Latest news with #RichmondBC
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."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Richmond, B.C., councillors want more oversight of Olympic Oval
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.
CTV News
08-07-2025
- CTV News
IIO notified, seeking witnesses to RCMP-involved crash in Richmond, B.C.
The B.C. police watchdog is investigating after five people, including a police officer, were injured in a car crash in Richmond, B.C., Monday night. According to an RCMP release, an officer had been on his way to assist with a police call, in a marked police vehicle with its lights and sirens on, when he collided with a truck at the intersection of Williams Road and No. 4 Road. The incident occurred just before 9:15 p.m. 'All five individuals, including the Richmond RCMP officer, were transported to local hospitals for what is believed to be non-life-threatening injuries,' Mounties said. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. was notified of the incident shortly afterwards and called in to take over the investigation. The IIO is tasked with investigating all incidents involving police officers in B.C. that result in death or serious harm to a member of the public, regardless of whether there is any allegation of wrongdoing on the part of police. According to the IIO, alongside the officer and the driver of the Honda Ridgeline truck, two pedestrians and a resident of a nearby property, who had been outside at the time of the crash, were also injured. The IIO is requesting anyone who witnessed the incident or who has relevant video to contact their Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477, or via the contact form on the website.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- CTV News
Pedestrian sustains life-threatening injuries after crash in Richmond, B.C.
An RCMP vehicle is seen in Richmond, B.C., in this undated image. (Shutterstock) Mounties in Richmond, B.C., are investigating after a senior was struck by a vehicle and sustained life-threatening injuries over the weekend. A statement from the Richmond RCMP says officers were called to the intersection of No. 3 Road and Granville Avenue where the 87-year-old woman was struck by an SUV at approximately 3:46 p.m. Saturday. After striking the woman, investigators say the SUV swerved into a lamppost on the traffic median just north of the intersection. The driver suffered minor injuries while the pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries, the statement said. 'The driver remained on scene and has been co-operating with the investigation,' police said. 'The causal factors have not yet been determined.' Criminal collision investigators have taken conduct of the case and are working to determine whether criminality was a factor in the crash, Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said in the statement. 'Any witnesses, or anyone with in-car video, who has yet to speak with investigators are urged to contact police immediately,' Clark added. Witnesses can provide information to the Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- CTV News
2005 disappearance of B.C. man in Halifax still unsolved 20 years later
Richmond, B.C. resident Shen Chiu "Andy" Tsou went missing during a trip to Halifax in June 2005. (Handout) Twenty years later, police are still trying to find out what happened to a British Columbia man who disappeared while visiting Halifax. Halifax Regional Police says Shen Chiu 'Andy' Tsou was last seen in the city on June 26, 2005. According to police, the Richmond, B.C., resident knew people in Halifax and elsewhere in Nova Scotia. He had been staying at the casino hotel and other private homes before he disappeared. Police say Tsou, who was 29 at the time, had booked a room at the casino hotel for the night of June 26, but he never arrived. His wife reported him missing to police on June 30. Police say Tsou was driving a 2005 white Pontiac Grand Prix. Neither Tsou nor the car have ever been found. 'It is never too late to come forward and the smallest piece of information may be just what is needed to progress the investigation,' said Halifax Regional Police in a news release Thursday. Tsou's disappearance is part of the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program, which offers up to $150,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in certain cases. Anyone with information about Tsou's disappearance is asked to contact Halifax Regional Police at 902-490-5020 or the rewards program at 1-888-710-9090. Callers to the rewards program must provide their name and contact information and may be called to testify to court. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
