Richmond News October 20 2022

Richmond resident and Burnaby RCMP officer was fatally stabbed on Tuesday while attending a homeless campsite. Prior to joining the Mounties in 2019, Const. Shaylen Yang (31) volunteered with Richmond’s Victim Services.

GRAPES

NUGGET

Email

tips

Election gabfest with legacy builders

Eve Edmonds EEDMONDS@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Harold Steves called it off the top but after 50 years in municipal politics, per haps that shouldn’t be a surprise

On election night, the Richmond News live streamed to our Facebook page our chat with soon to be former Richmond city councillors Steves and Linda McPhail

For the first time in decades, neither name was on the ballot Steves has been on city council for 50 years, while McPhail has served on both the board of education and city council in the past 20 years

Who better to watch the results roll in with on election night

“This is exactly what I predicted,” Steves said, adding that he had said early on that all six incumbents would get re elected, which they did, and the final two seats would be a match up between Kash Heed and Derek Dang (both on the Richmond Rise slate) verses Laura Gillanders and Evan Dunfee While the latter two weren’t

on the same slate they both claimed the “progressive” title

As the polls came in, indeed, it was a case of musical chairs with those four can didates battling for the final two seats Each of them appeared to have made the cut at different points in the evening, but by the end of the night, Gillanders and Heed took the seventh and eighth seats respectively

Steves couldn’t say enough about Gilland ers, a farm advocate who recently chaired the Agricultural Advisory Committee

“The committee has never been as effec tive as it has under her chairpersonship ”

Regarding Heed, the BC Liberal and former solicitor general, there was a little more skepticism

“That’s going to be a game changer,” said Steves, who said he thought Heed was further to the right than council in general (And Richmond city council has never been known to be left leaning )

Both Steves and McPhail also questioned Heed’s track record in terms of local in volvement While he’s a big name provin

cially, neither even knew he lived in Rich mond until he announced his candidacy

Regardless, McPhail noted his experience at the provincial level may help the city ne gotiate issues which require both levels of government working in concert

Through the campaign there had been comments about “divisiveness” on council, while others claimed it’s a case of challeng ing the status quo

McPhail said there were times where de bates turned “disrespectful ” Steves said he thought it was sometimes a case of council lors not understanding the process

But both agreed there are ways of have ideological differences and still work well together in the interests of Richmond resi dents In fact, they noted, the two of them are an example of exactly that

So, what does the future hold for this council? Answer: OCP, OCP, OCP This is the Official Community Plan, the blueprint councillors establish for future decisions

Revisiting policies such as the flag bylaw should also be in council’s future Recently,

the city chose not to fly an orange flag for Truth and Reconciliation Day or a rainbow flag during Pride Week, but McPhail and Steves say that needs to change

Perhaps the most depressing fact about election 2022 was the 25 per cent voter turnout But that’s countered, McPhail not ed, by the high number of thoughtful and articulate young people who ran While David Yang was the only one of that cohort to get elected (to the Board of Education) the fact they ran bodes well

“They are our future,” McPhail added Indeed they are, and they stand on broad shoulders

McPhail and Steves are a couple of Rich mond’s longest serving and most highly respected elected officials As we look to the next generation to pick up the torch, it’s comforting to know they have examples of passion, professionalism, courage and commitment to follow as they tackle the challenges of tomorrow

Such are the legacies of Harold Steves and Linda McPhail

FORMORENEWS,SPORTS&COMMUNITYSTORIESSEARCHTHESEHEADLINESBYVISITINGRICHMOND-NEWS.COM

Over 20 spooktacular Hallow een events await Richmondites

Richmond mall invites all to get spooked this Halloween Toy drive in memory of Rich mond’s ‘Secret Santa’ returns for 16th year

New Richmond art exhibit im merses visitors into B.C. forests Richmond father and son win almost $1 million with Lotto Max

Good morning, Richmond! B C

s smoky skies expected to clear by weekend

GOOD MORNING, RICHMOND!

LETTERS

Divisive or diverse?

Dear Editor,

Re: “Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie endorses three slates, eight councillors,” Online, Oct. 12

Malcolm Brodie has clearly been doing something right in the eyes of Richmond voters. Being elected mayor for eight consecutive elections is unprecedented.

But this election was differ ent for Mr Brodie. He became increasingly concerned about “divisiveness“ on council. A simple translation would be “opposition to my agenda.“

Fair enough. Every politician wants what they want. But why stir up even more divisiveness?

To counter the annoyance of several councillors who presented alternative views, Brodie decided to cash in on his perpetual popularity

and announce his “preferred slate“ of candidates, select all the current council members who are running except two, Michael Wolfe and Carol Day, who he perceives as most oppositional to his agenda, and justify this move with a reason that did not pass the sniff test. (Opponent John Roston was on the RITE slate)

The unprecedented ploy did not work.

A council with diverse opinions, made up of councillors who don’t all share the Mayor’s views, was elected by Richmond voters.

Fortunately, only four elected councillors have Brodie’s electoral blessing.

Nevertheless, a very curious way to create a more collegial and effective city council.

John Baines RICHMOND

Email letters to Editor@Richmond-News.com

Builders starts too early Be engaged locally

Dear Editor,

To those who ran in this election, I want to say that I appreciate your dedication to our community

But in reality, I can’t say this to ev eryone who ran in our municipal election

We have people who show up the few months before an election, throw a letter in the paper, get some photo ops and throw their name in the ring.

Meanwhile, we have dedicated residents who show up at council meetings, write letters to mayor and coun cillors, participate in civic matters and attempt to hold those in power accountable to the public and to our environment.

We need more of us to show up

We need more than photo ops and sound bites, we need to see “community activists/advocates” at coun cil meetings, pressing the decision makers for more affordable housing,

active transportation, tree protection and climate mitigation in the years leading up to an election.

If you are currently a youth who will be a voting adult, or candidate, the next election cycle, please take note of the example of David Yang and work to have your voice heard and for your seat at the table.

To those elected, I hope you will have your ears and hearts open to our youth and their future.

These are not easy times to navigate as we experience rapid climate change, rising inequality and global instability

We need to work together for a better Richmond.

I hope we will see more of us speak ing out and showing our continuing commitment to our community, not just at election time.

Michelle Li RICHMOND

Dear Editor,

My apartment over looks the new Richmond Centre development, and the level of noise is unacceptable

What is more irritating is that city officials keep giving site noise exemp tions

On Saturday, Oct. 15, they started pouring con crete at 6:15 a m !

Given that this project will go for years, I think they can manage to start work on Saturdays at a reasonable time

Shame on the city staff who approved these things

Richard Barr RICHMOND

MICHAEL

LAURA

Sign up for our newsletter at richmond-news.com

Voter turnout dips down to 25%

Malcolm Brodie handily won his seat as mayor of Richmond for the eighth term in a row

Brodie won with 23,239 votes (about 68 per cent of the votes) from the Richmond community

John Roston received 9,304 votes (27 per cent), followed by Wei Ping Chen who had 1,859 votes

But significantly fewer Richmon dites voted this time round com pared to 2018

Voter turnout dropped to 25 per cent from 36 5 per cent in 2018 with about 35,000 votes cast

While Brodie’s win looked secure from the start, it was a nail biter for the last two seats on council, which were finally taken by FarmWatch advocate and RITE candidate Lau

ra Gillanders and former solicitor general Kash Heed, with the Rich mond Rise slate

Gillanders, Heed, Derek Dang, also with Richmond Rise, and Evan

Dunfee, an independent, jockeyed for those last two spots earlier in the evening, but as Gillanders pulled ahead and Dunfee dropped behind, it was between Heed and Dang for the last spot, which Heed took with an additional 257 votes

All six incumbents, Chak Au, Car ol Day, Bill McNulty, Alexa Loo, Michael Wolfe and Andy Hobbs, kept their seats, while Couns Harold Steves and Linda McPhail didn’t seek re election

Four out of five school trustee can didates were re elected with only incumbent Richard Lee dropping off the final list

Richmond Community Coalition candidates Alice Wong and Rod Belleza secured seats on the Rich mond Board of Education while David Yang, running with the Rich mond Education Party, was elected as well

Valerie Leung/ Richmond News

By the numbers...

MAYOR

Malcom Brodie 23,239

John Roston 9,304 Wei Ping Chen 1,859

CITY COUNCILLORS

Chak Au 16,515

Carol Day 15,737

BillMcNulty 15,133

Alexa Loo 13,485

Michael Wolfe 12,953 Andy Hobbs 12,760 Laura Gillanders 10,817 KashHeed 10,563 Derek Dang 10,306

Evan Dunfee 10,117 Jerome Dickey 8,797

Jack Trovato 7,831

Eric Yung 7,016 Elsa Wong 6,789 Mark lee 6,025

Keefer Pelech 5,993 Melissa Zhang 5,936 Sheldon Starrett 5,573 Rahim Othman 4,936 Sunny Ho 4,654 Fipe Wong 4,617 Jasmine Piao 4,500

Adil Awan ............... 4,197 Bill Han 3,292 Chai Chung 3,125 Dennis Page ............. 3,005 Mohamud Farah 1,526

SCHOOL TRUSTEES

Ken Hamaguchi 15,909

Donna Sargent 13,855 Alice Wong 13,769

Heather Larson 13,475

Debbie Tablotney 13,361

David Yang 12,099

Rod Belleza 11,304 Linda Li 10,540

Chris Dinnell 10,529

Andrew Scallion 10,039

Richard Lee .............. 9,833 Rachel Ling 9,509

Kay Hale 8,032

Dean Billings ............ 7,331 Rajan Paul 6,269

Thank

Sincerely,

**Bolded names are those elected

Richmond for

continued confidence and support!

A special thank you to

volunteers.

McNulty & Alexa Loo

ELECTION

Sign up for our newsletter at richmond-news.com

8th term for Brodie

Maria Rantanen MRANTANEN@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Former solicitor general and former Vancouver Fraserview BC Liberal MLA

Kash Heed has a new role: Richmond city councillor

With 10,563 votes, Heed just beat his Richmond Rise running mate Derek Dang by 257 votes, taking the last spot on council

Heed, a retired police officer, will join another newbie, Laura Gillanders, on city council along with all six re elected incumbent councillors and Malcolm Brodie who will serve as mayor for his eighth term

Heed said he thinks things will change this term, add ing divisiveness on council has been holding Richmond back.

“I think we ’ ve reached a council now where I don’t think business is going to be the same any more it’s going to be a lot differ ent,” he said

Heed would like to see residents and businesses consulted more to guide city council’s policies, rath er than city staff saying how things should be run

He thinks this type of lead ership is needed at various levels of government as

well, where the bureaucra cy is taking the lead instead of elected officials

“That’s not the way it’s supposed to be done,” he said

An example he cited was the length of time it takes for developments to go through city hall

Search Former solicitor general for full story at Richmond-News.com

Valerie Leung VLEUNG@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Re elected Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie is looking for ward to addressing the city’s Official Community Plan (OCP) as he begins his eighth term on city council as mayor.

Ex-BC Lib MLA on council Malcolm Brodie

Brodie once again secured the mayor ’ s chair in the munici pal election with 23,239 votes (about 67.5 per cent of votes cast).

“It’s always gratifying to get the support of the people,” said Brodie, adding that the “results were pretty strong ”

“You feel good Not only do you win, but (you know) you have the support of the people of Richmond ”

When asked what he looks forward to the most in this upcoming term, Brodie told the Richmond News the biggest thing is the review of the Official Community Plan (OCP)

“(The OCP) is going to an swer a lot of questions that are outstanding,” said Brodie

This includes questions on housing, rental housing and “approaches to the questions” on how city council will han dle them

“It’s going to be a big chal lenge we look forward to ”

The OCP lays out, in broad strokes, a long term vision of land use management in the city, for example, neighbourhood den sity, commercial areas and greenspaces It can include items like sustainability or transportation policies.

Brodie beat RITE Richmond’s mayoral candidate John Roston, who got 27 per cent of the vote, and Wei Ping Chen who got about 5.4 per cent.

The turnout for the Richmond election was approximately 25 per cent

Search Brodie re-elected for full story at Richmond-News.com

New RITE councillor ‘honoured’ to be elected

Cheers and thunderous applause filled the Richmond Curling Club as the RITE slate celebrated the re-election of incumbents Carol Day and Michael Wolfe, with the addition of FarmWatch advocate Laura Gillanders.

With 10,817 votes, Gillanders was elected for the first time to city council, along with Kash Heed.

“I feel honoured. I’m so grateful that the people of Richmond put their vote and faith in me, and I’m looking forward to working hard and helping shape the next few years of our city,” she said at the

election party, adding she will be learning the ropes along with Heed.

Day said, on election night, she was excited for Gillanders to join council, as it will “create a whole new voice and a whole new perspective.”

A few days after the election, Gillanders said the victory was a bit “bittersweet” as she’d hoped Jerome Dickey would join her at the council table.

OCP review coming

The new council will tackle updating the Official Community Plan (OCP) over its term, but Gillanders said, given the cur

rent climate and housing crises, there’s an urgency to push for changes, even before the review is done.

She would like to see a better arterial road plan, more density in community hubs and in City Centre as well as rental units over commercial units.

These, she said, are some of the easiest things to do right away that could alleviate the housing crisis.

“I want to do everything possible to make sure we maximize land use without necessarily waiting for the whole OCP to be done,” she said.

Without flexibility, she’s worried about the loss of more mature trees in Richmond and the loss of rental housing.

Outside of housing and development, Gillanders also would like to see the flag policy updated and Truth & Reconciliation calls to action implemented in Richmond, further “building on the pride that we all feel” in Richmond, she said.

The new council will be sworn in on Nov 7.

Vikki Hui & Maria Rantanen/ Richmond News

Ourvaluedmembers,clients,usergroupsandgeneralpublicareinvitedto

person,atRichmondOlympicOval,6111River Road,Richmond,BritishColumbia,withvirtualaccessalsoavailable

andprovideanupdateon2022operations,andwhattoexpectin2023. Kindly RSVP by 1:00 pm on Wednesday, November 23 by email at aim@richmondoval.ca Pleaseindicateifyouwillbeattendinginperson, orrequirealinktoconnectvirtually

OnbehalfoftheRichmondOlympicOvalCorporation, DennisSkulsky Chair,ROOC

Frown Line

Kash Heed, here with his cam paign man ager (left) and partner (right)

Maria Rantanen photo

ELECTION

RCA shut out

This is the first time in 60 years no one from the Rich mond Citizens’ Association (RCA) has been elected to city council.

In Saturday’s election, RCA ran four candidates Jack Trovato, Keefer Pelech, Mark Lee and Fipe Wong but none of them were elected Steves himself a long time RCA member didn’t run for re election

The party made a few “mistakes,” said Steves Firstly, their signs were hard to read; secondly, they should have promoted candidate Jack Trovato more as he came close to

winning in 2018

Also, the fact there weren’t any big divisive is sues helped the incumbent councillors, he added

Moreover, “there were just too many good people running ” In fact, while

Steves supported the RCA slate, he also had lawn signs for independent can didate Evan Dunfee, RITE candidate Laura Gilland ers as well as incumbents Mayor Brodie and Coun Andy Hobbs

RCC’s Au tops election poll

Incumbent city councillor Chak Au came out on top with the most votes in Saturday’s civic election.

Au, who ran with Richmond Citizen Coali tion (RCC), beat out RITE incumbent Carol Day for the top spot by a 778 vote differ ence with 16,515 votes.

Surrounded by jubilant supporters in his campaign office long after celebrations had concluded, Au told the Richmond News the top spot was “unexpected” and he was “excited and happy with the result ”

“I think the voters are putting their faith in trusting me, that I will be able to do a good

job,” he said

But his victory also came with regrets, as Au was once again the only RCC candi date to be elected to city council

“I’m so disappointed that I was unable to help some of my teammates to get elected,” said Au, adding that Rahim Othman and Sheldon Starrett both performed strongly despite their losses

As he prepares for his fourth term on council, Au hopes to focus on tackling the cost of living and supporting the needs of young Richmondites

Sign up for our newsletter at richmond-news.com

Three new trustees elected

Maria Rantanen MRANTANEN@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Three new school trustee were elected to the Richmond Board of Education in Saturday’s municipal election two who ran with the Richmond Community Coalition, Alice Wong and Rod Belleza, as well as David Yang, who ran with the Richmond Education Party (REP).

They will join incumbent trustees Ken Hamaguchi, who topped the polls with 15,909 votes, Donna Sargent, Heather Larson and Debbie Tablotney

Richard Lee was the only incumbent not elected to the board of education.

In a speech at the Richmond Curling Club, where REP was watching the results coming in, Yang spoke about staffing shortages and the need to “support critical infrastructure.”

He also spoke about the difficulties of growing up in Richmond with English as his second language.

“Kids like me, had to fight every step of the way, to learn their vocabulary, to get their English, right, and most importantly, to learn to get along with the great big family that we are here in Richmond, and in this country,” he said.

Belleza, for his part, told the Rich mond News he was “humbled” to be elected. Belleza served two terms, from 2008 to 2014, but lost in the last two elections. This time, he felt the election was a “redemption,” he said.

The new board could be facing fincancial pressures as inflation and global economic forces influence the school board’s budget, Belleza said, so it will be important for trustees to advocate for stable funding and work with stakeholders and consult the community to set budgetary priorities.

David Yang (left), with the Richmond Education Party, was elected to the board of education on Saturday Vikki Hui photo

Harold Steves was the last RCA council lor in Richmond Maria Rantanen photo

Vikki Hui/Richmond News

Garden

Greater

Hummingbird

Navy

ELECTION

Youth needed: Roston

Valerie Leung VLEUNG@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Richmond’s runner up mayoral candidate John Roston is encouraging more young people to run in elections

Roston, while not surprised by his loss against incumbent Malcolm Brodie in Sat urday’s municipal election, hopes more younger candidates will step up to the po litical plate in future elections

The RITE candidate said he was told by many young voters they appreciated him “running so they could vote for somebody they believe in ”

“We have a lot of hope in the younger generations,” he said “In the short run, just get them out to vote And in the long run, they will do it themselves, they will run ” Roston received 26 5 per cent of the votes cast (9,304 votes)

Roston told supporters at the Richmond Curling Club, where RITE, Richmond Citi zens ’ Association and some independent candidates gathered after the polls closed,

he had never thought about running for mayor until he was approached by incum bent Carol Day, also from the RITE Slate

“At first I thought I didn’t hear her correct ly, and then I said, ‘that is crazy. It is impos sible for me to beat Malcolm Brodie ’”

However, Day said it, “doesn’t matter ”

Citing veteran councillor Harold Steves, she noted that the most important part of running was “talking about the issues and giving people a chance to vote for some one they trust ”

With files from Vikki Hui

John Roston was second in the mayor ’ s race Vikki Hui photo

Join the conversation at facebook.com/RichmondNews/

RCMP killed in line of duty

Valerie Leung VLEUNG@RICHMOND NEWS COM

A man has been charged with first degree murder in the stab bing death of a Richmond resi dent and Burnaby RCMP officer

Charges were laid against Jongwon Ham, 37, in Vancouver Provincial Court on Oct 19 for killing Const Shaelyn Yang

Murder is automatically first de gree when the victim is a police officer, under the Criminal Code of Canada

Yang, 31, died after being stabbed at a “homeless camp ” at Broadview Park, near Canada Way and Curle Avenue, shortly after 11 a m on Tuesday, ac cording to Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, Command ing Officer of the BC RCMP in a media statement

Emergency responders treated

Yang at the scene, but she suc cumbed to her injuries

The suspect was shot and sent to hospital with non life threaten ing injuries, according to a BC RCMP media statement

“This is an extremely difficult and tragic day for the BC RCMP and members of the Burnaby De tachment,” said McDonald

“Those (Yang) worked with before joining the RCMP and her police colleagues today, de scribe Const Yang as a kind and compassionate person, which makes her death even more dif ficult to accept ”

BC RCMP officers described Yang as “kind and compassion ate” and a “loving wife, sister and daughter ”

Yang started her career volun teering with Richmond RCMP’s Victim Services unit and later be come a full time volunteer

She decided to become a po

lice officer and started training in June 2019 Yang graduated in December and was posted at the Burnaby Detachment

Yang worked with Burnaby RCMP’s mental health and home less outreach team

“I can also tell you that Const Yang died bravely; she answered the call to duty and paid the ul timate price,” said McDonald “The loss of Shaelyn will be felt by so many Her death impacts her family, friends, the wider RCMP family, and the vulnerable community she so passionately served Her loss is immeasur able ”

The Integrated Homicide Inves tigation Team is investigating Yang’s death The incident is also being investigated by the Inde pendent Investigations Office of BC

With files from Cornelia Naylor/Burnaby Now

Hong Guo faces possible jail time

A Richmond lawyer and 2018 mayoral candidate is facing up to 40 days in jail for contempt of a court order

According to a court order dated Oct 14, Hong Guo, a Richmond business and real estate lawyer, who also has an office in Beijing, has been found in contempt of previous orders made to her on April 8, 2021 and May 3, 2022

Guo is scheduled to appear in B C Supreme Court Friday before Justice Gary P Weatherill, where she will be provided the opportu nity to finally comply with the or ders, at which point the “court will consider modifying the period of Ms Guo’s incarceration ”

The contempt order was sought in a court application on Sept 16 by Kai Ming Yu and Qing Yan, who sued Guo over a real estate transaction on Minoru Boulevard

City of Richmond

in 2013

The plaintiffs hired a forensic ac countant named Stephen Graff, who discovered “ numerous dis coveries of accounting irregulari ties, as well as potential claims and damages issues related to Ms Guo,” according to their claim

A judge had asked Guo to produce documents for the court.

Yu and Yan claimed Guo had already shown a history of non compliance

Guo didn’t reply to Glacier Me dia by telephone Tuesday regard ing her upcoming appearance Guo ran for mayor in Richmond in 2018.

Graeme Wood/

Search Hong Guo for full story at Richmond-News.com

Consolidated Fee Bylaw 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 10398

At the October 11, 2022, Council meeting, three readings were given to Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Amendment Bylaw No. 10398, to increase fees for a range of products, services and fees provided by the City.

Those persons who consider themselves affected by the proposed bylaw are invited to make written submissions to Council, c/o the City Clerk at 6911 No 3 Road, Richmond, BC, V6Y 2C1; or by fax at 604-278-5139; or by email to cityclerk@richmond.ca; or make verbal presentation to Council by appearing as a delegation at the November 14, 2022, Council meeting.

All written submissions received prior to the proposed bylaw adoption on November 14, 2022, will be forwarded to Council for consideration. A complete copy of the staff report is available on the City website at www.richmond.ca (City Hall>City Council Agendas & Minutes>Finance Committee>2022 Agendas & Minutes>October 03, 2022>Agenda and Staff Reports>Item 2).

For more information on the proposed Bylaw Amendment, please contact the Business Licence Division at 604-276-4389

Claudia Jesson Director, City Clerk’s Office

City of Richmond

www.richmond.ca

Warranty for 5 years against breakage during eating

Beautiful Smiles Created by the Artisans at Esthetics Denture Studio

Rajbeer graduated with an associate of science degree in 2015. She has succeeded for 8 years in the customer service industry, providing services with a positive and caring attitude Having a passion for denturism, Rajbeer has provided excellent and dedicated patient care at Esthetics Denture Studio since she completed the CDI Denturists program.

Advantages and benefits of being an Esthetics Denture Studio patient:

• Alex Hupka has 26 years of experience as a registered dental technician and 21 years experience as a registered denturist

• A combined experience of 47 years in the dental field produces results of esthetic beauty with unparalleled accuracy in all our products

• Natural beauty esthetics and function, immaculate attention to detail

• We provide integrated treatment planning with your dentist or surgeon

• Implant supported and retained denture treatment planning and engineering

• Highest quality dental materials available with no compromise

• We have an in house laboratory for all your needs, to maintain product and quality control

• 5 year warranty against breakage during eating

Registered Denturist

• Free home care kit, including professional denture cleaner with new cosmetic and partial dentures for the lifetime of being our patient

Cosmetic Precision Denture System™

Premium quality Cosmetic Precision Dentures instill confidence and provide optimum function while eating, speaking and laughing

Sophisticated instrumentation records facial and anatomical information to recreate your natural smile and the youthful facial contours of your lips and cheeks. Our premium quality teeth duplicate natural teeth. The contours of our premium teeth are designed to match your skeletal type with feminine and masculine characteristics to accentuate your appeal

The Art and Advantages of Cosmetic Precision Dentures: Esthetics created with natural nuances, so you can speak, smile and laugh with confidence.

Contours Naturally sculpted tissue surfaces, make Cosmetic Precision Dentures almost indistinguishable from natural tissues

Health eat virtually any food efficiently, improve digestion. Strength and Fit extremely dense materials provide a strong, secure, non irritating comfortable fit.

Biocompatibility dense equalized materials aid in the prevention of stain and odor buildup

Kaur, RD

Alex Hupka RD, RDT, Denturist

Arson suspects in custody after highway crash

Valerie Leung VLEUNG@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Three arson suspects were taken into custody after a three-vehicle collision in Richmond on Monday morning

The collision occurred on Highway 91 at about 10:45 a.m. and involved three vehicles, including a police vehicle from BC Highway Patrol, a commercial vehicle and a vehicle believed to be related to the arson suspects.

The three individuals in the third vehicle were taken into custody and held for an investigation related to a suspicious fire that occurred in Vancouver earlier in the morning

The driver of the commercial vehicle was transported to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to a Richmond RCMP media statement. No other injuries were reported.

Earlier in the day, the RCMP received reports of a shooting at the University Golf Course, on the University Endowment Lands. Officers attended and located a man suffering from gunshot wounds who succumbed to his injuries.

At 10:02 a.m., a vehicle fire was reported in a laneway located a six-minute drive from the golf course. IHIT is working with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) to determine if the two incidents are connected.

It is also unclear if there is a connection between the vehicle fire in Vancouver and the arson suspects involved in the crash on Highway 91.

Investigators believe the incident at UBC was a targeted shooting in relation to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash on Highway 91, or has dash-cam or video evidence, is asked to contact Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212. or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

information contact Alvin Chow

Growth in Airbnb highest in Richmond

Vikki Hui VHUI@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Richmond has come out on top for growth in Airbnb bookings this fall, beating out To ronto, Kamloops and Lions Bay

Whether that’s a good thing or a bad things depends very much on who you talk to

The list was compiled by looking at nights booked in a city or town year over year for cities with a minimum of 50 nights booked in 2021, explained Airbnb spokesperson Matt McNama

“Richmond was by far the number one, ” he said, adding that bookings for the city had more than tripled over the same time last year

McNama said one major reason behind Richmond, and Toronto’s, popularity is the proximity to Canada’s two biggest airports He credits the growth to the travel rebound as travel restrictions from around the world are being eased

Bookings at Airbnbs have also gotten lon ger since the COVID 19 pandemic, said McNama, which could be because people are afforded more freedom with remote work, and they “really want to go travel ”

“Globally, 20 per cent of our bookings are for more than two weeks. And that’s the first time that’s happened,” he said Complaints about Airbnbs and short-term listings

Despite the city’s popularity with travellers and remote workers, short term rentals such as Airbnbs remain a contentious issue with many Richmondites

In a previous interview with the Richmond News, Vancouver housing advocate Ro hana Rezel had warned that unregulated short term rental listings could pose a threat to rental housing availability in Richmond

“Housing that could have provided shelter for the family is being used as short term hotels,” Rezel had said

“And it has a really negative impact on the neighbourhood You have people hav ing parties, committing crimes, and Airbnb brings all of this ”

According to the City of Richmond’s by laws, short term rentals of fewer than 30 days, such as those listed on Airbnb, re quire one of two types of permits: bed and breakfast or boarding and lodging And short term rentals of entire houses or resi dential units are “not permitted under any circumstance ”

As of now, Richmond has 61 licensed bread and breakfasts, 17 boarding and lodging licenses and two pending licence applications But according to a search by the News, there are hundreds of listings for various types of homes on Airbnb, includ ing entire apartments and homes.

As of this August, the city has received 40 complaints about short term rentals and is sued eight tickets for violations

The number of complaints has remained consistent during the COVID 19 pandemic, with 36 in 2021 and 43 in 2020. Eleven tickets were issued back in 2021

However, the city is anticipating an in crease in complaints as travel resumes, said city spokesperson Clay Adams

Back in 2019, the City of Richmond told the News that its staff regularly review list ings across various platforms to identify il legal operations, and progress was made in reducing the supply despite challenges

However, locating such operations is not easy, explained Adams, as listings don’t usually provide addresses until the book ing has been completed Some cities have artificial intelligence software to identify locations from photos, but Richmond cur rently does not have access to it

And even when the city manages to locate a suspected unlicenced operation, it still must go through the “labour intensive” process of monitoring it and catching the infraction.

Tickets are issued as a last resort for bylaw violations, added Adams.

Unsafe power washing nets fine

A home service business has been fined for an un safe Richmond worksite last month

It wasn’t the first time the company was found in vio lation of safety protocols

Vancouver based SOS Guttervac Home Services

was fined $2,500 for the lack of fall protection for its workers on a roof

According to Work SafeBC, the firm’s workers were power washing on a 6:12 sloped roof of a Rich mond restaurant No pro tection was in place and it

exposed the worker to the risk of falling from about 5 5 meters (18 feet)

“The firm failed to ensure fall protection was used, a repeated and high risk violation,” reads Work SafeBC’s website

Valerie Leung/News

Coyote youth cruisin’ the hood

Alan Campbell ACAMPBELL@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Richmond residents were getting an up-close and personal view of our local wildlife last week.

Our curious co-habitant coyote population has been getting a little bit familiar this week, especially in the likes of the Seafair neighbourhood in west Richmond.

Photos of the wild creatures have been snapped while they lounged in culde-sacs and driveways, with some people on social media joking they might be simply assessing the movements of local pets.

One was spotted as recently as last Wednesday morning on Fairway Road, just northwest of No. 1 and Francis roads, close to the coyote’s happy hunting ground of the West Dyke Trail.

Meanwhile, another was photographed recently taking a break on someone’s driveway in the Monds, just north of Steveston.

According to the Stanley Park Ecology Society’s coyote sightings map, seven were reported between Oct. 1 and 6 in the Steveston and Seafair ar eas, which doesn’t appear to include the aforementioned ones.

One resident on Facebook commented a coyote came as a close as four feet from him last Friday

While another said her neighbours reported one of the Seafair sightings to conservation officers, who apparently came out, inspected the animal and released it.

The Stanley Park Ecol ogy Society has a notice on its website, informing the public that August to December is known as the “Coyote End-Of-Breeding Season.”

“We’re in a time of higher coyote activity as pups are finished being reared in and around their dens,” reads the notice.

“Autumn is the dispersal season for many young coyotes living in Vancouver As the pups become mature, many of the family groups will start to kick out some of their young “Young and curious coyotes will be out exploring and learning skills needed for survival and we may often come into contact

with them.”

The society said the public can “reinforce their natural fear of people by scaring them away from public spaces if they are seen during the daytime.”

To avoid conflicts and maintain a healthy barrier between humans and coyotes, you are asked to:

Report encounters and sightings by calling 604681-WILD. Keep dogs on-leash and cats indoors to prevent any potential harm to pets.

Should you encounter a coyote, be big, bold, and loud, and carry hazing tools that make loud nois es such as a coyote shaker to scare them away

Do not run away from a coyote; this may invite it to chase you.

Assess properties for food attractants Remove any food sources like open trash or compost. Cut down overgrown vegetation and (if unoccupied) close off any openings that can be used as dens

Connect at Editor@Richmond-News.com

Seniors advocate coming to Kwantlen

Valerie Leung

BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie will deliver a presentation on seniors’ issues in B.C. at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) next week.

Seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie

Mackenzie will speak at Third Age Learning at Kwantlen (TALK)’s annual general meeting to present on issues affecting seniors, such as affordability challenges, on Oct 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The presentation will be in-person at KPU’s Richmond campus and online via Zoom.

As the BC Seniors Advocate, Mackenzie has more than 20 years of experience working with seniors in home care, licensed care and community services.

She led a project where a new model of dementia care became a national best practice as well as leading the first safety accreditation for homecare workers. Among her many accolades, Mackenzie was recognized for her work with seniors, named BC CEO of the Year for the not-for-profit sector and was nominated as a provincial health-care hero.

Attendees for the presentation must hold an annual TALK membership; they can register by going to https://bit.ly/3TEf31L.

A young coyote was spotted in a driveway in Seafair last week Photo submitted

VLEUNG@RICHMOND NEWS COM

COMMUNITY

Castle demolished

Alan Campbell ACAMPBELL@RICHMOND NEWS COM

Did you know Richmond had a castle?

Well it did, sort of, but now it’s gone South Arm “Castle” to be precise

However, the not so stately abode was not the home of Richmond royalty, but a sol id, cement miniature play castle at South Arm Park

And this week, genera tions of Richmond resi

dents were lamenting the “demolition” of the castle, with some recalling fond memories of playing in it 50 years ago, followed by their kids doing the same

Meanwhile, some on so cial media were not so sad to see it go, remember ing instead how parts of it smelled of urine and how many injuries were sus tained while pretending to be knights and nobles

The castle is being re moved as part of a play ground renovation, which

has been in the works since 2019 after public consulta tion

Work, according to the city’s sign at the park, is starting this fall and will ultimately see the likes of slides, monkey bars, a pla za, walkways, a climber, a tower, a zipline and picnic tables by next spring.

That didn’t stop the com ments flooding in on Face book community group Richmond Rants and Raves, with one poster pondering whether to go down to the site to retrieve a GI Joe toy lost there in 1985

While another said the castle was “ an awesome place for kids to play and USE THEIR IMAGINA

TIONS I’m so mad seeing this! Kids are being ruined by this ‘safe and modern’ world!!”

One Facebook user said she was “devastated” and questioned the need to rip up the park, adding that it “seemed safe enough ”

“Looks like they have done changes for the sake of doing changes Have to spend budget money, to justify spending budget money, to keep the bud get going, so they can get more budget money it’s a never ending cycle,” said another

However, one group mem ber, while acknowledging there were elements of fun, said it was constantly filled with garbage, dirty cloth ing and cigarette butts, which she had to clear up

The South Arm “Castle” in all its glory was a favourite playpark for generations of Richmondites Photo submitted

Garry Street

Boulevard

with a beautiful private fenced backyard 3 bedrooms, 1 5 baths, 2 fireplaces, Murphy bed in the family room, 4 year old h/w tank, with unique extra parking in the back or make it into a great play area for the kids. Spacious covered balcony for bbq’s and entertaining. The attached shed includes a small workshop ins de Also ideal for investment or holding property until ready to build your dream home Steps to Seafair Shopping Centre, trans t, Gilmore Elementary, Boyd Secondary, gas station, restaurants. 39 5380 Smith Drive • $929,000

come to Bridgeview

beautiful 2 Bedroom & Den

TRUTH IN

EMPLOYMENT

Kids and Adults Needed

are

If you have responded to

which

please call the:

Better Business Bureau at 604-682-2711

Monday to Friday 9am 3pm or email: inquiries@bbbvan.org and they will investigate.

Route Boundaries

1400217 Dyke Rd, London Rd, Princess Lane, St............................. 1410001 4th , 6th, 7th Ave, Broadway St, Chatham St, Richmond St 1410002 11491 7th Ave (Mariners Village)....................................... 1410003 11291 / 11391 7th Ave (Mariners Village).......................... 1410004 4th Ave, 6th Ave, 7th Ave, Georgia St, Pleasant St.............. 1410005 2nd Ave, 3rd Ave, 4th Ave, Garry St, Georgia St, Pleasant St, Richmond St.................................................. 1410019 2nd Ave, Garry St, Georgia St, No. 1 Rd, Richmond St, Garry St..................................... 1410022 2nd Ave, 4th Ave, No. 1 Rd, Pleasant St, Regent St............ 1410024 4th Ave, 6th Ave, 7th Ave, Garry St, Georgia St, Richmond St................................................................... 1410026 11020 11500 No. 1 Rd, Regent St (Townhouse route)..... 1420102 Fortune Ave, Gander Crt, Dr, St. Brides Crt Pl, St. Johns Crt, Pl, St. Vincents Crt Pl, Williams Rd................ 1420103 Cornerbrook Cres, Fortune Ave, Freshwater Dr, Williams Rd.................................................................. 1420108 Sable Ave, Sceptre Crs, Skagit Dr, Sorrel Dr 1420109 Springfield Crt, Dr, Springthorne Cres................................ 1420203 Geal Rd, Groat Ave , Williams Rd........................................ 1420204 Pendelton Gate, Dr, Waller Crt, Dr, Williams Rd................... 1420208 Desmond Ave, Rd, Diamond Rd, Earlmond Ave, Elkmond Rd, Lamond Ave, No 1 Rd, Williams Rd................ 1420209 Barmond Ave, Desmond Rd, Diamond Rd, Francis Rd, Newmond Rd, Osmond Ave, Raymond Ave........................ 1420210 Diamond Rd, Oakmond Rd, Raymond Ave, Rosamond Ave 1420212 No. 1 Rd, Pendlebury Rd, Peterson Dr, Pickering Dr, Waller Dr, Williams Rd....................................................... 1420215 Barmond Ave, Diamond Ave, Francis Rd, Newmond Rd, Oakmond Rd.................................................................. 1430104 Hollymount Dr Gate, Railway Ave, Steveston Hwy 1430111 Addison St, Defoe St, Goldensmith Dr, No. 2 Rd, Swift, Williams Rd.................................................................. 1430113 Gilbert Rd, Williams Rd...................................................... 1430114 Goldsmith Dr, Steele Crt............. 1430115 Hollycroft Dr, Gate, Hollywood Dr, Williams Rd.................... 1430116 Gilbert Rd, Steveston Hwy 1430412 Francis Rd, Maple Rd, Martyniuk Gate, Pl, No. 2 Rd........... 1440613 Algoma Dr, Arvida Dr, Gate, Bissett Dr, Francis Rd.............. 1440619 Arrowsmith Dr, Pl, Athabasca Dr, Auburn Dr 1490402 Lancing Crt, Pl, Langton Rd, Ledway Rd, Lindsay Rd, Lombard Rd, Ludgate Rd, Pl, Ludlow Pl, Rd....................... 1490405 6780 / 6800 / 6840 Lynas Lane........................................ 1490409 Bouchard Crt, Gate, Dover Rd, No. 2 Rd, Walton Rd, Westminster Hwy 1490417 Opal Pl, Sapphire Pl, Tiffany Blvd, Turquoise Dr 1500001 Boeing Ave, Catalina Cres, Douglas Cres, Hudson Ave, Miller Rd, Stirling Ave, Wellington Cres.............................. 1500004 Boeing Ave, Catalina Cres, Douglas Cres, Handley Ave,

ADVERTISING POLICIES

or at all, although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers. Further, the publishers do not accept liability for any loss of damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any corrections of changes will be made in the next available issue. The Richmond News will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion with liability limited to that portion of the advertisement affected by the error Request for adjustments or correct ons on charges mus be made w h n 30 days o he ad’s exp rat on For best results please check your ad for accuracy the first day it appears. Refunds made only after 7 business days notice!