Richmond | |
|---|---|
| City of Richmond | |
 Richmond City Centre  Fisherman's Wharf,Steveston | |
 Logo | |
| Mottoes: Child of the Fraser Island City by Nature | |
 Location of Richmond inMetro Vancouver | |
| Coordinates:49°10′N123°8′W / 49.167°N 123.133°W /49.167; -123.133 | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional district | Metro Vancouver |
| Incorporated | 10 November 1879 (municipality status) |
| 3 December 1990 (city status) | |
| Seat | Richmond City Hall |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| • Body | Richmond City Council |
| • Mayor | Malcolm Brodie (Ind.) |
| • City Council | |
| • MP | |
| • MLA | |
| Area | |
| • Land | 128.87 km2 (49.76 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Total | 209,937 |
• Estimate (2023)[3] | 229,781 |
| • Rank |
|
| • Density | 1,629/km2 (4,220/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Richmondite[4] |
| Time zone | UTC−08:00 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−07:00 (PDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area codes | 604,778, 236, 672 |
| Highways |  Highway 91 Highway 99 |
| Website | richmond |
Richmond is a city inBritish Columbia, Canada. It occupies almost the entirety ofLulu Island (excludingQueensborough), the adjacentSea Island (where theVancouver International Airport is located) and several other smallerislands and uninhabitedislets to its north and south. Across the two estuarinedistributaries of theFraser River, it neighboursVancouver andBurnaby on theBurrard Peninsula to the north,New Westminster andAnnacis Island to the east,Delta to the south, and theStrait of Georgia to the west.
The indigenousCoast Salish peoples were the first people to inhabit the area of modern-day Richmond, with theMusqueam Band naming the site near Terra Nova "spələkʷəqs" or "boiling point".[5] Today,East Asian Canadians make up a majority of Richmond's population, along with the ContinentalAsian Canadian population numbering almost three-fourths of the city's population.
The city is a member municipality ofMetro Vancouver. It is composed of sixteen areas: City Centre, Steveston, Broadmoor, Seafair, Thompson, West Cambie, Shellmont, East Cambie, Blundell, Hamilton, Bridgeport, Sea Island, East Richmond, Fraser Lands, and the South Arm Islands.[6] As of 2023, the city has an estimated population of 229,781 people.[3]
During the2010 Winter Olympics, theRichmond Olympic Oval was a venue forlong track speed skating events.
Coast Salish bands had temporary camps on the island, to fish and collect berries, which were scattered and moved from year to year.[7] Certain Coast Salish summer camps were located at Garry Point, and Woodward's Landing, along with the site of the Terra Nova cannery, which had at one time been a Musqueam village.[8]
There is no definitive historical account as to how Richmond was named. There are several possibilities that have been proposed, including:
The Township of Richmond, British Columbia was incorporated on 10 November 1879. The Township of Richmond was modelled after Ontario's political townships – an incorporated municipality, consisting of communities that are united as a single entity with a single municipal administration. Each community was represented on the municipal council through a ward electoral system with five wards until 1946 when the ward electoral system was replaced with the at large electoral system that is currently in place.
On 3 December 1990, Richmond was designated as a City.
The first Town Hall, the Agricultural Hall and the Methodist Church (now Minoru Chapel), were built at the corner of No. 17 (River) Rd and No. 20 (Cambie) Rd near the main settlement on the northwestern tip of Lulu Island at North Arm.
The old fishing village ofSteveston on the southwestern tip ofLulu Island is now home to several museums and heritage sites, as well as a working harbour for fishing boats. Currently, London Heritage Farm, theGulf of Georgia Cannery and the Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site in Steveston highlight these parts of Richmond's diverse history.
Richmond is made up of most of the islands in theFraser River delta, the largest and most populated island beingLulu Island. The city of Richmond includes all but a small portion of Lulu Island (the Queensborough neighbourhood at the far eastern tip is part of the city of New Westminster). The next largest island,Sea Island, is home to theVancouver International Airport (YVR). In addition to Lulu and Sea Islands, 15 smaller islands make up the city's 128.87 square kilometres (49.76 sq mi) land area, including:
The city also includes the fishing village of Steveston, located in the far southwest corner of the city, andBurkeville, which shares Sea Island with the airport. Both Steveston and Burkeville were independent villages until they were annexed by Richmond.
Since all of Richmond occupies islands in ariver delta, the city has plenty of rich,alluvial soil for agriculture, and was one of the first areas in British Columbia to be farmed by Europeans in the 19th century. The drawback of Richmond's geographical location was that since all the land averages just one metre abovesea level, it was prone to flooding, especially duringhigh tide. As a result, all the major islands are now surrounded by a system ofdykes, which, although not as massive as those in theNetherlands or the levees ofNew Orleans, serve to protect the city from anticipated sources of flooding. There is a possibility that, during anearthquake, the dykes could rupture, and thealluvial soil mayliquefy, causing extensive damage. Richmond is also at risk of a major flood if theFraser River has an unusually high springfreshet. Recreational trails run along the tops of many of the dykes, and Richmond also supports about 1,400 acres (5.7 km2) of parkland.[10]
Because of the highgroundwater table, very few houses in Richmond havebasements and until the late 1980s, very few buildings were above 3 storeys high. Also, because of proximity to the airport, currentbuilding codes limit the height of buildings to 150 feet (46 m).
Richmond has anoceanic climate (Cfb). Because it is not as close to the mountains, it actually receives 30% less rain than neighbouring Vancouver.[11] It rarely snows in winter, and the summer temperatures are mild to warm. Richmond is also very cloudy in the cooler months.
| Climate data for Richmond Nature Park (1981–2010 Normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.5 (61.7) | 19.5 (67.1) | 24.0 (75.2) | 28.5 (83.3) | 34.5 (94.1) | 37.0 (98.6) | 37.0 (98.6) | 33.5 (92.3) | 35.0 (95.0) | 26.0 (78.8) | 18.5 (65.3) | 14.0 (57.2) | 37.0 (98.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.0 (44.6) | 8.9 (48.0) | 11.9 (53.4) | 15.1 (59.2) | 18.6 (65.5) | 21.3 (70.3) | 23.9 (75.0) | 24.0 (75.2) | 20.3 (68.5) | 14.3 (57.7) | 9.1 (48.4) | 6.3 (43.3) | 15.1 (59.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.0 (39.2) | 4.9 (40.8) | 7.3 (45.1) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.3 (55.9) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.3 (64.9) | 18.2 (64.8) | 15.0 (59.0) | 10.3 (50.5) | 6.0 (42.8) | 3.4 (38.1) | 10.6 (51.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.9 (33.6) | 0.8 (33.4) | 2.7 (36.9) | 4.8 (40.6) | 8.0 (46.4) | 10.8 (51.4) | 12.6 (54.7) | 12.5 (54.5) | 9.6 (49.3) | 6.2 (43.2) | 2.8 (37.0) | 0.4 (32.7) | 6.0 (42.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −15 (5) | −14 (7) | −7 (19) | −2 (28) | 0.0 (32.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | 4.0 (39.2) | 4.0 (39.2) | 1.0 (33.8) | −6 (21) | −15.5 (4.1) | −16.5 (2.3) | −16.5 (2.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 178.6 (7.03) | 114.9 (4.52) | 112.2 (4.42) | 95.4 (3.76) | 71.9 (2.83) | 62.2 (2.45) | 37.2 (1.46) | 40.1 (1.58) | 56.8 (2.24) | 127.2 (5.01) | 199.3 (7.85) | 166.7 (6.56) | 1,262.4 (49.70) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 167.3 (6.59) | 107.9 (4.25) | 109.8 (4.32) | 95.3 (3.75) | 71.9 (2.83) | 62.2 (2.45) | 37.2 (1.46) | 40.1 (1.58) | 56.8 (2.24) | 126.8 (4.99) | 196.8 (7.75) | 155.7 (6.13) | 1,227.8 (48.34) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 11.3 (4.4) | 7.0 (2.8) | 2.3 (0.9) | 0.2 (0.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.3 (0.1) | 2.5 (1.0) | 11.0 (4.3) | 34.6 (13.6) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 20.9 | 16.1 | 19.4 | 16.6 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 7.9 | 7.2 | 9.1 | 17.2 | 21.9 | 20.3 | 183.8 |
| Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 19.9 | 15.4 | 19.3 | 16.6 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 7.9 | 7.2 | 9.1 | 17.1 | 21.5 | 19.1 | 180.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.77 | 0.04 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.08 | 0.64 | 2.2 | 7.1 |
| Source:Environment Canada[12][13][14][15][16] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 96,154 | — |
| 1991 | 126,624 | +31.7% |
| 1996 | 148,867 | +17.6% |
| 2001 | 164,345 | +10.4% |
| 2006 | 174,461 | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 190,473 | +9.2% |
| 2016 | 198,309 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 209,937 | +5.9% |
| [17] | ||
In the2021 Census of Population conducted byStatistics Canada, Richmond had a population of 209,937 living in 81,080 of its 85,035 total private dwellings, a change of5.9% from its 2016 population of 198,309. The average age of the population was 43.3 years old, and the median age of the population was 43.6.[2] Of the population, 13.3 percent was 0 to 14 years of age, 20 percent was 65 years and over, 2.4 percent was 85 years and over, and 66.7 percent was the age 15 to 64 years old.[2] Richmond's 2021 population of 209,937 makes it thefourth-largest city inBritish Columbia, afterVancouver (662,248),Surrey (568,322) andBurnaby (249,125).[18]
Richmond has a land area of 128.87 km2 (49.76 sq mi) and a population density of1,629.1/km2 (4,219.2/sq mi) in 2021.[2] The average size of a household in Richmond is 2.6 persons. Most households have a household size of 2 persons, and the least households have 5 or more persons.[2]Apartment buildings are the most common structural type of dwellings, made up of 18,590 apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys, 15,475 apartment in a building that has five or more storeys, and 4,990 apartment or flat in aduplex.[2]Single-detached houses are also popular with 24,435 single-detached houses located in Richmond. Other types of buildings include 1,585,semi-detached houses 15,945row houses, 20 other single-attached houses, and 45 movable dwellings.[2]
The average price of a detached home in Richmond is $1,581,600.[19]
Richmond has an immigrant population of 60 percent, the highest in Canada.[20]
Richmond is also home to two of the largest Buddhist temples in North America, theInternational Buddhist Temple and theLing Yen Mountain Temple.
Approximately half of Richmond residents identify as havingChinese ancestry with theBBC calling it "North America's most Asian city" in 2012.[a][23]East Asian Canadians make up a majority of Richmond's population, many of whom immigrated in the late 1980s, mostly fromHong Kong,Taiwan, andMainland China on top of theJapanese Canadian community who immigrated to Canada nearly a century earlier. Almost three quarters of city's population is of Continental Asian descent, where other ContinentalAsian Canadians communities residing in Richmond includeIndo-Canadians andFilipino Canadians.[2][24]
Richmond's Japanese community has a long history inSteveston dating back to the 1800s. Following Japan's 1941attack on Pearl Harbor, theAnti-Japanese sentiment grew, and this community was devastated as residents of Japanese descent were relocated tointernment camps in theBC Interior andAlberta and their property sold at auction.
| Panethnic group | 2021[25][26] | 2016[27][28] | 2011[29][30] | 2006[31] | 2001[32][33] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |||||
| East Asian[b] | 118,980 | 57.09% | 109,415 | 55.64% | 94,180 | 49.75% | 80,245 | 46.23% | 68,785 | 42.1% | ||||
| European[c] | 39,465 | 18.94% | 45,050 | 22.91% | 54,050 | 28.55% | 59,335 | 34.19% | 65,845 | 40.3% | ||||
| Southeast Asian[d] | 18,435 | 8.85% | 15,530 | 7.9% | 14,820 | 7.83% | 11,035 | 6.36% | 8,445 | 5.17% | ||||
| South Asian | 15,370 | 7.38% | 14,360 | 7.3% | 14,515 | 7.67% | 13,860 | 7.99% | 12,120 | 7.42% | ||||
| Middle Eastern[e] | 3,875 | 1.86% | 2,715 | 1.38% | 2,205 | 1.16% | 2,115 | 1.22% | 2,030 | 1.24% | ||||
| Indigenous | 1,540 | 0.74% | 1,595 | 0.81% | 1,935 | 1.02% | 1,275 | 0.73% | 1,165 | 0.71% | ||||
| Latin American | 2,155 | 1.03% | 1,585 | 0.81% | 1,680 | 0.89% | 1,265 | 0.73% | 1,165 | 0.71% | ||||
| Black African | 1,775 | 0.85% | 1,270 | 0.65% | 1,245 | 0.66% | 1,390 | 0.8% | 1,470 | 0.9% | ||||
| Other/Multiracial[f] | 6,800 | 3.26% | 5,155 | 2.62% | 4,675 | 2.47% | 3,040 | 1.75% | 2,380 | 1.46% | ||||
| Total responses | 208,400 | 99.27% | 196,660 | 99.17% | 189,305 | 99.39% | 173,565 | 99.49% | 163,395 | 99.42% | ||||
| Total population | 209,937 | 100% | 198,309 | 100% | 190,473 | 100% | 174,461 | 100% | 164,345 | 100% | ||||
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | ||||||||||||||
The 2021 census found that English was spoken as mother tongue by 31.31% of the population. The next most common mother tongue language wasCantonese, spoken by 21.52% of the population, followed byMandarin at 21.08%.[34]
| Rank | Mother tongue | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 65,440 | 31.31% |
| 2 | Cantonese | 44,985 | 21.52% |
| 3 | Mandarin | 44,060 | 21.08% |
| 4 | Filipino | 7,735 | 3.70% |
| 5 | French | 4,990 | 2.39% |
| 6 | Southern Min | 2,360 | 1.13% |
| 7 | Japanese | 2,170 | 1.04% |
| 8 | Spanish | 2,055 | 0.98% |
| 9 | Russian | 1,920 | 0.92% |
| 10 | Arabic | 1,555 | 0.74% |
According to the2021 census, religious groups in Richmond included:[35]
Richmond supports about 100,000 jobs in various areas, including services, retailing, tourism, light manufacturing, airport services and aviation, agriculture, fishing, and government.[36] Richmond also is a leading centre in the region for high-technology companies,[37] includingNorsat andSierra Wireless.
Pacific Coastal Airlines has its headquarters in the South Terminal ofVancouver International Airport.[38]Air Canada Jazz operates a regional office in Richmond.[39]
Before its dissolution,Canadian Airlines operated an office in Richmond.[40] Before it merged into Air Canada Jazz, regional airlineAir BC was headquartered in Richmond.[41] Prior to its dissolution,Harmony Airways,Pacific Western Airlines andCanadian Pacific Air Lines were all headquartered in Richmond.[42][43][44]
The firstMcDonald's restaurant outside of the United States was opened in Richmond in June 1967.[45]
TheAgricultural Land Reserve preserves 4,916 hectares within the city as farmland, an area that makes up most of east Richmond. Of this area, 3,012 hectares are farmed by 247 farms; the rest is either vacant or occupied by non-farm uses.Cranberries andblueberries are the dominant crops grown. Other crops grown includestrawberries,corn, andpotatoes. In 2001, Richmond had approximately 47% of BC's cranberry acreage.[46]
Richmond Centre,Lansdowne Centre,McArthurGlen Vancouver,Parker Place,Aberdeen Centre, and Central at Garden City are some of the most prominent malls in Richmond. The success of these malls has created significant economic growth in Richmond. In 2023, Richmond Centre was ranked 4th in Canada for shopping centres by sales per square foot.[47] Offices, apartment buildings, and transportation hubs have sprung up around the mall. WhileMcArthurGlen Vancouver has been given the Best Outlet Centre 2015 award at MAPIC.[48]
Richmond is also home to many Chinese-oriented shopping malls, most of them along No. 3 Road from Alderbridge Way to Capstan Way. This area is officially termed as the "Golden Village" by Tourism Richmond[49] and includes malls such asAberdeen Centre, Continental Centre, Union Square, President Plaza,Parker Place, and Yaohan Centre. The strip malls located on Alexandra Road are famous for their restaurants, and the area is more commonly known as "food street".[50]
Neighbourhood shopping centres are distributed throughout Richmond's residential areas, serving as central gathering points for their surrounding communities. These centres provide essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, and pharmacies.[51] Examples include Garden City Shopping Centre,[52] Blundell Centre,[53] Broadmoor Village, Ironwood Plaza, Terra Nova Village, Cambie Plaza, and Seafair Shopping Centre.[54]
Street-facing retail and dining establishments are also prevalent in the city, particularly concentrated in the City Centre and Steveston Village.[51]
Richmond city planners are one year into their update of its official plan, passed in fall 2019,[55] for the city centre. The plan is anchored by theCanada Line and includes the development of nine transit-oriented village centres. The population of the area is expected to grow from about 40,000 to 120,000 residents.
According to a senior planner for the city, the goal of the plan is to "turn the middle arm of the Fraser River into a focus instead of an edge."[56] A Richmond parks manager said that for "too long residents have felt contained by the river, seen it as being to their backs. Now, they want people to face the river and embrace the waterfront."[55]
Lansdowne Centre is proposing to undergo redevelopment to make way for a 50-acre master planned mixed-use community, which is estimated to take 20 years to build out.[57] Within this development plan, there will be mixed use buildings featuring retail, offices, and housing. Large public spaces in the forms of parks and plazas will be interspersed in between. The property owner, Vanprop Investment Ltd., has plans for Lansdowne to be a pedestrian-friendly area with shops and services lined within its block.
Aspac Developments Ltd purchased 7.5 hectares (19 acres) of land adjacent to the Fraser River and the finished $178 millionRichmond Olympic Oval. The $1 billion plan includes 16 high-density towers, up to 14 stories in height.[58] The towers will be stepped toward the waterfront and will include trees and green space. Aspac's plans are for "probably the highest-end development Richmond has seen to date" said Mayor Brodie.[59][60] A $2.3 million hard-surfaced path will be constructed along the river to link the project to Aberdeen Centre.[59] Aspac's initial plan includes constructing the development in four phases, with the first phase consisting of 65,000 square metres (700,000 sq ft) of residential development, and 2,300 square metres (25,000 sq ft) of ground-level commercial space. Some construction will not begin until after 2010, and will take up to 12 years to complete. The warehouses and commercial parks near the development are also slated for redevelopment.[59]
Developer Pinnacle International is planning a 16-building development on a seven-hectare (17-acre) property near Capstan Way and No 3 road. The mixed-use development would include over 2,100 residential units, various commercial uses, and a hotel.
TheCanada Line is considered critical to the project. A fifth Richmond station at Capstan Way (No. 3 Road and Capstan Way) was originally planned, but was cancelled in March 2009. This station was considered so critical to the development that the City of Richmond has received $19 million from developers for the station to be built.[61]TransLink, the Canada Line operator, started designing this station in November 2017.[62] Construction started onCapstan station on September 2, 2021.[63] On December 20, 2024, Capstan station opened to the public.[64]
The 55.2-hectare (136-acre) parcel known as the Garden City Lands was leased by the federal government for decades and was formerly used as a transmitter site for program requirements of theCanadian Coast Guard. The property is bounded by Westminster Highway, Garden City Road, Alderbridge Way and No. 4 Road and has been within the Provincial Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) since 1973.[65] In 2005, the Federal Government of Canada deemed the land as "surplus" to its needs and sold the site to the Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation.[66]
The City of Richmond,Canada Lands Company, and the Musqueam Indian Band entered a 2005 agreement with the federal government that included the intent to remove the land from the ALR for the purposes of high-density development.[67] In April 2008, an application to exclude the land from theAgricultural Land Reserve was made to the Agricultural Land Commission. The application was rejected on 10 February 2009.[68]
On 8 March 2010, Richmond City Council announced a deal had been approved whereby the city would purchase the entire parcel of land from the Musqueam Band and Canada Lands Company for $59.2 million.[69]
The Musqueam band has since brought a lawsuit against the City of Richmond, claiming they sold it under duress. The lawsuit remains dormant and it is the understanding of Coun.Harold Steves that the lawsuit will remain dormant unless the city wants to develop the lands into anything that is not related to ALR use.[70]
TheRichmond Public Library has four branches across the city: Brighouse (Main), Ironwood, Cambie, Steveston. The library also operates a limited service in the Hamilton neighbourhood.[71]
The Richmond Art Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located within the Richmond Cultural Centre in Minoru Park, showcasing the work of Canadian, Indigenous, and international artists.[72]
The Richmond Museum, located next to the Richmond Art Gallery, hosts exhibitions and programming showcasing Richmond's past, present, and future.[73]
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During summer weekends, the annualRichmond Night Market, North America's largest night market, draws crowds from across the region. Operated similarly to a typical Asiannight market, visitors can find popular street food, toys, clothes, accessories, arcade games, and live entertainment.[74]
OnCanada Day, Richmond has an annual festival inSteveston called the Steveston Salmon Festival. This event includes a parade, various booths, food trucks, and a hugebarbecued salmon sale in front of the Steveston Community Centre.[75]
An annual Richmond Maritime Festival has been held at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site every August since 2004. It is a family event that celebrates the region's maritime heritage with live entertainment, ships, exhibits and demonstrations.[76]
Many indoor and outdoorart exhibitions are hosted by Richmond Arts Coalition (RAC) throughout the year. The RAC hosts Richmond arts events, connects the public to artists and events, provides artist opportunities, nominate awards, funds performers to specific events, stimulates arts projects, and advocate for arts issues, performances, education, creation, and exhibition activities.[77]
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In 2002, Richmond hosted atall ships festival, which attracted an estimated 400,000 people to Steveston.[78][79] Despite the event's popularity, there was a revenue shortfall and the city decided not to host the event again.[80]
Richmond also hosted the 2006Gemini Awards, which were held atRiver Rock Casino. This marked the first time the ceremony had taken place on the West Coast, as it traditionally takes place inToronto.[81]
During the 2010 Olympic Games, Richmond hosted an Olympic celebration zone called the O Zone at Minoru Park. The park featured outdoor viewing screens, stages for live performances, and various exhibitions. Minoru Arenas also hosted theHolland Heineken House, which included Dutch DJs and cultural events.[82]
The Richmond Parks System divides it's 140 public parks into three categories: City, Community, and Neighbourhood parks.[83][84] Of these parks, the city has designated ten as signature parks. These include:
There are 12 recreational facilities in Richmond. They offer a range of amenities, including but not limited to gyms, ice rinks, and pools.[84] These facilities include:
An extensive trail system provides 136 kilometres of recreational trails in parks and 87 kilometres of on-road cycling paths.[83][84]
Richmond is also home to theIona Beach Regional Park managed by Metro Vancouver. The park features a beach and a popular trail on top of a 4 km-longjetty that stretches into the Strait of Georgia.[85]
Richmond is home to theRichmond Sockeyes Junior B hockey team. It also hosts theBC Thunder of theNational Ringette League.[86] Richmond also has two swim clubs: the Kigoos summer swimming club and the Richmond Rapids Swim Club. Richmond also has multiple soccer teams, under the name Richmond FC, ranging in ages and skill levels, from U4's to U18's, and from house divisions to elite programming.[87] As of 1 October 2006, the middle arm of Richmond's Fraser River became home to both the UBC Thunderbirds varsity rowing program and St. George's School rowing program, with the completion of the new $6 millionCAD John M.S. Lecky UBC Boathouse.[88] In addition, this facility will also function to enhance participation in the sports of rowing and dragon boating for the greater community, including youth, adults, and rowing alumni.[89] Richmond also has their own short track speed skating club, the Richmond Rockets and their own rugby union club, the Richmond Rugby Football Club.
For the2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the City of Richmond constructed an 8,000-seat speed-skating oval near the No. 2 Road Bridge, just across (the middle arm of) the Fraser River from Vancouver International Airport. The final construction cost (paid for by the city, the provincial government and the federal government) is around $178 millionCAD. Since the completion of the Games, the oval has served as a recreational structure for local residents. The Richmond Oval officially opened on 12 December 2008.[90] The city received $141 million CAD from ASPAC Developments for city-owned land next to the Oval. The sale more than covers the unfunded portion of the Oval's price tag.[60]
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Richmond's municipal council is elected using an at-large electoral system.
LikeVancouver, but unlike most cities inBritish Columbia, Richmond runs on a political system of locally basedpolitical parties, orslates. For the most part, however, their organization is weak, and they may collapse or change names from one election to another.
Local government includes a 9-membercity council and a 7-memberschool board. City council consists of a mayor and 8 councillors. The current mayor of Richmond is Malcolm Brodie, who is serving his 6th term as mayor. The last elections were held in October 2018.
In the 2018 city elections, the RCA (Richmond Citizen's Association) party, the Richmond First party, and the RITE Richmond party all won 2 seats, the Richmond Community Coalition won one seat, and there is one independent. On the Richmond Board of Education, the Richmond Education Party won three seats, the Richmond First Party won two seats, and there are two independents.[91]
In theLegislative Assembly of British Columbia, Richmond was historically a stronghold of theBC United Party until the2020 provincial election where theBC NDP flipped three of Richmond's fourelectoral districts (Richmond South Centre,Richmond-Queensborough, andRichmond-Steveston).
In the most recentprovincial election in 2024, three electoral districts (Richmond Centre,Richmond-Bridgeport, Richmond-Queensborough) elected members from theBC Conservatives, and Richmond-Steveston elected a member from the BC NDP.[92]
In theHouse of Commons of Canada, Richmond is divided between twoelectoral districts:Richmond Centre, which encompasses the city's centre and west, andSteveston—Richmond East, which encompasses the south and east. In the2021 federal election, theLiberal Party won Richmond Centre and Steveston—Richmond East.
Richmond is connected by a system of bridges and tunnels to Vancouver and Delta, and through the New Westminster suburb of Queensborough (on eastern Lulu Island) to the Burrard Peninsula portion of New Westminster.[93] TheDinsmore Bridge, theNo. 2 Road Bridge, the transit-onlyMiddle Arm Bridge, and theMoray Bridge twinned with theSea Island Connector connect Lulu Island and Sea Island; theArthur Laing Bridge connects Sea Island to Vancouver; theOak Street Bridge, theKnight Street Bridge, and the transit-, pedestrian-, and cyclist-onlyNorth Arm Bridge connect Lulu Island to Vancouver; theQueensborough Bridge connects Queensborough (on eastern Lulu Island) to New Westminster; one bridge connects Queensborough to Annacis Island in Delta; one twinned bridge connects Richmond to Annacis Island; and theGeorge Massey Tunnel, one of the fewunderwater tunnels in British Columbia connects Richmond to Delta.
Two freeways serve Richmond:Highway 99, which connects toInterstate 5 at the border with the United States, andHighway 91, which connects Delta, New Westminster, and Richmond.
Railway bridges connect Lulu Island to Vancouver, New Westminster, andAnnacis Island, and serve theCanadian National andCanadian Pacific Railways, as well as the Southern Railway of British Columbia (although the latter railway's Lulu Island trackage is entirely within Queensborough).
Public transportation in Richmond is provided byTransLink, the regional transit authority for Metro Vancouver. The system provides direct bus and rail service from Richmond to Vancouver, Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby, and Delta. TheCanada Line is aSkyTrain rail line, connecting both Richmond and the airport toDowntown Vancouver and to points in between, opened on Monday, 17 August 2009. The Canada Line provides travel to Downtown Vancouver in 25 minutes with a frequency of 3 to 12 minutes, 20 hours per day. Major transit hubs includeRichmond–Brighouse station, which serves as a hub for many Richmond bus routes, andBridgeport station which serves as a hub for bus routes connecting to other municipalities. After the Canada Line closes at night, late-night service is provided by theN10 Nightbus every day of the week. The bus runs every 30 minutes, with the exception of one northbound trip (2 am – 3 am), during which service is at 60 minutes; service returns to 30 minutes after the northbound trip at 3 am.
A docklessbicycle-sharing system, consisting ofe-bikes ande-scooters, was launched in the City Centre area in May 2022 byLime.[94]
Vancouver International Airport (YVR), located on Sea Island, which is part of Richmond, to the north of Lulu Island, provides most of the air access to the region. Severalfloat plane companies (includingSalt Spring Air,Harbour Air andSeair Seaplanes) operate from the south terminal, providing service to the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. The airport is thesecond busiest in Canada and one of the busiest international airports on the West Coast of North America.
Health care in Richmond is overseen by theVancouver Coastal Health Authority.
Richmond Hospital, located on the southeast corner of Westminster Highway and Gilbert Road, is undergoing redevelopment. In 2018, the Ministry of Health approved an 8-floor acute care tower redevelopment plan to replace the aging north tower.[95] On 2 July 2020, the provincial government announced the acute care tower concept plan was being updated, with an additional floor (9 total) and announcement of expanded and renewed ER, ICU, Pharmacy, along with renovations to the south tower to include more inpatient psychiatric beds along with a psych ER.[96]
In addition to the hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health operates twoUrgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCC) in the city, one in the City Centre and another in East Cambie.[97]
The city is known internationally as the headquarters of theCanadian Hemochromatosis Society, and also as the city where the National Annual Hemochromatosis Awareness Month was initiated by former Mayor G. H. Blair in 1987.
The Richmond Fire-Rescue Department, established in 1897, is responsible for providing both fire and extrication services in Richmond. The department has seven fire halls and responds to fire rescue calls and medical emergencies. It also provides emergency services atVancouver International Airport.[98][99] There are fire stations located in City Centre, Steveston, Cambie, Sea Island, Hamilton, Shellmont, and Crestwood.[99]
The City of Richmond utilizes theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police as its primary form of municipal law enforcement, with their main detachment located on No. 5 Road in the Ironwood area. The Richmond RCMP also has community police stations located in City Centre, South Arm, and Steveston.[100]
TheBritish Columbia Ambulance Service provides the city with emergency medical response.
Richmond is home to a campus ofKwantlen Polytechnic University,Sprott Shaw College andTrinity Western University. TheBritish Columbia Institute of Technology also runs an aerospace technology campus inSea Island near Vancouver International Airport.
School District 38 Richmond oversees 10 public secondary schools and 38 public elementary schools, including three Montessori schools, two late French immersion schools, and six early French immersion schools. The district also hosts twoInternational Baccalaureate programs, located atRichmond Secondary School andHugh Boyd Secondary School.
TheConseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, headquartered in Richmond,[101] operates one Francophone primary school in that city:école des Navigateurs.[102]
Richmond is also home to a number of private schools providing K-12 education, includingRichmond Christian School, Muslim School of British Columbia, St. Paul's Elementary School, St. Joseph the Worker Elementary School, Richmond Jewish Day School,Choice School for the Gifted and Exceptional, Cornerstone Christian Academy, Chaoyin Bilingual School, and previously Pythagoras Academy andRichmond International High School and College.[103]
TheIndo-Canadian radio stationSher-E-Punjab has its headquarters in Richmond.[104]
Two Chinese-Canadian radio stations providing news, traffic, and music are headquartered in Richmond.Fairchild Radio, headquartered inAberdeen Centre, is a radio station with programming for both Mandarin and Cantonese speakers.[105]CHMB AM1320, a radio station for Cantonese speakers, is headquartered in East Richmond.[106]
Z95-3's studio is located in the Ironwood area of Richmond. The radio station provides Metro Vancouver listeners withhot adult contemporary, incorporating a mix of older songs with Top 40 hits.[107]
Steveston Village has played home to several major American movies such asBlade II andThe 6th Day, and television series such asThe X-Files,Supernatural,The Secret Circle,The Outer Limits,Killer Instinct,Smallville,Stargate SG-1, theFinal Destination series and theScary Movie series. It is also the location for the fictitious town of Storybrooke in the ABC TV seriesOnce Upon a Time.
Fantasy Gardens (a now defunct amusement park) served as Halloweentown in the popularDisney Channel television movieHalloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge and was also featured in the TV seriesKiller Instinct andStargate SG-1. The television seriesAliens in America andLife Unexpected also made use ofCambie Secondary School in the northern part of the city.
The exterior of the Workers' Compensation Board building (now theWorkSafeBC building) was used for the hospital inStephen King'sKingdom Hospital.[108] These exteriors can now be seen on theCBS seriesEleventh Hour.
Vancouver International Airport on Richmond's Sea Island has also been featured in numerous films and television series, commonly standing in forSeattle-Tacoma International Airport (as it does inThe Cleaner andDead Like Me). It is also featured as stand-ins for other airports in films such asFinal Destination,The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,The L Word,The Lizzie McGuire Movie,Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer andAre We There Yet?
The Aerospace Technology Campus of BCIT, located just next toVancouver International Airport, was used as a military academy mess hall for the live-action prequel series for the popular console gameHalo 4 inHalo 4: Forward Unto Dawn. In addition, many other films, such asRise of the Planet of the Apes andThis Means War, were filmed there due to the directors taking a liking to the cement structure of the building, which makes for very official-looking sets.
Richmond serves as the Vancouver headquarters for theFairchild Media Group which broadcasts Cantonese and Mandarin television channels fromAberdeen Centre. Their channels includeFairchild TV,Fairchild TV 2, andTalentvision.[109]
Richmond'ssister cities are:[110]
Since 2008, Richmond also has a friendship city relationship withQingdao, China.[110]
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