Richmond News September 4 2015 by Richmond News

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F R I D AY , S E P T E M B E R . 4 , 2 0 1 5

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What’s the plan? Walk the Talk While the city gears up for a public hearing on residential zoning bylaws, the News examines the balance between neighbourhood speciﬁc homes and market forces 14

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CONTENTSInside 8 News

Adrian, 6, hopes to leave his mark on the commemorative coin to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. — Residents have their say about a bylaw regarding mega homes at city hall Tuesday.

Published every Thursday by the Richmond News, a member of the Glacier Media Group.

5731 No. 3 Rd. Richmond, B.C. V6X 2C9 Call: 604.270.8031 Web: richmond-news.com

Editor Eve Edmonds

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Reporters: Alan Campbell

16 Business

Local company pioneers technique to install ﬁbre optic cable.

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Graeme Wood

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604.249.3329

18 Community

John Hopkins will wear a red Terry Fox T-shirt with reverence when he runs for the cause Sept. 20.

26 Lifestyles

Steveston Beer Fest is putting the village on the map as a craft beer savvy locale.

28 Sports

Jones looks to take a Giant step to the WHL

Philip Raphael

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Sports: Mark Booth

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Rob Akimow Director of advertising

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Lynnette Raymond

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“At school, we were talking about aboriginal culture, so I thought I would draw a whale plane.”

Adrian Chan,6

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Collin Neal

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Delivery: 604.249.3323 distribution@richmond-news.com Classified: 604.630.3300 classified@van.net The Richmond News is a member of the Glacier Media Group. The News respects your privacy. We collect, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement which is available at www. richmond-news.com. The Richmond News is also a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a selfregulatory body. The council considers complaints from the public about conduct of member newspapers. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint, contact the council. Your written concern with documentation should be sent to 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. www.bcpresscouncil.org.

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VOICESColumn

Gambling with our kids’ future ALANCAMPBELL Really?

ACAMPBELLRICHMONDNEWS.COM

an you hear that? No, it’s not the sound of another older, single-family home being demolished in Richmond. It’s an exclamation of euphoria as the sun sets — or the rain/ wind sweeps — over the horizon of a marathon, 10-week summer vacation. In a bizarre twist, however, the “yippee” isn’t emanating from the gob of this parent writer. It’s actually coming from a child, my 13-year-old son, as it happens, who’s clearly had his fill of dad chirping in his ear about getting out of bed, enjoying the summer, getting active, “when I was your age,” etc. etc. Most likely, a more significant factor in his, dare I say, disconcerting desire to ditch the summer, is the concerning sight of my head banging off the dining table trying, in vain, to help him practise geometry ahead of his first foray into high school. He doesn’t get it. I don’t get it (math was simpler in our day, right?). It’s a parent vs. child match made in hell. So, it was with mixed emotions I read this week about an optional, flexible learning curriculum to be implemented starting this school year for students up to Grade 9. The provincial teachers’ union (BCTF), has largely lauded the new format, which has been devised, in part, by teachers and steers away from traditional learning. It purports to lend teachers more wiggle room in terms of how/what to teach and places the emphasis on hands-on activities and project-based learning, in a bid to better engage the students and tap into what personally excites and motivates them. I’m all for that, especially the motivational benefits. The new format will be mandatory next year, with Grades 10 to 12 being included. However, some parents are concerned that the new curriculum places the basics on the back burner and traditional report cards and letter grades will disappear. More worrying, for myself, is that this transition won’t be adaquately funded. The BCTF has already warned that teachers will need significant training and resources to make this work. The current B.C. government isn’t known for splashing the cash when it comes to education and I worry the new curriculum, while admirable in its intentions, will be underfunded. And if there are no grades, in the traditional sense, then how will universities decipher between students. If, however, the whole thing is consigned to the recycling bin before my son figures out what an “angle bisector” is and why it’s important, will he end up behind the eight ball? It feels very much like the government is gambling with our kids’ futures with resources it doesn’t have, or is unwilling to commit. If that’s the case, it won’t be long before I’ve more than angle bisectors to worry about. Alan Campbell is a reporter with the Richmond News

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LETTERSto the Editor Demos make business sense Re: “More demolitions than ever for Richmond,” News Aug. 19 Grandstanding, innuendos, hearsay and rhetoric have become a standard practice by our city representatives, as well as (let’s call them) concerned citizens, when it comes to throwing stones at the home building industry. What is forgotten here, is the ﬂip side of demolition, which is building, being progressive, sustaining a vibrant industry that contributes twice as much to the cash register of our city than even the casino does. Yes, there is a slight increase in demolition permits, but there is also a very good reason for it. To even suggest, that the upcoming insigniﬁcant changes in the local bylaws are the main driver for this activity, ignoring all other indicators/statistics that say otherwise, is simply being out of touch with reality and lacks common business sense. As a businessman and an

expert in the ﬁeld of home building, I follow closely trends in the real estate market to build my own business model. To make my point that this activity is strictly driven by supply and demand — meaning the hottest real estate market that we have seen in decades — note some statistics from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. June sales were up 29.1 per cent above the 10-year sales average for the month; it’s the fourth straight month with more than 4,000 sales, which is a ﬁrst in the REBGV history; July sales were 33.5 per cent above the 10-year monthly average. Much of today’s activity can be traced to strong

consumer conﬁdence, low interest rates and a reduced supply of homes for sale. With the above in mind, how could anyone in this industry, with any business sense at all, stand by and not take advantage of the hottest real estate market? That would be like ﬁshermen staying home during the biggest salmon run ever. It doesn’t make any sense to me. If I had 100 old homes in my reserve, I would be taking out 100 demolition permits right now, because that makes good business sense and at the same time that is good for our city. Ivan Krpan Richmond

Letters Policy Send your letters to editor@richmond-news.com. Include your name and city. The editor reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, taste and legality. The Richmond News does not publish anonymous letters.

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City abandons the public’s concerns Dear Editor, Why is the city so uncaring about our concerns? The city organized two public meetings on July 8 and 9 and asked residents and developers to provide input on the issue of massive homes being built in the city. Many residents gave input about how these massive homes, which

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are often built within two to four feet of the property line, block the sun from a neighboring property, and tower above the neighbour’s backyard. After consultation with the public, the city’s planning staff suggested one important way to reduce and scale down the size of massive homes was to reduce the double height calculation for a single storey from 16.4 feet to12.1 feet. What this meant was you could still build high, but after 12.1 feet you would have to double count the built area. This reduced dimension would offer relief from massing and is line with the direction that neighboring cities (Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby) have adopted. Contrary to input from Richmond residents and advice from city’s own planning and design staff, all councillors other than Carol Day and Harold Steves voted to pass the bylaw amendment that retains the 16.4 feet height before double counting floor area. I want to ask the council what has changed after this four to six-month period of consultation with the public and with the city’s planning staff? What have you done to offer relief from massive homes? The only thing that stands out in the bylaw amendment is that the overall height of the two-storey structure has been returned to 29.5 feet. However, most massive homes are not two-storeys high. They are at-least 2.5 storeys tall and how will the height of this structure be tamed by the new amendment? These massive homes pay much more attention to fitting a threeIt is the city that seems to car garage on the lot have turned its back on the than having a garden or trees. In the recent demands of the residents transit vote about 70 who suffer from being per cent of Richmond voted no. There may walled in by the massive have been multiple new homes around them. reasons for not supporting the transit vote, but I am sure that having three or four cars per household would definitely pre-empt the need/desire for transit. These mega homes may be “dream homes” for the builders/developers because they yield high turnover profits, but the developer only has a short-term connection with this structure. They buy the lot, demolish the old house and build a new one that is sold for much more money. The builders work hard during this process, but they seem uncaring about how this new structure impacts the neighbours. That is because it’s not the builder/developer that lives around this new house but residents whose properties are adjacent to the new structure. They are the ones to suffer the consequences of unthinking plans that allow massive homes that are both too tall, too wide and seem to be bursting out of their lot to impose on the neighbors. These mega homes may be fine when offset by surrounding acreage, but they are a nightmare especially for small to medium residential lots. It is the city that needs to lay down guidelines and bylaws that uphold the property rights of existing and new residents equally. It is the city that seems to have turned its back on the demands of the residents who suffer from being walled in by the massive new homes around them. I understand that some of us enjoy tall ceilings and big homes, but these should be built on large lots that allow surrounding neighbors room to breathe. In the public meetings the developers tried to say that opposition to these mega homes comes from those who are not immigrant friendly and do not like the changing demographics of the city. I disagree with this comment. I think the massification of single family homes is significantly responsible for creating and exacerbating tensions between existing and new residents, regardless of their ethnicity. The city should be building bridges between neighbors, not tall, unbreachable walls. Unless the city takes the role of a good steward and invests more political will in listening to all its people, we are in danger of losing that essential ingredient of a robust community: Goodwill and care for each other. Please come to the city hall public hearing (Sept. 8) on the massing and height bylaw to let your voice be heard. Niti Sharma Richmond

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

LETTERS to the Editor

See you at city hall to talk mega homes

Question of the Week “I understand that most of Richmond is below sea level. Where are the highest and lowest elevations?” — Robert Demorest The first part of this question is actually an urban myth. In fact, most of Richmond is above sea level. On average, we are approximately one metre above mean (average) sea level. That said, water levels surrounding us can be affected by many factors, from high tides to spring runoff and extreme rainfall, so we still need our dyke network to protect us from potential flooding when those things occur (particularly if they all occurred at the same time). Lowest spots would be some agricultural areas such as southern parts of No. 6 Road and Sidaway at slightly below one metre. Many redeveloped areas, such as Terra Nova and Alexandra in West Cambie, are at two metres or higher. Port Metro’s Richmond Properties (at the south end of Nelson and No. 8 roads) and new Middle Arm frontages are at four metres or higher. The highest spot would be Ecowaste (at Triangle Road at the south end of No. 6 Road) which has areas higher than 10 metres. Both the port properties and Ecowaste are former or current landfill sites, which is why they are higher than other properties. All new developments are now effectively required to be built higher than pre-existing levels, particularly along waterfront. —John Irving, City of Richmond, Engineering, Ted Townsend, City of Richmond, Communicaitions Every week the Richmond News will post a reader’s question and find an expert in the community to provide the answer. If you have a trivia question about Richmond email us at editor@richmond-news.com. Be sure to write “Question of the Week” in the subject line.

Dear Editor, Turn off the TV and get off the couch. The City of Richmond needs to hear from you. In new houses, excessive 16.4 foot overheight spaces counted as one storey, will remain. This room height can accommodate a semi truck and trailer and provides more clearance than the George Massey Tunnel. The proposed bylaw makes no

Reschedule PMV/VAFFC open house Dear Editor, Last week, on my way to the PMV / VAFFC open house, I stopped for lunch and a tree fell on my car. I was unharmed, but was unable attend the open house. Also, it is my understanding that there was a power failure during the open house and no lighting for the presentation. Based on this and the fact many people would not have braved the weather to attend, plus the short notice, I request that the open house be rescheduled. Scott Carswell Director of VAPOR Society

change to this awkward dimension. New building footprints in Richmond’s established neighborhoods are destroying mature trees, pushing 20-foot walls to the property lines, and stealing privacy and sunlight from neighbours. Future considerations to protect backyards are only that, unless you speak up. City councillors need to hear from

you. They need to feel what you know, that protecting backyards, trees, mature landscaping, privacy, and access to sunlight are as important to them as they are to you. See you at the public hearing at 7 p.m, Tuesday, Sept. 8 at city hall. John ter Borg Richmond

The perfect (legal) storm? Last month, reasons for judgment were released the case Johnston v. Johnston Estate. The facts of the case are extreme. The married couple purchased a home as Tenants in Common (rather than as Joint Tenants, which is customary) in 1968. In 1971, they separated and the husband left the home. Shortly after, the wife began cohabiting with another person. The couple never divorced and never entered a Separation Agreement. Title to the home was left as it was. The wife remained in the house and died in 2009. She never made a Will. The former husband then sought a sale of the home, under the Partition of Property Act. The Court analyzed the facts in great detail and concluded that, even though the husband made no contribution to the mortgage payments after he left the home (44 years ago!), he was entitled to a half-interest in the home, which of course has increased in value dramatically (it is located in Vancouver). The Court essentially held that no agreement was ever reached denying the husband his interest – based on a weak attempt at negotiations in the 1970s. Overall, this extraordinary fact situation reveals the value of planning ahead and “getting it done”. Visit our website (www.WillPowerLaw.com) or call us at (604)233-7001 to discuss your Wills, Estates and Seniors’ questions.

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City Board Smart Thermostat Pilot Program Receive $125 incentive

Chan, 6, making a mint Alan Campbell Staff Reporter

acampbell@richmond-news.com

As part of its new Smart Thermostat Pilot Program, the City of Richmond is offering a $125 incentive to a maximum of 150 households that purchase and install the following eligible smart thermostats: Nest Thermostat, Ecobee 3 or Honeywell Lyric. Smart or learning thermostats are a new technology that can determine when residents are away and adjust temperatures to optimize energy use. They also use internet connectivity and user feedback to help people make smarter energy decisions in their homes. The program is open to Richmond residents living in single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses, on a first come, first served basis. An eligible smart thermostat must be purchased between May 25, 2015 and October 31, 2015, and participants must register for the program by October 31, 2015. To learn more and to register for the Smart Thermostat Pilot Program, visit energy.richmond.ca.

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City of Richmond

NEWS in the City

Notice

Boardofof Variance Appointments Notice Intent to Dispose of Land (Statutory of Way) wishes to fill positions Richmond Right City Council on the Board of Variance

The City of Richmond intends to grant a Statutory Right of Way of approximately 323.1 square meters over a portion of Dyke Road legally know as Lot 1 Section 1 Block 4 North Range 4 Persons interested in serving the City of Richmond’s ofthe West New Westminster District Plan 46040on to Greater Vancouver Water DistrictBoard for $10 for purposes of aare water main line. Variance invited to submit an application, along with a resume,

hen Adrian Chan grows up, he wants to be an architect, a car designer and an engineer. Little Adrian shrugged his shoulders when it was pointed out he’s going to be a busy man when that day comes. Suffice to say, it’s hard to argue with anything this very talented six-year-old says, given that he’s already won a national engineering drawing contest and is in the final five in the youth category of the Royal Canadian Mint’s national coin design contest. And at home, he’s in good company, too, with his sister, Noreen, 11, scooping the national engineering prize for her age and his dad, Anson, a design engineer in Richmond. “Adrian has been drawing every single day since he was three,” said his mom, Christy Ho. “When he wakes up, the first thing he does is draw.” Adrian, who’s about to go into Grade 2 at Diefenbaker elementary, was picked out of around 10,000 entries for the mint’s competition to have a commemorative coin made to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017. The six-year-old’s inventive drawing of an orca “whale plane” caught the judges’ eyes and he will now compete against four others in the “Our Future” category

! Adrian Chan, with his sister Noreen, is pretty much money in the piggy bank when it comes to a career involving arts. The 6-year-old was recently named a ﬁnalist in the Royal Canadian Mint’s national design contest. Photo by Alan Campbell/Richmond News

for votes from the public across Canada. “At school, we were talking about aboriginal culture so I thought I would draw a whale plane,” said Adrian, when asked why he chose his design. “It meant nature, community and goodness to me and it could ﬂy around the world spreading goodness. The solar panels look cool, they could power the plane.” If, indeed, Adrian’s cool coin design is chosen, it would take pride of place along with his and his sister’s prized collection in their piggy banks at their home near Steveston Highway and Railway Avenue. “They love designing things and they also love sports, such as ice skating and swimming,” said their dad.

“But both of them collect coins and then save them in the piggy bank. They’re always on the lookout for special coins. Adrian has been collecting coins since he was two and Noreen for the last seven years.” And, said their dad, both Adrian and Noreen, who wants to be a software engineer when she grows up, the kids have been selected to represent Canada in a global Toyota car design contest. Other ﬁnalists from Richmond in the Royal Canadian Mint contest include Stephen Hsia, in the Our Character category, and Timothy Hsia, in the Our Wonders category. The online voting system is open now on www.Mint. ca/Canada150 and will close on Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. (Paciﬁc).

to the attention of the City Clerk’s Office.

For information please contact: Michael Allen Candidates for this 3-year volunteer appointment may come from Manager, Property Services a broad background and have varied experience. Prospective Board City of Richmond

members must be able to be objective, exercise sound judgement, and work collectively to render decisions.

The Board of Variance is appointed by Richmond City Council and is responsible to provide an avenue of appeal for those property owners seeking a variance from certain provisions of the Zoning Bylaw where compliance with the bylaw would create undue hardship. These appeals are usually in connection with the siting of buildings or additions, the re-construction or alternation of buildings as a non-conforming use, and instances of hardship The City of Richmond intends to grant a Statutory Right of Way of approximately 323.1 square resulting from the potential early termination of land use contracts.

meters over a portion of Dyke Road legally know as Lot 1 Section 1 Block 4 North Range 4 West New Westminster District Plan 46040 to Greater Vancouver Water District for $10 for the It is expected that the 5-member Board of Variance will be very purposes of a water main line.

active in 2016 and possibly in 2017 with a regular schedule of

For information contact: bi-weekly orplease weekly meetings. The volunteer time commitment will Michael Allen be better estimated by the end of 2015. Manager, Property Services City of Richmond Application 6911 No. 3 Road forms can be obtained at the Information Desk, Main Floor, City Hall, 6911 No. 3 Road, or on the Richmond, BC V6YRichmond 2C1 604-276-4005 Direct City website at www.richmond.ca (City Hall > City Council > 604-276-4162 Fax

Boards & Committees > Advisory Bodies).

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RICHMOND-NEWS.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

NEWSin the City

Local cocaine smuggler granted day parole Kim Bolan

Vancouver Sun

n July 2012, Richmond’s Shminder Johal was sentenced to 18 years in jail for corrupting a local border guard and smuggling hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and three guns into B.C. Just three years later, Johal has been released on day parole under a now-abolished law allowing accelerated parole for some first-time federal offenders. The Parole Board of Canada ruled in July that Johal could be released into a halfway house because “there are no reasonable grounds to find that (he is) likely to commit a violent offence prior to warrant expiry.” But a month earlier, another parole board panel denied Johal day parole, saying it believed the convicted Richmond man was “likely to commit an offence involving violence” before his full sentence was up. The June ruling noted Johal’s role as the leader of the drug smuggling gang that paid Canada Border Services Agency guard Baljinder Kandola to look the other way when drug shipments came through his Pacific Highway border station. “You have no other criminal record although police indicated that you have worked alongside of family members involved in a criminal enterprise and are suspected of other similar types of drug offences,” the June ruling stated. “One of these family members was killed in a targeted shooting in 2012 and another was a victim of arson in 2015.” Johal’s younger brother Jagdip was gunned down in front of his family in Surrey in Sept. 2012. The murder remains unsolved. Shminder Johal and Kandola were charged in Oct. 2007 after police intercepted 208 kilograms of cocaine and three firearms in a vehicle that had just crossed the border. And officers found $225,000 in Johal’s home he claimed came from selling cars to gangsters.

The June decision also said the Correctional Service of Canada had assessed Johal’s “risk for general reoffending to be high.” “The board recognizes that the distribution of illicit drugs is inherently dangerous and clearly harmful to society as it involves the use of violence between competitors to control territory and settle disputes,” the ruling said. “The board finds it reasonable and logical to conclude that the nature of your offending involved the potential for violence and likely the use or sale of firearms.” Much of the same background information was restated in the decision granting day parole. But the board in July concluded Johal had no history of violence and met the criteria for release with some special conditions imposed, including not to associate with known criminals or gangsters and to report his financial information to his parole officer. “You report distancing yourself from your relative who was deeply involved in criminal violence that ultimately led to his own death,” the July ruling said. “You indicated there is no threat of any gang member coming after you for restitution as your superior in the criminal endeavour took responsibility for the loss of the shipment.” The July ruling said Johal “accepted responsibility” for his crimes and now understands the harm drug trafficking inflicts. Kandola, the former border guard who was sentenced to 15 years, was released last December on accelerated day parole after just 30 months in jail. The federal government eliminated the Accelerated Parole Review in 2011, meaning firsttime non-violent prisoners could no longer get day parole after serving just onesixth of their sentence. But the government’s attempt to impose the change retroactively for those already charged or convicted was struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada last year.

City of Richmond

Notice

Notice of Intent to Dispose 2016 of Land City Appointments (Statutory Right of Way) Richmond City Council wishes to fill vacancies on the

following Advisory Committees/Boards/Commissions:

The City of Richmond intends to grant a Statutory Right of Way of approximately 323.1 square • aAdvisory on theknow Environment (6) 1 Block 4 North Range 4 meters over portion ofCommittee Dyke Road legally as Lot 1 Section Agricultural Advisory Committee (4)Vancouver Water District for $10 for the West New•Westminster District Plan 46040 to Greater • aAquatic Services purposes of water main line. Board (3)

• Child Care Development Advisory Committee (3)

• Economic Advisory Committee (6) For information please contact: Michael Allen • Family and Youth Court Committee (15) Manager, • Property Services Gateway Theatre Society Board (2) City of Richmond • Heritage Commission (3) • • • • • • • • •

Intercultural Advisory Committee (4) Museum Society Board (2) Parking Advisory Committee (5) Public Art Advisory Committee (4) Public Library Board (5) Seniors Advisory Committee (7) Sister City Advisory Committee (6) YVR Aeronautical Noise Management Committee (1) YVR Environmental Advisory Committee (1)

Persons interested in serving the community, in a volunteer capacity, on any of the above advisory bodies are invited to submit an application, along a resume, to the attention of theRight CityofClerk’s The Citywith of Richmond intends to grant a Statutory Way ofOffice, approximately 323.1 square meters overthan a portion of Dyke Road no later September 25,legally 2015.know as Lot 1 Section 1 Block 4 North Range 4

West New Westminster District Plan 46040 to Greater Vancouver Water District for $10 for the Please refer to ourmain website purposes of a water line. at http://www.richmond.ca/cityhall/council/boards/

advisory.htm to view the respective committees/boards:

1. Information on the purpose or mandate, For information please contact: 2. Terms of Reference (if applicable), Michael Allen Staff contact Manager, 3. Property Services information; and 4. To download an Advisory Committee Application form. City of Richmond 6911 No. 3 Road Application can be obtained at the Information Desk, Main Floor, Richmond, BC forms V6Y 2C1 Richmond City Hall, 6911 No. 3 Road, or on the City website at www.richmond.ca 604-276-4005 Direct (City Hall > City 604-276-4162 Fax Council > Boards & Committees > Advisory Bodies). City of Richmond | 6911 No. 3 Rd. Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 | Tel: 604-276-4000

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RICHMOND-NEWS.COM

Election focus on drugs, economy: Wong Graeme Wood

Staff Reporter gwood@richmond-news.com

! Alice Wong, Conservative incumbent MP in the riding of Richmond Centre, was surrounded by supporters at the opening of her campaign ofﬁce on Wednesday afternoon. Photo submitted

anada’s Minister of State for seniors and the MP for Richmond Centre, Alice Wong, opened her campaign ofﬁce Wednesday afternoon on Westminster Highway. Wong, a member of the Conservattive Party of Canada, told her supporters the campaign will be a “very ttight” race and she could use all the support they could give. “I told them one of the secrets in my campaign is word of mouth,”

she said. Wong was asked by the Richmond News to comment on her priorities for the next session in Parliament, should she be re-elected. She said Conservative values include low taxes and discouraging drug use. When asked what constituents were telling her so far this campaign, Wong said the economy and community safety were big issues. She also cited aircraft noise as an issue people have been speaking to her about on the local level. Wong touted infrastructure projects as an important part of her party’s platform and pointed to infrastruc-

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Advertising Feature Another porcelain work from It will be one of the greatest the Song Dynasty—a small sunflower-shaped bowl—is auctions of rare collectables Richmond has ever seen—and appraised at $12 million. it’s all in the name of charity. Paintings will also draw Dr. Alan Lau and his group, bidders, including intricate calligraphy, scroll and fan the Richmond Community Publication Society, will stage paintings, and works of landscape and still life, the first Charity Auction in including one original work Richmond on Sept. 6. Open to bids from the public will be featuring the writing of a historic emperor. 92 historic Chinese cultural artifacts professionally Other items may not be appraised at a total of steeped in as much history, but $50 million. will still appeal to collectors. It’s a rare chance for collectors Numerous small sculptures ■ Mayor Malcolm Brodie cuts ribbon at Charity Auction’s to own a colourful piece of are valued in the tens of Grand Opening. Photo submitted history—some of whose origins thousands, including an date back hundreds of years. intricate jade carving of two Local and international bidders carp fish jumping over a dragon are expected to clamour for gate, valued at $120,000 to ■ This small a chance to own some of the $150,000. Pendants, rings and paintings, sculptures, ceramics, silver coins will also be smaller glazed porcelain pot, from the jade and other antiques auction stars. Song Dynasty on offer. The collectibles, currently in China, is Sunday’s auction will be the owned by immigrant families appraised at first for the society, which here, originate from across $15 to $18 plans to hold monthly auctions China. Their history has million. It’s one featuring valuable items no sparked an interest from of 92 Chinese other auction house has been museum representatives from antiques to able to amass. across China, who are seeking be auctioned to stock their institutions with on Sept. 6, What’s drawing sellers— gems from the past. Investors with proceeds and buyers—to participate will likely also be looking for benefiting is the low eight per cent an auction deal, said Lau. charity. commission charged by the Photo submitted non-profit society—much less “It’s just like people who than a typical auction house. buy stocks. But stocks are big Lau said that commission risk. These kinds of valuable will fund his society’s own paintings and ceramics—the charitable endeavours while price is only going up. The ■ Some of also contributing to B.C. older, the more valuable.” the valuable Children’s Hospital, Richmond Auction items have already paintings, Hospital and other non-profit been professionally appraised, sculptures, organizations. but with the help of high-tech ceramics, jade, “We are a charity. We are a equipment, viewers will learn coins and non-profit company,” he said. how age is determined and how other antiques “I’m a missionary. Money to me to identify what’s real and available at is no longer valuable; the only what isn’t. the inaugural thing is my health.” Charity Auction Charity Auction items can be in Richmond. With some auction items previewed Sept. 4 and 5 from Photo submitted appraised at millions, Lau 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hilton believes the Sept. 6 auction Vancouver Airport Hotel, 5911 could see sales total $30 million Minoru Blvd. and generate nearly $5 million The auction will be held Sept. for his charitable ventures. 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. No One item alone—a porcelain admission fee; all are welcome. pot said to be from the Song The Charity Auction office is Dynasty a thousand years ago— located at 6561 Buswell St. is valued at $15 to $18 million.

ture funding for some Richmond parks, including the lawn bowling facility, and road improvements as things she has done for the community in her last term. She said jobs and trades training are also a focus of her government. Wong, the only incumbent in Richmond thanks to the new StevestonRichmond East riding, is in charge of the seniors portfolio and has overseen a transition to push back the eligible age of Old Age Security from 65 to 67. She introduced no bills in Parliament’s last session.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

RICHMOND-NEWS.COM

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COMMUNITY in Focus

Running to remember Philip Raphael

Staff Reporter praphael@richmond-news.com

ohn Hopkins doesn’t have a lot of red in his wardrobe of clothes. But on Sept. 20, he will be wearing the colour with a mixture of reverence and pride as he takes part in the 35th annual Terry Fox Run at Garry Point Park. This year’s event takes on double meaning for the 75-year-old Richmond resident because it’s a way of honouring his late wife, Helen, a nurse who died of cancer in early 2012. Plus, Hopkins, who himself was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer,

underwent an operation in July and will be taking part in the event as a cancer survivor — a status that allows him to don a red Terry Fox Run T-shirt and take part. Together, the couple had a long association with the run, volunteering their time as local organizers. Hopkins still remembers the impact of seeing Fox on TV when he started his Marathon of Hope. “Like most Canadians, I was captivated by this young man who was trying to run across Canada on one leg,” Hopkins said. see Fox › page 13

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“Everyday, he’d run a marathon. I was amazed that someone would attempt this. No one had even tried to do this on two legs. “And his efforts have united Canada with so many runs done in his name. To me, it’s a perfect fundraising effort to get involved in.” Hopkins, who spent much of his working life with with non-proﬁt groups, also appreciated the way the run’s were organized and how the money is channeled towards medical research. But it was Helen, a former head nurse when Richmond General Hospital — as it was ﬁrst known — opened its doors in 1966, who got the couple involved with fundraising and running on the day. “My wife was always a rather quiet person,” Hopkins said. “But she was attracted to the run because her mom had passed away from cancer earlier. “That was Helen’s little point of reference. She wanted to do something in her mom’s honour.” Hopkins said that in her

said, adding it is traditionally a family event with his son and his family joining him. “It’s something important for us to do together,” he said. For more information about the Terry Fox Run at Garry Point Park, visit terryfox.org and click on the “ﬁnd a run site” box. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the run begins at 10 a.m. Participants can choose from a 10 km, 5 km, and 1km route.

From page 12

ﬁnal run in 2011, Helen was ill, but managed to complete four kilometres. “It was an important run for her because she wanted to demonstrate to others that she still had some ﬁght in her,” he said. “That was in September. By the the next January, she was gone.” And now, Hopkins is keeping her spirit alive by continuing to take part. “It’s much more poignant because I do it for her,” he

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

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FRIDAYfeature

Has sun set on middle-class dream? Even doctors could be priced out of market GRAEMEWOOD Staﬀ Reporter

GWOODRICHMONDNEWS.COM

s residents and local politicians prepare for an public hearing Tuesday about the size of new luxury homes, the Royal Bank of Canada, this week, released its 2015 second quarter housing affordability report, noting that housing prices in Richmond are closely tied to those in Vancouver. In Vancouver, RBC concluded 91 per cent of an average earner’s pre-tax income would be required to maintain an average two-storey home. The national average is 48 per cent. Earlier this year, Vancity credit union produced a report that named Richmond as part of the Metro Vancouver area that is in the depths of an “affordability crisis,” an issue that some argue may well leave an entire generation high and dry while decomposing the fabric of the community. In 2005, a typical, detached home cost $400,000 in Richmond. The latest ﬁgures from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver show that Richmond’s average home price is now $1.2 million, a 17 per cent increase since last year and a 36 per cent increase over the last ﬁve years. Vancity noted if the current trend continues, homes across the Metro area will cost $2.1 million, on average, by 2030. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s benchmark for “affordability” is spending about one-third of gross annual income on housing, including utilities, insurance and property taxes. A 25-year mortgage on a $1.2 million home, at three per cent interest, will come to $5,700 per month. Add the aforementioned extra costs and two medical doctors (median income of about $110,000 each) are priced out. In other words, according to Gordon Price, the director of Simon Fraser University’s City Program, “the era of single-family homes for the middle class is over” in Richmond. Knowing this, the problem — and question — becomes; what do politicians, community leaders and urban planners do, if anything? Price notes the City of Richmond has some mechanisms available to it. However, whatever the answer may be, it is clear that maintaining single-family home neighbourhoods is of paramount importance to Richmond city councillors, a majority of whom have recently shown a propensity to accept the pleas of

developers who have asked to maintain the city’s luxury market for new homes. And yet, regardless of what changes an anticipated bylaw amendment (set for the public hearing on Tuesday) to home setbacks and ceiling heights may bring (some say nothing), a subtle transformation of Richmond’s neighbourhoods — or at least some of them — may soon occur with the subdivison of large lots into smaller ones. But the buck will stop there.

oun. Bill McNulty is the longest-running councillor for Richmond First, a civic party that has long maintained — despite this last decade’s immense rising costs for housing — that Richmond must preserve the “character” of single-family neighbourhoods. Such an agenda is the lynchpin of the city’s Official Community Plan to 2041, which also includes densification of the downtown core (City Centre) — a decision intended to act as a relief mechanism to the demand for more housing in the region. No greater is the need for that relief evident than in witnessing 20-year-old ‘McMansions’ being torn down on arterial roads to make room for townhouses. Furthermore, McNulty says developers are frequently making requests to build townhouses in the neighbourhoods. But he won’t have any of it. “Then we become a city of townhouses and forget about it,” says McNulty. However, he is open to creating smaller homes. “We need to take a second look at if we should be subdividing lots,” he says. Coun. Derek Dang says he can “see us going for a somewhat modified smaller lot.” Dang, a property manager, is at the forefront of this movement, being part owner of a development that is subdividing one house into three, new, compact homes in Steveston. Coun. Carol Day tabled a pre-election platform in 2014 to build smaller homes within the neighbourhoods to improve affordability. However, she also calls single-family neighbourhoods the “backbone” of Richmond. “Probably 95 per cent of people I have talked to would rather have more families coming to the neighbourhood, smaller lots, and more modest houses. And so, I think we are going to see a big trend change and I’m hopeful we can be part of that positive change,” says Day. During the election, Coun. Harold Steves also stated he wanted to maintain single-fam-

Erin Cebula, Global BC

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Dortetearm y L Rules of Play,

! Affordability of single-family homes, such as this one in Richmond, is one of the many issues Richmond City Council is hoping to address at next week’s public hearing on a bylaw amendment.

ily home neighbourhoods. And he, too, says he’s concerned about housing affordability. Price, whose program is funded and/or supported by a range of interests, from real estate groups to municipalities to non-profit associations associated with urban planning, says there are “somewhat conflicting desires or agendas or ideologies at a time of change, with inadequate data in an extraordinarily difficult political minefield.” Price first acknowledges how single-family neighbourhoods are, effectively, the “DNA” of Richmond. And yet, while there is a desire to maintain the civic nucleic acid that supposedly binds Richmondites, there is also pushback to maintain land values. “In other words, we want you to retain the sense that this is still middle class housing, even though it’s been priced up…but if you do anything it better not affect our land values,” he chuckles. Dang agrees, stating while many residents complain about mega homes, “you’ve got people who don’t want to see their lots go smaller because they think their lots are worth way more as they are…so there’s no hope.”

inally — as Price notes — there is the issue of Chinese money. “The issue, which no one wants to talk about, is ‘oh my gosh, we’re being sold off to China.’” Dang himself was reticent to admit that he hears conflicting sentiments from residents who complain about Chinese influence, but also wouldn’t mind selling their homes to Chinese buyers. Meanwhile, Mayor Malcolm Brodie has stated he has reservations on restricting the open market, as many other Western nations have done when it comes to real estate. Day, now in her first term as a councillor,

was the only elected candidate to raise the issue of the need to address foreign investment in real estate and work with senior levels of government. Price notes the housing affordability problem is one driven by supply and demand and solutions can be found at both ends. On the demand side, wealth from China is, in Price’s opinion, a major factor driving up housing costs. Perhaps going one step further in this silent debate is South China Morning Post journalist Ian Young, who has extensively tracked Chinese wealth migration to Metro Vancouver. ! Ian Young “Foreign buyers probably aren’t to blame for Vancouver’s lack of affordability. But foreign money probably is. And cracking down on the foreignness of funds will prove much harder than dealing with the foreignness of buyers, even if the will to do so exists,” wrote Young. Young has pointed to programs such as the (now cancelled) Immigrant Investor Program, which he’s reported brought upwards of 50,000 “millionaire migrants” to Vancouver from 2005-2012. Young says politicians are “treading carefully” as to not rock the boat of developers and real estate professionals who are beneﬁting from anecdotal stories of homes being sold for well over the asking price. see Westermark › page 15

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FRIDAYfeature Westermark: Different rules for different ‘hoods From page 14 According to City of Richmond spokesperson Ted Townsend, the city claims responsibility for tracking foreign money rests with the provincial and federal governments. While a referral to have the city research the matter was recently issued by a council committee, Townsend said, “We continue to monitor developments in this area to see what other governments may do and will report back to council if the landscape changes.” Young notes data on immigration patterns has been all but kiboshed with the cancellation of the federal long-forum census prior to 2011. Price says local governments need to open the conversation on all foreign money — Chinese or otherwise. “It requires extraordinary leadership, great communication and a recognition of the problems and what can be done. And if the willingness is there, you can work through this. But at this point, it seems the desire is not to talk about it,” says Price.

imultaneously, a discussion on other ways a municipality can control housing prices could also take place. According to Price, a former Vancouver city councillor, the city has two major tools to control affordability: form of development and taxation. On the former, Price notes Richmond can rein in large homes by allowing the division of lots and/or controlling the size of such homes. “Yes, it will affect land values and yes, that’s okay. You really do have to square that circle,” says Price. “We need a community of diversity in order to have a healthy community socially, if not just to provide people in the labour force — the teachers, ﬁreﬁghters and baristas — a place in the community.” Notably, the bylaw amendments before council will not address the actual livable area of homes in the city, but only some aspects of building massing (volume) as well as greater setbacks on larger lots. They also don’t allow for more lot divisions. Dang says that would require extensive public consultation. Price also notes there is also merit to taxation measures, such as raising property taxes, as a disincentive to foreign investment or wealth migration to the city. “I don’t think the argument will go very far,” says Price.

! When homes on large lots are torn down, the type of zoning determining what can be built on the site could vary by neighbourhood in Richmond, according to local developer Dana Westermark.

For existing residents, Price notes propAmong the forms of development presenterty taxes can be deferred for a marginal ly being floated by the development comrate of interest (one per cent). munity, is neighbourhood-specific zoning. “Here you are, sitting on a piece of land that’s accumulating value; you’ve done eveloper Dana Westermark is a pronothing to earn that but own it,” says Price, ponent of the city looking at different who suggests the extra revenue could be zoning, building regulations and design used for p protocols affordable f specific for housing, a n neighbourresponsibility h hoods. the federal To date, government W Westerabdicated m mark calls itself of in the R Richmond’s early 1990s. a approach to Price says z zoning “hothe converm mogenous.” sation on “We need such controls t start lookto (buildi at places ing ing form, l Vancoulike densificav where ver, University’s i it ’ Cit City tion, taxation ! Gordon Price, left, director of Simon FFraser U individual and foreign Program, says Richmond could control large home proliferation by neighbourallowing the division of lots. While local developer Dana Westermark, money) will hoods have right, believes Richmond should use Vancouver as a template for effectively different the future. boil down to rules. Kitsivaluing comlano is all duplexes and triplexes; Kerrisdale munity versus valuing property values. is large homes; others allow granny flats “But you have to be honest about it,” he and coach houses,” said Westermark. says. He explains that while a particular zoning

regulation may work for Westwind, it may not work elsewhere, such as Broadmoor, where luxury homes are now the norm. For instance, Westwind residents could agree to subdivide lots and allow smaller homes to be built, or allow for duplexes in order to maintain green space. Some neighbourhoods could accept more density (coach houses, granny ﬂats, duplexes or townhouses) than others, he says. As a result of introducing new forms of development, lower housing costs could allow people moving into that neighbourhood to “be more consistent with the existing demographic than the people moving in right now where (new) houses are two or three times more costly than the existing housing stock,” says Westermark. Furthermore, he suggests localized home design controls would allow for such neighbourhoods to maintain a consistent form. “You could do a lot to preserve the character by looking at different housing forms. It’s a conversation that needs to be had,” says Westermark.

otably, the City of Richmond’s chief planner, Joe Erceg, who was unavailable for an interview, has said previously that such a process would be a complicated one. But Price says such a plan would still need to attract a variety of people within the city. “One cannot isolate people in separate parts of the community,” he says. Such zoning could create ghettos of have and have-not neighbourhoods; a problem Richmond is already increasingly struggling with according to poverty critics, as well as Steves, an outspoken critic of the city’s affordable housing plan, which has shown a disposition to pool affordable housing funds into large projects. City council has asked city staff to investigate whether the affordable housing strategy requires more funding. Preliminary recommendations from staff showed that development charges for the strategy will go up. Also, presently, only developments of more than 80 units must include five per cent of built affordable units (rent controlled according to a tenant’s income). Whether that changes as well, or whether council finds a new direction, will be a political decision. “What kind of social stratification are we willing to accept? …It crunches down to ideology,” says Price.

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BUSINESSIn focus

BUSINESS Briefs

Installing data links is a ‘breeze’ ! Mike Priest (background) and Mike

Plotnikoff display the microduct used in their ﬁrm’s ﬁbre optic cable installation process, which is speedy and less invasive than traditional methods. Photo by Philip Raphael/ Richmond News

It appears Richmond residents are a bit more savvy, or are more motivated than their Lower Mainland counterparts when it comes tapping into governmentassisted education savings for youngsters. According to a recent study by Vancity Credit Union, 52 per cent of locals, as of this March, took advantage of the Canada Learning Bond. Burnaby was in second place with 49 per cent, and at the bottom of the 20 city list was Chilliwack with 27 per cent. The Canada Learning Bond offers a $500 RESP contribution to children from low-income families, plus an additional $100 every year until age 15, up to a maximum of $2,000. With a 2014 participation rate of 37 per cent, that means 165,663 eligible children in B.C. are not currently beneﬁtting from the program.

PHILIPRAPHAEL Staﬀ Reporter

PRAPHAELRICHMONDNEWS.COM

n the race to bring ultra-fast data connections — for Internet-streamed entertainment and other new and coming forms of communication — right up to residential doorsteps, a Richmond-based tech firm is literally “breezing” its way through the task. Lite Access Technologies Inc. is pioneering a technique to install fibre optic cable using tube and that is limited by the tensile strength compressed air to blow the fine strands of of the cable, said Plotnikoff. That can result in flexible glass or plastic that are thinner than a distance of 500 metres. strands of human hair along great lengths But it’s not just the greater distance airof special ducting that can be embedded blown fibre can travel which makes the Lite in streets and other areas with much less Access method attractive — it’s also easier to disruption than usual methods. install. The process is called micro ducting, and That’s because of the micro-trenching proMike Plotnikoff and Mike Priest have been cess they use is a less invasive and quicker guiding and refining the process over the last way of cutting into the ground to lay down the three years. cable. It consists of pumping air into special tubes Traditional installations require a back hoe inserted into the micro ducts which create to dig a trench to drop in a two or three-inch a cushion and reduces friction inside. This diameter pipe through which fibre is pulled. allows the fibres to float and travel, snag-free, A Lite Access micro-trench is made using around bends at speeds up special cutting equipment to three feet per second. and is one and a quarter “As long as you don’t inches wide and 12 to ... we can blow fibre...(the kink a tube, then everything 14 inches deep. And the floats perfectly through,” entire length that)...the fimicro ducts they install Plotnikoff said. “And it’s all into the trench, which are bre has been manufactured. manufactured dependent on the route, in Scotland, but ultimately it’s done in a And that’s usually about six is a mere inch wide. very short time.” “It’s (micro-trench) only kilometres. And just how far they can placed about 12 inches “blow” a cable depends on deep because further – M P how much fibre optic cable down, at 16 and 18 inches, the manufacturer puts on a you run into gas lines, on a spool. sewer and power,” Priest “We say we can go unsaid, adding that can cause limited distances. But what does that mean?” slow downs. Plotnikoff said. “Well, we can blow fibre... “It can cause problems, especially in resi(the entire length that)...the fibre has been dential areas. Neighbours get all upset,” Polimanufactured. And that’s usually about six tinikoff said. “We’re in and out in no time.” kilometres.” It’s also less expensive, he said, adding they Traditional methods of laying data cable can cut 250 to 500 metres of micro-trench a usually involves pulling it along the length of a day at a fraction of traditional methods.

Richmond tops in tapping education grants

The average cost for traditional trenching one metre is around $750. Access Lite can do it for around $125. And when it comes to upgrading the cables, which have a 20-year lifespan, blowing replacement fibre along the entire length of an existing duct does away with splicing in new cables, which can lead to degradation of signal, making it less effective. “The air-blown fibre is the most future-proof method of technology available today,” Plotnikoff said. “We can blow out old fibre and blow in new very quickly. Repairs can also be done very effectively.” And that’s been a deciding factor for clients that include many overseas, as well as some in Richmond where Lite Access has been involved with some private developments. Recently, the firm was awarded a contract for the supply and installation of a 9.65 km fibre optic network for the township of Langley. The network will connect the city’s civic facilities to its operations centre, operations building and the RCMP. Roughly 60 per cent of Lite Access’ business is done in North America. The remainder includes Asia-Pacific, Central and South America. “Fibre is the way to go today with the bandwidth limitations with copper (wire),” Plotnikoff said. “With added data uses such as Netflix (streamed movies and TV shows), apps and cellphones, fibre is needed today to support all of those demands. That’s because you can have unlimited amounts of bandwidth pass along a piece of glass compared to a copper cable.”

Hartman off to world summit

One of Richmond’s leading, young entrepreneurs is heading to Istanbul, Turkey to attend the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Sept. 10 - 13. Barry Hartman, co-founder of 505 Junk and winner of 2014 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Richmond Chamber of Commerce with business partner ! Barry Hartman Scott Foran, will be among those addressing G20 leaders and policymakers in the cause of youth entrepreneurship. Hartman, the only participant from Richmond, will also have a chance to meet and network with more than 600 entrepreneurs from around the globe.

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COMMUNITY in Focus

! Volunteers that crew the pair of rigid hull inﬂatable boats operated by the Royal Canadian Marine Serach and Rescue - Station 10, answer an average of 60 calls for help each year. Photo submitted

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But on one day on the calendar, the Richmondbased group asks the public to help keep their operations buoyant with a major fundraising event. On Sept. 12, the loft at Britannia Heritage Shipyard is the place where the public

can show their support for the 36 search and rescue members and 10 support personnel who give their time to the community. This is just the second annual event since the local RCM-SAR unit ﬁrst hit the local waters in 1988. Smaller initiatives over the years helped with operational costs, but with increasing expenses over time a larger fundraiser was deemed necessary. Last year, it raised just over $6,000, said Angela Karpondinis, team leader

with Richmond’s RCM-SAR, who organized the event. That was with 160 tickets sold to the dinner, dance and silent auction. This time around, 200 tickets have already been sold, which puts the event at capacity. But, the public can still show their support by visiting rcmsar10.org and clicking the “donate” tab, said station leader, Aaron Harnden. The annual budget to provide the services of two rescue boats on the waters see Generosity › page 19

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015

COMMUNITY in Focus

Generosity: Donations buy equipment surrounding Lulu Island — they respond to an average 60 calls annually — is around $70,000, Harnden said. This year, that is likely to be more, as a refit is required for one of the rigid hull inflatables — the Jimmy Ng, named in memory of Richmond RCMP Const. Jimmy Ng, who lost his life in the line of duty, but also was a dedicated member of the RCM-SAR station. A combination of federal and provincial funding covers for 30 to 40 per cent of operational costs. The rest is filled in with private donations from a collection of companies and individuals. But when it comes to equipment, maintenance, and some operational needs, the group relies on the generosity of the community, Harnden said. “Richmond is a great community to be a part of, and in the past, our station has always ‘managed’ to fundraise in various ways,” he said, via an email. “We started this particular fundraising event last year, not only as an additional avenue to raise

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! To help maintain a connection with the community, the search

and rescue crew is a mainstay at the Steveston Salmon Festival parade (top). Equipment purchases (above) are helped by ﬁnancial donations from the community. Photos submitted

funds, but also as a way to get the community involved and be aware of what we do and how active we are.” The fundraiser last year helped the station pay for some unanticipated costs to

replace and update safety equipment, as well as allow some savings to help with the reﬁt project — an estimated $55,000. For more details, visit rcmsar10.org.

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