Richmond News December 22 2022

Photo by Eve Edmonds

Where is Richmond’s snow plowing service?

Dear Editor,

We are facing a harsh winter season with low temperatures, snow and all the difficulties that arise with such conditions.

In my 34 years of residency in this city I have never seen the City of Richmond drop the ball as far as shovelling the main streets and using salt to make streets safer to drive.

This year, surprisingly, we are all witnessing the city not providing this vital and necessary civic service.

Main arteries and avenues and roads have not been shovelled as per needed, resulting in many people getting stuck home or having to venture onto the main roads and battle two feet of snow when driving.

Why is this happening?

This city is growing by leaps every year with increased population and infrastructure.

It is surprising then to see the city ne-

glecting the vital service of maintaining safe roads during snowfalls.

As I mentioned, in the past I used to see city trucks shovelling snow during the night and early hours of the day everywhere preparing roads for drivers and public transportation

This year, they are nowhere to be seen resulting in roads and avenues completely covered in snow

We have been all left to our own devices by the City of Richmond leaders this winter so far

I hope this letter brings about a positive response so that the great snow response service that we all witnessed in the past gets restored promptly, considering we are in the beginning of the winter season

Let’s see those snow plowing city trucks delivering the service our residents need promptly

Guillermo Suarez RICHMOND

Kids want bike lanes

Dear Editor, Re: “Councillor balks at bike lane price tag” News, Dec 15, 2022

We are three siblings who love to bike in Richmond Along with our parents, we have covered the local area and have also biked in Vancouver and surrounding cities

We were extremely disappointed to learn about Coun Carol Day’s position against building a bike lane on Steveston Highway, especially after she expressed her support for the expansion of cycling infrastructure before the election

Steveston Highway is one of Richmond’s major roads and is always very busy We have also noticed, while walking and biking around the city, that many cars in Richmond drive way over the speed limit

If the city were to, in Carol Day’s words, “trim the cost of the multi-use pathway for cyclists and pedestrians” and paint lines on Steveston Highway, it would prove unsafe for cyclists, especially families like

ours that include younger children. Going by bike is good for the planet and also helps people stay fit

Therefore, it is important to us the city supports safe cycling and promotes active living

If more bike lanes were built for cyclists, especially on major roads like Steveston Highway, it would encourage more people to bike

People would feel safer knowing that there was a proper bike lane there

To highlight Richmond’s need for better bike lanes, we challenge the mayor and all eight of Richmond’s city councillors to go by bike for a week

It would also be a good example for citizens We hope that, with some reallife experience in the matter, our leaders will be able to make a more thoughtful decision

Sana (Grade 9), Misaki (Grade 7), Seiji (Grade 6) Lee RICHMOND

Council allies needed to fight antisemitism LETTERS

Dear Editor,

I, like many in our Jewish community, was encouraged earlier this month when Richmond City Council indicated it would bring forward a motion to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism However, I was disheartened when the motion was inexplicably removed from council’s agenda.

The issue is timely, important and relevant

Richmond has the second largest Jewish population in B C , with multiple synagogues, a Jewish school and many Jewishowned businesses

Unfortunately, antisemitism is once again on the rise and gaining a worrisome amount of mainstream acceptance

In just the past few months, we ’ ve seen public figures like musician Kanye West repeatedly push antisemitic vitriol, a for-

mer U S president and current presidential candidate break bread with a known Holocaust denier, and an NBA player promote then refuse to condemn a film that glorified Hitler and contained anti-Semitic tropes

Even closer to home, a recent academic report identified ongoing antisemitism in one of Canada’s most prestigious medical schools.

These findings follow a disturbing trend According to Statistics Canada, in 2021, Canada’s Jewish community was the most frequently targeted minority group when it came to police-reported hate crimes including assault, harassment, intimidation and vandalism

The result is that Jewish communities around the world are now on edge, and looking to allies for support and reassurance they don’t tolerate this form of hatred and are ready to take a

stand

The IHRA definition of antisemitism has been adopted by governments around the world, including the Government of Canada, the Province of B C , and the City of Vancouver

Any claim this definition is intended to prevent criticism of Israel is a red-herring argument; the IHRA definition explicitly states it’s not intended to silence any legitimate debate of the Jewish state’s policies Arguing otherwise is just antisemitism in yet another guise.

Let me be clear, no one has the right to define antisemitism for us and our definition is IHRA

This is why council’s decision to avoid this unambiguous demonstration of solidarity with the Richmond Jewish community is extremely disappointing, deeply troubling and raises serious questions

Antisemitism is a non-partisan,

apolitical issue It’s about standing up to hatred and protecting our society’s values

This issue is particularly true for the City of Richmond, which is one of the most diverse cities in Canada and claims to be committed to promoting a shared sense of community Fundamentally, combatting antisemitism is about equity, inclusivity and anti-hate

During these challenging times, I’d like to remind council this is when true allies and real character are revealed I’m also reminded of the adage that the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing

I sincerely hope Richmond councillors are true allies to the Jewish community, take a stand and will not be silent on this universal issue

Michael Sachs RICHMOND

Find safe bike routes

Dear Editor,

As a cyclist I can see Richmond City Council members are not avid cyclists.

Think about the routes already established in Richmond. All the major ones run east to west except for Railway Avenue. Why are we placing one along Steveston Highway when we can travel on River Road?

Yes ,Translink will contribute money if it is placed there, however tell me how we can safely travel north to south?

And please don’t use No. 3 Road as an example! It’s a death trap. Shell Road is not a safe place or paved surface.

So let’s concentrate on that direction for a change.

Anne Macdonald RICHMOND

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Severe weather causes havoc all week for Canada Line users

The severe weather has been causing problems all week for people using the Canada Line.

Twice on Tuesday, TransLink was forced to issue transit alerts to passengers, due to delays with technical issues, then a

stalled train.

First it was a “switch issue” at around 8 a.m., followed in the afternoon by a stalled train in the Richmond area, which caused northbound and southbound delays for the service to Vancouver.

During Tuesday, platforms were crammed across the Canada Line network, with shuttle trains running between several stations on the route due to the issues.

The day was not much better if you were

taking the bus, with TransLink warning people not to leave the house unless it was absolutely necessary

That advisory was still in place on Wednesday, with many routes still not properly cleared of the snow.

Record snowfall at YVR, but more to come by Friday

Campbell ACAMPBELL@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

It’s not quite official, but it looks like it was, indeed, a record snowfall for Vancouver International Airport last night and today

Meteorologists at Environment Canada are still doing the math, but they’re pretty confident that a record amount of snow fell at its YVR weather station in Richmond on Dec 20

Matt Loney, senior meteorologist at Environment Canada, told the Richmond News that around 20 centimetres likely fell from 10 p m on Monday, which is when the weather agency ’ s “climate day” begins and ends

Loney said the previous record for Dec 20 at YVR was 13 centimetres, back in 1984

But last night and Tuesday’s snowstorm fell way short of the all-time record for snowfall on any given day at the airport, which was 41 centimetres, on Dec 29 back in 1996

“We’ve had a fairly widespread 25 centimetres fall during this latest snow event,” added Loney.

“It’s remarkably consistent across (Vancouver) and YVR has been in the same ballpark ”

Loney said it will take a little more time to “untangle” Monday night’s snowfall amount, given the fact it started snowing quite heavily before the aforementioned “climate day” kick off at 10 p m

“A certain percentage will be attributed to Dec 19 and some to Dec 20 We think it will be a record for Dec 20, but I can’t confirm that right now

“The majority of this storm came Dec 20 but we don’t have the exact breakdown yet ”

As for what’s coming near the end of this week,

Loney said it all depends how long the current Arctic air sticks around on Thursday into Friday

And it could be anything from five to 20 centimetres and/or freezing rain

“There’s lots of uncertainty for the transition from snow to rain as the warmer air returns from the Pacific,” he explained

“Right now, we ’ re looking at anything from five to 20 centimetres range

The big thing here looks like the potential for and moderate to high confidence of freezing rain

“After that, it looks like a rain on snow kind of thing It just depends how long the Arctic air sticks around ” Canada Post suspends delivery

Canada Post is the latest service to be affected by Tuesday’s significant snowfall across Metro Vancouver

The postal service issued a red service alert for Metro Vancouver on Tuesday evening, temporarily suspended all deliveries until it’s “safe to do so ”

Red service alerts have also been issued in the Fraser Valley and South Vancouver Island

Canada Post said the safety of employees is its number one priority and delivery will resume once conditions improve and it’s safe to do so

Environment Canada estimates that a record amount of snow for Dec 20, around 20cm, fell on Tuesday at its weather station at YVR YVR Instagram photo

Alan

Miscarriage of justice ‘likely occured’ in murder conviction

”

Vikki Hui VHUI@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

A Richmond man sentenced to life in prison for the death of his common law partner will have the opportunity to appeal his conviction again at the B C Court of Appeal

The Department of Justice Canada announced on Monday that a miscarriage of justice “likely occurred” in the case of William Wade Skiffington

Hon David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal after a “thorough review” where new information that was not available at the time of Skiffington’s trial or appeal has been identified

“It is not a decision about the guilt or innocence of the applicant, but rather a decision to return the matter to the courts where the relevant legal issues may be determined according to the law,” reads the release

According to the Department of Justice’s release, determining whether a miscar-

riage of justice “likely occurred” requires a “close examination” of information in support of the application and an “in-depth investigation ” New information that surfaces after the trial and appeal is one of the key considerations

Back in 2001, Skiffington was convicted of second degree murder of his common law partner Wanda Lee Martin and sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole for 13 years

Martin’s death occurred in 1994 when she was found dead after being shot multiple times while visiting a friend’s apartment with her toddler son No forensic evidence linked Skiffington to the crime and the murder weapon was never found

The Richmond News previously reported that Skiffington had returned to court in 2019 to get bail after the minister ordered a review of his case

Skiffington’s taped confession was obtained by RCMP officers in 2000, using a controversial “Mr Big” style tactic The tactic involves undercover officers posing as gang members and befriending a suspect by offering them “relatively easy jobs

for large sums of cash

The suspect would then be inducted into the fake gang with a meeting with the boss, Mr Big, where they are asked to confess about a past crime so incriminating evidence can be destroyed

Despite the taped confession, Skiffington maintained his innocence and appealed his conviction in 2004 His lawyers argued he was pressured into confessing by undercover officers and the promise of wealth. The appeal was dismissed in B C Supreme Court He then tried to appeal in the Supreme Court of Canada in 2013, but was denied

A 2014 Supreme Court of Canada ruling subsequently ruled that if defence lawyers can show police abused their power in obtaining Mr Big confessions, such confessions won’t be considered in court

Skiffington then applied for a criminal conviction review in 2017 after having exhausted all rights of appeal, and was granted bail in 2019 pending completion of the review

Skiffington was in jail for 17 years before

he got bail in 2019.

A media release by Innocence Canada in 2019 referred to the police investigation in Skiffington’s case as a “classic case of tunnel-vision, a known cause of wrongful convictions ”

“ Police failed to pursue alternative suspects and rudimentary avenues of investigation that may well have resulted in the apprehension of the person who killed Wanda Martin,” read the release.

Skiffington’s lawyer, Tamara Duncan, explained in the release that the Supreme Court of Canada had recognized the Mr Big tactic has potential to “become abusive and could produce unreliable confessions ”

“Mr Big has a unique capacity to get suspects talking but it also has a powerful potential to distort the truth and elicit false confessions,” she wrote

“This case, with such coercive tactics and so little confirmation, is an example of the technique at its worst It’s the kind of case for which the Supreme Court of Canada formulated new legal rules in 2014.”

With files from Megan Devlin

City Board

• the City’s website at www.richmond.ca/5YFP

• email request to finance@richmond ca

• pick up a copy from the Information Counter at City Hall

The City is required by the Community Charter to undertake a process of public consultation before the bylaw is adopted by City Council Please submit your feedback by Sunday, January 8, 2023 by:

• commenting on www LetsTalkRichmond.ca

• emailing finance@richmond.ca

• written submissions to the Finance Department, Richmond City Hall, 6911 No. 3 Road, Richmond, V6Y 2C1

It is anticipated that Bylaw No. 10429 will be considered by City Council for adoption at the Regular Council Meeting on Monday, January 30, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Richmond City Hall Council Chambers. Public delegations at the Council Meeting are permitted with regard to this bylaw either in-person or remotely by teleconference. Advanced registration is required for individuals attending remotely and early registration is encouraged. Registration closes at 1:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting. Information on how to register is available on the City website: https://citycouncil.richmond.ca/meetings/phone-participation.htm. Please note that advanced registration is not required for in-person attendance and members of the public are welcome to submit written comments in advance of the meeting.

of Richmond | 6911 No. 3 Rd. Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 | Tel: 604-276-4000

Steveston Now Stev ston

“And monthly, we hold an event focusing on a nation the residents have chosen,” Lively added

The first one focused on the Japanese culture.

Living in harmony

That’s the vision at Wisteria Place (wisteriaplace ca), a 107-suite, independent, seniors residence in the heart of Steveston Village

Lively / General Manager

And to assist with that, by providing a better understanding of the 18 different cultures represented by its residents, Wisteria Place has been holding a monthly series of Festivals of Cultures with the financial help of a New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) grant from the federal government.

“The majority of our residents are from the Japanese and Chinese cultures,” said Sheila Lively, general manger at Wisteria Place “The remainder are from European countries like France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy We also have residents from other parts of Canada

“We tied that event into the traditional kimono, the local Bhuddist temple, and the benefits of meditation. We also planted a maple tree from Japan and explained its significance And we sampled Japanese foods by bringing in a true sushi chef,” Lively said.

Other festivals featured Jamaica with a sampling of rum, and traditional foods such as jerk chicken and Jamaican patties.

And this October the focus was Canada’s Indigenous population and the topic of truth and reconciliation.

“It’s all about bringing knowledge, awareness and providing the opportunity for participation and engagement to better help develop an understanding of other cultures within our community,” Lively said

“And we are very proud that our community has really embraced this to truly live life in harmony.”

Sheila

NEWS

Int’l flights cancelled to clear congestion

Some international flights scheduled to arrive at YVR were being stopped before arriving in order to clear the runways of aircraft stuck there because of the recent snowstorm.

These cancellations started Wednesday morning at 7 a.m., and were expected to continue until Friday morning.

This measure was intended to help clear out planes that got stuck at YVR during Tuesday’s snowstorm.

“As a result of delays and cancellations following the snowstorm earlier this week, a significant number of aircraft remain at YVR, which has led to congestion on our airfield,” read a statement from YVR.

Tuesday’s snowstorm caused massive transportation problems, including at the airport.

On Tuesday, there were mass cancellations of flights and travellers were stranded for hours at the terminal and in planes.

Numerous passengers resorted to sleeping at the airport one person was spotted in a phone booth and another sleeping on a cart or resting there while awaiting transportation

One traveller tweeted there were no taxis, Ubers, or even Canada Line service to

get people out of the airport and many of them were stranded over “24 hours hoping to either fly or get to a hotel.”

Late Tuesday night, the airport said 30 international flights from 17 airlines were expected to be cancelled.

In an early morning statement on Wednesday, YVR said some arrivals and departures were on-going as the weather conditions had improved, however, some delays and cancellations should be expected.

People who are expecting to fly this week are encouraged to check with their airline directly on the status of their flights.

YVR said they’re working with airlines to provide the most accurate departure and arrival times.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work to get aircraft, crews and passengers safely on their way this holiday season,” the statement from Wednesday morning read.

Updates on the situation at the Vancouver International Airport will be provided on their website, YVR.ca, and on Twitter @YVRairport or @YVRaeroport

Richmond News/VIA staff

Cars park in bike lanes

Three different incidents of cars parked in bike lanes were caught on camera in just one day in Richmond Olympic race-walker Evan Dunfee took two of the photos on Granville Avenue and one on Horseshoe Way on Friday

Richmond bylaws prohibit parking in spaces marked by city engineering for other purposes and fines can range from

$35 to $135

The five cars parked on Horseshoe Way were in a construction zone, but Dunfee told the News there were no temporary signs for traffic or parking changes

Bylaws prohibit parking where there are lines and barriers installed by city engineering Maria Rantanen/ Richmond News

Richmond Accessibility Advisory Committee Volunteer Opportunity

A Richmond Accessibility Advisory Committee is being created to respond to the municipal requirement of the new Accessible British Columbia Act.

The City of Richmond is encouraging residents to submit an application to become a member of the new Richmond Accessibility Advisory Committee (RAAC) and serve for a two-year term. The RAAC will act as a resource and provide advice to City Council to support the advancement of accessibility in the city so people with disabilities are able to participate fully in all aspects of community life.

Committee members will include citizen representatives who are either persons with disabilities and/or their families and caregivers, or who are individuals who have made substantial contributions to advancing accessibility

Persons interested in this volunteer opportunity are invited to submit an application form and supporting resume by:

• email to cityclerk@richmond.ca

• in person/via mail to Attention: City Clerk, Richmond City Hall, 6911 No.3 Road, Richmond, BC, V6Y 2C1

The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.

Application forms are available:

• on the City’s website at www.richmond.ca/cityhall/council/boards/ advisory

• at the Customer Service Desk at Richmond City Hall

• by email request to cityclerk@richmond.ca

For further information, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at cityclerk@richmond.ca or 604-276-4007.

Alleged Chinese police station investigated

Rantanen MRANTANEN@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

Richmond RCMP has confirmed its Integrated National Security Enforcement Team was looking into an “alleged” Chinese police station in the city

At last week’s community safety meeting, Coun. Carol Day asked Richmond RCMP officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Dave Chauhan whether there was anything the public should know about this allegation.

Chauhan wasn’t able to give any details, but he did confirm it was being investigated.

“Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation and because it is conducted by a different branch, different authority, I am not at liberty to discuss anything,” Chauhan said.

As for public safety concerns, he added if there were any, police would send out a public advisory

A Spanish human rights organization, Safeguard Defenders, recently reported it had received information about a Chinese police station in Vancouver They claim there are 102 such police stations set up in 54 countries around the world.

A Glacier Media report noted a black SUV was parked across from the Wenzhou Friendship Centre on Hazelbridge Way on Saturday and Sunday Global News reported that homes in the neighbourhood had been canvassed about the clubhouse.

The property is owned by the Wen Zhou Friendship Society, according to BC Assessment, and was bought in September 2011 for $705,000. The owner’s address is listed as “Attn Iris Lin” with the same address on Hazelbrige Way

Mackin/BIV

Happy holidays and season’s greetings from the Wisteria Place family. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Cars regularly park in bike lanes Evan Dunfee photo

Maria

Fire at ice rink

A fire at the Richmond Ice Centre on Saturday night led to a number of people being evacuated

The blaze broke out around 10 p m in a dehu-

midifier unit at the facility off Steveston Highway and No 6 Road

A video of the incident sent to the Richmond News shows firefighters dousing

the flames on the second floor of the ice centre

A spokesperson for Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) said there were no reported injuries to the public or staff

Anti-racism to be addressed

Proposal to define antisemitism pulled from council agenda

Rantanen

MRANTANEN@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

A definition of antisemitism was pulled off Richmond city council’s committee meeting at the last minute so the motion could be “reworked ”

Coun Alexa Loo told the News she put the definition, created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), onto Monday’s agenda as a framework to start building policies of antiracism in Richmond

Spread the word…

Richmond home owners and occupants play a vital role in keeping sidewalks safe for pedestrians during the winter

Home owners and occupants are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the front, and if on a corner lot, along the side(s) of their property by 10:00 a.m., 7 days a week.*

f Shovel snow onto your property, not onto the road and sidewalks f Clear storm drains of leaves and snow to prevent flooding. f Ask someone to clear your sidewalk if you are away or need help.

and industrial property

But, she added, she decided to withdraw the motion in order to have a broader discussion about anti-racism policies, encompassing antisemitism as well

After receiving feedback on the IHRA definition of antisemitism, she wants to see the motion “reworked” so that it is palatable to a broader spectrum so that everyone is on board

“Sometimes, well-intentioned motions don’t come across as such,” she said

Loo added she didn’t want the motion to be “diluted” at the committee level and just become a “make-work project” for city staff.

Instead, she’s going to bring it back so it addresses various concerns about anti-racism in Richmond

Any definition of anti-racism needs to decouple criticism of someone ’ s country of origin from them as people, Loo said

The IHRA definition of antisemitism reads: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or nonJewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities ”

Richmondite Michael Sachs, who is Jewish, said he was “disheartened” when the motion was “inexplicably removed” from the agenda

Sachs said he felt the issue was “timely, important and relevant,” and cited rising antisemitism, for example, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Kanye West and Nick Fuentes, a well-known Holocaust denier

The definition has been adopted by the federal and provincial governments and was recently adopted by Vancouver city council

However, there has been criticism of the definition including from Independent Jewish Voices, which states on its website “We believe that the fight against antisemitism is undermined when principled opposition to unjust Israeli government policies and practices including those that contravene international law are branded as antisemitic ”

However, the IHRA definition of antisemitism specifically states that “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic ”

Maria

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Birth tourist sues hospital, doctors and birth hotel

Alan Campbell ACAMPBELL@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

The father of a child born in B C via Canada’s controversial “birth tourism” route is suing the doctors who delivered the baby and the so-called “birth hotel” which brought the family from China

Peng Chen, on behalf of his now fouryear-old son Stephen, alleges that two doctors Brenda Tan and Balbinder Gill as well as Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), were negligent in the provision of medical care to Stephen and his mother, Rang Heng, at Richmond Hospital

His lawsuit makes references to complications at the time of Stephen’s birth, resulting in his son being in the intensive care unit for several days afterwards

Chen, a resident of China, claims that, as a result of their negligence in 2018, his son suffered brain damage, seizures, delayed growth and development, cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment

He further alleges that Jie Zheng and a Ms Liang who operated or worked at ABC, a birthing house on Ash Street in Richmond misrepresented the level of antenatal and/or perinatal care and expertise that his wife and child would receive in Canada

Chen claims that, because he had “little or no knowledge of the health care system in Canada” he was “particularly vulnerable” to the alleged misrepresentations from Zheng and Liang

He alleged that ABC was negligent in misrepresenting the level of care, both in its adverts in China and to the family when they arrived in Canada

Chen said he entered into an agreement with ABC for Stephen to be born in Canada and that they arrived at the Richmond birth house in January of 2018, three months before the birth at Richmond Hospital

Two other unnamed doctors and two unnamed nurses working at Richmond Hospital on the day of Stephen’s birth are also named in the suit

All named defendants in the lawsuit have denied negligence

The allegations are more than four years old, but Dr Tan’s legal team recently won a court application to have a video conference with Stephen’s mother, because her husband has, thus far, been unable to answer any questions with regard to Tan’s care of his wife and child

Father claiming negligence

With regard to the specifics of the day of the birth, Chen claims his wife attended Richmond Hospital in the early hours of

April 18, 2018, but was discharged with instructions to return when labour had progressed

Later that day, according to the lawsuit, Heng returned to the hospital and, at some point not specified, was given oxytocin which promotes the progress of labour

Chen claims that, between his wife being given oxytocin and the actual birth, Stephen “suffered hypoxia and ischemia to his brain ”

He said his son required resuscitation and several days of intensive care.

Chen claims that the unnamed nurses failed to ensure timely medical intervention to prevent brain damage and they failed to properly investigate, assess or evaluate his wife’s medical history prior to the birth and failed to alert other health professionals of fetal distress in a timely fashion.

He alleges that doctors Tan, who he says was the family’s assigned GP, and Gill and the two unnamed doctors failed to provide adequate prenatal care to his wife and failed to assess the risk factors in view of his wife’s medical history and “physical presentation ”

Chen claims that the doctors also failed to properly advise his wife of the risks of vaginal delivery or discuss the options to it

And he alleges that, as a result of his son ’ s injuries, he, his wife and family members have to provide care above and beyond what would be reasonable out of “natural love and affection.”

Chen, on behalf of Stephen, is seeking unspecified general and special damages and health care costs

VCH denies any wrongdoing

VCH, which runs Richmond Hospital, has denied any negligence on its part or that of its employees and is disputing many of Chen’s claims, including Stephen’s injuries

In its version of events, VCH claims Chen’s wife was admitted to hospital at around 12:15 a m on the day of the birth and that the second stage of labour started at around 7 p m, almost two hours before the birth

It states in its response to the claims that all care of Chen’s wife was “appropriate” and “in accordance with a reasonable standard of practice and procedure,” adding nothing it or its employees did or failed to do contributed to the alleged injuries to Stephen VCH is seeking a dismissal of the lawsuit and seeks its costs associated with defending itself

Docs want suit dismissed

Dr Tan, in her response to the claim, denies that she was an agent of Richmond Hospital or that of the birthing house business ABC and is also disputing the alleged injuries suffered by Stephen

She said she became Chen’s wife’s GP two months before the birth for the purposes of providing antenatal care and met with her several times in her office Tan has denied negligence and that the care she provided to Chen’s wife and son was appropriate and in accord with standard medical practice

She added in her response that Chen’s wife was informed of the risks associated with the treatment received and gave consent Dr Gill, meanwhile, denies that he assisted with the delivery of Stephen, claiming that he only helped Chen’s wife push the baby out, when it became apparent there was an emergency.

In response to Chen’s claims that Stephen suffered hypoxia and ischemia to his brain prior to being born, Gill said the child was born with “ no respiratory effort and no heart rate detected ”

He said that, once the baby was delivered, “best efforts were made to provide resuscitation” until the child was transferred to a “higher level of care ”

Similarly to Dr. Tan, Gill said the care and assessment given to Stephen were “ reasonable in the circumstances and consistent with that expected of pediatricians practicing” in B C and that nothing he did or did not do contributed to any alleged injuries

or loss to the child

And if there were any injuries to the child, Gill said it was not his fault and could have been caused by other defendants or unknown parties

Gill further alleges that the injuries in question could have been caused by the negligence of Chen and his wife by failing to take reasonable care of their own health and failing to seek medical attention at the “onset of signs or symptoms,” failing to provide a complete and accurate history of health care providers and failing to follow the advice of health care providers

Both Tan and Gill are asking for the claims against them to be dismissed and they be awarded costs.

What is ‘birth tourism?’

So-called “birth tourism” is when pregnant, non-Canadian women fly to Canada in order to give birth and secure citizenship for their babies

In addition to receiving benefits, like healthcare and education, when the children become adults, they can also sponsor their parents to immigrate to Canada

The Canada Border Services Agency has said previously that pregnancy is not a reason in itself to refuse entry to the country to a tourist

However, if a foreign national is seeking entry to Canada for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment and can’t show he or she has the money to pay for it, then that person could be deemed as a potential excessive demand on health service

The practice has been a hot topic for many years, especially in Richmond, due to its Chinese population and proximity to Vancouver International Airport

Earlier this week, the Richmond News’ parent company Glacier Media reported how birth tourism rates which plummeted during the pandemic are expected to spike again when the Chinese government lifts pandemic travel restrictions

Between April 2021 and March 2022, B C hospitals recorded 110 non-residents of Canada who paid to give birth, based on data obtained from the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) Last year, 194 such births were recorded

However, in the year prior to the pandemic, a record 868 self-paying non-residents the vast majority of whom are understood to be Chinese nationals on tourist visas garnered automatic citizenship for their newborns

Richmond Hospital has been, for many years, at the epicentre of the industry, with 502 non-resident births in 2019-2020

And the so-called “birth hotels” in the city are not breaking any laws

Peng Chen claims his son, Stephen, “suffered hypoxia and ischemia to his brain LAWSUIT

This birth hotel business on Ash Street is being sued by the father of a child allegedly born with brain damage

Investment case evidence ‘defied common sense ’ : Judge

Vikki Hui VHUI@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

The credibility, or lack thereof, of a Richmond family, was crucial to a court decision on a “convoluted” chain of events stemming from a series of investments between two families.

A couple was taken to court by their investment partners (and former friends) for breaching their duties as trustees and causing losses of more than $6 million.

The couple, along with their son, tried to counterclaim for damages by alleging their investment partners had defrauded them

B C Supreme Court Justice Gordon Weatherill described the case as “ an illustration of the level to which some people will descend to extract retribution when money is lost,” and an example of how some lawyers are willing to advocate for clients despite their argument being “untethered from the truth ”

The court “ was left to weave as best it could through a labyrinth of irrelevant evi-

dence and dealings that defied common sense, ” wrote Justice Weatherill

The story began when Ming (Myles) Zhang and Xiaoqin (Rose) Yang, a couple who owned a Chinese LED company, met Guang Ning (Nick) Zhang and Ping Hui (Helen) Lu Nick owns a Richmond business, Can-Pacific Enterprises Ltd (which also goes by Dynasty Fireplaces)

The two families became friends and went into the LED lighting business together, along with Yue (Jack) Zhang, Nick and Helen’s son, in 2015 The business, called Lumenari, is based in Richmond The families also made other investments together.

During this time, Myles and Rose had legal problems with creditors in China and were also trying to immigrate to Canada This was allegedly disclosed to Nick, Helen and Jack

The families’ relationship deteriorated in 2019 when their business failed to do well. Nick and Helen then spent Myles and Rose’s share of investment proceeds and demanded they be repaid for shareholder loans made to Lumenari

They claimed they were “unknowing

victims” of Myles and Rose’s scheme to immigrate to Canada to hide their assets from Chinese creditors Justice Weatherill deemed such claims as “based on speculation.”

In his judgment, Justice Weatherill said the outcome of the case would “turn on the credibility of the parties ”

He concluded that Myles was “ a person who will say anything he perceives is necessary to achieve what in his view would result in justice for him and his family,” as Myles was “evasive, argumentative and uncooperative” about his business dealings. He found Myles’ debts in China were at least partially the “impetus” for how he structured the relevant investments However, Justice Weatherill noted that Helen’s testimony was “replete with unabashed lies” and it was “rambling, contradictory and devoid of veracity ”

He concluded that he could not accept Helen’s evidence where it contradicts with others due to her “false testimony and demeanour as a witness ”

Justice Weatherill added that it was apparent that Nick “feared telling the truth”

during his testimony, while Jack’s was “plainly scripted to align Helen and Nick’s theory of the case ”

The only person left unscathed by the judge’s verdict was Myles’ partner Rose, who gave her evidence in an “honest, consistent and credible manner ” But Justice Weatherill did note that Rose had “knowingly participated in Myles’ scheme to make investments by way of trust in order to avoid creditors ”

Justice Weatherill also noted in his judgment that he was left with “little confidence” in the reliability of Nick and Helen ’ s lawyer, who “misstated the evidence and attempted to spin case authorities as support for propositions that they did not ” Ultimately, he ruled in favour of Myles and Rose

Helen and Nick were ordered to pay Rose around $6 million plus interest for breaching two separate trusts They will also have to pay Myles and Rose RMB 298,900 (around $58,000) for unjust enrichment plus interest, $100,000 in punitive damages, as well as special costs Relevant trading accounts will also be frozen

Gingerbread city passes final inspection

Valerie Leung VLEUNG@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

A building permit was issued by the City of Richmond, construction was completed and then a final inspection was done by three city inspectors – including the “Gingerbread House Senior Specialist for the City of Richmond.”

Finally, the Grade 1/2 students at Manoah Steves elementary were given official permission to eat the 21 gingerbread houses in their gingerbread city

This final inspection by the City of Richmond was done in Cara Rogers’ Division 10 class on Dec. 14 for their 21 single-detached gingerbread houses. While a couple of houses were higher than officially permitted, they did eventually all pass the final inspection.

But this was not before the class had to navigate a labyrinthine permitting process.

The students submitted their building permit application to the City of Richmond’s Building Department on Dec. 2.

Then the arduous process of getting approvals from seven city departments began these were the city’s planning department, environment department, engineering department, tree department, plumbing department, building department and fire department

The fire department needed to make sure there was “enough milk or water near the houses, in the event you are using candles.”

The application, submitted by the students, was to build houses that were 12 centimetres high, 10 centimetres across and constructed on one round plate

“We will use in total 7 graham crackers for the foundation, walls, and roof. We will use a paper plate for the foundation, candies and chocolate to decorate, icing for nails,” reads the application.

The application, however, noted the students would not need to purchase any land for construction, nor would they cut down any trees or build near water

“We will not cause any harm to nearby animals’ homes.”

Thankfully, no one in the surrounding neighbourhood – that is, in the adjacent classrooms – had any NIMBY inclinations and no one objected to the construction of the gingerbread city Whether a public hearing on the gingerbread city development application was held was not made clear to the Richmond News

The building permit had four rules the students had to follow before construction could begin: “1 No construction is to begin until the Building Permit is posted on site in the classroom. 2. Hands must be washed before and after construction activities. 3. Please provide 48 hrs notice to our office for final inspection. 4. Houses cannot be eaten until approved.”

While some houses were found to be a couple centimetres too high on the day of the final inspection, city inspectors handed out the final permits after students ensured them the houses wouldn’t “fall apart.”

To ensure the structural integrity of the homes, students had Grade 4 and 5 big buddies help them build their houses.

Students learn about building a community Cara Rogers, teacher for the Grade 1 / 2 class at Manoah Steves, said the project started when her class talked about what made up a community

“The kids would say we see these big mansions and monster homes and then we went on to talk about the environment,” said Rogers.

“From there, we thought, well, if we’re building our own homes, we should ask the city if they would be willing to come and do a quick, short little inspection and permits.”

What was thought to be a “little inspection” for permits became a full-scale back-and-forth email correspondence for the permits.

Between applying to the city and receiving the con-

struction permit, the students learned about infrastructure and how landforms affect the community, explained Rogers.

The student-built gingerbread city expanded from the tables they were being built on to include their blue classroom rug, which represented a body of water, and a makeshift dyke to separate the river from their city

“The entire process they enjoyed it while learning about our city protocols,” said Rogers

Fred Tewfik, manager of inspections, planning and development with the City of Richmond, said his visit was one of “just enjoyment.”

“It is certainly one of appreciation for Ms. Rogers, thinking about how to introduce this to the kids at such a young age,” said Tewfik.

“We run into things every day where people just don’t really know what they need to do when it comes to city permits. If you start at a young age, you start putting things together and figure things out earlier.”

What was most shocking to Tewfik and city staff weren’t the questions the students asked regarding the core parts of construction, rather their desire to preserve trees.

“That’s really important for us in the community We want to preserve what we have, but we do recognize that you need wood to build a house,” he explained.

“We just appreciate the students for thinking about things like this and teachers building community construction into their curriculum.”

STEVESTON UNITED CHURCH

3720 Broadway Street (at 2nd Ave.)

December 24th @ 7:00pm: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

December 25th: No Christmas Morning Worship

Rev Brenda Miller

604-277-0508

• www.stevestonunitedchurch.ca A caring and friendly village church

City inspectors gave final permits to give Manoah Steves elementary students permission to eat their gingerbread houses Fred Tewfik (inset), manager of inspections, planning and development with the City of Richmond, did a final inspection of a student’s gingerbread home

Valerie Leung photos

‘Trailer’ Santa parade for Steveston on Christmas Eve

Alan Campbell ACAMPBELL@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

The unofficial Steveston Santa Parade is back for a third year running on Christmas Eve.

Organized by Alex Sagert and his Steveston Sound and Stage business, the “moving display”

as it was billed last year, kicks off around 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24 on Sixth Avenue at Hunt Street, finishing at Garry Point Park.

As was the case last year, Sagert and Steveston Sound and Stage will have a truck and trailer decked out with lights, a Santa decoration and Christmas music, which

will slowly wind its way through Steveston for a couple of hours. Sagert will be collection donations for the Richmond Food Bank along the way Sagert said last year that he decided to put on the event in honour of the original Steveston Santa Claus Parade, which is not taking place again this year

Christmas fund has ‘lifted the burden’ for young family

Valerie Leung VLEUNG@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

It was going to be slim pickings under the Christmas tree for John’s young family this year

He and his wife have been feeling the pressure of the rising cost of everything “but the air we breathe ”

“While I won’t say it’s unbearable, it has been indeed harder and more stressful to keep up with the standard of living in B C , ” said John, who’s been living in Richmond for the last five years

But what really hurt was the thought of not being able to provide his kids ages six and 11, with much by way of presents on Christmas morning

Thankfully, John was made aware of the Richmond Christmas Fund program through a friend and the media

Now he’s grateful to say his “kids can properly celebrate” Christmas

The family of four is one of many in the community who have received a helping hand from the Richmond Christmas Fund to celebrate this winter holiday

The Richmond Christmas Fund program, organized and run by Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives (RCRG), helps low-income residents celebrate the holidays by providing grocery vouchers, toys, books and gift cards

“The organization (RCRG) has definitely lifted the burden off our shoulders in terms of being able to provide more toys for our young children,” he said

“It lets them have a better Christmas than just one or two toys during the holidays ”

People lined up as early as 4 a m to register for the Christmas Fund this year, according to John

He said the need for help in the community showed from the amount of people lining up for help, whether it was for groceries or toys

A MESSAGE from your MLA

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Richmond!

As we enter the holiday season, I look back at the last year with gratitude. Serving as the MLA for Richmond North Centre for almost ten years has been a privilege and responsibility that I do not take lightly Navigating the return to a new normal following the pandemic’s peak while keeping up with the housing, health care, and cost-of-living crisis has been challenging for many Thank you for supporting me in voicing these concerns to the government as your representative.

At the B.C. Legislature in Victoria, my colleagues and I in the Official Opposition have been holding the government accountable, and we look forward to continuing to do so in the new year We have been advocating for improvements to health care and emergency services; for the removal of the provincial sales tax on used cars under $20,000; and for a reversal of the government’s retroactive pay raise for cabinet ministers. We want to ensure the government’s promises made six years ago such as the renters’ rebate become a reality. We also successfully pushed for the reversal of the government decision to claw back individualized funding for children with autism. Our work doesn’t stop here, and our priority is ensuring British Columbians get the results they expect from government.

With inflation at a decades high, and unfortunately little relief coming from this government, many people are struggling If you can, I encourage you to join in the spirit of giving this holiday season Any gesture of generosity will go a long way, whether it’s a food bank donation, helping a neighbour or smiling at a stranger. From my family to yours, I wish you a safe, healthy, happy holiday and a happy new year.

Sincerely, Teresa Wat

Participating in Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives, and Richmond RCMP Annual Toy Drive at Lansdowne Centre

Joining the Opening Ceremony of the 21st Annual Winter Wonderland at Richmond City Hall

Group challenges students on racism

Maria Rantanen MRANTANEN@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

Should we listen to Kanye West’s music and wear his clothes? Should more accommodations be made for Sikhs carrying a kirpan? How can students get involved in antiracism activities?

These were some of the questions posed by Richmond Secondary students to a group of people from various faiths and cultural and ethnic backgrounds

“The Other People” group was speaking to an audience of Grade 10 to 12 students about the need to fight racism

Their point was the better we know people from different backgrounds the more we get out of our personal silos the more it combats prejudice and racial discrimination

Representatives of six different ethnic and faith backgrounds Muslim, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, Black and Buddhist talked about their personal experiences

Rabbi Phillip Bregman led the panel discussion, talking about how the group came together to fight racism by introducing audiences to the experiences of various faiths and cultural groups

However, “ we are not the definitive interfaith, inter-cultural group, ” he told the audience For example, while there’s one representative of the Christian faith in the group, there are 40,000 denominations of Christianity around the globe, representing 2 3 billion people

And, he added, no faith or cultural group is claiming their tradition is the best, and they are not necessarily without some fault

Former South Arm United Church minister Gary Gaudin, who represents the Christian religion with The Other People group, has spent his whole life in the United Church But he acknowledged his religion was involved in the residential school system, which caused harm to Canada’s Indigenous population

“I have to cope with the reality (the church) is nothing but a mechanism of destruction for so many generations of First Nations people in Canada,” Gaudin said

As for listening to Kanye West’s music, Bregman didn’t give a straight answer, rather reframed it as “Can we separate the art from the artist?”

Personally, Bregman said he can’t drive a

ANAF donates to CHIMO

The Army Navy Airforce 284 (ANAF) in Steveston presented a cheque to Chimo Community Services to help women and children in need.

ANAF 284 President Bill Spender, and volunteers Clarke McGuire and Leah Cathcart presented the $2,500 cheque to Chimo on Saturday, Dec. 10 as part of the Love Should NOT Hurt program.

Donations will be used to help those who are fleeing domestic violence during the holidays.

Funds were raised through ANAF 284’s Friday night meat draw and the ladies auxiliary’s fundraiser night featuring an Elvis tribute show with a 50/50 draw.

McGuire and his daughter Cathcart, who also volunteers with Chimo, helped

raised funds and bought gifts to help support women and children in need.

car named by Hitler the Volkswagen but he will fly through Germany because former Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted Germany was responsible for the Holocaust whereby six million Jews were killed

The event, the first of its kind in Richmond schools, was organized by Navshina Savory, the school district administrator for equity and inclusion

Savory hopes to have the presentation on fighting racism in other Richmond schools in the future

Getting involved in fighting racism

Another Richmond Secondary student asked the panel how they can get involved fighting racism

Jahmira Lovemore, who grew up in Ontar-

io with Caribbean immigrant parents, answered the question saying “it starts close to where you are ”

When she was in high school, she joined to gay-straight alliance, choosing to advocate for a safe space for those students who identified as LGBTQ

Racism against Black people has a long history in Canada, including the destruction of Hogan’s Alley in Vancouver to make way for a stretch of highway

Black people have historically been confined to specific places and treated as second class citizens, which means they “don’t get to thrive” like their white counterparts in Canada, Lovemore explained

She noted only 0 8 per cent of British Columbians identify as Black, and yet eight per cent of the homeless population is Black

Terry Yung, who originates from Hong Kong and is a Buddhist, works for the Vancouver Police Department and is in charge of hate crimes and victim services

While some people might think stereotypes are harmless, Yung said this isn’t true

He challenged the students to think about what they should do if they see racist behaviour or discrimination

“Do you stand by and laugh, or do you say this is wrong?” Yung asked the audience

This was echoed by Bregman, who referenced a famous quote by the Scottish political philosopher Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing ”

Menorah lit at city hall

The

Members of the Christian, Sikh, Black, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist communities answered questions from Richmond Secondary students Maria Rantanen photo

or blame themselves

A menorah was lit at Richmond City Hall Monday to mark the beginning of what Jewish people call the “festival of lights ” The lighting ceremony was attended by the members of the Richmond Jewish community as well as city council Richmond is home to the second largest

Jewish population in B C

first day of Hanukkah was on Sunday Jewish people light one candle a day for eight days to commemorate the rededication of their temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE.

Maria Rantanen/Richmond News

A menorah was lit at Richmond City Hall, in a ceremony attended by city council members and Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman (centre)

Photo submitted

ANAF donated $2,500 to CHIMO

EAT&DRINK

Indigenous restaurant lands at Vancouver Airport

Hui

VHUI@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

International travellers will soon be able to get a taste of Canada’s Indigenous cuisine, right here in Richmond’s Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

Salmon n ’ Bannock, Vancouver’s only Indigenous restaurant, was set to open the doors at its YVR location on Monday, Dec. 19. It will be serving “traditional Indigenous flavours prepared in a modern way ”

“Travellers are going to get the comfortable deliciousness that they won’t find anywhere else It’s really hard to find Indigenous restaurants in Canada We have over 630 nations in Canada, and hardly any Indigenous restaurants,” said Salmon n ’ Bannock cofounder Inez Cook, who is a member of Northern B C ’ s Nuxalk Nation and

“Normally, if you want to try Indigenous cuisine, you have to be invited into somebody’s home, so this is a really cool opportunity that travellers get to try something when they’re heading home ”

The award-winning bistro first opened on Broadway Street in 2010, and the YVR location will be its first expansion

Cook said YVR was a “ very fitting” choice for her, as she recently retired after working as a flight attendant for 33 years and was based in YVR for 25 years

“This is the first time in history there’s an Indigenous restaurant at any airport in Canada We are breaking history here; the future is now, ” said Cook, who added that the historical opening was a “long time in the making ”

In a press release, Cook said she was

“honoured to be working with the Musqueam community to follow local protocols during this process and with YVR on this meaningful collaboration on a path towards reconciliACTION ”

Salmon n ’ Bannock On The Fly will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Its offerings will “reflect the central role food plays in Indigenous cultures ”

Items on the menu include maple coleslaw dressed with spicy maple vinaigrette and cranberries, wild sockeye salmon with crispy salmon skin, slowbraised bison pot roast, Ojibwe wild rice pudding topped with vanilla custard and sage-infused blueberries, and a breakfast sandwich served on its signature bannock

Sweet potatoes are also on the menu, explained manager Darnell Stager, as oral traditions say Indigenous people used to grow sweet potatoes in Stanley

Park

The YVR location will also feature work by Indigenous artists, much like the original Salmon n ’ Bannock on Broadway

“Salmon n ’ Bannock is a long-standing stakeholder of Indigenous Tourism BC and to see them open their second location at YVR is an inspiring and a significant milestone,” said Brenda Baptiste, chair of Indigenous Tourism BC, in a press release.

“This important addition to YVR’s roster of restaurants acknowledges the power of unique perspectives, accountability and a shared vision to support the development of a sustainable Indigenous tourism economy, thus supporting the economic recovery of B C ”

Salmon n ’ Bannock On The Fly is in international departures post-security, next to Starbucks and near A&W

Richmond food influencer takes comedic journey on Instagram

Leung VLEUNG@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

From crawling on the floor to spilling soup all over himself, a Richmond resident is creating comedy-infused food videos to connect people to B C ’ s Japanese food scene

If there are two things that can unite people, it would be comedy and food, according to Juanpaolo Mercado, a Richmond “food influencer ”

Mercado, also known as JP or his Instagram username seefoodstagram, has recently risen in the social media world with his hilarious videos on Instagram

His videos predominately focus on showing the community authentic Japanese restaurants across Metro Vancouver, but he has recently expanded to other types of cuisine as well

“I love food and that’s really where my passion is. Personally, my favourite cuisine is Japanese food and I still work with a lot of predominantly Japanese businesses in Metro Vancouver,” said Mercado

“I like to think of myself as one of the key people who focuses a light on our very authentic and diverse Japanese food scene in Vancouver It is something we ’ re really blessed to have ”

He added that Vancouver’s Japanese food scene is considered “ on par ” with other international cities such as New York or Los Angeles

Humour connects people

Mercado’s deep knowledge of Vancouver’s Japanese food scene is not the only thing setting him apart from other local influencers and bloggers

As an individual who studied marketing, he knew he had to stand out and what better way to do so than to make people laugh

“We all like to laugh and I think nobody would say that

For example, he would show how to sneak away from a bad dinner date by crawling away on the floor or “having to dance” before you can eat when dining with food influencers

Like many Instagram users, he took to the phone app in 2013 to “purely post random pictures ” It wasn’t until 2016 that he turned his account into a personal travel blog where he posted photos of his food during his mul-

tiple trips to Japan

When the pandemic hit and travelling was halted in 2020, it was then that Mercado turned to Instagram as a “creative outlet” to showcase his love for Japanese cuisine around Metro Vancouver

Debunking food influencer misconceptions

Taking photos and videos for businesses in exchange for getting free meals or products sounds great and all, but there are still some people in the public who are skeptical whether it’s even considered a job.

“There is a public misconception that influencers or event content creators right at their core are not providing value,” explained Mercado

People, he said, see content creators as those who are “taking advantage of businesses” by “taking a few photos with their phone and getting free food but not really doing anything for the business ”

Mercado told the Richmond News there’s a lot of work that goes into creating video productions and setting up for “the perfect photo ”

This includes brainstorming concepts unique to businesses, hiring a film crew or a cast, developing scripts, rehearsals, filming, editing and “hours and hours upon labour of marketing work” provided to the business

“I want to make people understand the number of hours and labour, totally unassigned ”

He describes his content creation work as a “full-time hobby” in addition to his already full-time job in the finance industry

But when he’s not holding his phone and performing his funny antics on camera while eating, Mercado can be found writing poems and short stories for contests, playing badminton or volunteering at his church

“Food has been a great connector between me, my friends and the community, and has given me joy through social media ”

they don’t enjoy some level of comedy,” said Mercado “I just like to have fun and I like to think I’m a humorous person so incorporating comedy into my videos on social media became really natural ”

Juanpaolo Mercado has recently risen in the social media world with his hilarious videos on Instagram

Vikki

Valerie

a Sixties Scoop survivor

Thank You For 90 Magical Years!

At the Richmond Christmas Fund, we don’t just believe in holiday magic. We know thhat it’s real. After all, we e have 90 years of proof This holiday season was one of our busiest ever, as families struggle with the rising cost of living. In all, we were able to help over 2,800 of our neighbours in need, providing them with grocery vouchers, toys, books, and gift cards. The magic, of course, is that we didn’t do it alone. Once again, as always, the community was right there behind us, offering support that can only be described as, well, magical.

To everyone who volunteered, and everyone who made a donation. To all those who collected toys, and to each of our amazing partners and sponsors. The Christmas Fund exists - and has for nine decades - because of you. For your support and dedication, for your kindness and generosity, all we can say is thank you

Two Richmond residents have been awarded the 2022 Medal of Good Citizenship from the provincial government

Winston Sayson and Rishika Selvakumar have been given the honour, which is awarded to “British Columbians who have acted in a particularly generous, kind or selfless manner for the common good without expectation of reward ”

Sayson immigrated to B C as a teenager from the Philippines, before building a successful career as a lawyer and a community leader

Sayson, now retired, was described by the government as an “exceptional criminal barrister whose trials were prosecuted to the highest standards Winston recognized that victims of crime frequently come from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds with many intersectional vulnerabilities He understood how testifying could re-traumatize victims and was always able to communicate effectively with witnesses and victims to give them the strength and resiliency to take the stand.”

It went on to say how Sayson was a “ a pioneer in combining wellness practices with legal work and taught lawyers traumainformed practices to minimize re-traumatization He worked many hours above and beyond his normal workday to ensure victims were well supported ”

For over three decades, Sayson’s work dealt with violence which, included cases of vehicular homicide, domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse

“This took a toll on him. He experienced PTSD, anxiety and secondary trauma resulting from the nature of his work and the threats he received Yet he was always courageous

“Winston healed, he shared his experience to teach lawyers, criminology students, and victims about self-care and re-

Selvakumar, meanwhile, is an avid member in the community and commits to everything she does, according to the awards.

At the young age of 20, Selvakumar has supported the community in multiple ways Seeing a lack of mental health and wellness resources, she founded the first Mental Health Club at her high school, Little Flower Academy, while still in Grade 10

After high school, she continued on in mental health advocacy by starting The Wellness Proposal and, beyond that, Selvakumar supports mental health de-stigmatization by increasing access and awareness of available mental health supports for youth, adults, and seniors as a youth network lead at Anxiety Canada, as a youth advisor and scholarship panelist for CMHA-BC

As an Olympic experience volunteer with the Richmond Olympic Oval, she supported youth volunteering and increased awareness of Olympic history for the public and tourists.

For her efforts, Selvakumar has been awarded the Academic and Artistic Achievement Award from the Mihika Arts Foundation, U-ROC Outstanding Youth Teamwork Award from the City of Richmond, and the Shooting Star Award from Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives Alan

silience He advocates for bringing mental wellness to the forefront in the legal profession ”

Campbell/Richmond News

Winston Sayson was one of two people awarded the medal

New park includes 54 mature trees

Maria Rantanen MRANTANEN@R CHMOND-NEWS COM

A park in a new Capstan development will retain 54 mature trees and be a naturefocused area

A park was originally envisioned by the developer Polygon to be situated in the centre of the project, located north of Cambie Road and west Garden City Road

But after pressure from community activists to save an existing grove of mature trees in the southeast corner, it was moved to encompass that area

The concept plan for the 1 3-acre park was brought to a city council meeting on Monday and was approved unanimously

The Garden City Conservation Society spoke to city council a couple years ago, when the original Polygon Talisman development was brought forward for a deci-

sion, and asked that the park be moved to the area where the mature trees were situated in order to preserve both the trees and the bird habitat therein

At last week’s planning meeting, the society’s president Sharon MacGougan told council it was “immensely gratifying” to see bird habitat embedded in the plan

This is especially important because Richmond is located in the Fraser estuary and has an international designation of being a Key Biodiversity Area, she added

Furthermore, MacGougan said, given the ecological loss that’s already taken place, she was pleased to see “ecological mitigation is given serious attention ”

“It’s hard to find places in Richmond to walk peacefully without being bombarded with noise,” MacGougan said “If we end up with a park where people can enjoy ‘quiet contemplation’ in nature, with space for birds that would be a great park ”

Herrling house saved

Maria Rantanen

MRANTANEN@RICHMOND-NEWS COM

A heritage house-turned-church in Richmond city centre will be saved as the developer has agreed to move it to another part of their property

The 1932 Herrling Residence, which currently houses the Richmond Capstan Alliance Church, would have been demolished as part of a residential development that consolidates several properties

But, a month ago, city council asked their staff to see whether it could be moved or saved on-site

In a report to council, they reported back that the house is “significant as a tangible link with the City Centre’s interwar development boom ” The original owners were Joseph and Elsie Herrling, and the building was built in the “period revival” style that the report notes hearkens back to a period of “domestic values and ideals of an earlier age ” City staff also concluded the house is

sound enough to move, but transferring it to another part of the city would have been problematic as it could have hit power wires and utilities in the process

In the end, the developer, Dava Developments, proposed moving it onto another portion of their property, which will be part of a future development

Two vote against project

The development includes rebuilding the Richmond Capstan Alliance Church, creating a new child-care centre and building four residential towers

While Coun. Carol Day praised the project, she lamented the fact there weren’t more rental units and voted against it

Coun Michael Wolfe also cast his vote against the project, saying he wished 36 trees could have been saved on the property they will be replaced with a ratio of 2:1

Unlike the Polygon Talisman project where 54 mature trees will be saved, these ones will be removed and replaced in the development process

Jennifer Adams

Amarjeet Aujla

Fang He

Lisa Siperko

Tiffany Roisum

Katia Lu

Margaret Lim

Zobair Ali Vikas Anand Deborah Araujo

Gail Bains Rav Bains Jess Baxter

Team Khalid

Wendi & Eric Team

Connie Chan Shamir Charania Winnie Chen Ryan Chernochan Wilson Chiu

Andrea Chu

Carl Chu

Michael Cowling

Manpreet

Gill Powers Guo

Jessica Hsia Perry Hoogveld

Clayton Ho

Howard Hu Michael Hu

Marc Jurock Austin Kay

Shafik Ladha Peter Lam Mona Lamarche Valerie Laurendeau

Keith Liedtke

Eric Lin Heather Liu

Patti Martin Poonam Master Carmen McCracken

Joe Preswick

Jennifer Quart

Fraser Roberts William (Bo) Ren

Deb Robson

Lynn Sakai-Boden Alisa Sakamoto

Marlee Tecks

Michael & Janet Tanlimco

Christine Siu Johnson Syyong

Andy Urban Dave Van Hoeke

Adam Wachtel

Peter Wen Cory White Isabella Wong

Rina Yu

Fion Yung

Richard Laurendeau (Managing Broker)

Agnes Tamarion-Godding (Conveyance)

Chris Tanasa (Accounting)

Leah Manacap (Admin/Conveyance)

Harbinder Grewal (Reception)

Gord Pipkey (Verico Mtg)

Samantha Trueman (Reception)

Taylor Perry

Jenny Molina

Ken

Charles

Breanna Fernie

Brandon Brar

Jasmine Bharucha

Bari Bridgewater

Donovan Bramley

Fred Brome Grace Campbell

Diane Cardoso Anita Chan

Martin

Angela & Chris Dinnell

Peter Dolecki

Martin Fong

Denise

Sherman

Mike Milic

Tim Pember Barb Nimchuk

Bob

Harold

Obituaries

MURRAY, Marlene

December 9, 1934 - December 10, 2022

FOSTER, Courtenay

Our beloved sister Lorrane Andrea

away peacefully on Saturday December 3, 2022 She wil be deeply mssed by

sster, Chrisanne Gay (Paul), brother, Cory (Jacky);

Christopher (Bayoush), Bryan, Mtchell (Mika), Graham, and Patrick; uncle Ernie (Dianne), cousins, and good friends She was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Patricia Smith and cousn, Robert Lee Gibson

She wshed she would have made it to her 58th brthday on December 16th December was her favourite month She oved celebratng her birthday, Christmas, and snow She loved being on top of Whster on a perfect spring day and seeing the whoe view and skiing down a good, smooth tral It was freedom She had good times at Inside Edge cabin n Whistler with the peope she met and friendshps she made She loved musc shows adventure and travellng and she was aways very active She enoyed dragon boatng, sking, bike riding, kayaking, and hikng wth many of her frends She enoyed getting together and spendng time wth her family and five nephews She oved her family’s dogs (Kal, Ela, Bones, Mya) She appreciated her parents’ work ethic and dedcation and commitment to famly and wanted us to be happy and enoying lfe In the last two years, she did a trip to the East Coast with her sister and brother-in-law, BC road trip wth her good friend Cayton, and Hawai with her sister, brother-in-aw, and Clayton She enoyed spending time with her good friend Amy and her famly and their dog Coco in Vctora, with her brother and sister-n-law on Salt Sprng Island, and wth Clayton n Whistler She wished she had more time to build reationships Her working career of 28 years was at BC Children’s/Women’s Hospita n Vancouver She started in the Chidren’s Lab accessioning and her last poston was wth PHSA as a Data Analyst She loved her condo in Rchmond and renovated it in 2019-2020 Cory says she made t ‘perfect’ the way she wanted it to be She always iked good qualty clothes and furnishings and knew what went wel together Her cancer journey started with a misdiagnosis She was dligent about getting her yeary mammograms but unfortunately she was not informed of her dense breasts which should have required further testing She wil be forever known as being a self-advocate for her heath care and encourages everyone to question and fight for the best possible care We believe she brought the ack of patent nformation n regard to breast density to the forefront as a result our mammograms now suppy densty informaton If you have dense breasts please for Lorraine’s sake insist on further testing! She made her own choices on how best to treat her cancer wth her Oncologst, Dr Carolne Lohrsch at BC Cancer Scientist Alex Rolland at CTOAM Acupuncturist John Blazevc Nurse Practitioner Krstna Morrison, and other heath professionas Her cancer was kept at bay for many years untl recenty when t became more aggressve She was very thankfu to Dr Mitr at BC Cancer who saw her for urgent care and decided she needed medcal attention to help with her symptoms and arranged for her to be admitted at Surrey Memoral Hospita Paliative Care She was releved and thankfu to Dr Kelvin Lou and nursing staff for takng care of her and keeping her comfortable She kept herself moving n the hosptal and when she took a wak n the halway, she notced on the wal was her mantra ‘Love s ” from 1st Corinthians 13 4-8 13 Breast cancer realy needs to be taken seriously Healthy peope, al kinds of peope die of cancer She did the best she could and there is ony so much in ife you can control We ony have one ife to ive and to be knd to ourselves, others, and do what brings you oy and happness She beieved n lstening to your gut and feeings and it’s mportant to ook after your mental, dental, and physcal health Qualty of lfe was very mportant to her She took exercise classes online through Inspired Health that provdes programs for people wth cancer, Justn Agustin, and restorative yoga with Vicki who teaches in Richmond

She appreciated al the support from her sister and brother-in-law (Chrisanne & Paul), brother and sster-in-aw (Cory & Jacky), famly, friends, and colleagues She received support from the Callanish Socety who helps so many peope iving and dying wth cancer

Some of the words to describe Lorrane are: vbrant full of lfe fortitude to carry on, strong, courageous, brave, honest, truthfu, and kind sprited We al hoped she was gong to make it She wil be deary missed by al who knew her A gathering to celebrate Lorraine wil be held in the Spring 2023

With great sadness we announce the passing of Marene Murray, on Saturday December 10th n Rchmond General Hosptal, Richmond, B C

Born n Stockton on Tees, England in 1934 to Readman and Mary Pickering Mddle daughter of 3 chldren Readman, Marene and Dorothy

She eaves behind her children: Angela, Mark (Linda), Elane and Alson; her grandchildren Bart, Matthew (Breezy), Mikayla, Liam and Ashln

She met our Dad (Vince Murray) at the Oak Tree Inn n Mddleton St George, in 1953, they marred in 1959 Almost a seventy-year relationshp

She maintained a very close relationshp with her famly across the Atantic including her sster Dot (Bil, John), and brother Readman (Betty) and their chldren, our cousins, Lynn, Hazel, June, Aan and Ian, throughout ther entire adult ives

Mum had varous part time obs, but her career was traditional, a home maker, she took care of her husband her chidren and the famiy dog Candy, they were her world So many wonderful memores of fun and adventures wth her family

They lved n several countries After many years n England, Ireand, France, and a three-year stint n Maaysa, they setted in Haze Grove near Manchester for about nine years As we grew up and started to do our own thing they were tempted to move to the west coast of Canada, where she lved happily for the rest of her days The beautiful vllage of Steveston was her final restng pace In Steveston they lved in the Senor retirement home caled ‘The Maple Residences’ She enoyed and partcipated in ots of actvties that ncluded: dancing, singng, musc events, creatve coouring with her frends and a weekly happy hour Mum made frends easily and was always ready for a good laugh, a dance, and a sng along

Her life was devoted to her famiy and with that she leaves a great legacy She was a strong woman who endured years of pain with hardly a whsper, arthrtis, and several back surgeries; she withstood more than anyone should But she shned to the end, aways a smie, always a knd word, always a hug that lngered

She never ost sght of her Brtish roots, but she grew to accept Canada as her new home She was loved by al who knew her and her gft to us was her lfe She led a ful and valued ife, and she wil be sorey mssed

In leu of flowers, donations are graciously accepted towards Rotary Hospice House by nteract e-transfer to: treasurer@richmondrotary com for tax recept contact 604-616-2533

We are sad to announce the passng of our Dad, Courtenay “Pop” Foster at the age of 99 Courtenay was born and raised n Richmond Even though he had a busy ob running the Gulf Oi barge in Steveston, he always had time to look after his family and take care of the famiy home and garden on Steveston Hwy Courtenay leaves behind 4 daughters, Bonnie Lang (Bob), Betty Hedges (Bruce), Coleen Dahlqust (Brett) and Cndy Champagne (Ray); nephew Russel Anderson and niece Peggy Anderson (Bob); as well as many other neces and nephews He was bessed with eight grandchildren and seven great grandchidren Courtenay was predeceased by his wife Joyce (2017); brother Russel; sster Bernce; and granddaughter Amber After eaving Richmond, Courtenay and Joyce spent their retirement years n Quaicum on Vancouver Isand Many thanks to the staff at Stanford Senors Village for the great care they gave hm over the ast 3 years and for the kndness and compassion they showed n his fina days as he passed away peacefuly in ther care There wil be a Celebraton of Life on January 14th at 1:30 at St Mark’s Ang can Church in Qualcum

VILARDI, Santa Benedetta

Santa Benedetta Viard passed away on December 7, 2022 in Richmond, B C at the age of 88 She s predeceased by her husband Vincenzo Vlardi She is ovingy survived by her chldren; Carmela Steel (Brian), Antono Viardi (Slvia) Grandchldren; Nickolas Steel (Amy), Cameron Steel, Dominque Bergen (Jeffre), Vanessa Vilard (Kevin), Larissa Smth (Stephen) Great-grandchid; Madison Smith Santa was a loving mom aunt grandmother and great grandmother After immigratng to Canada n 1961 to marry Vncenzo they started the Viardi lneage n Canada Resilent, determined and dedcated, she took care of famly and worked for decades as a restauranteur, and also as a seamstress for Eaton’s of Canada Most of al, Santa loved her tme and occasons with her famiy A private Cathoic Service wil take place on December 21 at The Gardens of Gesthemani In ieu of flowers, donations may be made n Santa’s memory to The Canadian Lung Associaton

at www richmond-funera ca

SMITH, Lorraine Andrea

Smith passed

her

nephews

GERDING, Frances M.

August 13, 1925 - December 6, 2022

It s wth great sadness we announce the passng of Frances Gerding, a mom, grandma, relative and friend to many in her lfetime at the age of 97

Frances was born and raised in Vulcan, Alberta, growng up on a farm as part of a blended family with one brother and four sisters Her dad died in 1932 eaving her mother to pull the family through the trying years of the Depresson

She met and married a loca Vulcan boy Arnod Gerding, on March 17, 1949, St Patrick s Day, and they left behnd their Alberta rural roots to embark on a ife n the mltary They were marred for 65 years until Arnold s passng in 2014

Arnold was a pilot with the Air Force, serving our country in the 20 years that followed, as he and Frances lved in various communites across Canada and a base postng in France pror to his retrement from miitary service in 1969 One of those communites was the Lower Manand suburb of Richmond, where they previously lived for a tme the eary ‘60s, and where they returned to settle and continue to rase their chidren, son Barry and daughter Sandra They scraped together everything they had to buid a new house n Rchmond, a home where they would ive for more than 40 years

Fran and Arnold enjoyed traveing with a particuar fondness for cruses, trips they went on extensivey around the U S the Carbbean and to Mexco Fran was a great host, as she and Arnold maintaned friendships wth people they met in their miitary servce years for decades after settlng back nto cvlian ife She also oved gardenng in their yard, was an avd team bowler at Shelmont Lanes for years winning many trophies she was proud of, oved gong to local high school and theatre stage productions, and many varous church and school choir concerts, especaly at Chrstmas

Fran was smal in stature but the undisputed head of the famly household and a caring mother, aong with beng both a treasured friend to others and beloved relatve to her extended family

After being hosptalized folowng surgery to repair a broken ebow, Fran became a resident at Mnoru Resdence care home for four years Her passing has left a huge void in the lves of al who knew her

Fran is survived by her children Barry (Amber) Gerding and Sandra Gerding, along with her grandchldren Bake and Jade, and many frends and relatives Sadly, she was predeceased by Arnold (December 2014), ssters Blanche, Jean, Midred and Dors, and brother Harry

Many thanks to Minoru Residence carehome staff for ther care and compasson to make Fran’s fina days peaceful and comfortable A specia mention is extended to Michael, a nurse on the second floor of the Red Zone at Richmond General Hosptal who was a ‘saviour’ to the family durng Fran’s final medcal ordeal

Fran was cremated by the Richmond Funeral Home A Ceebration of Life reception is planned for the Spring of 2023 (additonal detals will folow)

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