Dave Barrow Square named for Richmond Hill’s longtime mayor

Etched into the concrete is the Dave Barrow quote 'It’s all about community' and a plaque thanks the former mayor for his service

Newmarkerrtoday.ca
Sept. 16, 2022

In an official ceremony this afternoon, Richmond Hill Council dedicated Dave Barrow Square to Richmond Hill’s long-serving mayor. Council voted to create Dave Barrow Square following the former mayor’s retirement in September 2021.

The square is located east of the Central Library at 1 Atkinson St. It includes planted gardens and benches to sit and enjoy the view of the Richmond Hill skyline toward Lake Ontario. Etched into the concrete is the Dave Barrow quote “It’s all about community” and a plaque thanks the former mayor for his service to the City. 

Dave Barrow served his community for more than 30 years. His political career began with his first term as councillor of Ward 4 in 1978. He remained councillor through to 1985 when he returned to the family business after his father's (Elgin Barrow) death. He re-entered political life in 1997 by winning a regional council seat. He was first elected mayor on Nov. 13, 2006 and was re-elected in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

The list of Barrow’s contributions to Richmond Hill is long and in 2012, he was honoured with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work in the community. Among other accomplishments, Barrow was president of the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce (now Board of Trade) twice and received the Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellow award. One of his proudest moments was in November 2018 when, through fundraising, he gifted Richmond Hill with the statue of “The Soldier” at the Cenotaph on Yonge Street.

Dave Barrow retired from Richmond Hill Council in September 2021.

“I am humbled by this dedication and I thank Members of Council and the City for their kindness and generosity. But truly, my greatest honour was in serving the Richmond Hill community. It meant the world to me,” said Barrow.

“Richmond Hill is better today for the decades of service put in by Dave Barrow. It’s wonderful that council has honoured him with Dave Barrow Square and on behalf of the City, both staff and the community, I’d like to say thank you, Dave, for all that you’ve done for us,”  said Darlene Joslin, interim city manager.