Just moved to Richmond Hill? Welcome. Here's everything you need to know to settle in.
First-week essentials
Set up utilities (Enbridge for gas, Alectra for hydro), arrange internet (Rogers and Bell are the main wired options; Beanfield is the boutique alternative if available), and update your driver's licence with ServiceOntario.
Healthcare
Apply for OHIP within 3 months. Find a family doctor — Richmond Hill has a shortage; expect to be on waitlists. In the interim, walk-in clinics are abundant.
Schools
YRDSB or YCDSB depending on your address. Register at least 4-6 weeks before the start of the school year if possible. International transcripts may need to be evaluated.
Transit
YRT covers local buses, GO Transit for trains and regional buses. The Presto card works on all of them. The Yonge North Subway Extension is under construction with phased opening starting 2027.
Community
Richmond Hill Public Library, the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Mill Pond Park, and community centres at Bayview Hill and David Hamilton are all worth knowing about.
Cultural connections
Richmond Hill has substantial East Asian, Iranian, Italian, and Russian communities, with active community organizations, religious institutions, and cultural events for each.
Shopping and groceries
Loblaws, Metro, T&T (Asian groceries), Persian markets, and the Richmond Hill farmers' markets in summer are all worth knowing.
Browse our complete directory for local services.
About the Author
Guides & Lifestyle Editor
Daniel Tremblay was born and raised in Markham and has spent his career writing about outdoor recreation, civic life, and community resources across York Region. An avid hiker and trail runner, he has personally walked nearly every public trail in the Rouge National Urban Park and the York Regional Forest. His guides aim to give residents practical, on-the-ground information about the places, services, and routines that shape daily life in Markham and Richmond Hill.
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