While it lasted, my time here at Tridel as a summer intern has been amazing. They say you know you’ve had a good job when you enjoy it so much it doesn’t actually feel like work. Whether it was visiting a construction site, writing a post, or creating a video, I truly enjoyed the various processes that went along with maintaining tridelbelinda.com. I was fortunate enough to check out every current Tridel development (and there are about twenty of them across the GTA!), noting the unique features of each one.

I want to thank E-Marketing Manager Gino Maulucci for not only giving me the opportunity to apply the journalism skills I learnt in school, but allowing me to expand upon these skills. He gave me the freedom to experiment creatively with different techniques (sound bites, sound slides, slideshows etc.), and in many instances I was learning as I went along. I want to also thank Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Jim Ritchie for overseeing everything, as well as AJ DelZotto for teaming up with me on some of the videos.

I love the bold direction Tridel’s taking with social media, and am thankful to have been a part of it. Besides the blog site, I found it extremely effective to interact with the public using Twitter and Facebook, while communicating through different mediums like video and photography.

The housing community seems to have embraced social media as well, with sites like Buzz Buzz Home, The Red Pin, and Urban Toronto forming a very active community on Twitter. It’s great to read up on the wealth of great content that’s out there.

Because it’s hard for an individual to relate to a product or large company, one of my goals for the summer was to give a more human face to the brand. The ideas shared on the blog and Twitter feed had a distinct personal edge to them, as they were through my perspective – an average Torontonian with a genuine interest in the housing market. With that in mind, I was able to be honest and unfiltered with my posts. I hope that through my eyes, I’ve given you guys an interesting and informative look at the many exciting projects Tridel has in development.

It’s overwhelming to see the site has gotten almost 5600 hits. Thanks to each and every one of you who’s read my posts and shown support!

That’s when I swoop in and assure them that yes indeed, construction is definitely underway at Tridel’s condominium community in Etobicoke, which had over 375 suites sell in record time. Adjacent to the Etobicoke Civic Centre, just north of Bloor St. W. on the West Mall, the two towers will begin occupancy mid-2013.

Taking a tour of the presentation centre yesterday, Sales Representative Rebecca Copping informed me that sales have picked up since the start of construction, with the office getting a lot more drop-ins. Tower one (which has 276 suites) is already over 80 per cent sold and Tower two (with 279 suites) is over 70 per cent sold.

Walking around the two-bedroom model suite, I couldn’t help but note how West Village features the perfect combination of affordability and quality. With one bedrooms starting at $265,000 and two bedrooms starting at $307,000, residents have the luxury of using multi-million dollar amenities and being within minutes of great shops/restaurants (Sherway Gardens, Cloverdale Mall, Loblaws).

If one were to venture out of the “community within a community,” they have easy access to Highways 427 and 401. Pearson International Airport is a convenient seven-minute drive. Public transit is also accessible with a 14-minute direct bus ride to Kipling Station. For a leisurely stroll around the neighbourhood, West Mall Park, Broadacres Park, and East Mall Park are just a couple of the green paradises worth checking out.

While it’s one thing to read about me gushing and raving about the many benefits of living at West Village (and I can go on for awhile), I strongly encourage everyone to drop-in and check it out for themselves. In the next couple weeks there’ll be newly-released floor plans for the top five floors of Tower One and Two, so that’s something else to look out for.

Having departed from Vancouver on May 29, they are nearing the end of the long trek as they finish on August 28 in St. John’s after cycling a total distance of 8000km.

Throughout the ride, the “Ride for Rehab” campaign has worked to promote awareness and raise over $16,000 for cardiac rehabilitation centres nation-wide.

Part of the awareness aspect involves encouraging active lifestyles that help prevent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The other aspect is demonstrating how issues with cardiac health do not put an end to an active lifestyle.

In support of “Ride for Rehab,” Tridel has stepped up as a corporate donor, pledging three dollars for every kilometre of the ride, which adds up to a donation of $24,000. Total donations have now surpassed the goal of $16,000 by over $3,000.

The back story to the duo’s ambitious and selfless campaign traces back to 2006, when Alex and Vanessa were shocked to discover he had developed an eight centimetre dissection in his ascending aorta.

Over the course of forty-eight hours Alex underwent life-saving surgery to replace the damaged section of his aorta and rebuild his heart.

Having always considered himself a healthy, active person, post-surgery was a difficult process for Alex – he lost all confidence in his ability and fears of harming himself through activity prevented him from fully recovering.

His cardiologist referred him to the cardiac rehab centre at the Toronto Western Hospital, which proved to be a defining moment of his recovery. As Vanessa puts it, “Alex’s heart surgery may have been what ‘saved’ his life, it was really the support and training he experienced at Cardiac Rehab that brought him back to a life that he could own and control.”

Cardiac rehab gave him access to exercise equipment in a safe environment amongst health care professionals and patients who have had similar experiences. Together they helped him accept that recovery and a normal life post-surgery were obtainable goals.

Thankful of the support given by the centre, Alex wanted to give back to an organization that had done so much for him, hence his efforts to connect cardiac rehab centres across the country.

When Alex and Rebecca arrive in St. John’s, it will not only be a triumphant victory in the face of their personal obstacles, but a victory for all of us who’ve followed their journey and been inspired.

To greet them upon arrival, Tridel’s President Leo DelZotto will be flying to St. John’s to present the cheque to Alex in person. The Mayor of St. John’s will also be attending and talking about his own recent life-saving heart surgery.

With new condos like the Toronto Library District Condos set to construct in the rapidly-developing intersection of Bathurst/Front, the Wallman Architects-designed project maintains a distinct presence, its black and grey colour scheme complemented by white glazing on the balconies and red panels along the frame.

Despite having a modest effect on the skyline (14 stories), Rêve stretches from 560 Front St to the south all the way to Niagara St in the north, making it highly noticeable even for those passing by on Bathurst streetcars.

Striking and bold from the outside, the building interior continues this streak of modernity with a combination of classic elegance and futuristic overtones.

Keeping the design sleek, clean, and simple, the white walls in the lobby contour majestically around a glossy black couch that stretches out toward the elevators.

Ruby-red glass doors mark the entrance to the party lounge just down the hall from the concierge.

The minimalist design technique has the effect of emphasizing even the smallest of details, like carpet patterns or images etched into the walls.

Having proved the sceptics wrong, Rêve has gone on to demonstrate how the simplest combination of colours, shapes, and patterns can work to create an innovative condo community in Toronto’s downtown west.

For more photos of Rêve and the surrounding neighbourhood, check out the photo gallery.

These corporate partners each have employees, friends, and relatives currently waiting for unrelated donors to provide a stem cell match in their battle against leukemia.

Project Manager Lou Tersigni has been a vital part of the Tridel family for the past 13 years. Having begun treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) earlier this year, no one in his immediate family is compatible as a donor.

Others looking for an unrelated stem cell transplant include Toronto Det.-Sgt. Tony Coscarella, Franca Molinaro, and Tony (last name in confidence).

While the swab drive to be held on August 20 at the Vaughan Cultural Interpretive Centre (9541 Weston Rd) is largely in support these four individuals of Italian heritage, it is part of a larger campaign to help the 894 Canadian patients currently waiting for an unrelated match.

Please come out and support the community swab event this Saturday from 9am-9pm. You can also register online at OneMatch.ca to be placed in the database.

To join the Registry, you must be aged 17 to 50, healthy, and willing to donate bone marrow to anyone in need. Health problems that could make you ineligible include some heart conditions, cancer, blood diseases, and insulin-dependent diabetes.

FACT SHEET:
1. Currently, there are over 277,000 Canadians registered on Canada’s stem cell network – OneMatch, which is less than one per cent of Canada’s population.

2. One in 2 Canadian is eligible to donate blood; last year, only one in 60 did.

3. Only 30 per cent of patients in need of stem cell transplants are able to find a match within their own families. The remaining 70 per cent must rely on a match with a volunteer from the OneMatch Network to help save their lives. Every patient’s search is different and based on the complexity of genetic typing he/she has inherited.

4. There is an immediate need for new stem cell donors in Canada from all ethnic backgrounds.

5. For many patients, the link between the need for a stem cell or bone marrow transplant and the need for blood is often a critical one. Patients with bleeding disorders or certain types of cancer often receive blood products as part of their medical treatment. Leukemia patients, for example, may often need platelets (a component of blood that helps blood clot to stop bleeding) as part of their chemotherapy treatment.

6. While a patient awaits a match with an unrelated stem cell donor from within the OneMatch Network, a good blood supply is required to help the patient survive. Typically, stem cell patients also need blood in the recovery period immediately following a stem cell transplant – until the patient’s new bone marrow begins to generate new blood cells for the body.

7. Every 60 seconds someone in Canada needs blood or a blood product.

8. Each blood donation has the potential to improve or save up to three lives because each donation is separated into three blood components:
o Red blood cells, which carry oxygen;
o White blood cells, which fight infection; and
o Platelets, which control blood clotting and help to stop bleeding.

9. Stem cells are blood forming cells capable of developing into any of these blood components. Bone marrow is a rich source, but stem cells can also be found in our circulating blood (known as peripheral blood) and umbilical cord blood.

10. In a stem cell transplant, a patient’s diseased marrow is replaced with healthy stem cells from a donor. Every year, hundreds of Canadians need stem cell transplants to treat life-threatening illnesses like cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; diseases including aplastic anemia, immune dysfunctions; and genetic disorders.

Citing “cultural and religious insensitivity,” the Chinese (who occupy most of the building) were worried the construction of the hospice would not only drive down the value of their property, but invite bad energy or “chi.”

Unfortunately for those residents, the University of British Columbia followed through with their original plans, explaining how hospices were meant to be in a community and not hidden away.

A similar incident in 2008 unfolded when neighbours of an Agincourt property (beside the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course) opposed to plans of building a four-storey columbarium on a vacant lot near Birchmount/Sheppard. The columbarium was planned to house 17,500 urns of cremated human remains.

While the planning consultant for Birch Mount Park Ltd fervently assured the public their cemetery building would be “dignified and serene,” the city still received petitions and angry emails from 1,000 residents.

At a meeting held at Stephen Leacock Collegiate, one of the comments distributed to the 200 attendees read: “You will ridicule us and we will be labelled superstitious. But those beliefs are real and are a part of our culture.”

Feng shui is the 4000-year-old Chinese system of allocating and arranging elements of your home or workplace to improve one’s “chi.” Positive “chi” is reflected in one’s health, wealth, and happiness.

Having previously been suppressed in China during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, the practice has become widely popular, even in the Western world.

A good example is when real estate mogul Donald Trump hired a feng shui master to analyze the Trump Towers after losing a number of clients due to his properties’ bad feng shui.

Another famous practitioner is businessman Li Ka-shing, the richest person of East Asian descent in the world with an estimated wealth of US $26.0 billion (as of 2011). His real estate involvement in Canada includes the Concord Park Place and CityPlace developments.

Whether one is a believer of the superstitions associated with feng shui or not, there’s no denying that the Chinese have an overwhelmingly strong presence in the Canadian housing market.

Currently, around 80 per cent of all real estate sold in Vancouver is to Chinese/Hong Kong buyers.

A recent Wall Street Journal report indicates how real estate prices in Vancouver have been driven up by waves of Chinese buyers, leading the city to enter the ranks of one of the world’s most unaffordable housing markets.

Demographia, a property-affordability survey published by Illinois-based consultant Wendell Cox, estimates that median real-estate prices in Vancouver are 9.5 times the median household income.

As for the market in Toronto, Stephen Wong of Living Realty Inc. in Markham noted in February that Chinese investors account for 40-45 per cent of all new condo sales.

While it’s more than safe to say not every Chinese buyer is into feng shui, and that abiding by every “rule” of the practice is impossible, it is definitely an aspect to consider when trying to sell to the largest demographic of buyers. So without further ado, below is a list compiled of 10 basic feng shui rules, enjoy!

FENG SHUI 101:
-Disease: Don’t have the property within a few miles of a cemetery, funeral parlour, hospice, or even a church. The Chinese are against living near places of death, because the living should not mix with the dead or the dying. Likewise, they will refuse to live on a property where someone has passed away.

-Numerology: The number 4 is unlucky because it sounds like the word “death” in Chinese. 2, 3, 6, 8 are favourable numbers, with 8 symbolizing “prosperity.”

-House location: Avoid having a straight road leading directly to the home. Avoid building at the junction of a T-street. It is ideal to have good backing (i.e. a mountain or hill)  behind the property. Avoid having the property near a railroad.

-Entrance: The front entrance should not face the upstairs stairway – energy will quickly rush up to the higher or lower floor, but not enter the main floor. The front door should not have a view of the back door, since direct door alignment will allow good energy to escape through the back without having the chance to nourish the home.

A long narrow hallway is not ideal, as well as a mirror directly facing the main door. The mirror pushes away all the good “chi” that is supposed to enter the house.

-Kitchen placement: In terms of kitchen placement, ideally it is located somewhere at the back of the house, not right by the main entrance. It should not be facing a bathroom, as energies of the bathroom (release, purification) should not be mixed with the energies of the kitchen (cooking, love, support).

-Stove and sink: For the kitchen, the placement of the stove and sink are most important. Do not have the stovetop directly facing the kitchen sink. The idea that “water” and “fire” fight each other has led practitioners to believe any such placement will cause arguments and conflict within their family. Likewise, the sink and stove should not be side-by-side. It’s suggested that a wooden cutting board or wooden table be placed in between to separate the two elements.

-Cooking islands: These are favourable because the kitchen “flowing” into open space is desired (ex. living room or dining room). The cook should be able to see the entire room, including the doorway. Never have the cook’s back facing the doorway. Plus this allows them to talk more comfortably with kitchen guests, instead of facing the wall!

-Decoration: Avoid decorating the house with wind chimes. Often mistaken as a symbol of good luck and protection, feng shui practitioners believe they attract ghosts. Also avoid decorating with dried-up flowers (no life energy) – opt for a vase of fresh flowers instead, which will bring uplifting energy.

-Bedroom: Look at the arrangement of bedrooms to bathrooms so that beds won’t share a common wall with a toilet.  An ideal bedroom should not have a mirror facing the bed. A bathroom located on the floor above a bedroom or the main entry is also undesirable.  Avoid having the bed in direct line with the doorway. Part of the bed (like the backboard) should always touch a wall because it helps people feel more stable.

-Colours: The colour of the walls should be light, simple, and relaxing. Experimental colours with dark shading should be avoided.

HOUSING MARKET OVERVIEW (Robert Kavcec)
-The housing market in Toronto is as strong as anywhere in Canada, with the exception of Vancouver as far as price growth goes. Looking at metrics like sales or the month supply out in the market right now, things look pretty balanced.

-Despite being relatively balanced, there will be a modest downside going into 2012. Sales are expected to decline 3 percent next year and average prices will be down about 2 percent. There are several reasons for this, one being stricter mortgage rules having a marginal impact on affordability. There is no longer the option of purchasing homes with 35-40 year amortizations.

- One thing we’ve been looking has been prices relative to the median incomes in Canada, and we’re pretty well near record levels by that measure. I think Toronto specifically, average house prices are almost seven times the median family income. Now, that’s elevated relative to say, two or three years ago, before we went into recession. We were down at about 4.5 times median income, and Toronto has also created more expenses in Canada as a whole. Canada as a whole, we’re seeing prices about five times median income.

So now granted, some of that is justifiable given the low level of mortgage rates right now, but even when you account for that factor, it still looks like prices are a little bit stretched relative to income, then it’s probably one of the bigger reasons why we’re not expecting too much as far as house price growth goes over the next few years.

CONDO MARKET (Jim Ritchie)
-The condo industry has produced an average of 15,000 condo units each year, and this will be the 11th year at that number. This means that the market is consistent, with the marketplace absorbing that amount of condos for the past 11 years.

-While the city of Toronto continues to dominate in terms of actual unit sales, market share in the 905 region is increasing. In June, we saw 2,868 high-rise condo sales in the GTA, of which 63 percent were in the city of Toronto and the balance 37 percent outside in the 905. If you compare that to the first quarter of this year, the Toronto share was about 79 percent. This is a trend heavily influenced by price differential – obviously housing is more expensive in the core of the city. You can buy more suite for the money in the 905 region.

-That being said, the largest sub-markets continue to be in Toronto. Downtown West has always been number one. North York City Centre is up there in the top three or four. Waterfront Toronto is also an extremely popular sub-market. Downtown Toronto is the preferred location for first-time buyers and investors.

- In the past five years, the average price of a new condo has risen from about $350,000, to today where the average price is very close to $460,000. But obviously, we’ve had pressure from construction prices, land, increased levies, taxes such as the increased number on the HST. So, to manage this end price, the average size of the unit has been getting smaller, and is going to continue to go in that direction. So, it’s pretty typical to see today in the marketplace, for the mainstream market, one bedrooms that range in the 500 to 550 square foot range, one and dens that are in 600 and a very popular two-bedroom today is only 750 square feet. So, we can do this by really combining spaces. So, the living room, the dining room and the kitchen really all morph into one space. So, by utilizing linear kitchens, by going to European sized appliances, by increasing the vision glass in the primary space, making sure that there’s common flooring throughout the unit and using higher ceilings. You know, today nine foot really is the norm. Not too much in the marketplace with eight. So by doing all of that, I think we can accomplish very liveable space, but very efficient and smaller that was in the marketplace before.

-Today at least a third of our buyers are not putting in land lines in terms of phones. This is a growing trend bound to continue. As a result, we’ve had to introduce building cell repeaters in the core of the buildings and into the garage to accommodate that.

We are delivering a building in downtown Toronto, on Front Street West called Rêve, and it’ll be the first one that we have where you will be able to get complete cell service.

-The most popular type of unit continues to be the one-bedroom and den. About 40-42 percent of all suites sold are in that category. That was certainly the case in June, followed by one-bedrooms at about 24 percent. Two bedrooms make up 21 percent; 2 plus den are 11 percent; and whatever is left, which is not much, any other kind of category in terms of larger sizes or penthouses. The market works on affordability.

CONDO DEMOGRAPHICS (Jim Ritchie)
-Based on numbers at Tridel (that can be attributed to the last 10,000 sales), the average age of a purchaser in the GTA is 42. If we look at first-time buyers, the number is closer to the low 30s. I would say 33 would be a good number for first-time buyers.

-Almost half of end users are first-time buyers. Many account for single-person households, and a third of all our purchasers (not just first-timers) are single female.

-To summarize, about half of the market segment are first-time buyers. Another 25 percent are the traditional empty nesters who’ve moved out of their homes. The newest segment that continues to grow is the move-up buyer from an existing condo, accounting for another 25 percent of the market. These are people who’ve bought condos but are looking to move up from one size or change location.

BUDGETING (Fausto Bonomo)
-From a financial standpoint, condos are more affordable than single-family homes. There’s a larger variety of condo sizes that meet individual budgets and pricing thresholds. A big advantage for condos is that it usually takes longer to build, giving the purchaser more time to save money while the building is under construction. It gives individuals the opportunity to really budget themselves properly.

-From a budgeting standpoint, we advise our customers to start with a financial plan, start looking at a pre-approved mortgage, and to understand the fees associated with that. The planning should start at least a year prior to buying a condo, so buyers are able to shop around and understand their financial standing.

-As Jim mentioned before, affordability and lifestyle are the two main factors for buying a condo. Based on a recent survey that BMO had concluded, we saw that 46 percent of all Canadians who are planning to buy a condo will do so in the means of—to getting into the housing market.

-The one advantage that we’ve seen recently in the GTA over the last few years is that with purchasing a condo, a new condo unit, we’ve seen yearly price increases per square foot, which has translated into instant equity for our clients that have purchased the condo early on. This usually gives them an opportunity to build some equity, and obviously upgrade in the future to a larger unit and/or a single-family home down the road, depending on what their affordability and/or life stage or lifestyle factors are.

- We advise our clients to remember is when looking at a condo unit, a parking spot is usually a great idea. Although it could be expensive, it certainly adds to the resale value of that condo.

*Source: Statistics compiled from the official transcript of the BMO/Tridel panel discussion

Fairview Mall aside (that’s just the inner shopaholic speaking), it never ceases to amaze me the amount of development going on in the area. With Mayor Rob Ford’s plans to extend the subway line from Don Mills to Scarborough Town Centre (costing $4.2 billion), a recent InsideToronto article noted how residents along Sheppard Avenue living near future subway stations better get used to the idea of very tall buildings next to them.

Using density rights allocated from the subway station, a rendering supplied by the Tridel development group to city planners indicates that the intersection of Victoria Park and Sheppard will include seven towers (20-40 stories each) and other small buildings. Across the street from the Don Mills subway station, there’s already the much-anticipated Toronto debut of one of the world’s largest real estate developers. It’s no secret El Ad Group (owned by Israeli billionaire Yitzhak Tshuva) is causing a buzz with its plans to build a massive six-tower community known as Emerald City. The project will house 2,200 condo units.

This brings us to Tridel’s newest condo development, Argento. With its sales office slated to be at York Mills/Don Mills (by the Westin Hotel), the actual location of the condo development is almost halfway between Sheppard and York Mills. Now that’s what I call the best of both worlds. Residents at the future development will reap the benefits of many new shops and restaurants opening up on Sheppard, while not having to live directly in the traffic-jammed area.

On the other side, they’re able to enjoy the many new shops in the plazas that line York Mills Road up to Leslie Street. Non-existent back when I was in high school at York Mills CI, I’m always pleased nowadays to see neat places like Artisano Bakery Cafe, Dragon Pearl Buffet, and Galleria Supermarket opening up. For coffee addicts, the intersection from Don Mills-Leslie on York Mills has every coffee shop one needs – Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and two Second Cups. After a coffee break to re-cooperate from the first shopping spree at Fairview, a second shopping spree is always a great way to finish off the day. Thankfully Shops at Don Mills is conveniently located at Don Mills/Lawrence with 72 retail stores. The layout for Shops at Don Mills is designed like a neighbourhood retail strip, with storefronts forming an internal network of streets.

As if being within grasp of all these shops and restaurants in North York weren’t enough, Argento’s location right by the 401 and DVP can take you wherever your heart desires. Check out the video below of the Argento scale model, temporarily installed at head office. Don’t forget to also check out the photo gallery for more neighbourhood snapshots.

Awed by the decorative details of the columns, domes, and arches, I practically trip in front of Sales Representative Sheldon Black (who is sitting by the concierge). Sheldon’s a veteran at Tridel who’s semi-retired after 26 years. He looks at me and jokes that this must be the new generation of Tridel.

He then guides me upstairs to the last penthouse for sale at Renaissance, PH10. Without AJ around anymore to do the video work, we enter the suite and I quickly embark on an ambitious goal to capture everything on camera, video, and recorder. Sheldon’s in one corner adjusting the air conditioning for five minutes but finally he looks over quizzically and asks: “What are you doing with all that?”  I explain to him that being a perfectionist, I probably take 500 shots of one place and end up choosing less than a hundred to publish. Even by the end of the visit I don’t think he understood this, as he kept wondering why I had to take pictures AND record. He finally exclaimed that a career in photography might be suitable for me.

Besides having Sheldon there as entertaining company (although sometimes I can’t tell if he’s joking), I was fortunate enough to take in the beautifully-decorated suite with large windows providing an expansive view of the neighbourhood. While views of busy city life can sometimes be unsettling for those of us wanting to take a breather, the view provided from the tenth floor of Renaissance is a great escape into a soothing landscape of trees and historic buildings.

The suite itself is very comfortable to be in, with two bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. At 1,975 sq.ft., you walk into the suite with the kitchen on your immediate left leading to the spacious dining room and living room in the main area. Adjacent to the living room, the den makes for a great reading and relaxation area.

The hallway on the right leads to the bathrooms and bedrooms, and I must note that the walk-in closet in the master bedroom is massive! It’s designed to fit and organize every shoe and clothing item one can possibly have. The master bathroom not only has a separate shower and bath tub, but separate His & Her sinks as well.

Describing Renaissance PH10 in a few words, “refined” and “classy” definitely come to mind, as well as “elegant” and “luxurious.” To see Signature Collection penthouse 10 for yourself, please contact Sheldon Black and he’d be more than happy to guide you around. The suite is priced at $995,000.

Churches here have that architectural feel of 15th century Florence and central Italy, contributing to the serene comfort one feels upon entering the neighbourhood. This is complemented by the colourful palette of spring flowers and backdrop of lush greenery.

It feels so safe and peaceful taking a leisurely stroll on this gorgeous Thursday. Some have taken advantage of the morning sun by enjoying a walk with their dogs. Others are chatting with friends as they power-walk their way through small streets. Gone is the stress of fast-paced living that is synonymous with living in the big city. Just on the outskirts of Toronto in the central portion of York Region, historic Richmond Hill is a haven for those who appreciate the simple things in life. Whereas downtown rush hour alternates between rude honking, swearing in traffic, and pushing through the subway, here storeowners take the time to greet passers-by with genuine smiles!

Enjoying lunch on the picnic benches near the baseball diamond, it’s so quiet that I can’t help but observe sounds of nearby birds and the rustling of century-old trees. It’s a nice feeling to just sit and enjoy the beauties of nature. There’s the faraway laughter of children playing in the nearby Unity Park, and the faint court sounds of a tennis game up ahead.

As the afternoon heat wave sets in, I walk across the field toward the tennis courts and what appears to be a lawn bowling game. A group of elderly folks are re-painting the benches that line each “rink” of play. They’re also happily chatting about their friend’s upcoming trip to Israel. Seeing the well-manicured grass and perennial gardens that surround the bowling green, I ask to take pictures and am greeted with overwhelming warmth and kindness. One of the players goes inside to fetch me a brochure while the others try to persuade me to take part in a game.

It’s easy to see why one would love to call this place home.

Neighbourhood Highlights
- Access to network of parks and pathways (Crosby Park, Unity Park, William Graham Park)
-Nearby Hwy 407 & Hwy 404
-VIVA rapid transport to Finch Subway Station
-Specialty grocery stores: Grande Cheese, What-a-Bagel, T&T Supermarket
-Hillcrest Mall
-Mill Pond
-Skating Rinks: Ed Sackfield, Richmond Green skate trail
-Richmond Hill Central Library