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CBC
10-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
'We're not doing our job': Richmond councillors push for more oversight of Olympic Oval
Social Sharing The controversy over Richmond's Olympic Oval continues to go around and around — but there could soon be clarity on its future. "We need to do our job, and we're not doing our job as councillors," said Coun. Bill McNulty at a meeting this week, criticizing his fellow councillors for not providing enough oversight, and the managers of the Olympic Oval for a lack of communication with the city. The Oval, which was built for the 2010 Olympics for speedskating, is fully owned and operated by the city, but has been managed and overseen by an arms-length corporation. The city has historically provided between $3 million and $4 million a year, around 20 per cent of the Oval's operating revenue, with the rest coming from program fees and an Olympic trust fund given to facilities that continue to operate as performance and training venues. But over the last 18 months, the Oval has faced a tumultuous time in the aftermath of its longtime CEO leaving. Council quickly moved to replace its former board, there were several stories critical of previous expenses, and is now the city is auditing the Oval's overall operations. The meeting this week ended with council approving a motion put forward by Coun. Kash Heed that would cap the money given by the City of Richmond to the Oval at $2.5 million next year, along with a staff review of whether the Oval should be directly overseen by the city, similar to community centres across the region. The motion will need to be approved at a full council meeting next Monday. Outgoing CEO receives around $1 million for 2 years' work At the centre of the controversy is a retired staff member who ran both the City of Richmond and the Oval for many years — George Duncan. In 2022, Duncan retired as Richmond's chief administrative officer after more than two decades on the job and received nearly $275,788 in benefits and compensation above his base salary for his final year. While that level of retirement compensation is not unheard of for a senior staffer in Metro Vancouver, he stayed on as CEO of the Oval and was given a new contract with a salary paid for by the Oval. WATCH | Richmond Olympic Oval under microscope: Richmond, B.C., councillors want more oversight of Olympic Oval 7 hours ago Duration 2:31 It's one of Metro Vancouver's biggest Olympic legacies, but Richmond, B.C., politicians are now asking tough questions about how the Olympic Oval has been run. It is fully owned by the city, but as Justin McElroy reports, there are questions about who it benefits, and the benefits given to its former CEO. But he retired from that role just two years later, departing in July 2024. While both Duncan and the Oval called it a planned departure, he received an additional $372,991 in benefits and additional compensation for those six months of work, in addition to $209,249 in base salary. A spokesperson for the Oval said it couldn't comment "as this is a personnel matter," and Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said the city's hands were tied. "The Oval board, which is a separate corporate board, they ratified that arrangement," he said. "So while I do think that they are subject to review and we need to examine them further, it was a mutual parting as agreed." However, that arrangement has rankled many councillors, who have pointed to it as evidence of the need to change the hands-off relationship with the Oval, even after changing the members on the board. "Mr. Duncan was very good at writing contracts, and his … board made sure that those things were approved," said Coun. Carol Day. "The [new] board that we have put in place the last two years is doing a phenomenal job, and I would encourage them to become part of … the board for the new community centre, which would be part of the City of Richmond." High performance or community centre? Beyond the governance of the Oval exists a separate question about its primary focus: whether to be a hub for high-performance athletes or essentially a large community centre. "All the other community centres, for $29, you have open access for the entire summer. That just doesn't happen here, it's only for the elite," said Day. "I think that sends a very bad message to people who aren't rich and famous." But Coun. Alexa Loo, who was council's liaison to the Oval for many years and competed in snowboarding in the 2010 Olympics, said changing its focus could risk losing Olympics-related funding for the facility. "If we're keen to keep that funding … and provide opportunities for Richmond athletes to make it to the Olympics and to achieve their dreams, then we have to continue down the road of still having some high performance," she said. "I'd love to say that the Richmond Olympic Oval is a very special place." Though what that place could look like, and be operated as, in the future is currently a big question mark. "It's not healthy, and if you think it is, you've got your head shaken … we are the buck here — not the board," said McNulty. "I think that direction is needed to make some changes to all facilities so that they're available to Richmond residents."
Global News
21-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Forensic audit into City of Richmond gift card spending expanded to last decade
Amid a police investigation into spending, a forensic audit at Richmond City Hall has been expanded to review the past decade. That decision came during a City of Richmond General Purposes Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon, at which Councillor Kash Heed put forward a motion calling for the review to go back to 2015. 2:06 RCMP investigating Richmond City gift card program It was approved unanimously, with Councillor Bill McNulty commenting, 'it's on everyone's mind in the city, it doesn't matter if you go to McDonald's or you go shopping.' Story continues below advertisement Following a months-long Global News investigation, the city admitted being unable to reconcile $295,000 worth of restaurant gift cards bought in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy One employee has been fired. That person's emails were contained in the results of Global News' freedom of information request. Among the emails raising questions was one which stated, 'We need to order more…We need 75 Keg asap. $50 value, bonuses on top. We also need 50 white spot asap $50 value, bonuses on top.' Another email said, 'We have a somewhat urgent order for GCs. I'd like to have them by end of day tomorrow. I can pick up from anywhere. We need: 25 x $100 Boston Pizza.' Also among the emails, 'I know we just ordered but I think we need a different denomination of WS cards. Can you order 60x $100 cards excluding bonuses. Optically, I think it looks better if each restaurant card is in the same amount.' And, there was this one, 'Here is my 2023 statement of account you can see the values spent already this year. Based on the amounts spent already to the various suppliers, do you want to send me a revised gift card request?' Story continues below advertisement When asked how much might be unaccounted for over a decade, and if that could reach a million dollars, Heed responded, 'that's a possibility.' 'I'm not discounting anything at this particular time, given the fact as to what has come to the forefront,' he added. The scandal has prompted four municipal councillors in the region to renew calls for the province to reinstate B.C.'s municipal auditor general. They have also launched a petition. 'This petition today finally gives the public the opportunity to actually participate and have their voice heard,' New Westminster Councillor Daniel Fontaine said. As the investigation continues, it remains undetermined if others could be fired or if there could be criminal charges.
