On January 26, 2015, Council was presented with 2014 MarCom Gold Awards for two communication-focused projects - Ice Storm 2013 communications and the new Film Location Resource Guide! MarCom Awards honour excellence and recognize outstanding creative achievement by marketing and communications professionals internationally. Throughout the response and recovery phases of the Ice Storm, Richmond Hill used a variety of tactics to communicate with residents and businesses about power outages, warming centres, winter maintenance, tree damage, etc. The new Film Location Resource Guide promotes Richmond Hill as the ideal location for film production in Ontario.
On January 26, 2015, on behalf of Council and staff, Mayor Barrow accepted the Architectural Hardscape Award by the Ontario Concrete Industry for Richmond Hill's innovative use of concrete materials through landscaping and art work in its Lake Wilcox Waterfront Promenade. Some of the many ways Richmond Hill used concrete in the design features in the park include human and animal footprints embedded along the path as well as inspirational poems and quotes about the nature and history of the site sandblasted into the concrete pavement. The Promenade also showcases artistic coloured concrete designs highlighting the themes of water, wildlife and cultural history of the lake area. It also features unique concrete pavement and seats that can be found along the walkway.
On March 30, 2015, Council was presented the Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) 2014 Project of the Year Award in the 'Environment' category for the newly rehabilitated Rumble Pond Park, one of Canada's most innovative stormwater ponds. The award recognizes excellence in project management and partnerships. Rumble Pond, located at Bathurst and Mill Streets, was identified as having reached the end of its lifecycle and in need of upgrading. As a result, Richmond Hill partnered with stormwater agencies and industry leaders using their innovative strategies and technologies to bring the facility up to current standards for water quality, flood control and erosion control. Some of the unique features include filters that clean runoff water before it enters the pond, landscaping materials that allow water to absorb into the ground and adjustable controls that allow operators to monitor and regulate pond water levels. The facility also features recreational and educational space.
On May 26, 2015, Council congratulated Richmond Hill Aquatics staff for winning the David W. Pretty Cup for the 10th year in a row! The Lifesaving Society presents this annual award to the municipality with the largest lifesaving program in a community with a population between 100,000 and 250,000. Richmond Hill was commended for the ongoing support and delivery of lifesaving programs, which include water safety programs such as First Aid, CPR, bronze levels, instructor awards and lifeguard training.
On May 26, 2015, the Mayor and Members of Council were presented with the Best Youth Initiative Award from Festival and Events Ontario for Richmond Hill's 2014 Canada Day Texting Competition. The Texting Competition was first introduced as part of the 2012 Canada Day Celebrations. In 2014, contestants competed in a four-round elimination process to determine the fastest texter. Some of the phrases the competitors had to text included "Happy CANADA Day!", "WELCOME to the TEEN ZONE!" and in the final round, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." The competition took place in the Teen Zone, an interactive area specifically programmed to attract and engage Richmond Hill's youth population.
At the July 13, 2015 Council meeting, Mayor Dave Barrow accepted three Hermes Creative Awards and an AVA Digital Award on behalf of Council. Hermes Creative Awards recognized the City for three projects in three separate categories. Richmond Hill's Spring and Summer 2015 Community Recreation Guide received a Platinum Award in the Program Guide category; the Responsible Pet Ownership Social Media Campaign won a Gold Award in the Communication/Marketing Campaign category and an Honourable Mention was credited to the City's "Keep Calm and Plant On" Earth Day t-shirts in the T-Shirt Design category. the City also received an AVA Digital Award for its video aimed at educating the community about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and how it is affecting ash trees. The video, which is available at
RichmondHill.ca/EAB and on the City's YouTube channel, won a Gold Award. It outlines how property owners can identify an ash tree, the signs and symptoms of EAB infestation, what Richmond Hill is doing to manage ash trees on public property and what residents should do if they have an ash tree on their property.
Richmond Hill's Weldrick-Nightstar Bridge continues to be the talk of the City and beyond. The work of Richmond Hill staff and the construction team was recognized in September 2015 by Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) with an Award for Excellence and by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) of North America with a Section Award. Each year, PRO recognizes the achievements of individuals and organizations that have contributed to the advancement of leisure, parks and recreation in Ontario. The IES awards are presented in recognition of accomplishments in the field of engineering illumination, design, applied illumination, optics, lighting, research and education. This unique pedestrian bridge with its innovative design, replaces a bridge that had deteriorated. Now lined by lit panels with star cut-outs, the surface engraved with the names of constellations, serves as an inspiration to other parks and recreation professionals when creating public spaces. The astronomical theme connects to the significance and history of the observatory and its influences on the community. The 28 metre-long bridge spans over German Mills Creek connecting people on either side of the creek and will serve as an access point to the development underway on the David Dunlap Observatory lands and park.
