My hometown

There are those that mock suburbia, saying that all its produces are mindless masses of mall-shoppers and SUV-drivers. While it is true that living in the ‘burbs might not be the most exciting nor ecological alternative anymore, I have to say that I look back with nothing but fondness on the years that I spent growing up in Richmond Hill, Ontario. It is known as the town that is ‘a little north and a little nicer’ than the behemoth that is Toronto and I for one have to agree that the town lives up to its motto.

The village of Richmond Hill had its beginning around 1801 when Abner Miles, an innkeeper and merchant from York, settled on Yonge Street at Major Mackenzie Drive. He established an inn, store, and ashery, thus creating a nucleus for future development. By 1830, the name 'Richmond Hill' had become well established, although the village was known briefly as Miles Hill and then Mount Pleasant. According to popular history, 'Richmond Hill' may have come about from a visit by the Duke of Richmond to the area in 1819.

This municipality that began as a small town situated partially within the Townships of Vaughan and Markham quickly developed because of its proximity to Toronto, as farmers came into town on their way to Toronto markets and people travelled up and down Yonge Street to and from communities further north. This growth has steadily continued and Richmond Hill has now grown to a population size of a whopping 132,030. The importance of Yonge St. to the growth of Richmond Hill becomes painfully apparent still today as one sits in bumper-to-bumper traffic during rush hours.

Inching along in traffic though allows one to see the many influences that have helped shape the town into its present form. The northern most section of Richmond Hill boasts the Oak Ridges Moraine, a protected green corridor that covers an area of 160 kilometres and has a wide diversity of streams, woodlands, wetlands, and significant flora and fauna. Driving further south one comes to the Mill Pond area that is the heart of ‘old’ Richmond Hill. Many of the houses in this area bear plaques, often dating back to the town’s beginning, that commemorate the original owners. Continuing along Yonge to south of Major Mackenzie Drive, one finds the Hillcrest Mall where I, in typical suburban kid fashion, spent many of my teenage years. Around this area, one finds restaurants that reflect the growing multiculturalism of the city, as well as movie theatres, bookstores and cafés that compete for space with the ever-growing residential areas.

The town seems to bursting at all its seams and if one goes a little to the west of Yonge St., one can see how the town has expanded to include a new centre that is more modern and business-oriented. It is an expansion that has come about largely through the rise in the number of immigrants from Hong Kong and thus many of the shop signs welcome customers both in English and Cantonese. Perhaps this is the aspect I miss the most when I think of my hometown, the vibrancy and excitement that a multicultural make-up brings to an area.

With all this to offer it is no wonder that Richmond Hill continues to be one of Canada’s fastest growing municipalities. I know I appreciate the fact that it was small enough to provide a safe haven for me to grow up in, but large enough to provide ample distractions to keep me out of trouble. I whole-heartedly encourage anyone who is travelling in the area to discover what a truly great place my hometown really is!

Laura Ojanen

The Finnish-Canadian Society would like to invite its members to share with us stories of their hometowns. Tell us why you loved it, or hated it! Please forward your submissions to info@suomikanadaseura.fi.