Name: Rishma Govani
Occupation: Media/Communications Professional and children’s author of Sushi & Samosas
How long have you lived in YR? I moved to Markham at the start of high school (proud alumnus of the Milliken Mills massive), moved away for university and in my early 20’s. In 2004, I returned to purchase my first home with my husband in Richmond Hill and have been here ever since.
Why did you make YR home? The original idea was to be geographically close to my parents who helped raise our children when they were young as we were both busy working parents. Now, the roles are reversed- we’ve stayed on in YR to support them. We’ve also built a good community around us and have strong relationships with our neighbours.
What do you do for fun in YR? Locally, I often go for foot massages at Comfort Zone. I volunteer in the NICU at Mackenzie Health Hospital. I discover different trails and forests. My fav discovery this summer was the Saigeon trail extension. I also take our pup, Hero, to the dog park at Phyllis Rawlinson Park, visit local libraries (the Vaughan library is breathtaking and renovated Aurora branch is another fav). I also like to explore places of worships like the Sham Chan Temple in Thornhill or the Buddhist Monastery in north Markham. We also go to local beaches off Lake Simcoe like Sibbald Point and Franklin Beach and kids are big fans of Timber Creek Golf. When the kids were young, we would be regularly found on the local farms.
What is one summer/winter event that you never miss in YR? Canada’s Wonderland is a fam favourite with year-round events now, Canada Day festivities at Richmond Green and skating at the figure 8 trail at Richmond Green too.
What are your favourite restaurants in YR? The list is endless but here some fav picks: Restoran Malaysia, Elephant Grind & Coffee and Akimi Sushi, Mine Sushi, Joe’s and Andolini’s in Richmond Hill, Metropolis Mercantile & Café, Chip and Malt in Newmarket, Main Street Greek, Bamiyan Kabob and The Owl in Markham, Levetto and Donut Factory in Aurora, Evviva in Vaughan, Galluci Winery in Stouffville and Avenue in Kleinburg is a special spot for our family.
What YR attractions/events/happenings would you recommend to friends who visit YR? You must check out Go Spa, take a stroll down Main Street Unionville and discover the plethora of golf courses and beaches the region has to offer. There are some great snow-tubing options in YR too. Fantastic farmers markets- the Aurora one is a personal fav, good apple picking options, Robintide Farms never disappoints, and flower-picking at Country Cut Flowers.
Bio: Rishma Govani is a seasoned communications professional with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. As a dynamic and empowered professional she is committed to creating tangible positive change especially in areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. She is also the author of the popular kids book, Sushi & Samosas. She does voice-over work and regularly participates in podcasts-advocating for grief literacy. She is the proud mother of her two kids Khalil, Mila and her puppy, Hero, aptly named after his dad.
