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Mayor David West's 2025 State of the City Address

  • Marian
  • Oct 28
  • 3 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Richmond Hill is Growing Strong, Together

Green background image with "Richmond Hill" logo and text: "State of the City, Mayor David West."

At this year’s State of the City address, Mayor West shared a clear message: Richmond Hill is a resilient, welcoming, and thriving community, and we’re building a strong future together.


From community safety, to affordable housing, to major investments in parks and transit, there is a lot happening across our city. Here are some of the key updates that matter most to residents:


Building a Safer Community

Residents deserve to feel safe at home, at work, and everywhere in between. Thanks to strong collaboration with York Regional Police, Richmond Hill has seen encouraging reductions in major crimes this year.


York Regional Police report strong reductions in major crimes:

  • Homicides 🡻 67%

  • Carjackings 🡻 49%

  • Break-and-enters 🡻 11%

  • Auto theft🡻 37% (due to Operation Auto Guard)


The Mayor noted that while these improvements are positive, more progress is needed, and community safety will remain a top priority.


Tackling the Housing Crisis

Everyone who wants to call Richmond Hill home should be able to.


The city is pushing affordability and supply through:

  • Over $1B in building permits approved by July, poised to beat last year’s total

  • Federal Housing Accelerator Fund planning updates (Yonge/16th, Newkirk, Oak Ridges, Village Centre)

  • Incentives for affordable development

  • Speed up approvals for priority housing projects

  • Simplify permits for basement suites and garden homes

  • 1300+ new seniors housing options coming (Carefirst, Schlegel, Mon Sheong)


Big Transit Progress: The Subway is Coming

After years of advocacy, the Yonge North Subway Extension is officially moving forward. Construction preparations are underway, taking us one major step closer to having two subway stations right here in Richmond Hill.


This will reduce travel times, support local business, and unlock more housing near transit.


Supporting Business and Local Jobs

Richmond Hill continues to attract global companies and nurture local innovators, helping to create more jobs close to home.


Highlights include:

  • 4,500+ local companies across advanced industries

  • New corporate arrivals and expansions

  • Trade mission to Germany generating new investment opportunities

  • Strong performance by the Small Business Enterprise Centre (552 consultations, 81 new businesses, 100+ jobs created)


Parks, Nature & Gathering Spaces

Richmond Hill residents love our green spaces, and exciting improvements are on the way:

  • Richmond Green revitalization and new Bill Bell Park

  • A pedestrian bridge connecting to the David Dunlap Observatory Park

  • Construction of the new Dave Barrow Civic Square starting in 2026

  • Calling on the province to provide funding to the TRCA to build trails and other infrastructure around Bond Lake

  • New Cultural Centre at the historic Old Post Office building


These investments will create more places where families and neighbours can connect, explore nature, and enjoy year-round activities.


A City That Cares

From improved services to major capital projects, City staff have been working hard behind the scenes delivering essential services every day.


City staff continue to support a fast-growing community, for example:

  • Access Richmond Hill has handled 117,804 service inquiries this year, up 3,000 from last year

  • 18 billion litres of clean water supplied

  • Delivered 9,668 recreation programs to 69,000+ recreation program participants

  • Together with residents and businesses, staff planted nearly 9,000 trees

  • 68% waste diversion, among the highest in Ontario

  • Rehabilitated 1000 metres of roads, 850 metres of storm sewer and 1000 metres of watermains


Their dedication ensures Richmond Hill continues to be a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming city for everyone.


Looking Ahead

As the Mayor highlighted, we are facing real challenges, especially around affordability and municipal funding, but Richmond Hill is stepping up, working collaboratively, and keeping the community’s needs at the heart of every decision.


We’re excited for the future — and glad you’re with us every step of the way.



 
 
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