The man known only as “Mr. Xue” has been playing sweet music in Garden City Park with his Chinese instrument since last fall. The Richmond News caught up with him to find out why.
PARK PARTY IN THE
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Memorial trees celebrate cycle of life
It was last October, just weeks ahead of the municipal election, a time when local politicians explain their visions and priorities for the city That’s when Mayor Malcolm Brodie told the News he’d like to see the city develop a memorial garden Richmond can’t have graveyards because of our high-water table, so a memorial garden could be an alternative Brodie said the idea had been proposed and agreed on by past councils but remained just that an idea
It was a comment that a few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have given a second thought to, but life (and death) has a way of focusing one ’ s attention
In January 2022, we lost my kids’ dad and in January 2023 we lost my dad. The issue of what to do with a body’s remains is now a very real topic of family discussion
For my kids’ dad, I was certain he’d want his ashes scattered in the ocean or along the beach on the Sunshine Coast where his family had a summer home In fact, he said as much But when the time came, he chose instead to be interned in a family plot in a Vancouver graveyard He liked the idea of being where family could gather, which is exactly what we did on the one-year anniversary of his passing.
So now what to do with my dad We’re not interested in a memorial bench They’re expensive, there’s a wait list to get one, and you can’t exactly scatter someone ’ s ashes all over them But we do want some place in Richmond that’s easy for my mom to get to, some place we can return to and feel his presence
Now for some background
My dad was a forester and worked “in the bush” for 20 years He eventually changed professions, but while he left forestry, he never left the forest Every summer it was camping and hiking, and every winter it was cross-country skiing In his final years
he was so grateful for the grove of trees in Steveston Park where he would walk
“I never feel alone when I’m among trees,” he told me
Perhaps you can see where I’m going with this a memorial tree
This isn’t an original idea The city already has a memorial tree program of sorts, but it needs tending if it’s going to really take root groan
My mom phoned the city about it and was told it would cost $650 and she could have a tree planted in a new park at the south end of Trites Road It’s actually a little patch of grass with a kid’s slide and a view of the Harbour Authority’s chain-linked fence
To be fair, this was just a suggestion In a recent report from city staff regarding memorial benches and trees, city staff said it would try to accommodate a family’s wishes regarding location And for an added cost, they may also accommodate a family’s choice of tree
I asked the city about being able to bury
the ashes at the base but haven’t heard back on that I know scattering ashes here and there doesn’t jive with some people’s sensibility, but that’s them My father would love to know his remains were helping nourish the life of a young sapling
The second quibble I have is about a marker The report notes that no plaques or markers would be allowed on or in front of the tree for fear it could damage the tree
Obviously, harming the tree would defeat the purpose, but if we ’ re paying $650 to help grow the local tree canopy, a stated objective of the city, surely there is some way to recognize the person memorialized Vancouver doesn’t even charge for planting a memorial tree because planting trees aligns with the city’s vision
We need that kind of encouragement here not just because we don’t have graveyards, but because allowing people to honour their dead by planting new life is a beautiful and healthy way to celebrate not just an individual but the whole cycle of life
ALR no sacred cow LETTERS
Dear Editor,
Re: “Province allows 150 acres out of the ALR,” News, March 9
I agree with council members, in that they should not have been left out of the land-use discussions loop when Ecowaste did an end run around them to secure its landfill/development site in East Richmond from the province
However, I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad decision
In spite of being within the ALR, it evidently has not been farming-viable if construction waste has been piling up there for decades And who is going to remove metres of waste to make it so, when Richmond is full of underutilitized exposed prime top soil?
Sustainable local agriculture should be part of a broader sensible landuse strategy, where poor or damaged land can be repurposed (slab-floor greenhouses and food processing being two recent hot topics) and still remain under general agricultural use
Every day I pass genuinely good
Strangers outside of Burkeville
Dear Editor,
farming land that is not being optimized if farmed at all This would be unimaginable in most other parts of the world
I’m all for local agriculture and preserving (and using) land for it, but treating ALR land as a “sacred cow, ” just because it falls within certain land parameters, isn’t necessary Mansions notwithstanding, as we enter a period of potentially severe food insecurity globally, the City of Richmond might focus more on fostering sustainable uses for agricultural and other lands in ways that optimize the genuinely good land that is just sitting fallow because the billionaire owner can afford not to farm it, or there are not enough farmers out there
These apparent gaps are opportunities in front of our eyes Serving existing farmers by providing discounts on irrigation water is just one other unrealized opportunity
Glen Andersen RICHMONDWe just recently moved from Burkeville into Richmond and it feels like we moved to a different country We moved from a community that took pride in its
neighborhood to a community that cares little past their front door
When walking my dog I’m watched with suspicion as I pass, with some crossing the street.
We’ve lived in Richmond for 30+ yrs and we’ve never felt more like strangers in our home.
Murray Schultz RICHMONDWalkways plagued by dog poop
Dear Editor,
Dog waste continues to be an ongoing concern in Steveston (I’m sure in other parts of Richmond also)
Dog waste has created many problems, including contaminating soil and recycling bins, having to wash shoes after every walk and increased cleanup costs Personally, I am sick of having to constantly look at the ground in front of me as I walk through Steveston on public walkways to avoid dog waste!
I walk every day along the river and through Steveston and every day I notice more and more dog poo left behind by irresponsible pet owners on the walkways
It does not get nicely washed away by the
weather It stays there for days and weeks, spread by people stepping in it and bikes, etc
The only solution is for the city to go along these public sidewalks and power wash them
I’d like to walk and look at the sites along the river instead of my feet! Maybe the city would be better off ticketing these pet-owning offenders to teach proper etiquette and make the city additional income
I don’t like it when things have to constantly be monitored, but once again the problem is forced to be dealt with because of a few inconsiderate people.
Do something about this problem!
Linda McGuire RICHMONDThe City of Richmond is receiving $9 1 million in federal funding to build 18 “deeply affordable” homes for vulnerable people
The Minister of Housing
Ahmed Hussen was at Richmond City Hall on Monday morning to make the announcement, explaining the money is coming from the Rapid Housing Initiative, a $4 billion federal housing fund that began during the COVID-19 pandemic
To qualify for this funding, cities need to build the homes within 18 months
“Today is the beginning of hopefully more investments,” Hussen said at the announcement, adding that safe and affordable housing allows people, especially the most vulnerable, to “ pursue your dreams ”
“We understand housing is fundamental to making a difference in people’s lives it grounds people, it gives an opportunity for someone to have a sense of belonging and it creates better social and health outcomes, ” Hussen said Steveston-Richmond East MP Parm Bains said he was pleased to see this program
benefiting Richmond.
“(MP Wilson Miao) and I have been pushing (for housing),” Bains said “I think this could be the start of many different projects that we can try to bring here ”
A recent housing study, based on statistics from 2016, noted 25 per cent of all households in Richmond were spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing
The study also noted 6,140 households in Richmond were in “extreme core housing need,” meaning they were spending more than 50 per cent of their income on housing. And, furthermore, from 2006 to 2016, the cost to
rent rose 4 5 times faster than household incomes
Where the 18 homes will be built and other details are still being worked out but should be announced within a month, Mayor Malcolm Brodie told the Richmond News
The money is meant for rapid construction of new housing, or for the acquisition of existing buildings for rehabilitation or conversion to permanent affordable housing
Another housing initiative, the Housing Accelerator Fund, coming online from the federal government, will earmark $4 billion to help cities expedite the permitting process to build new homes
City of Richmond
Notice of Public Hearing
Monday, March 20, 2023 – 7 p.m.
Council Chambers, 1st Floor, Richmond City Hall
6911 No 3 Rd Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 | www richmond ca
TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the City of Richmond will hold a Public Hearing as noted above, on the following items:
1. OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW 7100 AND 9000, AMENDMENT BYLAW 10213 AND RICHMOND ZONING BYLAW 8500, AMENDMENT BYLAW 10212 (RZ 17-788900)
Location/s: 7780, 7800, 7804, 7820 and 7840 River Road
Applicant/s: Urban Solutions Architecture Ltd.
Purpose of OCP Designation
Amendment: To clarify the City’s intent regarding the coordination of dike improvements with private development within the City Centre, and to relocate park, road, pedestrian linkage and commercial land use designations at the site’s north end and along the adjacent dike
Purpose of Zoning Amendment: To rezone the subject property from “Auto-Oriented Commercial (CA)” to a new site-specific zone, “High Rise Riverfront Commercial (ZC49) – Aberdeen Village (City Centre)”, to permit development of an 11-storey hotel with 183 guest rooms, an 8-storey office building, ground floor retail and restaurant uses, and underground parking, together with associated off-site improvements including dike upgrades and the extension of River Parkway (between Cambie Road and the site’s north boundary), a new east-west street linking the River Parkway extension with existing River Road (north of the site), related landscape improvements, and utility upgrades.
City Contact: Suzanne Carter-Huffman, 604-276-4228, Planning and Development Division
2. TEMPORARY COMMERCIAL USE PERMIT (TU 23-009170)
Location/s: 8991 Charles Street
Applicant/s: DA Architects & Planners
Purpose: To extend the existing Temporary Commercial Use Permit to permit “Vehicle Rental, Convenience” use, limited to the storage of rental vehicles only, with no associated buildings and no public access as a site specific additional use.
City Contact: Ashley Kwan, 604-276-4173, Planning and Development Division
Participating in the Public Hearing process:
• The Public Hearing is open to all members of the public and that attendance may be done 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: http://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.
• Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by 4:00 pm on the date of the Public Hearing as follows:
• By E-mail: cityclerk@richmond.ca
• By Standard Mail: 6911 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC, V6Y 2C1, Attention: Director, City Clerk’s Office
How to obtain further information:
• By Phone: If you have questions or concerns, please call the CITY CONTACT shown above.
• On the City Website: Public Hearing Agendas, including staff reports and the proposed bylaws, are available on the City Website at https://citycouncil.richmond.ca/ agendas/hearings/
• At City Hall: Copies of the proposed bylaw, supporting staff and Committee reports and other background material, are also available for inspection at the Planning and Development Division at City Hall, between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except statutory holidays, commencing March 10, 2023 and ending March 20, 2023, or upon the conclusion of the hearing.
• By Fax or Mail: Staff reports and the proposed bylaws may also be obtained by FAX or by standard mail, by calling 604-276-4007 between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except statutory holidays, commencing March 10, 2023 and ending March 20, 2023.
• By Fax: 604-278-5139, Attention: Director, City Clerk’s Office
• Public Hearing Rules: For information on public hearing rules and procedures, please consult the City website at http://www.richmond.ca/cityhall/council/ hearings/about.htm or call the City Clerk’s Office at 604-276-4007.
• All submissions will form part of the record of the hearing. Once the Public Hearing has concluded, no further information or submissions can be considered by Council.
Claudia Jesson Director, City Clerk’s OfficeBe a CanneryOwner for a Day!
Shady Island dike proposed
Maria Rantanen
Plans to build a 3 3-kilometre dike for ood protection from London Landing Garry Point Park encompassing hady Island is back on the table
The flood protection plan was proosed four years ago, and $1 2 million as spent on preliminary plans
The dike would enclose Steveston Harour and would include gates at the east and west ends, which would be closed during high water events
The dike would start at London Landing, cross the water and continue along the length of Shady Island and beyond, then curve back to Garry Point Park
When the city created its dike master plan, the need to protect Steveston was
identified as a priority
However, building a dike along the Steveston waterfront would have disrupted businesses and residences and wouldn’t have protected historical sites such as the Gulf of Georgia Cannery City staff are now planning to consult with the public and stakeholders on the project
Next steps include completing the second phase of the preliminary design, talking with the province about negotiating land tenure on Shady Island also called Steveston Island and working on the environmental assessment
They also plan to look for funding from senior levels of government
The dike plan is on the agenda for next week’s general purposes committee meeting
Public Notice of Intent
Under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act
An application for a Seasonal Patio and extension of service hours has been received by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch and the City of Richmond from:
Emperor’s Kitchen Ltd., DBA: Grill Party, operating from premises located at 120 – 8511 Alexandra Rd., Richmond, BC.
The intent of the application is to: Amend Food Primary Liquor Licence # 305936 for Structural Change to operate a twenty seat Seasonal Patio on private property from April 1 to October 31 each year and to:
Propose a change of hours of liquor service from current hours:
Sunday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to Midnight.
Proposed Hours of Liquor service are:
Sunday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM
Total person capacity will remain the same at 98 Persons: limited to 78 persons interior and 20 persons on the patio.
A Temporary Commercial Use Permit will also be required to approve the patio in the commercial parking spaces on this private property. The minimum parking requirement of 20 spaces is met with 83 spaces and less then the permitted 10% are going to be used, listed as five.
Residents, property owners and businesses may comment on this application by writing to:
THE CITY OF RICHMOND
Business Licence Division
LIQUOR LICENCE APPLICATIONS
6911 NO. 3 RD
RICHMOND, BC, V6Y 2C1
PETITIONS AND FORM LETTERS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
To ensure the consideration of your views, your written comments must be received on or before April 15, 2023. Your name, address and phone number must be included on your comments. Please note that your comments may be made available to the applicant where disclosure is necessary to administer the licensing process.
Warning: This story contains details of grooming and sexual exploitation of an under-aged person and may be disturbing to some readers
A Richmond man is facing jail after sexually exploiting a teenage student at the school he worked at as an educator
Steven Clarke, 31, met the victim in 2021 while working at a secondary school in North Vancouver
When school reconvened in 2022 after the winter break, he told the victim he had romantic feelings for her and the two exchanged numbers and later on, intimate text messages
During January and February 2022, Clarke asked the victim to send him photos of her
“Some of these photos constitute child pornography,” Crown prosecutor Michelle Merry told Richmond Provincial Court on Wednesday at Clarke’s sentencing hearing
In return, Clarke sent the victim a photo of his erect penis and a video of him having sex with another woman
During the same time, Clarke and the victim would meet in secluded spots at the school to kiss and engage in sexual touching
Clarke would also drive the victim to his Richmond apartment to have sex On one occasion, the victim had a pregnancy scare and Clarke gave her a Plan B (morning after) pill at school
However, the relationship between the pair came to light around Family Day last year after the girl’s mother discovered her daughter’s nude photos on certain devices
At that point Clarke and the student ceased contact
The court heard how Clarke spent one night in jail and later pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation on Jan 26, 2023
Excerpts of text messages between the two were read out in court One text from Clarke read, “Never stop being truly and madly in love with me. And I will always take care of you my future wife and mother of my kids ”
Merry told the court, “ making suggestions about marriage etc , the Crown says it’s very aggravating That is the kind of behaviour that is particularly damaging and confusing to victims of this age ”
According to the joint submission between prosecution and defence, an appropriate sentence for Clarke would be 21 months in jail followed by three years ’ probation. Conditions would include no contact with the victim, no contact or being in the presence of any female person appearing to be under 18, and no volunteer or employment positions involving being in a position of trust or authority to a female person under 18 (with exceptions)
Under the Criminal Code, the minimum sentence for sexual exploitation is 90 days and the maximum is two years Merry added, he had a “high degree of responsibility and moral blameworthiness” as someone who worked with teenagers. He was clearly “manipulative” when trying to have sex with the victim as seen from their text
A recent WorkSafeBC report revealed a young Richmond worker’s fatal work injury was caused by the lack of a designated walkway and an unsafe worksite
The Richmond News reported in May 2021 that a woman had succumbed to her injuries after an industrial accident in north Hamilton
According to WorkSafeBC’s investigation report, Tree Island Industries had violated the Workers Compensation Act and its own safety regulations by failing to ensure the health and safety of all workers and failing to provide a work area for safe movement
The 24-year-old worker, a chemical process engineer, was believed to have been struck by a forklift transporting coils of steel wire at an S-
curve intersection in the rod yard
“The (forklift operator) did not see (the worker) and it is not known why the (worker) did not or could not avoid the forklift,” reads the report
The worker was wearing a hi-vis vest at the time, which met regulations She had gone through a new hire orientation when she started working at Tree Island, and the forklift operator was qualified for his job
WorkSafeBC determined there was no separation between pedestrians and mobile equipment at the scene of the accident, which resulted in the two working in close proximity and “greatly increased the risk of a worker being struck by mobile equipment, as occurred in this incident ”
Tree Island also did not fully implement its health and safety measures,
as there were no worksite inspections of the rod yard, no regular safety meetings and no adequate control of hazards of mobile equipment
Report details worker’s death Man, 31, facing jail for sexually exploiting teenage student
“Although (Tree Island) appears to have had several systems in place to identify hazards and address risks, the risk of struck-by incidents in its rod yard was not adequately addressed and corrected prior to the incident,” reads the report
The report was completed on Jan 7, 2022, but only became available to the public this year
Since the incident, Tree Island implemented measures such as widening the roadway, implementing a designated walkway with a crosswalk and adding signs and gates at the site of the incident
Vikki Hui/Richmond NewsFilming season kicks off
The filming season is well and truly up and running in the Steveston area this week, with at least two shows in production
Earlier this week, a production crew arrived at No 2 Road, just north of Moncton Street, to build an outdoor scene for the filming of CBS network’s U S legal drama So Help Me Todd
According to a neighbourhood notification letter, residents may experi-
Dead skunks test positive for avian flu
Eight skunks found dead in Richmond and Vancouver in late February have tested positive for avian influenza, a highly virulent disease responsible for decimating flocks of domestic poultry
B.C.’s chief veterinarian Theresa Burns said the skunks were initially turned over to B.C.’s Animal Health Centre under suspicions they had been poisoned in residential areas of the cities. But testing later revealed they were infected with the same strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus that has swept into farms in a series of outbreaks across the world.
Burns said this is the first time such a large cluster of H5N1-infected mammals have been found in a single geographic area
“We’re looking for signs of mam-
Bowling clubhouse smaller, same price
ence “minor disruption” as the production team works on creating the set from Monday through to Thursday
The film crew will not arrive until Friday morning, with the scene itself scheduled to be shot during Friday afternoon
Meanwhile, the Best of British store and Steveston Sweet Shoppe in Steveston Village are also being used for filming of an unknown TV show this week
The new lawn bowling clubhouse will be built, but at about 40 per cent smaller than originally planned
At Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Malcolm Brodie said the budget for the project will remain the same, but because of escalating costs, the size has been reduced from the original plan of 4,900 square feet to between 3,100 to 3,300 square feet
This will reduce the amount of community amenity space that was supposed to be part of the new facility
When the city asked for tenders for the project, they came in a couple million dollars higher than the budget of $5 3 million City council approved building a new lawn bowling clubhouse in 2019 in a 5-4 vote
Some councillors wanted to build housing as part of the new facility, or add space for non-profits
Maria Rantanen/Richmond Newsbunnies found in
street
malian adaptation,” said Burns. “That will help us determine: is there increased human health risk?”
The skunks likely became infected after eating dead wild birds carrying the virus, said Burns.
She repeated the Ministry of Agriculture and Food message, released in a press release Monday, that avian flu continues to pose a “low risk to human health.”
The eight skunks add to millions of wild and domestic animals that have been infected with bird flu since an international series emerged early in 2022.
Since then, outbreaks have swept North America, Europe and Asia over the past year
Stefan Labbé/Glacier Media Alanna Kelly GLACIER MEDIAA woman was walking in Vancouver when a box on the street started to move To her surprise, there were three tiny bunnies inside that had been abandoned.
Sorelle Saidman, the founder of Rabbitats Rescue Society, received the call from the woman, who found the rabbits on Cardero Street and went to go pick them up on Tuesday.
“They were terrified They were frozen They were just terrified little beasts and they didn’t move for hours at all,” she says
Saidman describes the pet bunnies as purebred Holland lops, which are very desirable One of the rabbits is likely pregnant
“They are very thin and they need a bit of recovery time,” she says
Saidman believes the owners of the bunnies were irresponsible and questions if they tried
to rehome them
“I think had they made more of an effort to rehome the rabbits these guys were on the top of a want list So they were irresponsible in that respect,” she says
Currently, Rabbitats is being called every day with people trying to give away their pet rabbits
“Right now, if you get somebody who’s got a post-COVID bunny, and they’re going back to work, they can’t take care of their rabbit I don’t think there’s anybody who would be able to take those rabbits,” she told Glacier Media
She’s concerned about a possible feral colony of rabbits in Vancouver
“You dump a litter of five or six rabbits and they give birth every 31 days, their litters are getting bigger than ever, ” she says “It costs an awful lot more to take 40 rabbits out of the environment than it does to take two ”
She hopes municipalities will start making arrangements to take in rabbits
‘Frozen’
a cardboard box on
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Musician plays along with bird songs
Vikki HuiNothing is better than a walk in the park with fresh air, chirping birds and background music?
Those who’ve been to Garden City Park this past winter have probably wondered what the soothing string music was and where it was coming from.
But if they walked towards the off-leash dog park, stopping just before Henry Anderson elementary, they would find Mr Xue, who has been playing the erhu (like a small violin) in tandem with bird songs.
The Richmond News caught up with Xue recently at his usual spot on a bench, where he explained how he began practicing the traditional Chinese string instrument in the park last September
“We live in a townhouse, so I might disturb the neighbours. Practicing here, on the other hand, won’t disturb anyone,” he said.
Xue said he first started playing the erhu when he started elementary school, but had to put it on hold for more than 40 years while trying to make a living.
“I had to work and didn’t have time to practice… I had to work to be able to eat,” he said.
Now that he’s retired and in his 60s, there’s no better time to pick up the hobby again and, for the last six months or so, he started playing again and has been practicing four hours a day at the park weather permitting.
And enduring the cold is also part of the practice.
“The colder it gets, the more you must persevere. Warm up your hands by blowing on them and keep going,” said Xue.
“The more you practice, the more agile your fingers will get.”
Xue hopes more people will be interested in traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu, just as how Western classical instruments such as the piano and violin are popular back home.
And it seems that showing is always better than telling, as many community members often gather to listen to Xue perform.
“They would stand on the side and watch me practice. And when I take breaks, they would ask me about the instrument.”
Although Xue only speaks limited English, it never stops him from sharing the beauty of his favourite instrument.
“(People) would say, ‘What is this instrument? It sounds great!’ And I would tell them, ‘This is the erhu from China,’” he said.
Students compete in Japanese language
Students from two Richmond high schools excelled at an annual provincial Japanese speech contest last weekend
McMath secondary’s Kippei Shoji won first place in the intermediate category, while Richmond secondary’s Shawn Wu, Hailan (Helen) Tan and Katelyn Makihara came third in the beginner, intermediate and open categories, respectively, in the 35th annual British Columbia Japanese Speech Contest
A commendation for outstanding effort was also awarded to McMath’s Lexi Lawson who competed in the intermediate category
This year ’ s event saw 19 finalists speaking at UBC’s Asian Centre, which was also live-streamed online Wu, who explored the issues of being overly modest in his speech “Modesty and its Lies,” said he enjoyed the challenge despite it being a class requirement
“This was my first time entering the contest and while it was a little scary, it was also exhilarating and exciting!”
Grace Ho, one of several judges for the contest and a teacher at McMath, said the turnout for Richmond students in the high school category was especially impressive as only three high schools across the province had participated in last year ’ s contest
“I think it’s amazing To be able to give a speech in your first language is difficult enough Imagine doing it in a second,
third or fourth language ”
Speeches that impressed the judges the most, according to Ho, were those that connected personal experiences with cultural and historical topics, as well as those that discussed current social issues and challenges
Abby Young, a McMath student, chose to speak about understanding her grandparents’ experience with Alzheimer’s
“I had a lot of trouble coming up with a topic I was willing to write about, and one which would resonate with others,” she said
However, she describes the contest as “ a precious experience ”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a room with so many others who share a similar love of learning Japanese ”
BUSINESS
Two firms up for YWCA award
Two organizations from Richmond have been nominated for YWCA Metro Vancouver’s 40th women of distinction awards
The Steveston Arts Connection (SAC) and the Dupuis Langen Group are two out of 78 individuals and organizations nominated for their contribution to the community
SAC is a woman-led organization offering fine arts and daycare programs for children and youth in Richmond It hires a diverse range of employees in terms of age and cultural background, supports flexible work schedules, of-
fers before- and after-school care and provides training opportunities A registered clinical counsellor is on-site to provide mental health support for employees, and SAC also contributes to an RRSP program and provides mortgage assistance
Dupuis Langen Group is a femaleowned insurance and employee benefits company It offers a 24/7 employee and family assistance program and virtual health care access, and its paid sick leave includes both personal and family-related needs It’s dedicated to pay equity, promoting diversity and supporting employees with train-
ing and a flexible work environment
It also provides an extensive benefits package for women ’ s mental health
The public can vote for their favourite nominees online from now until April 12 Winners will be announced at the Women of Distinction Awards Gala on May 9, and tickets will be on sale soon on the YWCA website
The nominee with the most votes will also get the Connecting the Community Award, which allows them to pick a YWCA program area to receive a $10,000 donation from Scotiabank Vikki Hui/Richmond News
Green delivery for Purolator
Purolator is transitioning to electric vehicles in Richmond, starting this month
Richmond is one of three cities along with London, Ont , and Quebec City to have 25 Ford Etransit vans deployed in March, with plans to add 55 Motiv Power Systems EPIC4 and 15 BrightDrop Zevo 600 models, along with several low-speed vehicles and electric cargo bikes (e-bikes) later in the year
In 2021, Purolator announced its green initiative plans for the Great-
er Vancouver area that would offer the same electric delivery system in Toronto and Montreal
The Canada-wide courier company announced it expects to invest approximately $1 billion to go green for its Canadian network over the next seven years, according to a Purolator media release
It is expecting to turn 60 per cent of its fleet into electric vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2030
“Purolator was the first Canadian
courier to launch fully electric curbside-delivery trucks nationally,” said John Ferguson, president and CEO of Purolator.
“Our ambition is to be the greenest courier company in Canada, and with this investment, Purolator will take yet another important step toward a more sustainable future and healthier planet ”
Purolator is looking to purchase 3,500 fully electric delivery vehicles and to go green at more than 60 of its terminals across Canada
Valerie Leung/Richmond NewsFormer NBA star in town this week
A Richmond Best Buy store is hosting a meet-and-greet event with former NBA player Gary Payton this weekend
Former basketball player Payton will be with mixed-media designer Will Selviz at Lansdowne’s Best Buy store for an NBA Creators event on Mar 18 between 2 and 3 p m
The event will be broadcast live at 30 Best Buy stores across Canada
where Payton will sign autographs for fans while Selviz will be doing a live digital design session on-site
Payton is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle Supersonics and is considered one of the greatest point guards of all time
Selviz is an Afro-Caribbean multidisciplinary designer specializing in immersive media technologies such as 3D animation, virtual reality, aug-
mented reality and 360 videos
“By bringing NBA superstars and digital artists, like Gary Payton and Will Selviz together, it aims to draw all Canadian fans and artists into the digital content space and encourage them to explore the possibilities of technology in bringing ideas and stories to life,” reads a Best Buy media release
Valerie Leung/Richmond NewsNew grocer for Garden City
The residents of a Richmond neighbourhood will finally get a new supermarket, 18 months after their longserving IGA closed its doors.
Garden City Shopping Centre at Garden City and Blundell roads is about to get a Save-On Foods, with the store set to open on Thursday, March 23 at 7 a m
People living in the area have been
desperate to get a supermarket option closer to home since IGA shut up shop in the fall of 2021
The Richmond News reached out to Save-On Foods last week for more details about the opening but have yet to receive a reply
The News reported at the time of the IGA closure how the supermarket staff at the time were not being retained by
the incoming Save-On Foods
Despite repeated attempts, the News was unable to get a response from either IGA or Save-On Foods
Staff at the IGA contacted the News at the time to say that none of the workers were unionized and none of them were being kept on when SaveOn moves in Alan Campbell/Richmond News
There are children and youth in your community who need temporary, nurturing homes
We have an urgent need for foster caregivers who are:
• First Nations, Metis, Inuit
• Interested in providing care for sibling groups
• Passionate about engaging and caring for youth
• Interested in supporting children and youth who identify as LGBTQ2S+
• Skilled in caring for children and youth with complex support needs
• Interested in providing weekend respite care for children and youth
To learn more about becoming a foster caregiver visit FosterNow.ca
SPORTS
Cowboys preparing for ‘World Cup’ of hockey
PUZZLE ANSWER IN CLASSIFIEDS
“We thought the world cup may never happen, but it’s finally coming ”
These are the words of Richmond Cowboys Hockey Club manager Doug Collins as they prepare for the long-awaited 2023 Molson CARHA Hockey World Cup, being held right here in Richmond
Thousands of hockey players from across the globe will be gathering at ice arenas across Richmond for the world’s largest international adult recreational hockey tournament, which takes place in a different Canadian host city every four years, from March 19 to 26
Also known as the “Olympics of recreational hockey,” the tournament was initially scheduled for 2020, but due to the pandemic, it was continuously postponed
Collins told the Richmond News that the excitement levels within the club are “ really starting to mount” as the date of the tournament approaches
“Because you know something’s cancelled and you think ‘will it ever happen?’ But now we ’ re starting to realize this thing we ’ ve been waiting for a long time is actually happening,” he said
“It’s exciting to have this opportunity to play against teams from other countries and you don’t really get that unless you
Several generations of the Richmond Cowboys amateur hockey club are taking part in the CARHA World Cup, which kicks off this weekend at ice arenas across Richmond
travel outside (the province) and join other tournaments ”
The Cowboys have three teams taking part in the tournament in the 33s, 55s and 65s age categories, with the latter making its debut
“With the delay of the world cup coming, we all aged three to four years and we found we were in the wrong division, so we decided to form another team,” said Collins, adding the oldest guys regularly competed with their younger counterparts during the season
“The world cup ’ s probably going to be a stepping stone for our team to basically branch out and hopefully continue with three teams for future games to keep everybody playing ”
Richmond Cowboys was formed in 1979 by brothers who are east Richmond farmers, explained Collins
Fast-forward, the club is approaching its third generation of Cowboys, where the teams have had grandfathers, fathers and sons on the ice at the same time
“It’s pretty amazing when you think about it, and the kids are in minor hockey, too There’s a long history there,” said Collins
“This world cup makes it even more special for us as it’s our first time competing in it It’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us ”
Tuesday ladies tee off
A Richmond ladies’ public golf club is encouraging women over the age of 55 with a love for golf to join them this upcoming season
The Country Meadows Tuesday Ladies Golf Club (CMTLG) will be kicking off the season on Tuesday, April 4, but interested golfers can join anytime
The club meets every Tuesday morning with tee times between 8 and 10 a m at Richmond’s Country Meadows
on No 6 Road
The annual membership for the CMTLG is $140, which covers membership with Golf Canada, Golf BC, meals during special events, such as the club championships, and more
To find out more, go to RichmondNews com and search under the “local sports” tab
Valerie Leung/Richmond News#807 – 6833 Buswell Street
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1,156 sf 3-bdrm NE corner unit + 2 balconies totaling 833 sf. Unobstructed Mt Baker & Burnaby Mt views. King-sized master bdrm has walk-in closet. $1,196,800
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954 sf 2-bdrm NE corner unit + 95 sf balcony Unobstructed Mt Baker & Burnaby Mt views. Kingsized master bdrm. $1,098,800
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10 strata-titled ground floor commercial units in downtown Richmond 14' ceiling. Walk across to Richmond Centre in 3 minutes. Unit 110 (SL2) 1,336 sf w/22 57' frontage $1,414,000
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Unit 145 (SL9) 788 sf w/24 02' frontage $1,024,000
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Minoru Boulevard
WOODRIDGE ESTATES - Delightful 2 bedroom, 1 bath CORNER unit CONVENIENTLY located in the heart of Richmond This bright NE corner unit offers privacy and is tucked away in a quiet area of the complex Not on the ground floor, the unit has a spacious patio overlooking the greenspace below Wood burning fireplace in the generous living room Good sized bedrooms In suite laundry 1 parking Rental and pet friendly building
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Welcome home to The Shore in Steveston, a boutique waterfront establishment offering luxury residential units, each with private gated garages, semi-private elevator access and serene river views. Modern artisanal styling blends natural refinement in two designer colour schemes offering subtle textures and rich materials to create an inviting interior Each unit plan has been deliberately arranged to connect with the magnificent light, harbour, greenway park, and river views. All homes enjoy spacious decks with serene water views of the Fraser River Call today!
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MARKETPLACE
REMEMBRANCES
July 24, 1981 - March 21, 2002
In
Obituaries
DENNIS, Doreen
June 10, 1929
February 26, 2023
Doreen Dennis passed away on February 26, 2023 She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur; daughter Debbie; and grandson Patrick.
She is lovingly remembered by her sons, Philip (Cathy), Terry (Karin) and Perry, and grandchildren Devon, Dylan and Derek.
Lives forever in the memories we keep.
Obituaries
SMITH, William Sean
September 1969 - January 2023
It s with a very heavy heart that we say goodbye to Wliam (Sean) Smth, who passed away peacefuly, surrounded by famiy and friends, on Tuesday, January 31st Sean was loved fiercey and wil be missed dearly by his wfe, Natale Smth, and hs two young daughters, Charlotte and Ashleigh Sean was a warror; he battled cancer for years and worked through the pain to be an active dad to hs daughters and loving partner to his spouse He wll be remembered for his dedicaton to hs family, his sense of humour, and his abilty to see the good n everything and everyone Those who had the peasure to know hm wil miss hm greaty but reman grateful n how he touched ther lives A memoria service wil be hed at Pacific Sprit Unted Church, 2195 West 45th Ave, Vancouver on March 25, 2023 at 1 pm
GODFREY, Esther Maude (Townsend)
March 9, 1931 to February 11, 2023
Esther Godfrey passed away peacefully on February 11, 2023, surrounded by the love and gratitude of her famiy She was happly married to Al for 69 years, until his passing n August 2022, and she rejoned him in time for Vaentne’s Day, the anniversary of ther first date
Esther was born n Selkrk, Manitoba, the thrd and youngest child of Ted and Lilan Townsend She spent ten formative years n Birtle, Mantoba where she made a number of cose and ifelong friendshps before her famly moved to Winnpeg, where she met Al at Kevn High School Thers s a love story that spanned 75 years
In 1952, Esther graduated from the Unversty of Manitoba wth a B A n Psychoogy She and A married in 1953 and moved to Toronto to begn raising their famly In 1968 they moved west to Richmond, BC Esther dedcated herself to home-making and parenting, honing her considerable skls n cookng baking sewing gardening and entertaining She and A loved to host famly and friends and were aways interested n others and ther ives They also trave ed extensively and enoyed earning about dfferent places and cutures In 2008 they moved to South Surrey and became engaged in that communty Throughout her life, Esther was a master at making frendshps and mantaining them through reguar correspondence, phone cals and visits
Esther worked part-tme dong inteligence testng in Toronto area schools and the Hosptal for Sick Chidren When A’s work took them to Tawan for five years, she worked alongsde hm as Office Manager
RICHARDS, Eric Clive
January 17, 1938
February 28, 2023
Eric Clive Richards was born in England on January 17, 1938, to parents Chris and Ellen Richards. He passed away peacefully on February 28, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. Clive is predeceased by his brother Chris and wife Marg He is survived by his sister Di (Ray); wife Joan; sons Jamie (Amy) and Dean (Deb); grandchildren Eric (Morag), Sean, Reese and Nolan; and many nieces and nephews. Clive lived most of his life in Richmond, where, through his work with the City of Richmond, he leaves a legacy that impacts all who enjoy Richmond Parks and a loving network of family and friends who will miss him dearly. Clive’s family would like to thank the healthcare teams at Richmond Hospital and Hospice for their care of Clive.
A Celebration of Life will take place at Richmond Funeral Home on Sunday, March 19, at 11:00am.
Esther was also a ifelong vounteer enrchng her ife as well as the communtes she served Some examples are Grl Gudes of Canada, South Peel Unitarian Church Richmond Carefree Socety Fraserview Lodge and her PEO Sisterhood Chapter AX In 1978, she was honoured as Rchmond s Ctizen of the Year for her work as supervisor of the Carefree daycare program She had earned her Early Childhood Educator certificate n order to fulfil those responsblites
Esther found much oy in famly She took great interest and pride n the ives, partners, and careers of her chldren and grandchidren Esther is warmly remembered as a oving mother to Ruth (Tom) Stubens, Katie Vck, and John (Karen) Godfrey; grandmother to Jennifer (Dave) Owen, Bryan (Alexandra) and Dean (Emma) Godfrey Carl (Lyah) and Pau Stubens; and great-grandmother to Brock Godfrey and Wllam Owen She was ooking forward to welcoming Madelyn Esther Godfrey who arrved ater in the month In additon she is fondly remembered by her elder sister Murel, several dear cousns, a nece and several nephews, as wel as other extended famiy and cose frends
The family would lke to thank Dr Scott Garrison and Dr Laura Jane Henderson for ther decades of care and support We aso extend our sncere grattude to al the staff at Augustine House in Ladner for their kndness and compassonate care over the past two years
Esther was cremated and a Celebration of Life wil be held in the Spring Gven the great dversity of need, donations to your preferred charity in Esther’s memory would be most wecome
THOMAS, Dorothy
July 31, 1925 - January 5, 2023
Dorothy Edith Thomas (Crage) born in Fort Wiliam Ontario to Rosa and Thomas Cragie passed away peacefuly with lovng famiy by her sde Predeceased by her husband (Harry) sisters (Betty Pedlow and Joyce Munnng), Dorothy is survved by her chidren Tom (Margaret), Gai (Barry), Kathi (Tony), and Ted She was been bessed by 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchidren during her ifetime She remained close to al her extended famiy and numerous nieces and nephews enriched her lfe Dorothy was an RN and enjoyed a ong happy retrement following her career as a Head Nurse at GF Strong Rehabltaton Center She lved in Richmond for most of her lfe untl 2018 when she moved to Ladysmth, BC
A Celebraton of Life wil be held in Rchmond, BC on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 2PM Contact galjoanne@shaw ca for further nformation
Dorothy supported many charities so pease, in leu of flowers, send a donation to the charity of your choice
WIDDESS, William John
July 12, 1942
February 26, 2023
Bill was a man that many describe as kind and giving. A retired Battalion Chief for VPD, he always made sure his people came first, including his family, which he loved more than anything in the world. He leaves behind his wife, Pam, after 50 years of marriage; daughter Nicole (Mike); son Sean (Lisa); as well as grandchildren Brooklyn, Sophia, Kate, Dante and Megan. In retirement, Bill and Pam enjoyed extensive travelling and managed to get to 5 of 7 continents. His passion for carving wood and soapstone was shared with many. No service by request. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Vancouver Firefighters Burn Unit or Richmond Hospital Foundation, Palliative Care. We would like to thank Dr. Joshi and nurses Paulita and Tracy. Dad, you will forever live on in our hearts!
Love’s greatest gift is remembrance
COMMUNITY
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COLLECTOR will purchase FIREARMS & AMMUNITION
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REAL ESTATE
real eSTaTe
LEGAL
U-Haul Moving & Storage Richmond Clams a Landords Contractual Len against the following persons goods n storage at 4511 Shel Rd, Richmond, BC Te: 604-270-8827
Aucton is subject to cancelation at anytime
Anne Macken
Edgar Cortez
Anne Macken
Sameh Malik
Seth Campbell
Manchay Chounlamontry
A sale wil take place onine at www ibid4storage com starting at 10:00AM on Tuesday, Apri 11, 2023, untl 10:00AM Thursday, April 13, 2023
Wnners wl be contacted by emai at the end of the auction Room contents are personal/ household goods, unless noted otherwse Bds wl be for the entire contents of each ocker unit
WAREHOUSE LIEN ACT
The fo owng Registered Owners are indebted to Ducat Richmond Ltd for storage of the vehice listed below A len is camed under the Act There s presenty an amount due and owng pus any addtonal costs of storage, sezure and sale that may accrue Notice is hereby given that on March 9th, 2023, HUONG DAC DOAN 2005 Ducati 999 Superbike
ZDM1UB5TX3B001869 vaued at $4,603 wil be sod on or after Aprl 8, 2023 The vehce is currently stored at Ducat Rchmond 100-6260 Graybar Road Richmond BC, V6W 1H6 For more informaton cal Ducat Richmond at 604-370-0410 or ema to: rory ambie@ducati-richmond com
WAREHOUSEMAN LIEN
By virtue of the Warehouseman’s Lien Act and on behaf of Shelter Island Marina Inc, we wil dispose of goods belonging to Theodore Buick namely: House Boat called Blue Star to recover $3,121 23 plus accruing storage & any/all other expenses related These goods wll be made avaiable for sale after March 23 2023 by Publc Auction/Tender Goods are currenty being stored in Richmond, BC Contact 604-434-2448 for further informaton
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