Richmond Hill regional councillor Vito Spatafora announces retirement

Both local regional councillors are stepping down

Yorkregion.com
June 20, 2018
Kim Zarzour

The Town of Richmond Hill is losing its second regional councillor.

Vito Spatafora announced at the June 19 committee of the whole meeting that he will not seek re-election in this fall’s municipal election.

His colleague, Brenda Hogg, the second of two local regional councillors representing Richmond Hill in York Region, announced her retirement last week.

Spatafora fought back emotions as he made the announcement to councillors.

“I was surprised by my wife and neighbours and friends in the audience and I was overwhelmed,” he said. “To be honest, I struggled to speak.”

Spatafora has been an elected official with the town for 24 years and counts among his proudest accomplishments the founding of Tastes of the Hill, an annual multicultural festival that celebrates the town’s diversity and inclusiveness that has raised more than $500,000 for charities.

Spatafora also worked with the Oak Ridges Foundation to purchase land for environmental protection, the Humber Watershed Alliance to protect the Oak Ridges Moraine and spearheaded accumulation of land to create Lake Wilcox Park.

Spatafora said he has noticed a changing attitude towards politics in recent years.

“In some ways, it is more aggressive and, unfortunately, less tolerance,” he said, adding he has confidence and hope in the next younger generation who are more open, computer-savvy and bring “fresh thinking.”

In the meantime, he said, he plans to spend more time with his wife, kids and “four adorable grandchildren.”

“I want to take some time with my wife traveling countries on my bucket list. I will also help the community at my own pace with local charities I have come to know through Tastes of the Hill.”

He said his struggle with prostate cancer four years ago “put things in focus” and after much soul-searching, decided it was time to move on.

“It makes you realize your mortality. I’ve got my health back, but it’s time for a new chapter.

“Politics is a tough gig. It’s not easy to make everyone happy. You just have to do the best you can for the greater good.”