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71-416: The mayor serves as the leader of council, presiding over meetings to maintain order, and calling special meetings when needed. The mayor and councillors both propose, oversee the administration and finances of Richmond Hill and direction the operations of the city's departments, as well as meeting with residents and government agencies to discuss issues relevant to Richmond Hill and its residents. Dave Barrow

142-561: A European forged-iron axehead, believed to be Basque , was discovered at the site--"the earliest European piece of iron ever found in the North American interior." Other significant late precontact Huron village sites have been located to the south-east (the earlier Draper Site on the Pickering Airport lands) and to the north-west of urban Stouffville (the later Ratcliff or Baker Hill Site on Ontario Highway 48 , and

213-566: A decision that received unanimous support from the city council. Barrow took a medical leave of absence starting in February 2021. Although he intended to resume his duties as mayor by the fall that year, he ultimately resigned from the position in September 2021, and was succeeded by David West after a by-election. Barrow was married to Tomye Anne until his death. Together, they had two children: Greg and Jennifer. Barrow died on

284-462: A diversity of Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist and Congregational places of worship. In 1869 Ballantrae had a population of 75, Bloomington 50, Gormley 80, Lemonville 75, and Ringwood 100. In 1876, there was a regular stage coach connection from the hamlet of Stouffville to Ringwood , Ballantrae , Lemonville , Glasgow , Altona and Claremont . In 1877, Stouffville became an incorporated village. Stouffville's growth

355-510: A land area of 206.42 km (79.70 sq mi), it had a population density of 241.6/km (625.7/sq mi) in 2021. In 2021 with a population of 49,864, 35% of residents were immigrants. The number of visible minorities grew from 4.53% in 2001, to 24.5% in 2011 and 45.8% in 2021 (the trend is expected to continue through 2031). In 2018–19, 43% of the Grade 3 children in one of the community's newer schools were effectively bi-lingual (i.e.,

426-544: A large music hall, roller-skating rink, and curling rink. In 1911 Stouffville had a public library, two banks, two newspapers, as well as telephone and telegraph connections. Intensive forestry in Whitchurch Township led to large-scale deforestation , eroding the thinner soils of northern Whitchurch into sand deserts ; by 1850 Whitchurch Township was only 35 per cent wooded, and that was reduced to 7 per cent by 1910. The Lake Simcoe Junction Railway Line

497-534: A major self-transformation. Not unlike the late 19th century, responsible land and water stewardship, as well as the positive integration of many new residents annually into the community, define the challenges and opportunities for Whitchurch–Stouffville in the years to come. The most significant challenge facing Whitchurch–Stouffville in coming years, however, is the federal government's potential development of an international airport immediately south-east of Whitchurch–Stouffville (the Pickering Airport lands). Under

568-567: A network of regional roads that form a grid pattern across the town. In 1994, a plan to connect urban Stouffville directly to Highway 401 via the proposed East Metro Freeway was cancelled in large part due to the concerns of residents and the work of the Rouge River activist groups. Ninth Line has since been widened to handle traffic load south to Highway 407 in Markham and onto Highway 404 to connect with Highway 401. Whitchurch–Stouffville

639-457: A position approximately 200 m (660 ft) north of 19th Avenue ( York Regional Road 29 ), and is irregular due to the annexation of lands formerly part of Markham Township in 1971. Between 2011 and 2021, the town grew 32.8%. The number of private dwellings jumped from 7,642 in 2001 to 16,705 in 2021, with an average of 3.0 people per private dwelling. The town projects a total population of 72,109 by 2031, and 91,654 in 2041, with most of

710-576: A salary increase of 54 per cent in 1998, stating that it was "not sending a very good message" to municipal staff and the public. He later voted in favour of having certain travel and conference expenses incurred by councillors' spouses covered at the expense of taxpayers in October that same year. He also advocated for the preservation of the Oak Ridges Moraine , and was opposed to the provincial government's proposal to construct housing on

781-534: A system of land concessions. This allowed for the organized distribution of land to settlers, with each concession containing five, 200-acre (0.81 km ) lots. This layout remains visible today, as the road network in the area reflects the locations of the boundaries between concession blocks. Early settlers of this period included Quakers and Mennonites —two pacifist groups from the nearby American states of Pennsylvania , Vermont and New York . Both groups were seeking religious freedom, and were identified by

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852-795: A watershed divide. Streams and rivers at the top of the Oak Ridges Moraine flow northward into the Lake Simcoe basin, part of the Lake Huron watershed. The southern sections (south of Bloomington Road ) make up the headwaters of the Rouge River and Duffins Creek, both of which flow into the Lake Ontario basin. These headwaters include many smaller streams and creeks throughout southern Whitchurch–Stouffville. Their identification and protection, plus reforestation in these area, has been identified as urgent for rebuilding water-capacity in

923-502: Is 206.22 km (79.62 sq mi) in area, and located in the mid-eastern area of the Regional Municipality of York on the ecologically-sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine . Its motto since 1993 is "country close to the city". The town is bounded by Davis Drive (York Regional Road 31) in the north, York-Durham Line ( York Regional Road 30 ) in the east, and Highway 404 in the west. The southern boundary conforms with

994-494: Is responsible for providing direction, policy advice and leadership to and through the Financial Services, Information Technology and City Clerk’s Divisions. It provides expert financial, administrative and technical services to ensure supports are in place for internal and external clients and partners. The Environment & Infrastructure Services Department oversees the design, construction and overall management of

1065-692: Is today Markham , first called Reesorville. Fifty-five more families from Pennsylvania, mostly Mennonite , arrived in Stoufferville in the next few years. Stouffer's sawmill was in operation by 1817 on Duffin's Creek on the Whitchurch side of Main Street. By 1825 he had a gristmill across the street on the Markham Township side of Main St. as well. In the early 1830s, the old Stouffville Road

1136-643: Is traversed by two railway lines: One is Canadian National Railway 's primary freight corridor connecting Greater Toronto to Northern Ontario and Western Canada, which is being considered for future GO Transit train service with stations in the communities of Vandorf and Gormley (West). The other railway line, formerly the Toronto and Nipissing Railway , is now owned by GO Transit and hosts Stouffville line passenger service to and from Toronto . This line includes two stations in Whitchurch–Stouffville:

1207-562: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario by Paul Calandra , a member of the governing Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario . At the federal level Whitchurch–Stouffville is in the riding of Markham—Stouffville . Since the federal election of October 2019 , the riding has been represented by Helena Jaczek , former Minister of Community and Social Services in Ontario. The greatest portion of Whitchurch–Stouffville lies on

1278-656: The Oak Ridges Moraine . The moraine consists of knobby hills between 290 and 373 meters above sea level of irregularly bedded layers of unconsolidated sand and gravel (built-up glacial debris) deposited by the meltwater of the Wisconsin glacier some twenty-five thousand to ten thousand years ago. In a few cases the retreating glacier left behind and buried huge blocks of ice which, when melted, created deep, water-filled depressions known as kettle lakes . Preston Lake , Van Nostrand Lake and Musselman Lake are three such examples. The boundaries of Whitchurch–Stouffville contain

1349-832: The Old Fort or Aurora Site on Kennedy Road). The western end of Whitchurch and Markham townships was purchased by the British crown from the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation in 1787 as part of the Toronto Purchase . Whitchurch Township was created in 1792 as one of ten townships in York County . It was named in honour of the village of Whitchurch, Herefordshire in England , where

1420-591: The Stouffville GO Station in urban Stouffville, and the line's terminus, Old Elm GO Station , located to Stouffville's northeast. The York-Durham Heritage Railway also runs historical trains between the station and Uxbridge on summer weekends. Until 2012, York Region Transit (YRT) operated two routes (9 and 15) within urban Stouffville, with connection to the Markham-Stouffville Hospital and other Markham routes. With

1491-703: The Upper Canadian government as people with necessary skills and abilities for establishing viable communities that could, in turn, attract others to settle in the region. The Crown also granted land in Upper Canada to mercenary German Hessian soldiers , such as Stegman, in exchange for their service against the Thirteen Colonies in the American Revolution . Many of the first settlements in Whitchurch Township were developed at

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1562-652: The York Catholic District School Board . A French Public School Board trustee and a French Catholic School Board trustees are also elected on the same ballot as the mayor and town councillors. As of the election in 2022, the elected trustees are: English Public School Board : Melanie Wright English Separate School Board : Elizabeth Crowe Conseil Scolaire Viamonde : Stephania Sigurdson Forbes Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir : Donald Blais In 2008, 94.4% of Whitchurch–Stouffville residents were either satisfied or very satisfied with

1633-469: The 2010 municipal elections and again in 2021 for the 2022 municipal elections. As of the 2022 election, the elected council members are: Mayor : Iain Lovatt Councillors : Hugo T. Kroon, Maurice Smith, Keith Acton, Rick Upton, Richard Bartley, Sue Sherban One York Region District School Board trustee is elected to represent Whitchurch–Stouffville and Aurora, as well as one trustee for

1704-627: The 2012 York Region Transit Service Plan, the two routes were merged, and the frequency of direct buses to the hospital YRT transit hub was reduced. In February 2014, a new Route 15 was introduced, connecting Stouffville to Yonge Street in Richmond Hill and to a future GO-Station in Gormley . GO Transit operates bus services in Stouffville, with buses traveling south into Markham and to Union Station , Toronto, as well as services north to

1775-734: The City's water & wastewater infrastructure, delivery of recreational & cultural programs and managing the city's recreational facilities. The department also runs special events, such as Concerts in the Park and The Reel Thing , a local film festival. The Community Services Department also runs the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts . The Planning & Regulatory Services Department provides Planning and Building related services to Council, other departments and

1846-510: The City’s municipal infrastructure and environmental programs. The Department has a strategic focus on the direction and management of environmental services and initiatives that support future needs and interests of the community. The integration of all design and construction projects for facilities, parks, roads, water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure resides in this Department. The Chief Administrative Office provides Corporate leadership in

1917-552: The Ministry of the Environment when smog conditions are expected to reach the poor category in Ontario. The Greater Toronto Area had 13 smog days in 2008, 29 in 2007, 11 in 2006, 48 in 2005. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , Whitchurch-Stouffville had a population of 49,864 living in 16,707 of its 17,154 total private dwellings, a change of 8.8% from its 2016 population of 45,837 . With

1988-461: The Rouge River watershed which can off-set the worst environmental impacts (e.g., flash flooding, erosion and ground water contamination) of rapid urbanization. The heavily wooded Vivian Infiltration Area is an environmentally significant hydrological infiltration area that contributes groundwater to the Oak Ridges aquifer complex. The northwestern corner of Whitchurch–Stouffville is outside

2059-628: The Town decided to drop the word Whitchurch from signs, for "branding" reasons. While signs would indicate Town of Stouffville , the official name remained Whitchurch-Stouffville. Whitchurch–Stouffville is governed by a mayor and six councillors, with one councillor representing each of the six municipal wards. The Mayor of Whitchurch–Stouffville represents the town on the York Regional Council . The original ward boundaries were created with amalgamation in 1971, and were amended in 2009 for

2130-596: The United Empire Loyalists. The white church symbolizes Whitchurch, and the star and chalice come from the Stouffer family (Swiss) coat of arms. The growth of Toronto brought serious ecological problems to Whitchurch–Stouffville. Between 1962 and 1969, hundreds of thousands of litres per month of sulfuric acid, calcium hydroxide, and oil waste were poured into unlined Whitchurch–Stouffville dumps never designed as landfill sites and situated directly above

2201-662: The Walmart and Smart Centre). A "Needs Assessment Study" was completed by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for the federal government in May 2010. After a "due diligence review," Transport Canada released the report in July 2011, which identified the most likely time range for the need of the airport to be 2027–2029, and confirmed the site layout proposed in the 2004 Draft Plan Report. In late 2019,

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2272-496: The Whitchurch Historical Committee warned a new generation of "Whitchurch-Stouffville residents" to be "vigilant to treat trees and forests with respect ... In the 1990s care must be taken so that urbanization and concrete road-building do not repeat the destruction to our forest heritage." Though growth in the hamlets of Whitchurch–Stouffville was stagnant after the demise of the forest industry,

2343-472: The current draft plan, approaches for two of the three landing strips would be directly above Whitchurch–Stouffville communities: the first over Ballantrae , Musselman's Lake and the north-east corner of urban Stouffville, with planes descending (or ascending) from 535 to 365 metres (with an allowable building height in Stouffville of 43 metres); the second over Gormley and the Dickson Hill area (near

2414-631: The ecological integrity of the moraine and its hydrological features. The Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville consists of several distinct communities and the intermediary countryside. The largest urban area is the community of Stouffville proper (2021 pop. 36,753 ), while other communities in the larger town include Ballantrae , Bethesda , Bloomington , Cedar Valley, Gormley , Lemonville , Lincolnville , Musselman's Lake , Pine Orchard , Pleasantville , Preston Lake , Ringwood , Vandorf , Vivian , and Wesley Corners . The oldest human artifacts found in Whitchurch Township date to 1500 BC and were found in

2485-538: The elevated ground surface of the moraine, they rise causing precipitation. Under the Köppen climate classification , Stouffville has a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfb ) with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Because of increasing greenhouse gas emissions , the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources estimates a 1 degree increase in summer and 2 degree increase in winter average temperatures in

2556-495: The environmental health of the lake and the surrounding community. In August 2011, the municipal offices were moved into a business park area at 111 Sandiford Drive in Stouffville. The municipal offices were previously at 37 Sandiford Drive (2008) and Civic Avenue (1959). At the provincial level Whitchurch–Stouffville is in the Markham-Stouffville electoral district. Since 2018 this riding has been represented at

2627-494: The family of Elizabeth Simcoe lived (she was the wife of the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada Sir John Graves Simcoe ). The first European settlements in Whitchurch Township were established in the 1790s. The south-Central Ontario Mississaugas did not formally cede these areas of Whitchurch and southern Ontario until 1923. Between 1800 and 1802, John Stegman completed a survey of the township, which created

2698-668: The first language learned at home was other than English). According to the 2021 Census, English is the mother tongue for 61.4% of Whitchurch–Stouffville residents. Immigrant languages with the most native speakers are Cantonese (8.2%), Mandarin (4.5%) and Tamil (3.8%). The most common non-European ethnic origins represented in Whitchurch-Stoufville as per the 2021 census are Chinese (17%), Indian (India) (5.2%), Sri Lankan (3.2%), Filipino (3%), and Tamil (2.8%). Primarily roadways include Highway 48 , Highway 407 , and Highway 404 , which are in turn complemented by

2769-451: The general public. Each division within the department has responsibility for various stages and aspects of land development and construction of buildings, as well as the administration of various City by-laws . It responds to the specific needs of Council, the public and the development industry. Richmond Hill was incorporated as a village in 1873, and the village council consisted of a reeve and four village councillors. The councillors were

2840-685: The growth within the urban boundaries of the Community of Stouffville plus lands adjacent to Highway 48 and south of Stouffville Road. Future growth is governed provincially by the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act (2001), the Greenbelt Protection Act (2005) and the Places to Grow Act (2005). The intent of these statutes is to prevent urban sprawl on environmentally sensitive land and to protect

2911-526: The hamlet of Ringwood (now part of urban Stouffville). Prior to the arrival of Europeans, two Native trails crossed through what is today Whitchurch–Stouffville. The Vandorf Trail ran from the source waters of the Rouge River to Newmarket , across the heights of the hamlet of Vandorf . The Rouge Trail ran along the Rouge River and northwest from Musselman Lake ; both were part of the aboriginal and Coureur des bois trail system leading through dense forests from Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe . The territory

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2982-405: The incorporation of York Region to have a mayor, two regional councillors shared with York Region Council, and six town councillors. 1970 had also seen Richmond Hill expand from 1,700 acres (6.9 km) to 27,000 acres (110 km) and from 19000 residents to 34000 residents with the annexation of land from Whitchurch Township , Markham Township , Vaughan Township and King Township . In 1982,

3053-437: The integrated front line services required to provide for an active, attractive, safe and connected community. The department includes Fire & Emergency Services, Parks Operations, Public Works Operations and Recreation & Culture. The Community Services Department is responsible for delivering Fire & Emergency Services programs, maintaining parks, road repair and replacement, garbage & recycling programs, operation of

3124-462: The intersections of main roads throughout the township and /or near streams where mills could be built to process the timber cleared from the land. Stoufferville was one such hamlet , developing around the saw and grist mills of Abraham Stouffer , a Mennonite who with his wife Elizabeth Reesor Stouffer immigrated from Chambersburg , Pennsylvania in 1804. He acquired 600 acres (2.4 km ) of land. Elizabeth's brother Peter Reesor established what

3195-538: The landform. During the 2003 municipal election, Barrow ran on a platform of alleviating traffic congestion in the area and starting a road safety-watch program. He became deputy mayor that year, and was acting mayor when incumbent William F. Bell underwent hip surgery in February 2004. Barrow was elected mayor of Richmond Hill in November 2006, following Bell's retirement. He was succeeded as regional councillor by Vito Spatafora . Although Barrow called for

3266-936: The moraine and is part of the Schomberg Lake plain, an ancient lake-bed overlain by silts and fine sands. The soil formed over the former lake-bed is well-drained, arable farmland. The southernmost portion of Whitchurch–Stouffville west of Highway 48 lies below the moraine and is a clay-loam till plain. Tree species native to Whitchurch–Stouffville include: American Mountain Ash , Balsam Fir , Bitternut Hickory , Black Cherry , Black Spruce , Bur Oak , Eastern Hemlock , Eastern White Cedar , Peachleaf Willow , Pin Cherry , Red Oak , Red Maple , Red Pine , Shagbark Hickory , Silver Maple , Sugar Maple , Tamarack , Trembling Aspen , White Birch , White Oak , White Pine and White Spruce . In 2012, Whitchurch–Stouffville's forest cover

3337-578: The morning of September 22, 2022, in Richmond Hill. He was diagnosed with dementia and a stroke prior to his death at the age of 75. Barrow was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012). In September 2022, a week before his death, the Richmond Hill council dedicated the Dave Barrow Square, located east of the city's Central Library , in his honour. A portion of

3408-609: The overall management of the City's five departments. In this role, the Chief Administrative Officer reviews and approves all recommendations made to Council and Committees of Council, and manages corporate strategic planning. The Chief Administrative Officer acts as department head to the Legal Division, Human Resources and the Office of Strategic Initiatives. The Community Services Department delivers

3479-402: The overall quality of life in the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville. In a major community survey, close to 30% of the respondents described the town as fine, good, nice, great, or pleasant; more than half of the respondents like the community or small-town feel, while 46.3% enjoyed the friendly neighbourhoods. The most important municipal issues indicated by residents in 2008 were the need to improve

3550-550: The population began to grow again in the 1970s, with development in Metropolitan Toronto and the consequent arrival of new commuters. These developments led to a reexamination at the provincial level of municipal governance. On January 1, 1971, Whitchurch Township and the Village of Stouffville were merged to create the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville; the combined population was 11,487. The town's southern boundary

3621-655: The region between 2011 and 2040, and a 0% to 10% decrease in precipitation (compared to averages between 1970 and 2000). Smog producing ground-level ozone is a problem affecting the entire Greater Toronto Area . A major pathway for airborne pollutants flows from the upper Midwest United States and the Ohio River Valley and across southern Ontario and Toronto; key sources are coal-burning power-plants and vehicle engines. On episode days (O3 > 82 ppb), Whitchurch–Stouffville reaches its peak about one to two hours later than Toronto. Smog Advisory Alerts are issued by

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3692-470: The road system; traffic issues; increasing urbanization and overcrowding; land use development and sprawl; and the cost of living (including taxes and user fees) in the town. Environmental protection, including environmental assessments for new development and natural preservation measures, was identified as matter of high importance by residents, but low on a scale of satisfaction. In the hamlet of Musselman's Lake , 72% of residents in 2009 were concerned about

3763-577: The schoolhouse." Stouffville was considered a centre "of Radical opinion," one of the "hotbeds of revolution," and it was here that William Lyon Mackenzie set forth his plan for the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837–38. The hamlet of Stouffville grew rapidly in the 1840s, and by 1849, it had "one physician and surgeon, two stores, two taverns, one blacksmith, one waggon maker, one oatmeal mill, one tailor, one shoemaker." The population reached 350 in 1851, 600 in 1866, and 866 in 1881, with

3834-486: The settlement area of Stouffville (Main Street, east of 10th Line); consequently 239 "significant drinking water threats" have been identified. Whitchurch–Stouffville has a continental climate moderated by the Great Lakes and influenced by warm, moist air masses from the south, and cold, dry air from the north. The Oak Ridges Moraine affects levels of precipitation: as air masses arrive from Lake Ontario and reach

3905-562: The site, threatening ground water quality. With new commuter rail service on the Stouffville Line in the 1990s, the drilling of two deep aquifer wells to secure safer water for a large, new development in the hamlet of Ballantrae in 1996, and the controversial expansion of the York-Durham Sewage System Big Pipe with additional water capacity from Lake Ontario, Whitchurch–Stouffville began

3976-726: The terms of councillors were extended to three years, and in 2006 the terms were extended to four years. In March 2019, Richmond Hill was designated a city. Dave Barrow David Charles Barrow (May 7, 1947 – September 22, 2022) was a Canadian politician. He served as the mayor of Richmond Hill from 2006 to 2021 and previously served on its city council. Barrow was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario , on May 7, 1947, to Elgin "Tubby" and Mary Barrow. He completed his primary education at McConaghy Public School, before attending Richmond Hill High School in his hometown. He then studied at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute . Barrow

4047-401: The top four vote-getters of all persons running for the job. The reeve and councillors served one-year terms. Richmond Hill was incorporated as a town in 1957, and the town council was expanded to include a mayor, a reeve, a deputy reeve and four town councillors. In 1966, the council began to serve two-year terms, rather than the previous one-year terms. The council was reorganised in 1971 after

4118-583: The town had more than 62²km of protected forest; the forest is considered one of the most successful restorations of a degraded landscape in North America. Yet similar environmental consequences due to increased urbanization were projected in 2007 by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as probable for southern Whitchurch–Stouffville (headwaters of the Rouge River watershed) if targeted plantings in this area did not begin quickly. Already in 1993,

4189-443: The town hall to be relocated back to the city's downtown – as part of an overall plan to revive the core of Richmond Hill – he later walked back on the plan, reluctant to devote a significant amount of the municipality's reserve funds into a single project. Barrow was subsequently re-elected in 2010, 2014, and 2018. In late 2017, he declined an offer from the provincial government to host a cannabis retail location in Richmond Hill,

4260-465: The town's main aquifer. This was followed by years of solid waste from Toronto (1,100 tons per day in 1982). In the early 1980s, a group initially named "Concerned Mothers" found that the miscarriage rate in Whitchurch–Stouffville was 26% compared to the provincial average of 15%, and that the town had a high rate of cancer and birth defects. Though the Ministry of Environment was satisfied that

4331-709: The trail in the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve was also renamed the David Barrow Trail that same month. Whitchurch Township Whitchurch-Stouffville / ˈ w ɪ tʃ ər tʃ ˈ s t oʊ v ɪ l / ( 2021 population 49,864 ) is a town in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario , Canada, approximately 50 km (31 mi) north of downtown Toronto , and 55 km (34 mi) north-east of Toronto Pearson International Airport . It

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4402-480: The vacancy of West's former seat until November 14, 2022. City Council oversees the municipal departments, which deliver a variety of services to the residents of Richmond Hill. The city has a Community Services Department, Corporate & Financial Services Department, Environment & Infrastructure Services Department, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer and Planning & Regulatory Services Department. The city’s Corporate & Financial Services Department

4473-519: The wells tested in 1974 and 1981 had negligible levels of cancer causing agents ( mutagens ), the town opposed the expansion of the "York Sanitation Site #4". Only after much grass-roots advocacy at the provincial level was the site ordered to close on June 30, 1983. In 1984 it was reported in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario that PCBs were found in well-water, and that 27,000 gallons of contaminated leachate per day were leaking from

4544-680: Was 28.9%. Whitchurch–Stouffville's water supply system is both groundwater-based with five municipal wells and since 2009 lake-based ( Lake Ontario ) as well. 5,500 cubic metres of water are withdrawn from the Oak Ridges Aquifer and the Thorncliffe Aquifer daily. Stouffville's well-water is chlorinated for disinfection, and sodium silicate is added to keep iron from staining plumbing fixtures and laundry. Two wells receive additional disinfection through an ultraviolet (UV) system. Three groundwater wells are in close proximity to

4615-507: Was aided by the establishment of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway , built in 1871, which connected Stouffville and Uxbridge with Toronto . In 1877, a second track was built north to Jackson's Point on Lake Simcoe . These connections were created in large part to provide a reliable and efficient means of transporting timber harvested and milled in these regions. Soon Stouffville Junction serviced thirty trains per day. During this time of prosperity, Stouffville businessman R.J. Daley built

4686-473: Was also moved four farm lots south of the original southern boundary of Main Street. This land was formerly a part of Markham Township . Whitchurch–Stouffville adopted its coat of arms in 1973 (see information box right). The dove of peace, the original seal of Whitchurch Township, is at the crest, recalling the pacifist Quaker and Mennonite settlers who founded many of the town's communities, including Stouffville. The British Union banner of 1707 pays tribute to

4757-500: Was carved through largely virgin forest to connect York ( Toronto ) with Brock Township; a post office was opened in 1832 and the name Stouffville was standardized. In 1839, a new resident from England noted that Stouffville still had "no church (other than the Mennonite Meeting House in neighbouring Altona ), baker, or butcher," though "saddlebag [Methodist circuit] preachers sometimes arrived and held meetings at

4828-521: Was consequently abandoned in 1927. Reforestation efforts were begun locally, and with the passage of the Reforestation Act (1911), the process of reclaiming these areas began. Vivian Forest, a large conservation area in northern Whitchurch–Stouffville, was established in 1924 for this purpose. This development has helped to restore the water-holding capacity of the soil and to reduce the cycles of flash spring floods and summer drought. In 2008,

4899-425: Was elected mayor in 2018 but in September 2021, he announced that he would be leaving the position. Deputy mayor Joe Di Paola served as acting mayor after Barrow's resignation until a by-election could be held to elect a permanent replacement. Ward 4 councillor David West won the by-election held from January 18-24th, 2022 and he was sworn in as mayor the following day. Raika Sheppard was appointed by council to fill

4970-481: Was first elected to political office in 1978, representing Ward 4 in the Richmond Hill city council. He served in that capacity until 1985, when he went back to his family's business – an insurance brokerage company established by his father in 1964 – following the death of the elder Barrow. After just over a decade outside politics, he made a comeback in 1997 when he was elected to the York Regional Council . Barrow voted against giving himself and fellow councillors

5041-488: Was the site of several Native villages, including Iroquoian peoples' settlements around Preston Lake , Vandorf , and Musselman Lake . In 2003, a large 16th-century ancestral Huron village was discovered in Stouffville during land development; approximately 2000 people once inhabited the site ( Mantle Site ), from 1578 to 1623. A palisade protected more than 70 longhouses , and tens of thousands of artifacts were excavated here. In 2012, archaeologists revealed that

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