Richmond Hill High School (Ontario)

Public high school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Richmond Hill High School

Address

201 Yorkland Street

York Region

Richmond Hill

Ontario

L4S 1A2

Canada

Coordinates| 43°54′11″N 79°26′21″W﻿ / ﻿43.90306°N 79.43917°W﻿ / 43.90306; -79.43917
Information
School type| Public High school
Motto| Sapere Aude
(Latin, variously translated as: 'Dare to Learn', 'Dare to Know', 'Dare to be Wise', 'Have the courage to think for yourself' or 'Have courage to use your own reason')
Founded| 1851; 174 years ago (1851)
Founders|

* Abraham Law
* William Clark

School board| York Region District School Board
Superintendent| Rita Russo
Area trustee| Simon Cui
School code| 938106
Principal| Deborah Linkewich
Staff| 111[2]
Grades| 9-12
Enrollment| 1635[1] (May 2025)
Language| English
Schedule| 8:50 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.
Area| 180,174 sq ft (16,738.7 m2)
Student Council| Richmond Hill High School Student Council (RHHSSC)
Colour(s)| Forest Green   & White
Song| Hail to Richmond Hill
Mascot| Raider
Team name| Richmond Hill Raiders
Newspaper| The Spyglass
Website| www.richmondhill.hs.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Last updated: May 2025

Richmond Hill High School (RHHS) is a secondary school located in the city of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It is the second-oldest high school in York Region Municipality (behind Newmarket High School c. 1843), being established in the mid-19th century. The school is a host to several regional special education programs, including an Advanced Placement Program, Alternative Education Program, Cooperative Education Program, Developmentally-Delayed Program, Multiple Exceptionalities Program, and a High Performance Athlete Program. The school has a gifted program along with all other secondary schools in York Region.[3]

In the 2022–2023 Fraser Institute rankings, Richmond Hill High School ranked 28th in the province of Ontario, with an overall score of 8.8/10.[4]

## History

[edit]

Richmond Hill High School is one of the oldest secondary schools in the Greater Toronto Area, founded on 2 December 1851 in a room donated by Abraham Law.[5] It has since expanded and changed locations on several occasions including in 1853, 1872, 1897, 1924, 1950, and 2000, having had been located on Yonge St. and Wright St. in 'downtown' Richmond Hill before moving to its present location at 201 Yorkland Street in September 2000.[6][7]

In 1948 or 1949, the Richmond Hill High School Literary Society erected a metal plaque as a list of honour memorial dedicated to the former students of the school who died in service during the First and Second World Wars. The plaque is now mounted on the east wall between the outer and inner doors of the main entrance of the school.

In 2005, former president of South Africa and 1993 Nobel Peace Prize Winner F. W. de Klerk visited the school and spoke to students and staff about his part in the end of the apartheid system. He also answered students' questions during an hour-long session.[8]

## Building and site

[edit]

Panorama of the school's front entrance

The current school building on Yorkland Street is a two-story structure measuring 180,174 square feet (16,738.7 m2), which was completed and opened in 2000. It houses two gymnasiums, a fitness and weight training room, a cafetorium including a stage, a library, a communications technology room including a green and blue screen, vocal and instrumental/band music rooms, two visual art studio classroom/workspaces and six 'pods' with a central computer lab surrounded by four conventional classrooms, a science lab classroom and two teaching staff workrooms/offices.

The original Yorkland Street building was built to accommodate a student population of 1400 students,[9] but due to continued residential building in the school's catchment area and the strength of the school's academic reputation, the school has consistently enrolled 1600+ students since shortly after its opening. This has necessitated the use of portables as classrooms, with the number of portables growing to nine as of September 2016.

The two older buildings still survive, with the old 1851 building now a coffee shop on Yonge Street, and the 1950 building continuing to operate as the French secondary school "École secondaire Norval-Morrisseau".

### 'Books' by E.B. Cox

[edit]

'Books' seen near the front entrance of the school.

Situated in front of the main entrance of the present Yorkland Street building, in the grass median between the incoming and outbound driveways, is a sculpture entitled "Books" created by renowned and deceased Canadian sculptor E.B. Cox.

In 1967, the staff and students of the school raised $4,000 (equivalent to over $28,000 in 2017) to commission the piece as a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. It was originally installed at the Wright Street location upon its completion in 1968, and was moved to Yorkland Street when the school switched locations.

The sculpture is meant to represent a column of books towering up to the sky, representing the importance of books as a tool of learning.[10]

## Student activities

[edit]

Richmond Hill High School currently hosts 71 clubs, with student activities being led by the Richmond Hill High School Student Council (RHHSSC).[11]

### Richmond Hill High School Student Council

[edit]

The Richmond Hill High School Student Council (RHHSSC), popularly known as the RHHS StuCo, is a student body that aims to promote the welfare of all students by coordinating student activities and fostering school spirit and unity.[12] The RHHSSC was established on October 16, 1950, by its founding members, Ethel Layzell, David Graham, Donald Leno, and Murray Johnson. The RHHSSC observes the 13th edition of the Richmond Hill High School Student Council Constitution.[13] The RHHSSC also utilizes a website in order to communicate with students.[11]

### Clubs, committees, and councils

[edit]

Richmond Hill High School has various clubs that operate throughout the school year. These clubs include:[9][14]

* Afro-Caribbean Student Association
* Animation Club
* Art Council
* ATHCO
* Badminton
* Basketball Club
* Biology Club
* Board Games Club
* Book Club
* Chemistry Club
* Chess Club
* Chinese Traditional Culture Club
* Computer Engineering
* Computer Science Club
* Criminology Club
* Crochet Club
* Cubing Club
* DECA
* Debate Club
* DIY Club
* Drama Council
* Eco Club
* Engineering Club
* Equity Committee

* Family Studies Council
* Fashion Club
* FBLC
* Fitness Club
* Flow
* French Club
* Game Development Club
* Garageband Club
* Greenhouse Club
* HOSA
* Immigrant RISE
* Kids Are Scientists Too (KAST)
* Korean Language and Culture Club
* Literature Club
* Math Club
* MEDLIFE
* Mock Trials
* Model United Nations
* Music Council
* Muslim Student Association
* Physics Club
* Ping Pong Club
* Podcast Club
* Pride Club

* Psychology Club
* RASA
* RHHS Cadets
* RHHS Climbs
* RHHS Finance
* RHHS Slam Poetry
* RHHS Studios
* RHHS TED-Ed Club
* Robotics Club
* Science Council
* Scrapbook Club
* Senior Club
* Sickkids RHHS
* Sign Language Club
* Soccer Club
* Spyglass
* Tennis Club
* 3D Design
* Trivia Club
* Tutoring Club
* UNICEF
* Volleyball Club
* Yearbook
* Youth Alive

|
|

### Athletics

[edit]

Richmond Hill High School has a variety of sports teams which compete in York Region Athletic Association events. These teams include:[13]

Fall Sports:

* Rugby 7s — junior, senior boys
* Basketball — junior, senior girls
* Volleyball — junior, senior boys
* Outdoor Soccer — junior, senior boys
* Cross Country Running — co-ed junior, senior
* Tennis — co-ed junior, senior
* Cricket — varsity boys

| Winter Sports:

* Basketball — junior, senior boys
* Volleyball — junior, senior girls
* Swim team — co-ed, junior, senior
* Badminton — junior, senior, boys and girls
* Hockey — varsity boys
* Curling — varsity boys, girls
* Indoor Soccer — varsity boys, girls

| Spring Sports:

* Ultimate Frisbee — co-ed
* Lacrosse — junior, senior boys
* Track and Field — junior, senior, boys and girls
* Outdoor Soccer — junior, senior girls
* Flag Football — varsity girls
* Slo-Pitch — varsity girls
* Table Tennis — varsity boys, girls
* Rugby — junior boys
* Co-ed Volleyball — junior, senior

|
|

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Elan Bibas, contestant on Love Island (American TV series) season 7[15]
* Josh Binstock, Olympic volleyball player
* Evan Fong, YouTube gaming celebrity and musician also known as VanossGaming
* Michelle Li, Canadian Olympic badminton player
* Farley Mowat, World War II veteran, conservationist, and author[16]
* Mag Ruffman, comedian, actress, and television host
* Wendy Shon (Seung-Wan 'Wendy' Shon), singer and member of South Korean K-pop girl group Red Velvet[17]
* R. H. Thomson, actor and filmmaker
* Norman J. Wildberger, mathematics professor at UNSW
* Samantha Win Tjhia, Olympic Wushu fighter, stunt double and actress
* Kathleen Wynne, Former Premier of Ontario[18]
* Brian Yang, Canadian Olympic badminton player

## External links

[edit]

* Richmond Hill School Student Council Constitution, 13th Edition
* RHHSSC Website

## See also

[edit]

* List of high schools in Ontario
* York Region District School Board
* Richmond Hill, Ontario
* Advanced Placement
* History Of Richmond Hill, Ontario

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Richmond Hill High School (938106)". Ontario Ministry of Education. 31 March 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
2. ^ "Our Staff". Richmond Hill High School. 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
3. ^ "Pages - Home". www.yrdsb.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
4. ^ The Fraser Institute: Report Card on Richmond Hill High School
5. ^ Wilson, Peter (2023-10-04). "Richmond Hill High School: The 'Monument' of the Community When Completed in 1897". Richmond Hill Historical Society. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
6. ^ "Pages - Our School". www.yrdsb.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
7. ^ Wilson, Peter (2023-10-04). "Richmond Hill High School: The 'Monument' of the Community When Completed in 1897". Richmond Hill Historical Society. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
8. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (16 November 2005). "Students rapt at de Klerk talk". Toronto Star. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
9. ^ a b Tutoring, York Region (2024-01-17). "Richmond Hill High School (YRDSB) - Richmond Hill, Ontario". York Region Tutoring - Math, Science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics), English, French, IB, AP. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
10. ^ Information on the sculpture is sourced from a combination of oral history from the daughter of the artist, and from RHHS staff contemporary to the time at which the sculpture was acquired
11. ^ a b "RHHS StuCo". rhhsstuco.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
12. ^ "Google Docs: Sign-in". accounts.google.com. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
13. ^ a b "Pages - Students". www.yrdsb.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
14. ^ "Clubs | RHHS StuCo". rhhsstuco.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
15. ^ Bibas, Elan. "LinkedIn". Retrieved June 27, 2025.
16. ^ "Farley Mowat's Remarkable Teacher". Professionally Speaking. Ontario College of Teachers. June 1998. Archived from the original on 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2007-11-22. "... who taught English to Mowat from 1937 to 1940 at Richmond Hill High School in Richmond Hill."
17. ^ Westwood, Rosemary (February 26, 2015). "Video: GTA stages a 'breeding ground' for K-Pop talent". Metro. Metro International. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
18. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (2007-01-13). "From student council to head of the class". thestar.com. Toronto Star. Retrieved 2007-11-22. "Kathleen Wynne was a track star and student council secretary when she graduated from Richmond Hill High School in 1971."

* v
* t
* e

Richmond Hill, Ontario

Municipality|

* Richmond Hill
* Oak Ridges
* Wilcox Lake

Government|

* Elections
* ‎Mayors
* Richmond Hill City Council

* Electoral districts: Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill (federal, provincial), Richmond Hill (federal, provincial)

Education|

* Public:
* Alexander Mackenzie High School
* Bayview Secondary School
* Langstaff Secondary School
* Richmond Green Secondary School
* Richmond Hill High School
* Catholic: Our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy
* St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School
* Private: Academy for Gifted Children
* Holy Trinity School

Culture|

* History
* People
* Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
* Richmond Hill Heritage Centre

Business and services|

* David Dunlap Observatory
* Hillcrest Mall
* Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital
* Parks
* Richmond Hill Public Library

Sport|

* Richmond Green
* Richmond Hill Curling Club
* Richmond Hill Rams

Transportation|

* Richmond Hill Transit
* Richmond Hill line
* Bloomington GO Station
* Gormley GO Station
* Richmond Hill GO Station
* Langstaff GO Station
* Richmond Hill Centre Terminal
* Ontario Highway 404
* Yonge Street

* Category
* People

* v
* t
* e

Secondary schools in the Regional Municipality of York

Anglophone public

Secular
York Region District School Board|

* Alexander Mackenzie
* Aurora
* Bayview
* Bill Crothers
* Bill Hogarth
* Bur Oak
* Dr. G.W. Williams
* Dr. John M. Denison
* Emily Carr
* Hodan Nalayeh
* Huron Heights
* Keswick
* King City
* Langstaff
* Maple
* Markham District
* Markville
* Middlefield
* Milliken Mills
* Newmarket
* Pierre Elliott Trudeau
* Richmond Green
* Richmond Hill
* Sir William Mulock
* Stephen Lewis
* Stouffville District
* Sutton District
* Thornhill
* Thornlea
* Tommy Douglas
* Unionville
* Westmount
* Woodbridge

Separate
York Catholic District School Board|

* Cardinal Carter
* Father Bressani
* Father Michael McGivney
* Holy Cross
* Our Lady of the Lake
* Our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy
* Sacred Heart
* St. Augustine
* St. Brother André
* St. Elizabeth
* St. Jean de Brebeuf
* St. Joan of Arc
* St. Luke
* St. Maximillian Kolbe
* St. Robert
* St. Theresa of Lisieux

Francophone public

Secular
Conseil scolaire Viamonde|

* Norval-Morrisseau

Separate
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir|

* Pape-François
* Renaissance

Independent

Private|

* Academy for Gifted Children
* Discovery Academy
* St. Andrew's College
* Toronto Montessori Schools

Religious|

* Holy Trinity School
* Peoples Christian Academy
* Villanova College
* Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Toronto

Italics indicates an institution that operates as a combined school, providing both elementary and secondary levels of schooling.
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