York Region Turns 50: A Look Back and Forward
Katherine Chislett
Executive Leader in Human Services | Former Commissioner of Community & Health Services | Guiding Strategic Development & Impact Across Sectors
One spring day, in a galaxy far, far away, the world experienced Star Wars for the first time.
It was during the same era when we listened to music in three distinct ways: vinyl at home, cassettes on the run and 8-tracks…well…I’m actually still not really sure why we had those. I digress.
A time when chia pets had a sought-after hairstyle and bowl cuts were fashionable. A time when shag carpet reigned and disco music ruled.
Ah, the 1970s. What a time to be alive and what a time to launch a community!
Every story starts somewhere, and for the Regional Municipality of York Region, our story starts on January 1, 1971. At the time, only 169,200 residents called the Region home (and likely a similar number of those iconic Farrah Fawcett posters to boot).
Fast forward to 50 years later, and here we are today, celebrating our collective history and reflecting on the experiences that shaped our people, neighbourhoods and communities.?
Pictured: First members of York Regional Council (1970-1972), 1970?
As Commissioner of York Region’s Community and Health Services Department, I have the privilege of building on the incredible structures put in place to support our thriving community by those who came before me. I’m overcome with pride every time I reflect on what we have accomplished and continue to champion for our people—the supports, services and programs that are changing and improving lives every day.?
My team and I humbly stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Thanks to their foresight and perseverance, we can see further and achieve more than ever before. This is true in every area of life and remembering the stories of those who paved the way can give us the knowledge, strength and pride we need to thrive through whatever comes our way.
So let’s learn and remember the story of York Region.
Excited? So am I.
Before York Region
Spanning 1,762 square kilometres from Lake Simcoe in the north to the City of Toronto in the south, bordering Durham Region, Peel Region and Simcoe County, York Region is as large as it is diverse. From rolling hills and farmlands to lively cities and towns with over 2,070 hectares of regional forest, it really has something for everyone and is an ideal place to live, work and play.
Of course, the rich cultural heritage of this geographical area goes back much further than just 50 years—when Indigenous peoples, including the ancestors of the modern day Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, lived on these lands since time immemorial. In fact, archeological records indicate that there has been activity on these lands dating back 11,000 years.
By the late 1600s, European trappers, traders and missionaries started visiting the area and interacting with Indigenous peoples. Later, British citizens and American refugees from the American Revolutionary War and more European settlers began to increase numbers, initiating relocations and displacements of First Nations and Métis people in the late 1700s.
In 1792, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe, divided Upper Canada into 19 counties—York was the 14th county created. Being a primarily rural area, its initial main industry was agriculture.
Following the Second World War, Canada saw a boom of immigrants from Europe, increasing urban and industrial growth in Toronto and the surrounding areas. With so many new residents to care for, the time would soon come to revisit the government structures that hadn’t been changed since 1849.
In the late 1960s, York County discussed how to solve these issues and proposed the implementation of Regional government to condense and strengthen local municipalities, combining the 14 municipalities into the nine local municipalities we have today.
Bill 102, An Act to Establish The Regional Municipality of York, received royal assent on June 26, 1970. York County Council held its last meeting on December 29, 1970. The Chain of Office passed from the previous Warden of York County Gordon Cook to the new Chair of The Regional Municipality of York, Garfield Wright. York County’s story came to an end, and a new one began for The Regional Municipality of York on—you guessed it!—January 1, 1971.
Community and Health Services
After two decades of establishing and growing York Region, the time had come in the 1990s to look towards the future while strengthening and protecting the Region through social programs and health initiatives—and the mandate to serve the community through a range of Community and Health Services was brought to life.
The population was 523,000 in 1991—more than three times the 1971 population. To accommodate for future growth, the Regional Official Plan began development in 1972. An initial draft was created based on consultation from the public and local municipalities. In 1993, the protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine and natural resources was added. The Plan was approved in 1994 and provided direction and policies to guide economic, environmental and community planning decisions.
Let’s jump in my time machine to see visual proof of how the Region (Community and Health Services, in particular) was able to strengthen and protect its residents and provide direction and planning for its future.
Ready? Let’s go!
1991
Ownership of Greenacres Longterm Care facility (now Newmarket Health Centre) was transferred to York Region. In 1989, it was agreed that Toronto would sell Greenacres to the Region. The price tag? Two dollars. Yup, you read that right!?
1993
York Region’s United Way annual campaign was launched to benefit York Region’s community services, where Regional staff donated $13,645 to the United Way. Since 1993, employees from both York Region and York Regional Police have raised more than $7 million (!) for the United Way to assist our most vulnerable residents, with over $1 million donated in 2020 from employee payroll donations and employee-driven fundraising events and initiatives. Talk about #SpiritofYR!?
York Region opened Hadley Grange in the Town of Aurora to provide affordable housing to seniors, overlooking the beautiful wetlands of the Holland River.?
1994
York Region celebrated the launch of the 911 system at the newly opened Administrative Centre…with a cool looking mascot.?
2000
The Region adopted a Human Services Strategy, responsible for establishing the Human Services Planning Coalition 2001 as an advisory group and resource for achieving effective long-term human services planning. The group recognized the importance of addressing the increasing rates of immigration and developed an Inclusivity Action Plan to help make York Region an ethnocultural and inclusive community, welcoming immigrants and creating social capital for a vibrant economy and highly skilled labour force, aligning with the Region's Vision 2026. Pictured here is Regional Chair Bill Fisch speaking about the Action Plan.
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The Province of Ontario announced its intention to transfer ambulance services (now Paramedic Services ) in the late-1990s, and the Region took over funding responsibilities at the beginning of 1998. The Region took complete control of ambulance services on January 1, 2000. Pictured is Regional Chair Bill Fisch with Paramedic and CUPE Leader Lorne Cowx. Paramedic Cowx was vital in ensuring a smooth transition of paramedics from six different organizations with their unions into the Region under CUPE 905. By 2003, the Region expanded services to include 201 paramedics, 17 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) stations, and 31 vehicles while fielding approximately 94,000 calls.?
York Regional Council passed the No-Smoking bylaw, one of the first Public Health bylaws that would significantly impact local municipalities. Council also requested that the Province pass legislation to ban smoking in all public and workplaces in Ontario, which occurred on May 1, 2006 with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.?
2001
The All Our Kids program launched to provide parents, expectant parents, grandparents, caregivers and their young children a space to meet, share stories, gather information and attend workshops. Pictured here is Regional Councillor Joyce Frustaglio (Vaughan) at the program launch.
2003
Before 2000, the Region was responsible for administering affordable housing services with residents residing in buildings owned and maintained by Ontario. In 2003, the Region amalgamated its two Housing Corporations (Region of York Housing Corporation and York Regional Housing Corporation) to create Housing York Inc, streamlining the Region's efforts to provide affordable housing to all residents. This allowed the Region to build or acquire 12 additional buildings, totaling 945 units over the next 13 years. Today there are 36 housing properties, more than 4,000 tenants and nearly 2,800 units.
Pictured is Housing York Inc's Nobleview Pines complex, offering apartments for seniors in the Township of King.
On March 27, 2003, Council appointed the first Accessibility Advisory Committee members. Pictured here are the Committee members Regional Councillor Joyce Frustalio, Regional Councillor Diane Humeniuk and Regional Councillor Danny Wheeler, staff from the Province's Accessibility Directorate and from the Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario, Regional Chair Bill Fisch and other members of the Interim Accessibility Advisory Committee (Regional staff Joann Simmons, Cordelia Abankwa-Harris and Lisa Gonsalves).
2009
York Region opened its first family shelter , Leeder Place , in the Town of East Gwillimbury. The facility has 60 beds, tripling its former capacity to support families between homes in York Region. In 2018, Blue Door provided accommodation and support to 128 families at Leeder Place, assisting 102 families into permanent housing. Blue Door is a not-for-profit registered charitable agency that has been an integral part of the York Region community that provides emergency housing for the homeless population of York Region.
2015
Belinda's place became the first regionally owned multi-service centre for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It offers emergency and transitional housing and drop-in services in the Town of Newmarket. It is operated on behalf of the Region by The Governing Council of The Salvation Army of Canada.
2016
The Richmond Hill Hub became the first regionally owned affordable housing complex to combine housing with commercial offices and youth services with a drop-in centre, indoor and courtyard recreational spaces, counselling room and emergency and transitional bedrooms for youth. It was designed and built with LEED? Certification in mind, incorporating many environmentally responsible and sustainable features to benefit residents and the community. It is run on behalf of the Region by 360° kids Support Services.
2018
The Region reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and inclusion for staff and residents to adopt its first Inclusion Charter. It is a community initiative that brings together businesses, community organizations, municipalities, police services, hospitals, school boards, conservation authorities and agencies with a commitment to creating an inclusive environment with equality for all who work, live and play in York Region.
Onwards and upwards
Our new decade has had a turbulent start…to put it lightly.
Thanks to my amazing team’s commitment, professionalism, dedication and flexibility, we were able to bring 150+ COVID-related services and programs to York Region within the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. It wasn’t easy—but we did it. And, well over one year later, we’re still here, actively working together to effectively serve our community.
Community and Health Services’ collective accomplishments are so great that they can’t possibly fit on one page—but here are some highlights to share the breadth and bravery of York Region’s largest Department.
Despite the disruption of the pandemic, York Region already has so much to celebrate for the 2020s:
On this autumn day, in a galaxy not far away, York Region has grown to over 1.2 million residents—a 1,030,800+ jump from its early days in the ‘70s.
Looking ahead (to a time when I still won’t understand why we ever had 8-tracks), York Region expects to be 1.8 million residents strong by 2041.
Home to more than 54,000 businesses, 650,000 jobs and an operating budget that has grown from $18.7 million in 1971 to $3.3 billion in 2021—we have come a long, long way.
My heartfelt gratitude to every York Region resident and employee, past and present, who has been a part of this journey.
I hope you join me in my optimism as we look towards York Region’s next 50 years. Grab your sunglasses—bright days are ahead.?
This article was written by Laura Elvidge .