‘Let’s get started and let’s go together’: New Richmond Hill council vows no ‘drama’ and more collaboration

City council unanimously adopted the first motion of the 2022-2026 term to sign the first ever Richmond Hill Council Pledge

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 28, 2022
Sheila Wang

Casting the past behind, and holding nothing back, members of Richmond Hill council of the 2022-2026 term are all set to hit the ground running to lead the city for the next four years.

Nine members of city council were officially sworn in to office at the inaugural meeting Nov. 21 in front of a full house of audience at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

It was a joyful -- and, at times, emotional -- event where the newly elected members of council opened up about their journeys to politics and made promises to serve the residents.

Each of their inaugural remarks was met with applause and cheers from the audience, including former mayor Al Duffy, former regional councillor Brenda Hogg and Tomye Anne Barrow, wife of late mayor Dave Barrow.

“Let’s get started and let’s go together,” Mayor West said in his inaugural address. “I’m really proud of this community that we call home, and I’m very enthusiastic and positive that Richmond Hill is set up for success with this new council.”

West stressed the importance of bringing the community together while giving a tribute to his predecessor, Barrow, whose famous motto is “It’s all about community.”

If there was a theme shared by all council members in their remarks at the meeting, it would be “collaboration.”

While West did not dwell on the troubles in the council chambers from the last term, he did make a promise that “the meetings in this term will not be more entertaining than the latest reality TV show.”

Several other council members also did not mince words when looking back on the previous term of council.

“Don’t expect any drama. We’ll be doing things,” Regional Coun. Godwin Chan said when concluding his inaugural address.

Chan, who was the former Ward 6 councillor, came up on top in the five-way regional councillor race in the October election. He said he expected the new term of council to be “collaborative and co-operative.”

Fellow Regional Coun. Joe DiPaola said, “I'm very proud of our residents, who made very wise choices and chose not to return those who were serving themselves.”

To set the tone for the new term, the city council unanimously adopted the first motion of the new term, introduced by West, to sign the first ever Richmond Hill Council Pledge, through which members of council vowed to represent and serve the community collaboratively.

Ward 5 Coun. Karen Cilevitz started her speech with a quote from Walt Whitman: "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow," and expressed her gratitude toward those who supported and had faith in her during “dark and foreboding” times.

The councillor was re-elected by defeating nine other contenders for the Ward 5 seat. She made the decision to run again after a guilty plea to fraud under $5,000 in July.

"I would not be standing here tonight, or perhaps at all, were it not for your light and strength to help guide me," Cilevitz said during her speech.

Four former Richmond Hill council members were unseated by fresh faces from the community: Ward 1 Coun. Carol Davidson, Ward 2 Coun. Scott Thompson, Ward 4 Coun. Simon Cui and Ward 6 Coun. Michael Shiu.

They each thanked the residents and their campaign teams for the successes in the election and re-emphasized their commitment to working together for the betterment of the city.

Mayor West said he welcomed the new members and shared his excitement for the new policies and plans that are expected to come into being in the next four years, including a new official plan and a new comprehensive zoning bylaw.

“These plans represent actions that in many ways improve the quality of our life … and ultimately more reasons to love Richmond Hill and be really proud to call this place home. This is what will drive me as your mayor,” West said.