Richmond Hill chosen one of 23 host communities for Canada's 150th SESQUI exhibit
Town chosen for honour due to successful Olympic and Pam Am events

YorkRegion.com
July 20, 2016

Kim Zarzour  

Richmond Hill will be one of only 23 communities in Canada to host an immersive mobile dome village celebrating the country’s 150th anniversary.

The town is set to be the only stop in York Region next summer for the travelling exhibit that promises to provide a once-in-a-generation, 360-degree cinematic experience known as SESQUI.

Organizers of the sesquicentennial initiative, through the Ministry of Heritage, asked Richmond Hill to be one of the host communities, said Darlene Joslin, the town’s recreation and culture director.

“They approached us, based on our success of hosting the Olympic torch and Pan Am torch events, and they were very impressed with Richmond Hill as a community.”

Council gave its approval this month to host the initiative, at a cost of $50,000 from the tax rate stabilization reserve.

The dome village will tour the country over a four-month period during the summer of 2017 and is expected to visit Richmond Hill — specifically the parking lot adjacent to the Richmond Green Sports Centre and Tom Graham Arena — next August.

For five days, the exhibit will offer a one-hour, “immersive media experience” including a 360-degree film called Horizon.

According to a staff report approved by council, hosting SESQUI could attract up to 22,500 visitors, and offers a number of benefits to the community by engaging residents, providing ambassador and volunteer opportunities, profiling local talent, engaging children and youth through educational programs, generating business for the community, and “all the while showcasing Richmond Hill’s vibrant landscape”.

Students will be invited for a two-hour experience on site and in-dome live events and performances will showcase local performers and special guests.

Local labour will be hired to build and tear down the exhibit.

As part of the cross-country tour, each of the 23 hosting communities will enlist two community members, aged 21 to 30, to act as ambassadors during the SESQUI stop, acting as town representative, blogging and sharing experiences on social media.

Forty local volunteers will receive SESQUI training, event experience and recognition to act as ushers, operation support and docents.

The live events and performances, taking place in the dome spaces, will provide an opportunity to showcase local performers and special guests, and celebrate Richmond Hill’s diverse range of artists and cultures.

A comprehensive curriculum program, available online and accessible to everyone, will reach teachers, students and parents.

The tour stop will be promoted through the schools prior to the end of the school year and provide an interactive field trip experience for children registered in the town’s summer camps.

SIDEBAR

MANY RELATED PROJECTS:

 Richmond Hill plans to apply for grant funding from the Canada 150 Fund to stage the following:

• Bell Box Murals:

At a cost of $9,600, this will be an independent, community-engaged art program operated by Community Matters Toronto. Since 2009, more than 127 murals have been painted on Bell Canada outdoor utility boxes throughout Toronto, southern Ontario and Quebec.
The murals — with a theme of Canada and its diverse people, places and things — showcase local artists and help reduce graffiti on the boxes. A tour will be organized to visit the various artists as they are working.
Residents will be able to contribute to the project through the artist selection, design and creation of the art work.

• Street Banner Contest:

The town is applying for $10,000 in funding to produce 20 light pole banners along Yonge Street, to be designed by local artists selected through a community contest. The theme, to reflect diversity and inclusion, will focus on Richmond Hill’s vision for the future.

• Earth Day – Maple Tree Planting:

Should the town receive $1,500 from the Canada 150 Fund, local schools and community members will be invited to take part in a tree-planting event to commemorate Canada 150 and Earth Day. The mayor and council will together plant a large maple tree (location to be determined).

• Healthy Yards Program – 150 Maple Trees Giveaway:

A variety of maple tree species will be given to Richmond Hill residents to plant on their own properties at the annual Healthy Yards event in May. (Funding sought, $1,000.)

 As well, as part of the regular operating budget, the town plans to set the stage for celebrations throughout the municipality:

• Floral planters along the downtown core will be planted with red and white flowers, as will the floral beds located around town;
• An exhibit themed to celebrate Canada 150 will be on display at the Heritage Centre and travelling exhibits will visit community events;
• An exhibit designed to showcase the history of sport will be on display at the Sports Hall of Fame;
• An interactive lumberjack show will take place at the Canada Day event;
• The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts programming will feature Canadian artists;
• A Richmond Hill Canada 150 Resource Guide will be created, providing ideas and resources to groups looking to theme their events; and
• The Richmond Hill Central Library will profile its historical collection and feature special guest authors.