to the problem, inviting more and more people to get into cars and become part of the congestion.

During the pandemic lockdowns, most office workers stayed home and worked remotely. But after the lockdowns ended, employers wanted their workforces back in the office. That did not go over well with employees who had grown accustomed to the comfort of working from home and avoiding a soul-crushing commute twice a day.

I thought there must be a compromise: working from neighbourhood co-working spaces. I asked Chuck Marohn, Strong Towns founder about the idea while writing the article. He welcomed it, but said it should not be considered a “compromise.” Instead, it should be one of the available options alongside working from home.

We also spoke with Lena Guirguis of Flex Space, a co-working space in Richmond Hill. She told us that two of her clients already use Flex Space’s facilities to offer a more structured and professional workspace to their employees who live in Richmond Hill. Our research also showed that the Government of Canada, one of the largest employers requiring workers to return to the office, is now distributing its Ottawa workforce among several offices across the city rather than bringing everyone to a single location.

The Municipal Campaign Begins

Labour Day also marks the unofficial beginning of the municipal election campaign. Some candidates have already been knocking on doors, attending community events and introducing themselves online, while others are still getting organized. Over the coming weeks, residents will begin seeing more lawn signs, campaign literature and social media messages. But elections should be about more than name recognition. Through the STRH Election Hub and our candidate questionnaire, we are trying to help Richmond Hill residents learn what candidates actually believe, compare their priorities and make a more informed choice.

A New Chapter for Strong Richmond Hill

And finally, a development at Strong Richmond Hill: we are now a registered not-for-profit corporation. It is a small infrastructure milestone, not a change in our mission. It gives us a legal home for memberships, contributions, expenses, equipment and future projects, while our editorial and advocacy work continues. More importantly, it gives us a foundation on which to build a durable, community-supported organization that can keep informing residents, encouraging civic participation and advocating for a stronger Richmond Hill.

A few other things happening around our city:

Five Sculptures Stolen from Lake Wilcox Park

Five bronze sculptures were stolen from Lake Wilcox Park in August, including a beloved 200-pound Midland Painted Turtle that children often touched and sat upon. Police believe the pieces may have been taken for their metal and possibly melted down, while the City is exploring replacement options. Beyond the loss of the art, such a brazen act in a public park also violates the community’s sense of safety, something no Canadian city should take for granted. Public art gives shared spaces identity, delight and a sense of belonging, and its theft diminishes the whole community.

Summer Events Bring Richmond Hill to Life

Over the past month, concerts at Mill Pond Park and events at our civic squares have brought residents together and added energy to Richmond Hill. These gatherings do more than entertain us: they turn public spaces into places where neighbours meet and a sense of community can grow. A couple of events are still to come, so take the opportunity to get out and enjoy them.

A Refreshed Central Library Is Reopening

Richmond Hill’s Central Library, undergoing its first major renovation in 30 years, will reopen with limited hours and spaces on September 8. Browsing, borrowing and meeting rooms return September 14, followed by programs and events in October, with the full renovation expected to be completed in late fall. With more study space, electrical outlets, a flexible event stage and an interactive children’s area, the renewed library will strengthen one of Richmond Hill’s most important public gathering places.

Worth Your Time

Here are a couple of stories from beyond Richmond Hill that connect to our ongoing Strong Towns conversation:

Ontario Says Data Centres Must Pay Their Own Energy Costs

Ontario’s proposed framework would require new data centres to cover all costs associated with their electricity use, potentially pay a higher rate than other industrial customers, and receive no cash incentives. With data-centre connection requests now totalling roughly 7,000 megawatts, this is useful context for Richmond Hill’s emerging discussion about who should bear the costs and what host communities should receive in return.

When Door-to-Door Democracy Looks “Suspicious”

While campaigning door to door in Coquitlam, municipal candidate Madhavee Inamdar and a friend were reported to police as “two suspicious women.” It is funny at first glance, but also concerning. As Richmond Hill’s candidates begin canvassing, residents should remain appropriately cautious while remembering that meeting candidates at the doorstep is a normal and valuable part of local democracy. In a healthy civic culture, candidates should be able to introduce themselves, and residents should feel comfortable asking who they are and what they stand for.

Could Richmond Hill Use a Pedestrian Scramble?

Toronto has approved a pedestrian scramble at Yonge and Eglinton, where all vehicle traffic will stop during a dedicated pedestrian phase, allowing people to cross in every direction, including diagonally. The crossing is intended to reduce conflicts at an intersection used by more than 4,500 pedestrians per hour. Does Richmond Hill have an intersection where this approach could make walking safer and easier? If so, where should it be?

Walking Away Thinking…

With the municipal campaign underway, you’ll soon see more candidates at your doorstep. Let’s be ready for them.

No, not everyone who enters politics is corrupt. Running for office takes resolve and sacrifice from candidates and their families. They deserve respect, but not a free pass.

Our job is to take municipal issues seriously, pay attention to what candidates say and do, and hold those elected accountable. Tell them what you want, ask questions and listen to their answers. We will not always get everything we want.

So, if a candidate knocks, please don’t call the police, as one B.C. resident did. Use the STRH Election Hub beforehand, then ask your questions face to face.

Until the next letter,