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Building safe communities
Published 2:24 PDT, Wed March 30, 2022
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Recent events have shown how fragile our world can be. Whether it be the pandemic changing the way we live, events in Europe threatening peace and democracy, or climate change destroying communities, it is important that we remember the value of freedom and safety we all experience.
Richmond is one of Canada’s safest communities, thanks largely to the commitment myself and fellow Council members have made in recent years to invest in 51 new RCMP officers and 36 firefighters. The result is a 33 per cent drop in break and enter crimes in residences in 2021, and a 15 per cent drop in similar crimes in businesses.
The majority of Council supported funding for the new City Centre Community Police Station, and I will continue to work toward efforts to fund a new Community Police Station in Hamilton to serve our growing East Richmond community.
Our investment of over $122 million in flood protection infrastructure, such as upgraded pump stations and improvements to our dike network, kept residents safe during last year’s atmospheric river events. Protecting Richmond from the impact of climate change is an ongoing strategy that Council will support by adding resources to keep our growing city safe.
Despite the pandemic and the challenges it brought to businesses and communities everywhere, our city continues to bounce back thanks to the support and encouragement of Council. Richmond is home to almost 14,000 businesses and the number of new business licenses issued in 2021 has increased by 15 per cent.
We saw an increase in construction permits of almost 25 per cent last year, with Council supporting permits for 587 residential, 333 commercial and 217 industrial buildings worth around $719 million in new construction value.
As an enthusiastic and long-running supporter of keeping our community active and healthy, I was pleased to be among the Councillors who approved construction of the long-awaited new Steveston Community Centre and Branch Library. This new 60,350 square foot multi-level centre, when completed in a few short years, will boast two gyms, a fitness centre, library and other facilities to make it an important Steveston amenity for future generations.
As a member of Council for almost three decades, I am proud to support the continued growth in Richmond and promote our vibrant city as it becomes one of the best places in Canada to live, work and play.
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