Maria Rantanen

1 week ago | richmond-news.com | Maria Rantanen

An all-candidates meeting for Richmond's two ridings is scheduled for Thursday (April 17) evening at the Minoru Centre for Active Living. As of last week, eight out of the nine candidates had confirmed they would be taking part in the forum that starts at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) This is in anticipation of the federal election on April 28. Richmond Centre for Disability and Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition are combining forces to ask candidates questions on social policy issues.

1 week ago | richmond-news.com | Maria Rantanen

RCMP were cracking down on cyclists and e-scooters riders who were found rolling on Richmond sidewalks. This resulted in 17 tickets for riding on a sidewalk and five tickets for not wearing a helmet during a two-day blitz on April 12 and 13. Operating a bike or e-scooter on a sidewalk can net a fine of $109.

1 week ago | richmond-news.com | Maria Rantanen

The city and school district are challenging Richmond residents to become “citizen scientists” and record plants and animals living around them. The City Nature Challenge runs from April 25 to 28 and is a global initiative that encourages “friendly competition” between cities to record photos and sounds of natural phenomena. All taxa are allowed except domestic cats, domestic dogs and humans. To participate, download the free iNaturalist app on a mobile device from inaturalist.ca.

1 week ago | richmond-news.com | Maria Rantanen

Richmond Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a house on fire in west Richmond on Tuesday evening. When they first arrived, flames were coming through the roof of the house in the 4000 block of Blundell Road, near No. 1 Road. The crews are currently fighting the fire "aggressively" to protect neighbouring properties, Grant Wyenberg, assistant deputy chief told the Richmond News. There are no injuries to staff or bystanders, he added. A fire investigator has been dispatched to the scene.

1 week ago | richmond-news.com | Maria Rantanen

A Richmond city councillor is calling on the city to stop giving gift cards to its employees. A motion at next week’s committee meeting, put forward by Coun. Kash Heed, is asking the city’s chief administrative officer to “immediately withdraw” the practice of giving out gift cards to employees, implement recognition programs that “prioritize fairness and meaningful appreciation,” take stock of any current gift card inventory and donate them to charity.