# Richmond Hill City Council

Richmond Hill City Council is the governing body for the Canadian city of Richmond Hill, Ontario. Council serves a four-year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill City Council consists of a Mayor, six Ward Councillors and two Regional and Local Councillors. The mayor and the regional and local councillors additionally serve on the York Regional Council representing the interests of the residents of Richmond Hill.
The mayor serves as the leader of council, presiding over meetings to maintain order, and calling special meetings when needed. The mayor and councillors both propose, oversee the administration and finances of Richmond Hill and direction the operations of the city's departments, as well as meeting with residents and government agencies to discuss issues relevant to Richmond Hill and its residents.

## Current council (2022-2026)

| Position | Councillor | Communities |
| Mayor | David West | At-large |
| Regional & Local/ Deputy Mayor | Godwin Chan | At-large |
| Regional & Local | Joe DiPaola | At-large |
| Ward 1 | Carol Davidson | Oak Ridges |
| Ward 2 | Scott Thompson | Devonsleigh, Crosby |
| Ward 3 | Castro Liu | Rouge Woods, Bayview Hill |
| Ward 4 | Simon Cui | Jefferson, Westbrook, Mill Pond |
| Ward 5 | Karen Cilevitz | Yongehurst, Richvale, Beverley Acres |
| Ward 6 | Micheal Shiu | Observatory, Bayview Glen, Doncrest |
Dave Barrow was elected mayor in 2018 but in September 2021, he announced that he would be leaving the position. Deputy mayor Joe Di Paola served as acting mayor after Barrow's resignation until a by-election could be held to elect a permanent replacement. Ward 4 councillor David West won the by-election held from January 18-24th, 2022 and he was sworn in as mayor the following day. Raika Sheppard was appointed by council to fill the vacancy of West's former seat until November 14, 2022.

## Municipal departments

City Council oversees the municipal departments, which deliver a variety of services to the residents of Richmond Hill. The city has a Community Services Department, Corporate & Financial Services Department, Environment & Infrastructure Services Department, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer and Planning & Regulatory Services Department.
The city’s Corporate & Financial Services Department is responsible for providing direction, policy advice and leadership to and through the Financial Services, Information Technology and City Clerk’s Divisions. It provides expert financial, administrative and technical services to ensure supports are in place for internal and external clients and partners.
The Environment & Infrastructure Services Department oversees the design, construction and overall management of the City’s municipal infrastructure and environmental programs. The Department has a strategic focus on the direction and management of environmental services and initiatives that support future needs and interests of the community. The integration of all design and construction projects for facilities, parks, roads, water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure resides in this Department.
The Chief Administrative Office provides Corporate leadership in the overall management of the City's five departments. In this role, the Chief Administrative Officer reviews and approves all recommendations made to Council and Committees of Council, and manages corporate strategic planning. The Chief Administrative Officer acts as department head to the Legal Division, Human Resources and the Office of Strategic Initiatives.
The Community Services Department delivers the integrated front line services required to provide for an active, attractive, safe and connected community. The department includes Fire & Emergency Services, Parks Operations, Public Works Operations and Recreation & Culture. The Community Services Department is responsible for delivering Fire & Emergency Services programs, maintaining parks, road repair and replacement, garbage & recycling programs, operation of the City's water & wastewater infrastructure, delivery of recreational & cultural programs and managing the city's recreational facilities. The department also runs special events, such as Concerts in the Park and The Reel Thing, a local film festival.
The Community Services Department also runs the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Planning & Regulatory Services Department provides Planning and Building related services to Council, other departments and the general public. Each division within the department has responsibility for various stages and aspects of land development and construction of buildings, as well as the administration of various City by-laws. It responds to the specific needs of Council, the public and the development industry.

## History

Richmond Hill was incorporated as a village in 1873, and the village council consisted of a reeve and four village councillors. The councillors were the top four vote-getters of all persons running for the job. The reeve and councillors served one-year terms. Richmond Hill was incorporated as a town in 1957, and the town council was expanded to include a mayor, a reeve, a deputy reeve and four town councillors. In 1966, the council began to serve two-year terms, rather than the previous one-year terms. The council was reorganised in 1971 after the incorporation of York Region to have a mayor, two regional councillors shared with York Region Council, and six town councillors. 1970 had also seen Richmond Hill expand from 1,700 acres (6.9 km$^2$) to 27,000 acres (110 km$^2$) and from 19000 residents to 34000 residents with the annexation of land from Whitchurch Township, Markham Township, Vaughan Township and King Township. In 1982, the terms of councillors were extended to three years, and in 2006 the terms were extended to four years. In March 2019, Richmond Hill was designated a city.
| Year | Reeve | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor |
| 1873 | Abraham Law | Jacob Brillinger | David Hopkins | William Powell | William S. Warren |
| 1874 | William Harrison | William Atkinson | Isaac Crosby | John Brown | Asa B. Wilson |
| 1875 | William Trench III | Denis C. O'Brien | Isaac Crosby | William Pogue | Asa B. Wilson |
| 1876 | William Trench III | Peter G. Savage | Isaac Crosby | William Pogue | William Powell |
| 1877 | William Trench III | Peter G. Savage | Isaac Crosby | William Pogue | William Powell |
| 1878 | William Trench III | Peter G. Savage | James Langstaff | Benjamin Redditt | William Powell |
| 1879 | William Trench III | Peter G. Savage | Francis McConaghy | Benjamin Redditt | William Powell |
| 1880 | James Langstaff | Christopher Duncumb | Isaac Crosby | Benjamin Redditt | William H. Pugsley |
| 1881 | William Trench III | Christopher Duncumb | John H. Sanderson | Benjamin Redditt | William H. Pugsley |
| 1882 | William Trench III | Christopher Duncumb | John H. Sanderson | Benjamin Redditt | William H. Pugsley |
| 1883 | John Brown | Henry F. Hopper | John H. Sanderson | Isaac Crosby | William H. Pugsley |
| 1884 | John Brown | Henry F. Hopper | Robert E. Law | Isaac Crosby | Alexander Moodie |
| 1885 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | Francis McConaghy | William Powell | Benjamin Redditt |
| 1886 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | Francis McConaghy | William Powell | Benjamin Redditt |
| 1887 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | Francis McConaghy | William Powell | Benjamin Redditt |
| 1888 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | William J. Wilson | William A. Sanderson | William Atkinson |
| 1889 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | William J. Wilson | William A. Sanderson | William Atkinson |
| 1890 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | William J. Wilson | William A. Sanderson | William Atkinson |
| 1891 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | William J. Wilson | William A. Sanderson | William Atkinson |
| 1892 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | John Brydon | Jeremiah Mortson | John Palmer |
| 1893 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | William Atkinson | Jeremiah Mortson | John Palmer |
| 1894 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | William Atkinson | Jeremiah Mortson | John Palmer |
| 1895 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | William Atkinson | Jeremiah Mortson | John Palmer |
| 1896 | William H. Pugsley | Peter G. Savage | John H. Sanderson | Jeremiah Mortson | John Palmer |
| 1897 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | John H. Sanderson | William A. Wright | John Palmer |
| 1898 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | David Hill | William A. Wright | Henry F. Hopper |
| 1899 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | David Hill | John Palmer | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1900 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | David Hill | Reuben W. Glass | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1901 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | David Hill | William Furey | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1902 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | David Hill | William Furey | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1903 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | John P. Glass | James Paulin | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1904 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | John P. Glass | James Paulin | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1905 | Peter G. Savage | William Innes | John P. Glass | Isaac Crosby | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1906 | Isaac Crosby | Hesse A. Nicholls | John P. Glass | John H. Sanderson | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1907 | William H. Pugsley | Hesse A. Nicholls | Edward Barker | John H. Sanderson | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1908 | William H. Pugsley | David Sloan | Edward Barker | John H. Sanderson | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1909 | William H. Pugsley | Herbert H. Hopper | John Palmer | John H. Sanderson | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1910 | William H. Pugsley | George S. Sims | John Palmer | John H. Sanderson | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1911 | William H. Pugsley | George S. Sims | John Palmer | John H. Sanderson | John Tyndall |
| 1912 | William H. Pugsley | George S. Sims | John Palmer | John H. Sanderson | John Tyndall |
| 1913 | William H. Pugsley | George S. Sims | John Palmer | John H. Sanderson | John Tyndall |
| 1914 | William H. Pugsley | George S. Sims | John Hickson | John H. Sanderson | John Tyndall |
| 1915 | William H. Pugsley | George S. Sims | John Hickson | John H. Sanderson | John Tyndall |
| 1916 | William H. Pugsley | George S. Sims | John Hickson | John H. Sanderson | John Tyndall |
| 1917 | William H. Pugsley | Jacob Lunau | George A. McDonald | Joseph A. Monkman | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1918 | William H. Pugsley | Jacob Lunau | George A. McDonald | Joseph A. Monkman | Thomas H. Trench |
| 1919 | Thomas H. Trench | Jacob Lunau | John A. Greene | Joseph A. Monkman | David Hill |
| 1920 | Thomas H. Trench | Jacob Lunau | John A. Greene | Joseph A. Monkman | David Hill |
| 1921 | Thomas H. Trench | Jacob Lunau | Norman Batty | Joseph A. Monkman | David Hill |
| 1922 | Thomas H. Trench | Jacob Lunau | Norman Batty | Joseph A. Monkman | David Hill |
| 1923 | Thomas H. Trench | Jacob Lunau | Norman Batty | Joseph A. Monkman | David Hill |
| 1924 | Thomas H. Trench | John A. Greene | Robert N. Endean | James McLean | William H. Pugsley |
| 1925 | Thomas H. Trench | John A. Greene | Jacob Lunau | James McLean | William H. Pugsley |
| 1926 | Jacob Lunau | John A. Greene | Walter G. Baldock | J. Roy Herrington | Gordon H. Sloan |
| 1927 | Jacob Lunau | James McLean | Walter G. Baldock | J. Roy Herrington | Gordon H. Sloan |
| 1928 | Jacob Lunau | James McLean | David Hill | A. Chapman | Gordon H. Sloan |
| 1929 | Jacob Lunau | Henry Davis | Frederick J. Mansbridge | Wesley Middleton | Frank E. Sims |
| 1930 | Jacob Lunau | Henry Davis | Albert Chapman | Wesley Middleton | Frank E. Sims |
| 1931 | Jacob Lunau | David Hill | James McLean | Harold Mills | Joseph Monkman |
| 1932 | Jacob Lunau | David Hill | J.A. Greene | Harold Mills | Joseph Monkman |
| 1933 | J.A. Greene | Alex Little | Wes Middleton | Harold Mills | James McLean |
| 1934 | J.A. Greene | Alex Little | Wes Middleton | Harold Mills | William Neal |
| 1935 | J.A. Greene | Alex Little | James McLean | Harold Mills | William Neal |
| 1936 | J.A. Greene | Alex Little | James McLean | Harold Mills | Percy Hill |
| 1937 | J.A. Greene | Alex Little | Christian Nelson | Harold Mills | Percy Hill |
| 1938 | J.A. Greene | Alex Little | Christian Nelson | Harold Mills | Percy Hill |
| 1939 | J.A. Greene | Alex Little | Christian Nelson | Harold Mills | Percy Hill |
| 1940 | Thomas Trench | Robert Little | Wes Middleton | William Neal | Dr. J.P. Wilson |
| 1941 | Thomas Trench | Robert Little | Wes Middleton | William Neal | Dr. J.P. Wilson |
| 1942 | Thomas Trench | Robert Little | Wes Middleton | William Neal | Dr. J.P. Wilson |
| 1943 | J.A. Greene | Allan Bales | Wes Middleton | Percy Hills | Ralph Paris |
| 1944 | William Neal | Allan Bales | Wes Middleton | Percy Hills | Ralph Paris |
| 1945 | William Neal | Allan Bales | Wes Middleton | Percy Hills | Ralph Paris |
| 1946 | William Neal | Allan Bales | Wes Middleton | Percy Hills | Ralph Paris |
| 1947 | William Neal | Cecil Mabley | Wes Middleton | Percy Hills | Ralph Paris |
| 1948 | Percy Hill | Cecil Mabley | Wes Middleton | W.J. Taylor | Ken Tomlin |
| 1949 | Percy Hill | Cecil Mabley | Wes Middleton | W.J. Taylor | Ken Tomlin |
| 1950 | J.A. Greene | Cecil Mabley | Wes Middleton | W.J. Taylor | Floyd Perkins |
| 1951 | J.A. Greene | Ken Tomlin | Wes Middleton | W.J. Taylor | Floyd Perkins |
| 1952 | W.J. Taylor | Ken Tomlin | Wes Middleton | Jack Rice | Floyd Perkins |
| 1953 | W.J. Taylor | Ken Tomlin | Wes Middleton | Jack Rice | Floyd Perkins |
| 1954 | W.J. Taylor | Ken Tomlin | Wes Middleton | Harold Jones | Floyd Perkins |
| 1955 | W.J. Taylor | Ken Tomlin | Wes Middleton | Harold Jones | Floyd Perkins |
| 1956 | W.J. Taylor | Ken Tomlin | Donald Plaxton | Harold Jones |
| In 1957, with the incorporation of Richmond Hill as a town, the positions of Mayor and Deputy Reeve were added to the council ||||||
| Year | Mayor | Reeve | Deputy Reeve | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor |
| 1957 | William Neal | W.J. Taylor | Floyd Perkins | James Haggart | Harold Jones | Donald Plaxton | Stanley Tinker |
| 1958 | Ken Tomlin | W.J. Taylor | Donald Plaxton | James Haggart | James Bradstock | Joseph Patterson | Stanley Tinker |
| 1959 | Ken Tomlin | Floyd Perkins | Stanley Tinker | James Haggart | James Bradstock | Joseph Patterson | Robert Ross |
| 1960 | Ken Tomlin | James Haggart | Stanley Tinker | Thomas Broadhurst | James Bradstock | Margaret Southwell | Howard Whillans |
| 1961 | James Haggart | Floyd Perkins | John Bradstock | Thomas Broadhurst | Alan White | Margaret Southwell | Howard Whillans |
| 1962 | James Haggart | Floyd Perkins | Thomas Broadhurst | Alex Campbell | Alan White | Margaret Southwell | John MacDiarmid |
| 1963 | William Neal | Floyd Perkins | Stanley Tinker | Alex Campbell | Alan White | Thomas Murphy | Walter Scudds |
| 1964 | Thomas Broadhurst | James Haggart | Stanley Tinker | Lois Hancey | William Lazenby | Robert Saunders | Walter Scudds |
| 1965 | Thomas Broadhurst | Donald Plaxton | Floyd Perkins | Lois Hancey | William Lazenby | Eric Handbury | Walter Scudds |
| 1966/67 | Thomas Broadhurst | Donald Plaxton | Floyd Perkins | Lois Hancey | William Lazenby | John MacDiarmid | Ivan Mansbridge |
| 1968/69 | Thomas Broadhurst | Donald Plaxton | Floyd Perkins | Lois Hancey | William Lazenby | John MacDiarmid | Ivan Mansbridge |
| 1970 | William Lazenby | Donald Plaxton | Ivan Mansbridge | Lois Hancey | Shaun Beggs | Eric George | David Schiller |
| In 1971, with the incorporation of York Region, the council was again reorganised. ||||||
| Year | Mayor | Regional Councillor | Regional Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor |
| 1971/72 | William Lazenby | Donald Plaxton | Gordon Rowe | Shaun Beggs | Stewart Bell | Andrew Chateauvert | Lois Hancey | David Schiller | Lou Wainwright |
| 1973/74 | William Lazenby | Lois Hancey | Gordon Rowe | William Corcoran | Graeme Bales | Andrew Chateauvert | David Stephenson | Charles Stewart | Lou Wainwright |
| 1975/76 | David Schiller | Lois Hancey | Gordon Rowe | William Corcoran | John Birchall | Andrew Chateauvert | Marylo Graham | Mike Burnie | Al Duffy |
| 1977/78 | David Schiller | Lois Hancey | Lou Wainwright | William Corcoran | John Birchall | Andrew Chateauvert | Marylo Graham | Mike Burnie | Al Duffy |
| 1979/80 | David Schiller | Gordon Rowe | Lou Wainwright | William Corcoran | John Birchall | David Amos | David Barrow | Mike Burnie | Al Duffy |
| 1981/82 | Al Duffy | Gordon Rowe | Lois Hancey | William Corcoran | Doug Smith | Bill Bell | David Barrow | Bob Cage | Frank Gallant |
| 1982-85 | Al Duffy | Gordon Rowe | Lois Hancey | William Corcoran | Doug Smith | Bill Bell | David Barrow | Bob Cage | Frank Gallant |
| 1985-88 | Al Duffy | Gordon Rowe | Lois Hancey | Tom Simpson | Doug Smith | Bill Bell | Gail Blackburn | Bob Cage | Bryon Wilfert |
| 1988-91 | Bill Bell | Frank Endean | Lois Hancey | Tom Simpson | Janet Mabley | David Cohen | Gail Blackburn | Catherine Bishop | Bryon Wilfert |
| 1991-94 | Bill Bell | Gail Blackburn | Isabelle Gargarella | Tom Simpson | Janet Mabley | David Cohen | Jane Robertson | Catherine Bishop | Bryon Wilfert |
| 1994-97 | Bill Bell | Gail Blackburn | Janet Mabley | Vito Spatafora | Brenda Hogg | David Cohen | Jane Robertson | Nick Papa | Bryon Wilfert |
| 1997-00 | Bill Bell | David Barrow | Janet Mabley | Vito Spatafora | Brenda Hogg | David Cohen | David Bishop | Nick Papa | Joe DiPaola |
| 2000-03 | Bill Bell | David Barrow | Brenda Hogg | Vito Spatafora | Arnie Warner | David Cohen | Lynn Foster | Nick Papa | Joe DiPaola |
| 2003-06 | Bill Bell | David Barrow | Brenda Hogg | Vito Spatafora | Arnie Warner | David Cohen | Lynn Foster | Elio Di Iorio | Joe DiPaola |
| 2006-10 | David Barrow | Vito Spatafora | Brenda Hogg | Greg Beros | Arnie Warner | David Cohen | Lynn Foster | Nick Papa | Godwin Chan |
| 2010-14 | David Barrow | Vito Spatafora | Brenda Hogg | Greg Beros | Carmine Perrelli | Castro Liu | Lynn Foster | Nick Papa | Godwin Chan |
| 2014-18 | David Barrow | Vito Spatafora | Brenda Hogg | Greg Beros | Tom Muench | Castro Liu | David West | Karen Cilevitz | Godwin Chan |
| 2018-22 | David Barrow | Joe DiPaola | Carmine Perrelli | Greg Beros | Tom Muench | Castro Liu | David West | Karen Cilevitz | Godwin Chan |
| 2021-2022 | Joe DiPaola (Acting) | Joe DiPaola | Carmine Perrelli | Greg Beros | Tom Muench | Castro Liu | Raika Sheppard (From March 22, 2022 - Nov 15, 2022) | Karen Cilevitz | Godwin Chan |
| 2022-26 | David West | Joe DiPaola | Godwin Chan | Carol Davidson | Scott Thompson | Castro Liu | Simon Cui | Karen Cilevitz | Micheal Shiu |

## Deputy Mayor

* Vito Spatafora - 2006-2018
* Carmine Perrelli - 2018-2021 (Council in Sept 2021 decided to have one Deputy Mayor instead of Two)
* Joe DiPaola - 2018-2022 (Sole Deputy Mayor from Sept 2021 - Nov 2022, served as Acting Mayor from February 2021 to January 2022 during Dave Barrow's leave of absence and eventual resignation until David West was elected in the Jan 2022 by-election)
* Godwin Chan - 2022–Present