Category: In the News

Richmond News

Richmond is celebrating its seniors with an entire week of activities for its residents over the age of 55.

BC Seniors Week is celebrated from June 2 to 8, and this year’s theme is “Active, Engaged, and Inspired,” which highlights the importance of social connection, staying mentally and physically active, and lifelong growth and learning.

Events are held each year during the first week of June to commend and recognize the contributions seniors make to their community. …

A kick-off event will take place at Thompson Community Centre on June 2 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. with a message from Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, followed by light snacks, a stretch break and live performance by Cheek to Cheek.

There will be free transportation between the opening event, Richmond community centres and Minoru Centre for Active Living. …

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Richmond News

A commercial and residential mixed-use development is being proposed for Richmond’s London Landing neighbourhood.

However, for the development to be allowed, an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) would be required.

Jim Pattison Developments applied to the city to rezone five lots between No. 2 Road to the east and Dyke Road to the south and west, from industrial to mixed-use. …

“I think it’s fair to say that there are no buildings in that area which would be as high,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie.

“There are many reasons, from the aesthetics to the shadowing, to the view, to just the density of it, that I have real concerns with six floors.” …

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Richmond News

The Richmond community can now watch the restoration of heritage wooden fishing boats first-hand in Steveston.

The new heritage boat restoration program at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site gives visitors a chance to watch what boat restoration looks like in action inside the 1930s Richmond Boat Builders building.

This year’s project features the Crystal S, a locally built wooden gillnetter that once worked on the Fraser River. …

“This interactive program brings our maritime heritage to life in a meaningful and dynamic way,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie.

“We’re excited to offer visitors the rare opportunity to see the restoration process up close, while learning about the vital role these boats played in Richmond’s fishing industry.” …

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Vancouver Sun

Mike Harcourt says major change is needed at Metro Vancouver.

The former B.C. premier and Vancouver mayor was commenting after the release of a damning report into the way the regional district operates.

“We need to do more than carve down costs and better deal with disasters like the North Shore water treatment plant cost overruns,” said Harcourt, 82.

“You could reduce the number of municipalities in the region (21) to six or eight, for example. And move toward a provincial police force, cut the committees in half and improve fiscal accountability.” …

“We need to do something about the outrageous pay that people are making,” he said. “When I see the mayor of Richmond and Burnaby making more than the premier and the prime minister and then getting paid on top of that through Metro Vancouver there is something seriously wrong with the system.” …

According to a Global News investigation, in 2023 Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie earned more than $362,000, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley earned $393,075, Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West earned $347,000 and Delta Mayor George Harvie earned $346,780.

The consultant’s report released last week found the Metro Vancouver regional district has outgrown its governance structure and should be streamlined and supported by experts. …

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Business in Vancouver

The Metro Vancouver Regional District board of directors is calling on the provincial government to join a new committee aimed at reforming its own governance model.

The new governance review committee will largely explore changes to the board’s structure, according to board chair Mike Hurley, who formed the committee.

Hurley tabled a report from Deloitte Canada on Friday that concluded the board has become “large and unwieldy” with “increasing tensions and political differences” at the table.

“There is need for major systemic changes,” Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke told the board Friday. …

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and Burnaby Coun. Sav Dhaliwal—the two longest-tenured directors—joined District of North Vancouver Coun. Lisa Muri in targeting recent media coverage of Metro Vancouver, which has focused on board remuneration and travel expenses in the wake of the organization’s nearly $3-billion cost overrun for the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.

That extraordinary overrun resulted in the region’s homeowners receiving a 25.3 per cent increase to Metro Vancouver’s portion of their 2025 property tax bill.

Muri noted that “this story still has legs, sadly,” while Brodie said the board needs “more balanced coverage” on this issue. …

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Canadian HR Reporter

The British Columbia city of Richmond has fired an employee over a case of theft that spanned a couple of years, according to media reports.

The city confirmed the termination after a routine audit uncovered significant discrepancies in its gift card program, which had issued gift cards to employees as rewards for performance, long service, retirement, and participation in charitable activities, reports the Vancouver Sun.

An internal review revealed that the city purchased approximately $446,000 worth of gift cards between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024. Of that amount, $121,000 was properly distributed, and another $31,000 remains in the custody of the human resources department. …

When asked about the lack of financial accountability, Mayor Malcolm Brodie says to CKNW radio, “There are internal controls on everything at City Hall and and how this could have, whatever happened, how it could have gone on for a number of years. I cannot, at this point, comment on,” accordion to a Global News report.

“I can say there are controls on. I only assume that there’s been some kind of a breakdown.” …

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Richmond News

Richmond residents are invited to share their input on potentially creating a memorial garden in the city.

The garden would be an “inclusive, contemplative space” for people to honour and remember loved ones.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said the idea of a garden has been “floating around” for at least 20 years and believes this is an important project for the community.

“I think people in Richmond should be able to be born in the city, live their lives in the city and be memorialized in the city in some way,” said Brodie, adding that Richmond cannot have an in-ground cemetery due to the city’s “high water table.” …

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Global BC

Following a months-long Global News investigation into the City of Richmond’s purchase of restaurant gift cards, there are bombshell new developments.

The city has confirmed that $295,000 worth of gift cards remain unreconciled. Also, it says an employee has been terminated, and the RCMP is investigating as a forensic audit continues. …

When asked about the lack of financial accountability, Mayor Malcolm Brodie told CKNW radio, “There are internal controls on everything at City Hall and and how this could have, whatever happened, how it could have gone on for a number of years. I cannot, at this point, comment on.”‘

“I can say there are controls on. I only assume that there’s been some kind of a breakdown.” …

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CTV News

Flushing wipes down the toilet instead of tossing them in the trash causes millions of dollars in damage to Metro Vancouver’s sewers each year.

In order to combat the problem, the regional district has launched what it calls an “adult toilet training campaign” to remind people wipes belong in the garbage.

“Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean your toilet training is over. Too many people are still flushing wipes, causing all kinds of problems in the sewer system,” said a statement from Mike Hurley, chair of the Metro Vancouver board of directors.

“Most people are already doing the right thing, but we need everyone to remember – only flush pee, poo and toilet paper.”

The regional district spends an average of two million annually on clearing clogs caused by wipes. According to an announcement launching the campaign, roughly one in four people report flushing wipes at least occasionally – and men between 18 and 35 are the most likely culprits. …

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Vancouver Sun

Metro Vancouver is taking aim at so-called flushable wipes that end up clogging toilets and costing the region millions of dollars in sewer system damage.

The regional authority launched a new campaign this week to remind residents that wipes, including those labelled “flushable,” belong in the garbage bin, not the toilet.

“Wipes don’t break down like toilet paper — they cause clogs that jam pipes, pumps and other infrastructure. Yet, many are falsely labelled ‘flushable,’” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, who also chairs the liquid waste committee for Metro.

Part of the problem is the lack of regulation on which products can be labelled “flushable,” he said, “so anyone can claim their products are safe to flush, regardless of how destructive they really are.” …

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