Richmond News June 29 2023

Photos by Maria Rantanen

Taco-eating records and cut-a-thon, all for the kids

VALERIE LEUNG & VIKKI HUI Vleung@richmond-news

com

With 10 seconds left and non-stop cheering from the community, a Richmond resident broke the record at Steveston’s third annual taco eating contest on Sunday afternoon

Winner “McLuchador” ate 26 tacos in 30 minutes after going up against four other contestants at Little Mexico Cantina The five contestants ate their way against the clock as part of a fundraiser for the Steveston Wigs for Kids BC weekend event.

McLuchador beat Thomas Chang’s record of 25 tacos from last year’s competition

“I’m proud of what I’ve done, all this eating alongside the othercontestantswhilehavingagoodtime,”saidMcLuchador.

“It’s about having fun, it’s for the kids so it’s all for a good cause”

He added that while he “was stuffed” he could have eaten 10 more tacos if given more time

Meanwhile, the only female contestant Julianna Uson finished with 11 tacos and felt “content” with how she did

“My goal was 15, but I did 11, which is what my barber did last year so at least I didn’t do any less,” said Uson “Honestly, I felt like I could eat more, but I didn’t realize how filling the tacos were”

The taco-eating contest was hosted by Scotty Olak, owner of Little Mexico Cantina, and Chris and Angela Dinnell of Dinnell

Real Estate Group

Bev Frieson, Wigs for Kids chair, told the Richmond News the event is to raise awareness and funds, which they raised approximately $258,000 as of Sunday early afternoon

“It’s a great way to really let the community know what we’re doing while getting together on such a beautiful weekend,” said Frieson

“To keep the program running, we have to raise $300,000 a year so we’re getting there.”

Residents donate cash, hair

As well as the taco-eating on Sunday, dozens of community members got their hair chopped on Saturday in support of Wigs for Kids

The cut-a-thon, held at Collective Beauty on Moncton Street, is also part of the charity’s annual fundraising efforts. Gel manicures, brow lamination, lash lifts and microblading were also offered as part of the cut-a-thon

Harper Downey, 8, decided to participate in the cut-a-thon again after donating her hair to Wigs for Kids last year.

“I want to donate money and hair for the people who need it,” said the Homma elementary student Downey spent “a couple of months” growing out her hair for

the event, and she was “really excited” to see her ponytails get the chop

Friesen told the News the event was “fabulous”

“Steveston is just supporting us so much, I can’t believe it,” she said.

The charity, which started in 2006 as an organization donating wigs to kids who lost their hair due to conditions such as cancer and alopecia, has since expanded its scope to providing supplies and medications not covered by MSP

Wigs for Kids also recently started a driving program to help kids suffering from cancer and their parents get to their hospital appointments in comfort.

Although the charity experienced “a bit of a struggle” due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Friesen said the community support has been “unbelievable.”

The “McLuchador” won and broke the record of the most eaten tacos at the third annual Steveston taco eating contest on Sunday Valerie Leung photo

Harper Downey, 8, participated in the cut-a-thon for the second year in a row Vikki Hui photo

Keep booze away from the kids

Dear Editor,

Re: “Drinking in parks nixed, for now,” Online, June 19

I am referring to the pilot project of allowing drinking alcohol in Richmond’s parks this summer.

It is not only a bad idea because of the negative influence it can have on children and young people (having a specific area just for it won’t help), but it will increase drunk driving, thus more police surveillance is needed, which again costs more money.

I think the councillors need to make a responsible choice at the meeting on Monday (see updated story in link above).

Protect our children and protect our streets from irresponsible behaviour

Brigitte Moore RICHMOND

Storage plans need re-think Hugo accuser must learn

Dear Editor,

As some of your readers have recently expressed, twoofJimmyPattison’scompanieshaveappliedfora development permit to construct a two-storey commercial self-storage facility at the foot of No. 2 Road, where it intersects with Dyke Road

This is a large lot that has been used to store old fishing equipment and machinery. It is also part of a growing neighbourhood, with new condos, shops and restaurants It’s a part of Steveston that we all enjoy spending time in and walking and cycling through.

While a storage facility would likely be welcomed by many nearby residents (storage space is at a premium), we also have some concerns about this application that we hope will be addressed by council and the proponent before any approval:

1 Environmental protection This site includes an Environmentally Sensitive Area that needs to be protected during construction and operation This includes protecting riparian areas and waterways and preserving the large evergreen tree on site (which also gives aesthetic value to the neighbourhood). The design should also prevent water pollution from run-off

2. Preventing light pollution We need to protect residents and wildlife of this high-density residential area from ambient light pollution and preserve the

night sky views for everyone over Steveston Harbour, Shady Island and London Landing Any approved development should include a plan to reduce and prevent light pollution on the east end of Steveston Harbour.

3 Creating greenspace and community amenities

This site has grown wild in recent years, and despite being fenced off, provides a sense of greenspace The final design should enhance this, and respect and highlight the maritime/estuary character of the neighbourhood A mural (for example) and the creation of some accessible greenspace would improve the final design

4 Traffic safety The site is bordered on the east by a protected pedestrian/cyclist walkway on No 2 Road,andonthesouthandwesternsidesbythelowtraffic Dyke Road (recently repaved) Traffic in this area needs to be managed and calmed to maintain safety,especiallyifself-storagecustomersareaccessing the facility at different times of the day or night

Pattison companies have helped to enhance Stevestoninthepast,forexample,commissioningbeautiful murals on some of their properties in the village (this also reduces graffiti)

This building has the potential to improve our neighbourhood, too.

Andrew Frank RICHMOND

Dear Editor,

As a lover of furry friends, both dogs and cats it really incensed me when I read about the slanderous allegations of abuse and neglect that Hugo was being subjected to all of which were proven to be false upon investigationbytheBCSPCAandRCMP

There was a campaign of persecution with posters and social media posts and critics who showed up at the owner’s home

The accusers might have some bias or an unresolved conflict with Hugo’s owner or may have even wanted to gain some notoriety with a prank which could have escalated violently

But there is nothing funny nor harmless by what the accusers have done.

I really hope this accuser is held accountable

Leslie Benisz

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LNG protesters target MLA

VIKKI HUI vhui@richmond-news com

“Protect B C ! Go frack-free! Stop Tilbury LNG!” were some of the chants heard along Steveston’s waterfront last Tuesday

About a dozen community members gathered outside Richmond-Steveston MLA Kelly Greene’s office on June 20 to protest the proposed expansion of FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG

The $3 to $3 5 billion Phase 2 expansion in Delta will include a new marine jetty and a twelve-fold increase in production capacity Municipalities including Richmond, New Westminster and Port Moody, along with local environmental groups have opposed the project, citing potential danger to salmon habitat in the Fraser River Estuary and the risk of accidents and spills with liquefied natural gas (LNG) just across the river from the jet fuel tank farm

Some protesters were also concerned about the environmental impact caused by fracking, theprocessusedtoextractnaturalgas,aswell as potential health concerns for those living near the sites.

Fracking is used in 91 per cent of the province’s gas production, which entails pumping gallons of pressurized, chemically treated water into shattered rock formations

Peter McCartney, spokesperson of the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee and organizer of the event, said the aim of the protest was to urge the provincial and federal governments to reject the project The marine jetty portion is currently awaiting approval from environment and transportation ministers

“One of the big reasons we’re here is because of the climate impacts of the terminal This is a fossil fuel expansion in an era where we’re already seeing deadly heat waves and record wildfires,” said McCartney. “We cannot keep building fossil fuel infrastructure and expect to meet our climate goals”

McCartney told the Richmond News Steveston was chosen for the rally because it is

one of the communities at risk

“If one of the tankers has an accident, it goes right through the area,” he explained, adding many community members in the area are opposed to the project as well

One such community member is Dianne Milsom, who is a supporter of the Wilderness Committee

“I felt it was important for me to be an active person in this issue I live here I also boat up and down the coast. And I understand the huge implications there would be for accidents and fracking itself, the damage that it does to underground supports and to communities,” she said She added that she was thrilled with the turnout from Richmond, which can be “pretty conservative”

Greene voted against the project in 2020 while she was a city councillor, stating it was the “wrong project for here,” but has since refused to clarify her position.

Greene’s office was not open during the protest, but McCartney told attendees he met with Greene last week.

“She knows that we are out here and that she will be bringing her constituents’ opposition to the provincial government,” he said The News reached out to Greene’s office for comment but was told she was “away out of town and unavailable for comment”

With files from Maria Rantanen, Valerie Leung and Chuck Chiang

Local resident Dianne Milsom was one of the attendees at the rally Vikki Hui photo

RCMP stationed outside doxxed dog owner ’ s home

BY MARIA RANTANEN mrantanen@richmond-news com

In her 43 years with the BC SPCA, Eileen Drever has never heard of police being needed to protect a doxxed dog owner

The senior protection officer was referring to Hugo the dog and the viral social media campaign that targeted its owner, resulting in the Richmond RCMP being stationed at the house.

The RCMP have warned they are investigating this “mischief” after people were driving to the house and harassing the owner.

“I find it so frustrating when I know we’ve attended and there’s no concern,” Drever said “Haters continue to hate and there’s nothing we can do ”

This all followed a poster and online campaign that identified the address of the owner as well as giving out the phone number of the mayor’s office, that appealed to the public to report supposed neglect of Hugo.

The BC SPCA investigates all complaints, and they will issue notices if they find any abuse or neglect

While Drever couldn’t talk about details about Hugo, she said no notification has been issued to the owner

The mayor’s office received 50 phone calls on one evening alone with multiple “abusive, cursing, angry calls,” said city spokesperson Clay Adams

“This has gone hysterically viral,” he said, adding he’s never seen such a public outcry over an animal since he started working at the city more than four years ago

“This is a poster version of an online scam,” Adams said

While the Richmond News was visiting with Hugo and its owner last week, a black truck drove by the home and the driver hurled insults out his rolled down window

It was the third car that drove by in the 10-minute span the News was there, slowing down to look for the dog.

Unfortunately, a mob mentality has taken hold of this, with policereportingtheownerwasbeing“mercilesslyharassed ”

Despite the warning from police, and the city’s and SPCA’s statements saying the dog is fine, the harassment has continued online and at the owner’s home

Drever said people’s love of animals is a double-edged sword on the one hand, it’s good that people are passionate, on the other hand, it can go overboard

To keep hounding an animal owner after an investigation has been closed is “totally unacceptable,” she added The SPCA investigates for both physical and psychological

abuse, relying on experts such as certified animal behaviourists and veterinarians to assess any animal that’s the subject of a complaint.

After investigating, the BC SPCA gives the owner the opportunity to rectify the situation

But, if they’re not cooperative, they can apply for a warrant to seize the animal

Part of the problem might be that Hugo is an outside dog, Drever said, and many people don’t believe dogs should be kept outside

But it’s more stressful for Hugo to be indoors, she added That’s just his nature.

Named animals garner sympathy

Animal welfare stories resonate with the public especial-

ly if the animal has a name and has had contact with humans, explained Ahmed Al-Rawi, SFU associate professor of news and social media with the School of Communication.

These two elements create the perfect breeding ground for a viral story.

He cited the examples of the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla Harambe and the Norwegian walrus Freya, both of which were euthanized because of interaction with people Subsequently, there was broad outrage from the public over both these cases.

Hugo the dog’s case has particular appeal to people because the dog, like Harambe and Freya, is named and it has interacted with people, Al-Rawi said.

Not only is such a social media campaign illegal, it’s immoral, even if someone were mistreating an animal, said Al-Rawi.

“Even if that person was wrong, you can’t disclose (the address) because it can endanger their life,” he added It also goes against social media guidelines, he said, but, unfortunately, social media companies don’t often go after small, local stories, only focusing on misinformation if it’s high profile, such as Donald Trump’s election claims or antimaskers

Despite having the money and resources to shut down such misinformation, “in the end, they’re not doing enough,” AlRawi said

Hugo’s owner didn’t want to be interviewed for the story nor give his name

But he did say he’s not keeping Hugo outside anymore as he’s worried the dog will be stolen

If anyone thinks an animal is in distress, Drever encourages them to call the animal helpline at 1-855-622-7722.

The BC SPCA gets 8,000 complaints a year, and they take “each and every one seriously,” Drevers explained “Please trust us when we say ‘there’s no problem’ that there’s no problem,” she added

Hugo the dog was deemed to be fine by the City of Richmond and the SPCA despite a viral social media campaign claiming otherwise Photo submitted

Haters continue to hate and there’s nothing we can do EILEEN DREVER BC SPCA

Steveston Waterfront Hotel taking shape

ALAN CAMPBELL

Acampbell@Richmond-News com

There are finally some signs of activity at the site of the upcoming Steveston Waterfront Hotel

Construction crews were busy last Thursday afternoon fitting out the interior of the hotel at Imperial Landing on Steveston’s boardwalk

Paper covers the windows of the ground floor hotel and it’s not clear what the inside is going to look like

The Richmond News reached out to the developer Onni, but a spokesperson said it would be further into the summer before they were able to share any more details

However, the hotel does have some details on a promotional website, indicating that it will open this coming winter.

It is being billed as a boutique hotel with a “collection of 32 studio, one bed, and two-bedroom units set along the waterfront,” a “bike program to explore the neighbourhood”

Residents call for halt to Steveston storage facility plan

VALERIE LEUNG

vleung@richmond-news com

Steveston residents are calling on the city to halt the development of a self-storage facility project near London Landing

But the current zoning allows such a facility to be built, therefore, the property owner doesn’t have to get city council to change it.

Jim Pattison Enterprises applied to the City of Richmond to construct a two-storey commercial self-storage facility at the south end of No 2 Road.

the historic context and is a jarring departure from the thoughtfully curated design elsewhere,” reads the letter

“It is an inappropriate building for an inappropriate use that has no place in our community”

Not only does the facility not help the community, it also doesn’t provide retail, commercial or restaurant expansion opportunities, the letter states

The Steveston Waterfront Hotel might be open by the winter.

and “convenient in-suite features to stay like a local ”

The News reported in 2019 how Onni had hoped to open the waterfront hotel in the spring or summer of 2020

However, the pandemic halted the progress of the plan, like so many others around the country and the world

Notice

2023 Property Taxes Due on Tuesday, July 4

Property tax notices have been mailed. If you have not received your notice, please contact the Tax Department at 604-276-4145. All property owners are responsible for payment of taxes and applicable penalties, regardless of whether or not a tax notice is received.

Payments can be made:

• online or at your financial institution.

• online by credit card (service fees apply) through the City’s website.

• by mailing a cheque.

• by cheque in the City Hall drop box. (Do not deposit cash.)

• in person at City Hall during business hours. Accepted payment methods are cheque, debit card and credit card (service fees apply) Cash is not accepted at City Hall

Home Owner Grants

The Province is responsible for all home owner grants claimed in BC

• If eligible, residential property owners must apply for their home owner grant online at www.gov.bc.ca/ homeownergrant

• If unable to apply online or you missed claiming last year’s grant, please visit www gov bc ca/homeownergrant or call Home Owner Grant Administration at 1-888-355-2700 for assistance

If taxes are not paid and/or grants not claimed by July 4, 2023, a five per cent penalty will be charged on all current taxes outstanding. A further five per cent penalty will be charged on all outstanding tax amounts after September 5, 2023.

For more information

www.richmond.ca/tax | TaxDept@richmond.ca | 604-276-4145

www.richmond.ca

Some London Landing residents cite community safety concerns and unsightliness that they think would follow if the proposed self-storage facility were allowed to go ahead Rather than enhancing the community, the facility would “devalue” the area along No 2 Road and take away from the historical architecture.

Because the current zoning allows self-storage buildings, a public hearing isn’t required before a development permit can be issued.

A letter has since been circulating in the London Landing community with many people signing it and forwarding it to the City of Richmond.

“The design of the building turns its back on

Currently, the neighbourhood is surrounded by residential and commercial buildings including three childcare facilities, a music school, a Montessori elementary school, several medical clinics, coffee shops and restaurants

In a letter submitted to the Richmond News, resident Marius Roevde said the proposed storage facility “threatens (the) heritage site, fragile wildlife, and the safety and well-being” of the residents, especially young children in the area.

“We understand the importance of economic development and hosting events in our city,” said Roevde.

“However, this particular development proposal crosses a line”

LondonLanding residentsare asking city council to amend the zoning to remove self-storage and “other passive uses” from the site

Galileo Cheng photo

Daytime kidnapping caught on video

ALAN CAMPBELL Acampbell@Richmond-News com

Some disturbing video footage has emerged on social media of what appears to be an attempted kidnapping in broad daylight in Richmond on the weekend

The video posted to Chineselanguage platform Little Red Book shows an SUV pulling in front of another vehicle, which police have confirmed as being on McCallan Road, close to Burnett secondary and Thompson Community Centre

It all happened just before 4 p m on Saturday, with the male driver of the black SUV appearing to block the woman’s car from going forward

In the video, he gets out and proceeds to drag the woman from her vehicle and then onto the street, leaving her flat out on the ground at one point.

The occupants of another vehicle, which was driving by, stop and appear to intervene

Over the course of several minutes, the man continues to drag the wom-

The whole incident was caught on CCTV in Richmond on Saturday afternoon To watch the video, go to Richmond-News com and search “kidnapping.”

an around the street and appears to try to bundle her into his SUV, while another passer-by attempts to get involved

He is then seen driving off as one of the witnesses tries to prevent him from leaving the scene

Richmond RCMP told the News that it received a report of a possible kidnapping shortly before 4 p.m. on Saturday

Police say the male suspect had allegedly blocked the path of another vehicle driven by a woman

The woman, according to police, was forcibly removed from her vehicle and transferred into the black SUV which then fled the scene

With the help of the witnesses, however, police were able to track, find and arrest the suspect

The woman was recovered safely, but did sustain several non-lifethreatening injuries, according to Richmond RCMP spokesperson Cpl Dennis Hwang, who added the 40-year-old suspect and the 34-year old woman are known to one another and that both are from Richmond The police investigation, said Hwang, is currently active and ongoing

Police in tactical gear were called to an incident on Friday afternoon

Police in stand-off with barricaded woman

VIKKI HUI Vhui@Richmond-News com

A woman surrendered herself to police after a stand-off on Friday afternoon.

Police officers in tactical gear were spotted near No 2 and Blundell roads on Friday around 3 p m

Frontline officers were in the area to investigate a threat complaint and found the suspect had outstanding warrants, Richmond RCMP spokesperson Cpl Dennis Hwang told the Richmond News

The woman had barricaded herself in the residence along with her two children and a dog, which was classified as dangerous under Richmond’s animal control regulations.

An RCMP negotiator and the LMD Integrated Emergency Response team also attended the scene and the area was cordoned off

“The suspect was uncooperative but eventually surrendered to police and was taken into custody,” said Hwang, who added no one was injured

Temporary Commercial Use Permit Seasonal Patio

An application for a Seasonal Patio, in effect between April 1 and October 31, has been received by the City of Richmond from Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks Ltd , at 103 - 11220 Horseshoe Way , Richmond, B.C., which requires a Temporary Commercial Use Permit. Those persons who consider themselves affected by the proposed Seasonal Patio application are invited to make written submission to the General Manager, Community Safety at 6911 No. 3 Road, Richmond, B.C., V6Y 2C1, or by email to buslic@richmond.ca.

All written submissions received prior to the proposed approval date of July 13, 2023, will be forwarded to the General Manager, Community Safety for Consideration.

For more information on Patio Programs please visit https://richmond ca/ business-development/resources/ business-licences/patio.htm or contact the Customer Service Section at 604-276-4114 or businesshelp@richmond.ca

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

www.richmond.ca

Lions Manor to be rebuilt by 2028

BY MARIA RANTANEN mrantanen@richmond-news com

The Lions Manor is expected to be rebuilt by 2028 at its original location in Steveston

B C Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix were at the temporary location on Bridgeport Road where the long-term care facility has been located now for nine years to announce the construction of a new eight-storey long-term care facility

The new facility will have 144 beds, 14 hospice beds, respite care and a 37-space child-care centre

The project is expected to cost $177 7 million, and it will be operated by Vancouver Coastal Health.

The Lions Manor on Fentiman Place in Steveston closed nine years ago because the building, constructed in 1970, was in disrepair.

At that point, the residents were moved to a hotel on Bridgeport Road to what was deemed a “temporary” location.

The new facility will have private rooms for all residents and will be divided into 12-resident “households”

Dix confirmed to the Richmond News that medical assistance in dying (MAID) will be allowed at the hospice in the new Lions Manor.

The Salvation Army Rotary Hospice HouseinRichmonddoesn’tallowMAID at its facility, and anyone at the hospice

AI suspected in ‘grandparent scam ’

BY MARIA RANTANEN mrantanen@richmond-news com

Police suspect scammers are using AI to trick seniors out of their money.

Richmond RCMP said the “grandparent scam” has evolved and become “far more sophisticated.”

Typicalscamsusehigh-pressure tactics to convince victims to send money to help a family member in trouble

money.

While seniors are often targeted, anyone can fall victim to these kinds of scams, O’Malley said.

Police give the following tips to protect yourself from scams:

Do not be afraid to say ‘no’ to the caller on the other end of a phone call

who wants to access it needs to be transferred to Richmond Hospital

The current temporary facility on Bridgeport Road has 86 beds.

The project will now enter the procurement phase and construction is expected to begin in 2025

“The twist is that the voice used in the phone call has been altered to sound more authentic using digital manipulation likely with the help of A I , ” said Richmond RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Adriana

O’Malley

A common scam is the grandson-in-jail story

The scammer calls the victim and pretends to be their grandson who is jailed and requires immediate bail

Do not be afraid to make calls of your own calls to determine whether the caller and his/her problem is legitimate or not.

Never give your personal, banking or credit card information to anyone who calls you over the phone, and never send cash in the mail

For more information on ways to protect yourself from these and other scams, check out the information provided by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Sharon Hovbrender praised praised the Lions Manor where her mother Suzanne Barrie (sitting) lives Maria Rantanen photo

BC Court of Appeal on Wills Variation; changing the Law or clarifying it?

Introduction

Many cases in B.C. are now making their way through the legal system, where variation of a Will are being sought. Our law permits children (natural or adopted) and spouses (married or marriage-like) of a deceased person to seek a variation of a Will, where the person is of the view that they are not left a fair portion of the deceased person ’ s Estate

Our Courts, in deciding these cases, will consider whether the person seeking variation was owed legal duties by the deceased person (a minor person whose Father passed away, would be owed legal duties) and whether the person was owed moral duties (an adult child who cared for her now deceased Mother but was disinherited under the Will is likely owed a moral duty by her Mother).

Earlier this month, our Court of Appeal released reasons for judgment in a case called Tom v Tang The case was first heard by the B.C. Supreme Court, where three of the five children of the deceased Mother (the Father predeceased the Mother, in 2012) sought a variation of the Mother’s Will In the Mother’s Will, two of her children looked after her in her last 3 years of life and were left 85% of the Estate The other three children were left only 15% of the Estate

In the Supreme Court, the Will was held to be unfair and the Court varied the distribution of the Estate (worth about $2.3 million), to give the two children $300,000 each and the rest of the Estate was to be divided equally among the five children. The two children appealed the decision, essentially on the basis that their Mother’s wishes, as expressed in her Will, ought to have been followed The story here is important to review

Facts

The family arrived in Canada in the 1960’s. The five children were minors. The parents and the children worked very hard All money earned, whether by the parents or the children (from various jobs) was pooled and used to assist the very close family In 1971, the family was able to purchase a grocery store, with an attached house, in New Westminster The parents emphasized education. They paid the childrens’ education expenses and, on graduation from high school, each were given vehicles to use to commute to University Eventually, the parents purchased a house in Vancouver and the family moved there All the children earned University degrees. The family remained close, gathered frequently, bought each other gifts and the children treated their parents very well There was no estrangement. The Courtfoundthatthechildrenwerealldevoted However,twoofthechildren became primary caregivers as the health of their Mother deteriorated The Mother sought to change her Will in late 2014. She met with a Lawyer, looking to bequeath her house to the two children who were looking after her The Lawyer warned her about the possibility of such a bequest giving rise to a case for variation of her Will The Mother did not proceed with changing her Will A year later, though, shortly before she died (in December, 2015), she did sign the Will The house, bequeathed to the two children, was then valued at about $1.6 million. Meanwhile, the other three children were left liquid assets worth about $700,000.

The three children did agree that their two siblings deserved preferential treatment, given the care they provided However, the 3 children all felt that the disparity in the amounts they were to receive, was too great. They launched this legal action.

Court of Appeal decision

The Court was confronted with a well known argument from the two children who were to receive the house It was that their Mother’s wishes, expressed in her Will, ought to be honored Our law recognizes the concept of Testamentary autonomy (the ability to do what one wishes with their assets) but in these kinds of cases, the Court tries to achieve some balance, rooted (arguably) in fairness.

The other 3 children, meanwhile, argued (reasonably) that all five children contributed over the years to the economic success of the family, including the contributions they made to the acquisition of the house They argued furtherthattheCourtmustconsidernotonlythewishesoftheirMotherbut also the principle of a “judicious parent”, taking into account the behavior and activity of all the children over many years, rather than just the last 3 years of their Mother’s life

The Court noted that none of the five children were in need

The Court found that the case law argued by the two children and the different case law argued by the other 3 children were ultimately not in conflict. The Court said that ultimately, a Will maker’s moral duty has to be assessed “from the viewpoint of a reasonable Testator and that moral duty may be negated where there is just cause ”

The Court allowed the appeal of the 3 children. The two children who cared for their Mother in the last 3 years of her life were each given 30% of the Estate The other 3 children were each given 13.3% of the Estate

Conclusions

In my opinion, the Court here did not change the law but did provide some clarification. The Court agreed that all 5 children contributed to the family’s economic success. In addition, the Court recognized that the good care provided by the two children in the last 3 years of their Mother’s life only lasted 3 years! Their Mother’s wishes were followed as reasonably as possible, and so the Court did follow existing law by balancing all the interests as expressed by the 5 children in this case It is a good decision.

Visit our website (www.WillPowerLaw.com) or call us at (604)233-7001 to discuss your Wills, Estates and Seniors’ questions.

Suite 108-2786 West 16th Ave., Vancouver

Email: jack@willpowerlaw.com

Who remembers ceramic wall pockets and could you use a chafing dish?

ALAN CAMPBELL acampbell@richmond-news com

Do you know what a ceramic wall pocket is? And would you know what to do with a chafing dish?

Answers to all these burning questions can be answered by taking a trip to the Richmond Hospital/Healthcare Auxiliary’s Thrift Shop in Steveston.

The Chatham Street store’s weekly finds from the donation bag rarely disappoint and this week is no exception

You might not know it as a “ceramic wall pocket,” but you’ve likely seen them hanging on the walls of your grandparents’ homes back in the day

Unlikely though that one of them was paying homage to a toilet Yes, look closer at the collection in the photo

Also new this week are vintage illuminated Halloween “dudes” ($7, $15 and $25, smallest to largest) and some commercial grade chafing dishes ($35 each) for all your partyhosting needs

And if you fancy a sturdy vacuum cleaner, the store has a Miele 5000, at $150

Do you fancy some ceramic wall pockets, especially the toilet one?

What about a chafing set for all your party needs? There’s always something interesting for sale at the auxilliary thrift store in Steveston

Can you guess the street?

This shot was taken many decades ago and is in the City of Richmond archives.

Did you guess correctly?

Ifyoudid,giveyourselfapat on the back, especially if you didn’t grow up in Steveston. This shot was taken in 1983 and shows Third Avenue, with the old Steveston Courthouse building to the right and the Steveston Hotel to the left A refurbished hotel is still there, next to what is now the Buck & Ear

Summer of fun has just begun

Your guide to Canada Day and the summer

The summer solstice (above) at Garry Point Park marked the official kick-off to the sunny season. Over the next 15 pages, the Richmond News has put together a special section featuring all you need to know about the return of the in-person Steveston Salmon Festival on July 1 and some interesting events to look out for around the city this summer.

Photo by Michelle Baril

Salmon Fest, parade back in full force on Canada Day

MARIA RANTANEN

mrantanen@richmond-news com

From the pancake breakfast at 8 a m to a full parade at 10 a m to fireworks at 10:15 p m , the Steveston Salmon Festival and Canada Day celebrations are back this year.

After three years of muted celebrations because of the COVID-19 pandemic the one in 2020 being completely online the parade has been incorporated back this year, filling in the last missing puzzle piece

Besides the kids bike parade and the float parade, programming is centred at four festival districts: at Garry Point, Steveston Village, Steveston Community Centre and Britannia Road access will be limited, so festival goers are encouraged to come by foot, bike, scooter or wheelchair

Some streets will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, including Moncton Street between 3rd Avenue and Bayview Street and No 1 Road (south of Moncton) and Bayview Street The entire parade route will be closed off until at least noon, or until the parade has cleared the route

To get things started, a $5 pancake breakfast will be served in the Steveston Community Centre parking lot beginning at 8 a m

After filling up on pancakes, kids can take part in the Kids’ Bike Parade on decorated bikes, wagons or scooters No preregistration is required, kids should just show up at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery parking lot no later than 9:15 a m as the bike parade starts at 9:30 a m sharp Helmets are mandatory and an adult must accompany all children.

The bike parade will be followed by the float parade, com-

plete with participants from a variety of community groups.

The parade route starts at Garry Point Park and wends its way to Railway Avenue

Food, entertainment, vendors and artwork will fill in the rest of the festival.

Multiple stages will be set up from Steveston Village to the Britannia Shipyards and roving entertainment will perform, all offering entertainment from noon to 5 p.m.

For those who want to take a peek at some artwork, local

artists will be displaying their work in the multi-purpose room at the Steveston Community Centre from 11 a m to 5 p m A horticultural show will also take place inside the community centre

Foodwillbeservedthroughoutthedaybyfoodvendors,with the famous Salmon Bake, that starts at 11 a m , being the highlight Festival organizers estimate there will be 2,000 salmon meals sold on the day. The cost is $20 per meal and will be sold until supplies run out

The Salmon Bake is located at the east side of the community centre parking lot.

Besides the kids’ bike parade, there will be lots for children to take part in

Sammy’s Fun Zone at the community centre playground includes face-painting and performers.

And at the Steveston community police station, just to the east of the community centre, there will be inflatables and carnival rides. Tickets for “Bouncy Town” are $10 each or $25 for a pack of three Wristbands sales started already on Monday at the community centre

Steveston Salmon Festival activities wrap up around 5 p.m. but as a finale, at 10:15 p m there will be Canada Day fireworks Those who want to see the fireworks are encouraged to gather on the boardwalk anywhere between Garry Point Park and Britannia Shipyards.

Fireworks will be set off from a barge near Shady Island

For a full list of what’s happening at the Steveston Salmon Festival Canada Day, including a map and information about road closures, go to StevestonSalmonFest ca

The parade is back this year at the Steveston Salmon Festival on Saturday, July 1. Steveston Salmon Festival photo

Richmond’s strength is its people –First Nations who have lived here since time immemorial and more recent newcomers to this land.

We care for our home, we care for each other, and we experience joy in community.

It’s great to be together again. Join us in building a B.C. where no one gets left behind.

Salmon bake returns for Canada Day in Steveston

VALERIE LEUNG

vleung@richmond-news com

The Steveston Salmon Festival is bringing back its in-person salmon bake event this weekend

After four years, the giant fire pit, grill and more than 3,000 salmon lunches are returning on July 1 as one of the main highlights of the salmon festival, which is organized by the Steveston Community Society

During the pandemic, the public was only allowed to preorder and pick up salmon meals in a socially distanced way Alan Sakai, president of the Steveston Community Society, said the salmon bake is one of the many events the committee is excited to see happening live this year and represents the history of Steveston’s salmon industry

“It’s important to have a connection to the salmon industry for us and the salmon bake is just one of those ways we do that,” said Sakai

Like in previous years, Canfisco will provide, prepare and help cook the six-ounce salmon strips that are paired with a potato salad, bun, condiments, chips and water or soda,

The salmon bake is returning as an in-person event for this year ’ s Steveston Salmon Festival Steveston Community Society photo

provided by Save-On-Foods

Steven Yip, manager at Canfisco, said the event brings not only members of the public but businesses, staff and volunteers together

“It’s a way for us to give back to the community and a worthy cause for the community centre,” said Yip.

“I believe we are also the only salmon bake across Canada and it’s rare to have an actual open fire pit salmon bake, too”

When asked how long it takes to prepare the salmon and the pit, Sakai told the Richmond News the salmon is prepared two days before the event and the pit is cut and prepared by the City of Richmond within a day.

However, a minimum of three hours is needed to prepare the fire before the salmon hits the grill as the hickory wood and stones need time to heat up.

“The amount of work that goes into preparing everything is unimaginable and it’s a teamwork between everyone including the city and businesses,” said Sakai

“Our theme is about community and this festival … takes everyone to pull it together”

Sakai is encouraging anyone looking forward to the salmon bake to arrive early and expect lineups as it is usually a sold-out event

Food vendors offer wide variety of treats at Salmon Fest

BY MARIA RANTANEN mrantanen@richmond-news com

Vietnamese, Japanese, Polish and Persian food are just some of the international flavours that Salmon

Festival attendees can enjoy Food trucks, trailers, tents and bikes with carts will be stationed at community centre parking lot, at Moncton Street and Easthope Av-

enue and at “Bouncy Town,” serving up food for festivalgoers.

Included this year are Baba’s House which serves Polish comfort food as well as Meet2Eat, serv-

ing both Greek and Mexican food

Anyone craving Japanese food, can check out Teriyaki Boys or Japadog

Those who are getting parched can look for lemonade at LemonHeaven

or a cold popsicle at Johnny Pops If someone, on the other hand, is needing a jolt of coffee, they can stop by Buzz Coffee For more info, go to StevestonSalmonFest.ca.

CANADA DAY/SUMMER GUIDE

Icy treats offered at two festivals

Six Richmond businesses are taking part in a monthlong ice cream festival.

The first-ever Vancouver Ice Cream and Summer Sips festivals, organized by Noms Magazine, are running concurrently until July 31 in Metro Vancouver.

The two festivals will spotlight different cities’ bestfrozen treats and drinks with some businesses offering limited treats during this time, according to Jason Yeh, founder of Noms Magazine.

Richmond’s participants include Soft Peaks Ice Cream at McArthurGlen, J Squared Ice Cream, Nam Dae Moon Rice Cake, M Sushi, Milkcow and Matcha Cafe Maiko.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for locals and visitors to explore and experience the city while enjoying the frozen treats and cold beverages craftedbysomelocalfavsand newer businesses,” said Yeh. “These festivals also serve

Six Richmond businesses are taking part in a monthlong ice cream festival

Photo submitted

as a platform to support and spotlight local businesses”

Nancy Small, CEO of Tourism Richmond, said events like the Vancouver Ice Cream Festival are new ways for local businesses to try and “get people out and about.”

“It’s a way people can dis-

cover new businesses or people in our own community that they didn’t know about,” said Small

“Food and Richmond are very well-associated together and it really forms a big, important part of our community.”

List of treats offered in Richmond:

Soft Peaks Ice Cream: Strawberry balsamico soft serve

J Square Ice Cream: Szechuan peppercorn ice cream

Nam Dae Moon Rice Cake: Osmanthus fermented rice mochi ice cream and Yuzu milk mochi mango sorbetto cup

M Sushi: Matcha mont blanc soft serve

Milkcow: Watermelon ice cream sandwich and milkyberry soft serve

Matcha Cafe Maiko: Sparkling matcha float (until July 8), sparkling yuzu float (until July 8) and matcha ube twist (July 9 to 31)

Garden Club president’s tips for a green summer

LYNDA PASACRETA Richmond Garden Club president

Get green with some planet-friendly gardening

I recently read an article online by the Royal Horticultural Society about some interesting and fun ways you can be more sustainable in your garden

Richmond Garden Club has decided to adapt these ideas for our projects, events and other activities this year

Some of the ideas seem like common sense but are more focused on how they can make difference in our environment

1 Plant a tree Imagine if all gardeners in British Columbia planted and nurtured a medium-sized tree this year. Think of all the carbon we would store!

2 Water the way nature intended Find ways to collect rainwater and use that to water your gardens rather than out of a tap Limiting soil erosion by using mulches, arborist’s wood chips, and compost in your gardens will also minimize the amount of water we use

3. Pull up a paving slab. I love this idea! Pull up one of your paving slabs in a walkway and plant pollinatorfriendly perennial flowers in the space

4. Grow your own cut flowers. According to the article, imported flowers have up to 10 times the carbon footprint compared to home grown flowers

5. Electrify your garden power tools. Gas-powered garden tools emit high levels of carbon (especially if not maintained properly), along with noise and air pollution

6 Eat home grown or local produce It is also important to eat what is in season to help lower the greenhouse gas emissions from transporting fruits and vegetables By growing your own food, you can eliminate the use of pes-

ticides and add highly nutritious food to your table.

7 Plant for pollinators Loss of habitat, especially in urban centres, has contributed to the decline of our many pollinators.

In all Richmond Garden Club projects this year, we are focusing on planting natives, non-natives and some selfseeding annuals.

We have created a wildflower garden in one of our projects, using plants that outcompete grass (inspired by Egan Davis’s presentation on turf management at the BC Council of Garden Clubs General Meeting 2022)

Along with a huge supply of wildflower seeds (that do not include aggressive or invasive plants), we are adding lupins, echinacea, yarrow, poppies, clover, bulbs such as camassia, daffodils and shrubs like flowering currant

If you are ever visiting Richmond, we would be happy to take you on a tour of Paulik Neighbourhood Park

We have more than 30 perennial garden beds with a focus on replacing aging and dying plants with pollinatorfriendly only.

Many of the hydrangeas in the park are at end of life We are replacing them with the Gatsby Pink series of mountain hydrangeas, which are pollinator friendly.

To get in touch with Pasacreta and the club, email Richmondgardenclub@gmail com

For more information on Pasacreta’s tips for planetfriendly gardening, visit RHS org uk/gardening-for-the -environment/planet-friendly-gardening-tips

Lynda Pasacreta is the president of the Richmond Garden Club.

JULY 1,

10:00AM PARADE

JAPANESE CULTURAL SHOW 12–4:30PM | LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 12–5PM

@FUNRICHMOND | #STEVESTONSALMONFESTIVAL STEVESTONSALMONFEST.CA

YUKI THE JUGGLER IRISH WAKERS NZR’S STILT WALKERS & BOUNCY BROS PUPPETEER BURNS THE DRAGON CIRCUS SHOW JESSICA DANCING STUDIO MARTIAL ARTS DEMOS | LIVING STATUES CARICATURE ARTIST TAROT READER | HENNA ARTISTS FACEPAINTER

Free Canada Day 5K run

ALAN CAMPBELL acampbell@richmond-news com

If you want to partake of the Canada Day festivities on Saturday, but are already feeling guilty about that big slice of cake and six pack of beer, then consider a preemptive strike

That strike could be in the shape of an unscheduled five-kilometre run, jog or even walk at the weekly Richmond Olympic Parkrun

The weekly free, timed event along the Middle Arm Dyke Trail in Richmond of course coincides with Canada Day on Saturday and kicks off at 9 a.m.

The run is organized by volunteers and can be as serious as timing yourself against the parkrun clock, a brisk jog or stroll with your dog or simply walking at your own pace at the back of the pack

There are even volunteers walking at the back to keep you company and to make sure no one gets left behind.

And as an extra incentive, participants are being encouraged to don their red and white and/or fancy dress to celebrate the country’s big day and there’s also the first

Happy Canada Day

slice of cake waiting for you at the end of the run Arrive from 8:45 a m for a briefing, a warm-up and be ready for a 9 a.m. start at where Cambie Road meets River Road on the dike

If it’s your first time at a parkrun, register for your free barcode at Parkrun.ca/register/ then print it out and bring it along to see your time on the results page For more information, go to Facebook.com/ richmondolympicparkrun

Scores of runners, joggers and walkers are expected for the Canada Day event in Richmond

Parade, floats back this year

VIKKI HUI vhui@richmond-news com

The beloved Steveston Salmon Festival parade is returning this year, and plans are in full swing for Richmondites to showcase their community spirit.

One of the returning attractions is the Richmond Special Olympics float, which has been participating in the parade since 2015.

“I’m glad we have the parade back, and the athletes are happy, everybody’s happy I’m happy too,” said Vincent Li, Richmond Special Olympics athlete and spokesperson.

Li, who kickstarted this tradition eight years ago, said community members can look forward to seeing a vehicle decorated in purple and white streamers atop a tow truck for this year’s festivities

The float, true to this year’s festival theme of “It’s about community,” will feature local Special Olympics athletes showing off their skills along the float, which will be covered with photos of the athletes.

The Richmond athletes will also be joined by their Delta counterparts, who welcomed Richmond athletes to their parade during Ladner May Days earlier this year

“It was really great, amazing, and it was a great turnout So we want them to come out and experience the same parade as well,” said

Richmond Special Olympics’ parade float in 2015 won an award for its decorations Vincent Li photo

Li, who added the May Days Parade was very inclusive.

Li told the News that preparation for the floats usually begins a month before the Canada Day festivities.

Athletes and coaches collaborate on the design and come together the day before the parade to decorate the float

The Richmond Special Olympics float is one of more than 70 vehicles participating in this year’s parade, according to Urey Chan, Steveston Salmon Festival parade coordinator.

Some are decorated as floats while others are towing additional floats The organizing committee is also expecting last-minute entries.

Dr. Lloyd Ho

Salmon Fest beer garden making big comeback

VALERIE LEUNG

vleung@richmond-news com

Adults can prepare to say cheers to the Steveston Salmon Festival with the return of a re-invented beer garden this year

The Steveston Salmon Festival, organized by the Steveston Community Society, on July 1 will be bringing back its Spirit of Steveson (SOS) zone, including an adult beverage area for alcoholic drinks, in full force.

While beer, wine and ciders will be served in the adult-only, sectioned-off beer garden, it will be included within the all-ages SOS zone at Moncton Street and Easthope Avenue

“Making the SOS zone all-ages is so the community, friends, neighbours are all in one place together to enjoy the music and culture,” said Ampellia Schuss, a Steveston Community Society board member.

“After three years of loneliness that we’ve all experienced, we want to make it family-friendly and not just focus on alcohol sales ”

Celebrating and drinking on Canada Day is fun, Schuss added, but the committee is hoping to make sure the public is celebrating “in a controlled environment ”

She added proceeds from alcohol sales will go to the Steveston Community Society to enhance the community centre and programs

“What’s really important is that we’re all in this together and coming back together after the pandemic ”

Beer, wine and cider are returning to the Steveston Salmon Festival list for adults Kai Jacobsen photo

Live summer series at ANAF

ALAN CAMPBELL acampbell@richmond-news com

Faced with the prospect of slashing their entertainment budget, Dave Pennell decided to do the exact opposite when he took over at ANAF284 in Steveston

Instead, Pennell opted to “double down” on the social club’s attractions and lined up some of the region’s best-known acts for a tastylooking summer series

One of the highlights will be on July 28 when Johnny Ferreira and the Grand Koolios who have sold out the Pender Harbour Blues Festival come to ANAF

There are also Tina Turner, Shania Twain and Tom Petty tribute acts on the bill with the No 1 Road venue planning a feature performer every single Saturday night in the summer.

“The club was losing a lot of money and we went in there and took over, as volunteers,” said Pennell, ANAF284’s entertainment director, who took over about three months ago

“Everybody was talking about cutting the budget.Butwethought,no,let’sdoubledown andbringinbiggeracts,betterentertainment

“Acts that would normally play in larger venues are coming and everybody is welcome. Some of the events are going to be ticketed Most of the live entertainment in Richmond is gone, so we want to put ourselves on the

map.”

Pennell said people interested can go to the club’s Facebook page or to its website at ANAF284.ca.

The list of performers includes:

June 30: Charles Johnson

July 1: Celebrate Canada day with a BBQ, DJ Music all day and a live band (The Marauders) at 7 p m

July 7: Earl Jenkens

July 8: Front Page

July 14: Charles Johnson

July 15: The Lone Strangers

July 21: 90s night with DJ Benny

July 22: The Diggers

July 28: Johnny Ferreira and the Grand Koolios

For the full list and ticket information, go to ANAF284.ca.

Johnny Ferreira in action He will be coming to ANAF in Steveston on July 28

Our national day is one of those days where we come together as a nation irrespective of race, gender, religion, or creed. It’s a day where we break down barriers.

everyone.

Grand Prix of Art gets set for painter invasion in July

ALAN CAMPBELL acampbell@richmond-news.com

A record-breaking 125 artists are set to descend on Steveston Village next month for the 13th annual Grand Prix of Art

Therenownedoutdoorpaintingcompetitionhasswitched dates from its previous September slot to the third weekend in July, Saturday and Sunday the 22nd and 23rd Many accomplished artists from across the region will be in town for what promises to be a very colourful two days, both off and on the canvas, with a plethora of entertainment, workshops and demos lined up for the painters and

Special Announcement:

for the adoring public

Organizer Mark Glavina, of Steveston’s Phoenix Art Workshop and the Travelling Brush along with host partner, the City of Richmond is already getting excited

“We moved it from September to July, so we’re hoping for better weather, no guarantees though,” Glavina told the Richmond News

“But it has been good for (artist) registration I keep trying to accommodate more artists, but we keep selling out, which is great

“It’s up to 125 artists normally it’s around 100 But I don’t make (the event) bigger for the sake of making it bigger, it’s about providing more opportunities for the artists

Happy Canada Day

“The event is designed to support our artists as much as possible.”

For the uninitiated, the Grand Prix of Art is a three-hour painting race, with artists competing in three categories Masters, Adult Open, and Youth all racing against the clock to complete a work of art on location New this year, added Glavina, will be the ability for the public to find their favourite artists at the event

“They can pull up his profile (online) and find out where he’s going to be in the village

“There’s hopefully going to be a lot more people in Steveston at this time of the year And there’s going to be food trucks and live music ”

Use your bike to see the painting stars: Glavina

Glavina said they’re also trying to encourage more people to use their bikes to take in the competition

“It’s a big area to cover on foot London Landing to Garry Point Park. We will have bike locks available,” he said.

Last year’s event put more than $10,000 directly into the pockets of working artists and showcasing artists from around the Pacific Northwest.

For more information, go to Grandprixofart ca/

Around 125 artists are set to take part in this year ’ s Grand Prix of Art in Steveston.

There’s hopefully going to be a lot more people in Steveston at this time of the year

MARK GLAVINA

The Richmond Garlic Festival is taking place on Aug 20 this year

Sharing Farm Society photo

Get set for all things garlic

VALERIE LEUNG vleung@richmond-news com

A festival celebrating all things garlic is returning to Richmond this summer

The Richmond Sharing Farm, at 2771 Westminster Hwy., is hosting its 13th annual Garlic Festival from 10 a m to 3 p m on Aug 20

Garlic ice cream, garlic scones, garlic popcorn and roasted garlic bread are on the list of treats offered at the one-day event

Sarah Drewery, executive director at the Sharing Farm Society, said they are excited to have the festival back in full force while teaching visitors about the farm

“We’re trying to educate people about what’s going on at the Sharing Farm … and about sustainable agriculture,” said Drewery “I want to make sure that the people coming here also realize what we do, like growing

food for food banks while using sustainable agricultural practices”

The festival saw about 5,000 people in 2022, and Drewery said they aim for the same number of visitors, if not more this year

Meanwhile, a call is being made for volunteers to help with food and drinks, supervise kids’ activities, and collecting donations at the event.

People are encouraged to take public transit or bike tothe event asthere islimitedparking Free parking and a shuttle bus from the Public Works Yard on Lynas Lane are also available all day

While admission is free, the Sharing Farm Society is suggesting visitors make a $5 donation to support the farm

For more information, go to Sharingfarm ca/ garlicfest

Top edible tips to feed your gardening appetites

VIKKI HUI vhui@richmond-news.com

A local gardener wants to help his neighbours get into gardening with three popular edible suggestions - wasabi, citrus fruit and tea

“A lot of people are scared to plant in the summer months, you don’t have to be scared,” said Gary Lewis, author and owner of local plant nursery Phoenix Perennials.

“As long as you just pay a little of attention to watering, you can just keep going”

Part of the reason for this fear could be due to people mixing up planting with “transplanting,” said Lewis Transplanting means digging up a plant already in the garden and moving it to a new location, which should not be done during summer because the plant will struggle after its roots get destroyed

Planting, on the other hand, can be done all summer long because it does not disturb the roots Citrus

“Citrus have become so popular with people in the last number of years,” Lewis told the Richmond News.

Part of the reason for the citrus boom, said Lewis, is a growing desire to find interesting food.

“ there are a lot of citrus that are hard to get and foodie people have really gotten into weird ingredients and interesting ingredients”

One such example is Australian finger limes, which are oblong-shaped fruits containing juicy beads, or caviar, instead of sections like other citrus fruits They taste tart like limes and can be sprinkled on dishes for a fancier finish, said Lewis.

Other citrus fruits such as Meyer lemons, yuzu, sudachi, Owari mandarins and kumquats also have a strong fanbase among local

citrusenthusiasts.Meyerlemonsarelovedfor their sweetness, while sudachi is commonly used for ponzu sauce

Fragrant citrus flowers and beautiful foliage also contribute to their popularity

“Midsummer is a great time to get started with citrus,” Lewis told the News, adding that people can start by growing the plants in pots in sunny areas

“You want to plant them in lots of sun with lots of heat So, your hottest, sunniest spots are where the citrus are going to grow the best and flower the most and produce the most fruit”

While most citrus fruit needs to be indoors during winter months, hardier varieties such as yuzu, sudachi and Owari mandarins can be left outside in protected locations all year round

Citrus can produce fruit all through the year, with most ready for harvest during summer and fall Some mandarins, such as Owari mandarins, will also produce fruit during the win-

ter months

“Within two to three years, you should be getting a lot of fruit And within three to five years, you’ll be getting lots and lots of fruit,” he said

The trick to planting citrus in a container is to use a “nice and chunky” soil mix with some extra bark rather than a “heavy” soil mix with compost Since citrus plants are “pretty heavy feeders,” Lewis also recommends adding fertilizers with high nitrogen

Tea

Another edible plant to check out this summer is the tea plant, which, like the big colourful flowers, is also a species of evergreen shrubs called Camellias.

“Every type of tea comes from just this species (of tea plant),” said Lewis It’s an easy plant to grow with no diseases or bugs affecting it.

While there are different cultivars of the tea plant, the main things differentiating green tea, black tea and oolong tea are the way the leaves are processed after they have been

bring out the tannins followed by roasting Whenplantingnewshrubssuchasteaplants (and trees) during summer, Lewis recommends using the “bowl method” Simply dig a hole, make a dam around the plant with the extra soil and fill the hole with water, which allows the water to go straight down to the roots

Tea plants can be grown in containers or in semi-covered areas of the garden, as long as they’re not in deep shade For those needing more privacy from one’s neighbours, they can also be grown as hedges.

Tea leaves can be harvested any time of the year, as long as new leaves are being produced. Tea plants are usually harvested at the three-leaf stage, said Lewis, and old leaves should be avoided because they become too hard and thick

“Anybody can grow their own tea in their garden, collect their own leaves, do a little bit of reading on the internet to look at the different ways to treat the leaves… and make their own tea”

Wasabi

“One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that when you go to a sushi restaurant, and you get a ball of wasabi on the side, that’s not wasabi,” said Lewis.

“That’s horseradish that they dyed green”

Although the two share a similar hot and spicy taste, real wasabi is followed by a “long, mellow finish” that is more refined and less intense than its horseradish counterpart

The reason for this practice, he explained, is that wasabi is slow to grow and “very expensive to produce”

harvested and how old the leaves were when they were picked.

Lighter teas such as green teas and oolong teas would go through less processing, while black tea might involve rolling the leaves to

Harvesting wasabi involves taking out the whole trunk and grating the trunk. The top of the plant, with the leaves, can then be replanted for the future

Tea is harvested at the three-leaf stage Vikki Hui photo

Gary Lewis with a wasabi plant (left) compared to a horseradish plant (right). Vikki Hui photo

Gold for Kajaks at the BCs

The Kajaks Track and Field athletes shone at the BC High School Track and Field Championships this month

Many Kajaks athletes, competing for their secondary schools or for the club, performed well at the championship held at Langley’s McLeod Athletic Park from June 8 to 10.

Senior athlete Aidan Turner swept two golds

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in his pole vault and long jump events while McMath Team A’s senior boys team with Logan Duley, Lyle Lo, Holt McFie and Quinn Teiffel also took home gold in the 4x100m relay.

Club members Sofia Varma-Vitug and Laila Sandhu also left the competition with first place in the triple jump and shot put events, respectively

Richmond United chair Richard Wang (left) and Richmond FC chair Chris Parry have helped the two clubs merge into Richmond United FC

Galileo Cheng photo

Soccer merger ‘had to happen’

ALAN CAMPBELL acampbell@richmond-news com

It simply had to happen.

That was the overriding sentiment shared by community soccer club chairs Richard Wang and Chris Parry.

Up until very recently, the pair was at either side of a youth soccer divide Wang at the head of Richmond United and Parry leading Richmond FC However, after a year or so of behind-the-scenes work an historic vote took place two weeks ago that fused the two clubs together as “Richmond United FC,” and united around 2,000 soccer families

“We see, especially at older age groups, splitting kids between two clubs means both teams struggle,” said Wang, who pointed to squad depth being a big reason to work on

the merger

“Better players often don’t have enough teammates at their level to play in the higher divisions they’re ready for, and more casual players are sometimes dragged into teams they may struggle in “To get this merger passed means we can really begin growing the program so that every child is better served”

Historically, the two clubs happily co-existed for decades, with Richmond FC (RFC) catering for boys soccer and United for the girls.

However, when both clubs started offering programs for all genders a few years ago, it became obvious that a sea change needed to happen,withfamiliesandfriends often having to choose between the two organizations

Prior to the merger vote,

both boards had made it clear they supported the move, yet there were still a few doubts as to whether it would go through

“You never really know with something like this whether you’ve got support or not,” said Parry “Every family has their own wants and needs and these discussions have been so delicate that even the fact they were taking place was kept quiet until we had broad acceptance

“But realistically, the vast majority of parents in Richmond’s soccer community, I think, see the value in competing not against friends and neighbours, but against other teams from other places”

In the end, 103 members voted for the merger, 14 were against and two abstained

An interim board for the new club has been formed and is already working on pushing the City of Richmond for better facilities

The transition to one club will take place over the course of the coming season, added Parry and Wang, noting that there is a lot to sort out before the organizations wear the same colours

Pet food bank opens up

A new food bank for Richmond pets recently opened its doors to the community.

The food bank, hosted at the Richmond Animal Shelter on No 5 Road, offers puppy food, cat food, leashes and toys galore.

Emma Michel, assistant manager at the shelter, said the idea for the food bank came after they had gotten “a ton of donations from the community” and couldn’t use all of them

“So we thought it would be wonderful to help out the community and give back,” said Michel, adding that some other BC SPCA

branches also host food banks

Michel told the Richmond News anyone who wishes to make use of the food bank is welcome to visit the shelter in person and see what is available.

“If anyone is in need, we don’t ask any questions, no type of registration You can just come in, let us know what you need, and hopefully we can help,” she said.

Those who wish to donate to the food bank can also drop off unopened food at the shelter any day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vikki Hui/Richmond News

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Patti Martin 604-273-2828 / Zack Zhang 778-881-9926

REMEMBRANCES

Dr. Robin K. L. Percival Smith

August 12, 1929 - June 12, 2023

obituarieS

TODAY'S PUZZLE ANSWERS

He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my tak, my song; I know that love would last for ever: I was not wrong

Over the last years many peope have heped, Dr Ho, Dr Henderson, Dr Barker and colegues He was surounded by famly, friends and laughter on Sunday and quietly slipped away on Monday with Corsande hodng hs hand

Rest n Peace: In Leu of flowers, a donation to Doctor’s wthout Borders is wecome

AITKEN, Denise

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of G Denise Atken Denise died peacefuly n hospita on Thursday June 1, 2023 n her 72nd year Dense was born June 26, 1951 n Nokomis, Saskatchewan; she ived most of her ife in Montreal and Ottawa pror to movng to Rchmond, BC

Predeceased by her parents Angela and Bl Aitken, she leaves to mourn her sister Pamea and brother Bl She is ovingy remembered by nieces and nephews, Jane, Jll, Fred, Ben and their father Fred Dense was a great aunt to 10 neces and nephews and great-great aunt to 3 nephews

Dense had a successfu career spanning many decades as a manager at the Bank of Canada

Dense wil be remembered for her spirt of generosty, her ove of frends and famiy, her wonderful sense of humour, her love of traveing, and her love of anmas big and smal Donations to the BCSPCA would be appreciated as they took n her loved cat Joey, who was adopted within two days

Online condolences may be left at www richmond-funeral ca

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Rchmond Funera Home • (604) 273-3748

EVERSON, Derek Glyn

May 21, 1930 - June 2, 2023

Derek passed away peacefully at home with Jennfer, his wfe of 60 years, at his side Born in Aldershot, England Derek immgrated to Canada n 1962, settling n Richmond in 1965 He estabished his own busness, Orcades Equipment, elements of which survive today A commtted family man, his 4 children and 9 grandchidren have many warm memories to keep him alve in their thoughts A memoral service wil be held at 3:00 pm on Juy 5, 2023 at St Albans Church, 7260 St Alban’s Road, Rchmond

HOLLO, Daniel Charles Grant

Dan was born in Vancouver March 30, 1974 to Marore and Peter Hollo Dan passed away June 14, 2023 peacefuly with hs mom Marjorie Holo and sister Dana Finday by his sde Dan was the much-loved unce of Liam and Nicholas Finday and had cherished frends and famiy that loved him too

Dan grew up n Richmond and ived mainly in Vancouver his adult lfe, wth the excepton of a few years n Montrea Dan was a smart, super funny, handsome, considerate, and kind man He was a property manager and successfu investment advsor He loved traveling, earning new things, fitness, his favourite foods, music, and our many pets Dan looked forward to hs Stanley Park bke rdes and going to the farmers market on weekends He was gratefu for al hs good and great times in lfe Dan was struck suddenly by termnal cancer despte how thoughtfuly and thoroughly he took care of himself and guarded and protected hs heath Dan had recenty turned 49 and he told us he was going to be okay with that, not to worry

Rest n peace now Dan, we ove you and wil miss you always

In lieu of flowers, pease consder a donaton to the SPCA

Onine condolences may be eft at www rchmond-funera ca

Funera arrangements entrusted to Rchmond Funeral Home • (604) 273-3748

ADVERTISING POLICIES

All advertising published in this newspaper is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to buyers at the advertised p ces Advert sers are aware of these conditions. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading, is never knowingly accepted. If any reader encounters non-compliance with these standards we ask that you inform the Publisher o th s newspaper and The Adve s ng Standards Council of B.C. OMISSION AND ERROR: The publishers do not guarantee the insertion of a particular advertisement on a specified date, or at all, although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers. Further the publishers do not accept liability for any loss of damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any corrections of changes will be made in the next available issue. The Richmond News will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion with liability limited to that portion of the advertisement affected by the error Request for adjustments or correct ons on charges mus be made w h n 30 days o he ad’s exp rat on For best results please check your ad for accuracy the first day it appears. Refunds made only after 7 business days notice!

EMPLOYMENT

generaL

eMpLoyMent

FARM LABOURERS

Brar Bros Farms

3585 184 St Surrey, BC

Required for weedng, pantng, harvesting & gradng

vegetabes Ths ob nvoves hard work; bendng, fting, crouchng No experience required $16 75/hour, 45+ hr/wk, 6 days/wk

2 year term;

Nov 2023 - June 2025

Fx: 604-576-8945, or email: TJ@brarbrosfarm com

FARM LABOURERS

Brar Bros Farms

Required for weedng, pantng, harvesting & gradng

vegetabes Ths ob nvoves hard work; bendng, fting, standng & crouchng $16 75/hour, 45+ hr/wk, 6 days/wk, Nov 2023 to June 2024

Fx: 604-576-8945, or email: TJ@brarbrosfarm com

LEGAL

PETS

LAGOTTO ROMAGNOLO

Puppies ready, DOB Apr1

Micro chip 1st vac parent

health check $2100 Soca

Non-shed 604-790-0113

WHIPPET

cLeaning

To advertise in the Classifieds call: 604-653-7851

INTENT O DISPOSE OF VEHICLE

n the matter of the 2004 Nssan Armada SUV and contents abandoned by W lam Joel Smallman of 123-10100 No 3 Road Rchmond BC V7A 1W5 the landlord Murray Hi Deveopments Ltd ocated at 10100 No 3 Road, Richmond, BC, V7A 1W5 s publishing notce of intent to dspose of the vehice and contents on Juy 1, 2023 uness the person being notfied takes possesson of the property, estab shes a rght to possesson of t or makes an app caton to the court to estab sh such a right within 30 days from the date ths notce is pubished

WAREHOUSEMAN LIEN

By vrtue of the Warehouseman’s Len Act and on behalf of Shelter Island Marina Inc, we wl dspose of goods belongng to Mountain Premier Contracting & Demolition / Jordan Rowand namely: 42Ft Bertram called Ditty VII to recover $5264 79 plus accruing storage & any/all other expenses related.

These goods wil be made available for sae after Juy 13th, 2023, by Publc Auction/Tender

Goods are currently being stored n Rchmond, BC

Contact 604-434-2448 for further nformation

WAREHOUSEMAN LIEN

By vrtue of the Warehouseman’s Len Act and on behalf of Shelter Island Marina Inc, we wl dspose of goods beongng to Lucas Chadwick namely: Chaparral 310 Express Cruiser called Naughty Buoy to recover $7962 69 plus accruing storage & any/all other expenses related.

These goods wil be made available for sae after Juy 13th, 2023, by Publc Auction/Tender Goods are currently being stored n Rchmond, BC

Contact 604-434-2448 for further nformation

WAREHOUSEMAN LIEN

By vrtue of the Warehouseman’s Len Act and on behalf of Shelter Island Marina Inc, we wl dspose of goods beongng to Miguel Velasco namey: Cruiser called Twenty Two Down to recover $3920 14 plus accruing storage & any/al other expenses related.

These goods wil be made available for sae after Juy 13th, 2023, by Publc Auction/Tender

Goods are currently being stored n Rchmond, BC

Contact 604-434-2448 for further nformation