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Tait sculpture to bring community closer

Published 2:50 PDT, Wed August 1, 2018

Support efforts lauded

Norman Kotze, manager of emergency programs at the City of Richmond, presented an award from Emergency Management BC to city council at its regular meeting July 23. The award recognizes the city’s efforts during the 2017 wildfires and highlights volunteer efforts in providing evacuation support in 100 Mile House and Chilliwack.

Interchange amendment

A proposal to remove the Highway 99 interchange at Blundell Road from the official community plan is getting support from stakeholders.

Speaking on the proposed amendment to the official community plan, which also includes extending Blundell Road, area resident Deirdre Whalen noted her involvement with a Blundell interchange group which she said has canvassed other residents and stakeholders including the mosque and Port of Vancouver.

Whalen said a widely-held opinion is that an interchange is not needed.

Council is scheduled to next discuss the matter when the Public Works and Transportation Committee meets Sept. 19.

Accessible parkingneeds overhaul

The director of the Richmond Centre for Disability spoke in favour of proposed amendments to accessible parking in Richmond.

Vince Miele said expanded parking spaces are needed to accommodate larger vehicles with ramps.

The current bylaw requires a minimum length of 5.5 metres and width of 3.7 metres for an accessible parking space. Both staff and the Richmond Centre for Disability recently identified the use of side-loading vans as becoming more prevalent for individuals using wheelchairs. The current accessible parking space dimensions do not provide sufficient width to accommodate a typical side-loading ramp and adequate space for the manoeuvring of a wheelchair.

Britannia vision approved

City council has adopted a strategic development plan at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site.

The plan provides the framework for decision making at Britannia Shipyards for the next five years.

In 2014, council endorsed a vision for Britannia Shipyards as an “outstanding national historic site that inspires a lasting connection to Canada’s West Coast maritime heritage.” It also embraced a mission statement that recognizes preserving West Coast maritime heritage with an emphasis on local wooden boat building traditions and the cultural mosaic and living conditions of the people who worked on the Steveston waterfront.

Nod to Tait sculpture

Council has given the go-ahead for public art at Tait Waterfront Park Sculptural Pavilion at 10211 River Dr. in North Richmond.

The concept proposal, Wake, is by Aaron and Christian Zenga.

The project supports council’s goal of creating a vibrant, active and connected city by recognizing arts opportunities.

The Sculptural Pavilion will function as a picnic shelter and provide shade and protection from inclement weather for park users. It will also provide an opportunity for nearby Cambie Community Centre to activate the space with a pilot program of daytime activities and workshops from spring to fall, beginning in 2019. A variety of health and wellness activities and workshops will be offered to welcome new residents into the park and encourage multi-generational cross-cultural exchanges and community building.

The Tait residential neighbourhood covers an area of 68 hectares and is located south of the North Arm of the Fraser to Bridgeport Road, between Shell and No. 4 Roads. It is characterized by single-family houses south of River Drive and multi-family dwellings closer to the river.

Council next meets Sept. 10

There are no city council meetings scheduled in August, but resume with a full slate in September when regularly-scheduled committee meetings of council will also resume.

The next open meeting of council is to be held Sept. 10.