Category: In the News

Richmond News

Collec-Thor – a machine that pulls trash and debris from the water – has been installed at Fisherman’s Wharf in Steveston.

This is the first such “trash skimmer” to be used on the west coast of North America, and it will collect both solid and liquid waste that’s floating on the Fraser River. …

“Because plastic items and other waste materials are polluting our waterways, this innovative trash skimmer is another way we can take action to clean up our environment and increase awareness,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie in a press release. …

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Cision

Today, Wilson Miao, Member of Parliament for Richmond Centre on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Parm Bains, Member of Parliament for Steveston-Richmond East, and Malcolm Brodie, Mayor for the City of Richmond announced the details of the $9.1 million in funding for Richmond, one of the 41 recipients of the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative’s (RHI) city stream. …

“This development of affordable rental housing is a top priority for the City of Richmond and a part of our Affordable Housing and Homelessness strategies. This project is another example of how all levels of government are working together to provide much needed affordable housing in an expedited manner. Richmond City Council will continue our collaboration with senior levels of government and other partners to find further opportunities for affordable housing options across Richmond.”

— Malcolm Brodie, Mayor of Richmond

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City of Surrey

The City of Surrey, Richmond and Township of Langley have won a British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) Award recognizing achievement in initiatives that support economic development. The three municipalities won the Economic Recovery and Resiliency Award for communities over 20,000 in population for its joint Supply Chain Resiliency Program that identified existing industrial capabilities that could be retooled to support future emergency production needs, and helped manufacturers diversify their businesses by focusing on emerging opportunities in new sectors. …

“Recognizing and supporting businesses through the challenges of the pandemic was a cornerstone of Richmond’s economic strategy,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “By working closely with our partners in Surrey and Langley to identify and implement meaningful supports, the Supply Chain Resiliency Program helped businesses succeed in a rapidly-changing market. This award recognizes that innovative partnership and the work of all involved.” …

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HortiDaily.com

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is recognizing the City of Richmond Parks Department for its support of the university’s agriculture and food systems programs.

Recipient of KPU’s 2023 Community Impact Award, Richmond’s Parks Department has partnered with the university to drive forward programs for students and the community at the KPU Farm on the Garden City Lands and at the KPU Richmond Farm School in South Richmond. …

“Agriculture is an important part of Richmond’s history and economy,” says Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “Our partnership with KPU goes a long way to promoting urban agriculture, advancing food security, and creating new opportunities for innovation. More importantly, this collaboration allows our residents to see agriculture in action while learning about farming and food systems.” …

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CTV News

Premier David Eby took part in a town hall Thursday, fielding questions about everything from crime, to disability rates and childcare. But the crowd also wanted answers on housing.

At Camosun College’s Interurban campus, Eby faced an NDP-friendly crowd who had questions about a yet-to-be-detailed program that would allow each single family home in the province to be replaced by four units. …

Eby explained that the Housing Ministry was working with the Union of BC Municipalities to figure out how a plan to increase density can be executed.

“The detailed work is happening with the cities right now, to make sure we’re addressing key questions, like infrastructure, and sewage and water that we need to deal with,” Eby replied.

For some mayors the idea may be a tough sell. At a recent housing summit hosted by the UBCM there was a lot of heated debate.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie asked what would happen to services already understaffed like police, schools, and hospitals. …

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Richmond News

The majority of Richmond city council has voted against more funding for a bike and pedestrian lane on Steveston Highway, essentially quashing the project.

Two sections of a three-section multi-use pathway from Railway Avenue to Shell Road – which had already been approved by previous councils – was back at the council table on Tuesday at a hastily called committee meeting. …

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie expressed his frustration at the opposition to the multi-use pathway, saying, not only was it part of the local vision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it supported regional goals as well.

“We’re looking to the future – that’s what we want to do, look to the future,” he said.

Furthermore, the Steveston Highway pathway would increase cycling capacity, and those who preferred Williams Road could still use it as their preferred route, he added.

Brodie noted the plan has been in front of city council “a dozen times,” but “all of a sudden there’s this big problem.” The first two phases were approved in 2019 and 2020.

“I believe that to turn it down was a mistake,” Brodie told the Richmond News after the meeting. …

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City News

Richmond City Council has hit the brakes on a long-planned multi-use pathway along Steveston Highway.

Council was asked to add $2.49 million to address the project’s budget shortfall but voted 5-4 against the motion. The pathway was included in city planning documents as far back as 2012 when it was included in Richmond’s Official Community Plan. …

Mayor Malcolm Brodie had a different view, saying the city needs to look toward building for the future.

“I remember when I was on the TransLink board way back in the day, we had the same decision to make on the Canada Line bridge, we decided that we would put in the bike lane because we’re planning for the future — not for today and tomorrow — we’re planning for way off in the future.”

Brodie told OMNI News he’s disappointed in how the vote went Tuesday night.

“I’m very disappointed because our aim in developing this plan over many, many years is to develop and extend the capacity for active transportation — particularly walking and cycling — in Richmond.” …

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CBC News

long-planned bike lane next to one of Richmond’s busiest corridors is in jeopardy after city council voted against the additional funding necessary to move it forward.

By a 5-4 vote, councillors rejected giving $2.49 million to address the budget shortfall for the Steveston Multi-Use Pathway, which would create a shared cycling and pedestrian path on the busy corridor of Steveston Highway between Shell Road and No. 2 Road.

The path had been conceptually approved in 2012 as part of the city’s Official Community Plan, and money was committed to the project during capital budget discussions in 2019 and 2020.

But its cost increased from approximately $9 million to $11.5 million due to bids by contractors being above anticipated amounts, requiring the further approval of council. …

Mayor Malcolm Brodie, who voted in favour, noted that council had been asked to endorse the project “well over a dozen times” over the past decade.

“We’re planning for the future, not today and tomorrow,” he said, arguing that the pathway would expand the city’s active transportation capacity for decades to come. …

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Richmond News

The CBC’s Margaret Gallagher was at Gateway Theatre on Wednesday evening, reminiscing how she watched her brother channel their Asian grandfather – Patrick Kwee who was originally from Indonesia – on stage many years ago.

This was in 2001 when her brother Patrick played the strict father in Marty Chan’s play Mom, Dad, I’m Living With a White Girl.

This was just one memory she had from spending time in Richmond either in a personal capacity or covering the arts scene – but she also spoke about how music and art had shaped her life.

Gallagher, who is the host of CBC’s North by Northwest, was the keynote speaker at the annual Richmond arts awards evening, put on by the Richmond Arts Coalition and supported by the City of Richmond. …

The event was being held for the 15th time and was emceed by Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie who also presented the awards. …

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City News

The City of Richmond says it’s taking steps to deal with a former dump that’s releasing old garbage into the Fraser River.

This comes after a story CityNews brought you about Stephen LaRocca — a beachcomber with a sizable social media following — who discovered the problem. …

The beachcomber says he told the city about the garbage when he discovered it in 2019. However, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie says he didn’t learn about it until a recent news article.

“I’m not aware that I had any knowledge of it prior to the recent newspaper article. Whether anybody at the city did, I’m not sure, that’ll be one of the questions that we will have,” he told CityNews.

The mayor says once the city gets recommendations from the environmental consultant, clean up efforts will begin.

“What it is, where it is, how deep it is, is it just on the land, is it actually submerged? Is it in the river? We just have to find out the answer to all those questions before we can really be definitive in what we are going to be able to do. But at the end of the day, we do want this to be cleaned up,” he explained. …

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