This is the 2025 edition of the Richmond PRC information round-up, containing useful weekly news and announcements for low-income residents, from community service providers, all levels of government and our members. If you, or someone you know, would like to join the RPRC please visit the Contact Us section to learn more.
Tuesday January 21, 2025
Greetings to members and friends of the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition (RPRC): For those who celebrate Lunar New Year, we hope your upcoming Year of the Snake will begin with joy and good fortune. Richmond events for festivities include Silk Road Music: A Lunar New Year Celebration, on Saturday, February 1st, 2025, and a Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at Brighouse Library. Black History Month also begins on February 1st, and we encourage all our readers to join the free events hosted by Brighouse Library.
Highlights of this edition include: End the Apartment Ban (Housing), A petition to stop Loblaws from cheating customers (Food Security), and Broken promises to International Students (Training/Employment ).
This is our 2nd Roundup for 2025. If you have some news, just send it to info@richmondprc.org or hello@richmondprc.org and we will endeavour to spread the word among our members and associates.
Member News
-> Facts & Snacks: Free Savings and Investing Workshop (Thanks to FSGV and Donna Lee)
Please check Family Services of Greater Vancouver’s event pages for January 28th (Ironwood Library) and for February 18(Brighouse Library).
Please also see the Richmond Public Library event pages for January 28th and February 25, both at Ironwood Library.
Housing News->Worried about Infrastructure Costs? Then End the Apartment Ban (Thanks to Policy Note)
It’s far cheaper to build and maintain public infrastructure to service denser forms of housing. Learn about the many benefits to increasing density.
->Richmond family of four displaced after Bridgeport house fire (Thanks to Richmond News)
Indigenous family reflects and advocate on the importance of tenant insurance after fire. Read the family’s story.
->Two evicted women tell their story: ‘The landlords had no empathy.’ (Thanks to The Conversation)
When it comes to the housing crisis, little attention is paid to social relations. Understanding this crisis, and thinking about housing justice, requires an understanding of how the increasingly unequal relationships around housing manifest themselves. Read more about the evicted women and the documentary.
->Richmond Centre redevelopment second phase includes 1,300+ homes (Thanks to Richmond News)
Residents are expected to move into the first towers shortly. More about the redevelopment here.
-> Social Isolation and Loneliness Among People Living with Experience of Homelessness (Thanks to Homeless Hub)
This scoping review compiles and examines evidence on SIL among people with lived experience of homelessness and explore how it negatively impacts their well-being. See the article.
-> Forgotten Rights: Seniors Not Afforded Equal Rent Protection (Thanks to Office of the Seniors Advocate BC)
This report, first published in the summer of 2024, highlights the practice of many landlords to ignore the RTA and leave seniors facing annual cost increases ranging from the rate of inflation to as much as 24%.
Food Security News
->Kudos: Richmond run/walk club raises money for food bank (Thanks to Richmond News)
This year’s fundraising efforts exceeded $3,000. Full story here.
->Richmond Farm School benefits from $100K grant (Thanks to Richmond News)
Regenerative, sustainable farming practices are key components of the KPU program. Read more about the program and their collaboration with local Indigenous groups.
->A CBC investigation revealed that Loblaws has been caught cheating customers by selling underweighted meat. (Thanks to Leadnow)
The worst part? When the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) alerted Loblaws to the problem, Loblaws claimed they had already addressed it. And yet less than a year later, CBC’s investigation found the exact same problem. Please sign the petition calling on CFIA to hold Loblaws accountable for cheating their customers.
->Food Security Resources
No or Low Cost Community Meals and Food Programs
This document highlights a range of community resources available to individuals and families living in Richmond who are experiencing food insecurity. Services include take-out and sit-down meals, as well as food hampers with delivery and pick-up options available. The No or Low Cost Community Meals and Food Program is regularly updated to have the most current information available.
Training/ Employment News
->Broken promises are why some international students turn to seeking asylum (Thanks to The Conversation)
Canada faces a major contradiction in its immigration policies. Thousands of international students, once celebrated as “ideal immigrants,” are now turning to the asylum system.
->Labour Force Statistics Highlights (Thanks to BC Government Stats)
The unemployment rate in British Columbia was 6.0% in December 2024, up 0.3 percentage points from November and up 0.5 percentage points from 12 months earlier. Read more about labour force numbers here.
Health News
->To Address Bird Flu, Reform Chicken Farming (Thanks to The Tyee)
The virus points to weaknesses in our food system that need to change. Read more about how we can reduce the risk of avian flu through better practices.
->Richmond filmmakers shed light on assisted dying caregivers (Thanks to Richmond News)
“I want caregivers to know it’s okay to not be okay,” says local filmmaker. Read the full interview.
Childcare News
->‘We Need to Take Care of Our Own Children’ (Thanks to The Tyee)
Inside the fight for Indigenous jurisdiction over child services in Canada. Read the first installment of an ongoing series here.
Government News
->Community Resource: Visit the BC Benefits Connector (Thanks to Kelly Greene, MLA)
Please visit: gov.bc.ca/BCBenefitsConnector to find benefits and savings for things like energy bills, transportation, education and training, and health care.
->’They will feel it’: B.C. premier says province won’t hold back amid looming U.S. trade war (Thanks to Richmond News)
‘We should really be thinking carefully about spending our money in that country,’ says Premier David Eby when asked about Canadians planning travel to the U.S. Read the full story.
Tuesday January 7, 2025
Greetings to members and friends of the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition (RPRC). We hope your first week of 2025 is off to a great start, full of renewed energy after the holiday break.
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Canada. Significant upcoming days this month include: Wednesday, January 15th is MLK Jr Day. While Wednesday, January 29th is Lunar New Year.
Highlights of this edition include: How to Build More Homes Quicker (Housing News), 2024 Disability Poverty in Canada Report Card (Health News), and 2024 BC Child Poverty Report Card (Childcare News). This is our 1st Roundup for 2025. This email is filled with information from our RPRC organization members and allies, local news, and all levels of government. If you have some news, just send it to info@richmondprc.org or hello@richmondprc.org and we will endeavour to spread the word among our members and associates.
Member News
->Anti-Semitism Dialogue January 26th (Thanks to RMCS and Kehila Society)
RPRC members Richmond Multicultural Community Service (RMCS) and Kehila Society are jointly presenting an anti-Semitism dialogue at the City Centre Community Centre on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Open to all faiths, backgrounds and ages, participate in brainstorming what the community can do to address the issue and build intercultural relations. Help us build a stronger Richmond for all! Scan the QR code below or email alan.hill@rmcs.bc.ca for more information.
->Second Call & return to regular distribution: Richmond Food Bank holiday schedule for late December 2024 to early January 2025 (Thanks to RFBS)
Please check the RFBS website for the full schedule and the most information!
Below is the schedule and some key dates:
->Richmond United Football Club is excited to once again offer the Coho Soccer Program (Thanks to Tania Webster)
The Coho Soccer Program is RUFC’s partnership program with the Richmond Food Bank to offer free soccer programming to Richmond families who are experiencing financial difficulties. The Program is made possible thanks to the generous support of RUFC Community Sponsor, Coho Collective Kitchens.
The Program is for girls and boys born 2020 to 2013.
When & Where:
- Sundays, January to March 2025 12pm-1pm:
- January 26
- February 2, 9, 23
- March 2, 9, 16
- Boyd Soccer Complex (Francis Road & #1 Road) @ Boyd White Field
What: 1 hour of soccer each Sunday led by RUFC staff coaches followed by a hot meal provided by Coho Collective Kitchens. The program will be based on a soccer festival format. There will be warm-up drills and small-sided games. All participants will receive a jersey. Participants are required to wear running shoes (no boots, sandals, slippers, etc…) and dress appropriately for the weather. Soccer is rain or shine.
In addition, all participants are eligible to participate, at no cost, in one (1) Spring Break Soccer Camp. Participants who are new to RUFC are also eligible for free registration in the 2025 Spring Open Development soccer program (April to June).
Who: The RUFC Coho Soccer Program is to support Richmond parents who are experiencing financial difficulties that impact their ability to provide physical activity/participation in sport for their children. We work on the honour system, without an income or means test, however space is limited in the program.
If you have questions about your child’s eligibility for the program, please contact taniaw@rufc.ca. All inquiries are confidential.
To register go the following link: https://forms.gle/uTQf4KjToWquEHPh6
-> Sports & Running Club (Thanks to RCD)
- The club meets every Tuesday from 4:30pm-6pm. Our activities are held at William Cook Elementary School.
- It is free and open to new and existing participants who would like to join us for sports and marathon training.
- Group training activities include playing basketball and soccer together; as well guest speaker presentation on winter exercises and wellness.
- New Term starts from Jan. 7, 2025 – Apr 29, 2025.
- You can contact Sam (604-232-2404) to sign up for the club.
- We are actively recruiting members for the RCD team to participate in the BMO marathon on May 4, 2025.
->BIPOC Inclusion and Capacity Building Anti-Racism Series (Thanks to Alan Hill and RMCS)
Do you live in Richmond? Please complete this survey to help us make Richmond a stronger and safer community for all!
- Main Survey page: https://www.iamrichmond.ca/1039-2/
- Traditional Chinese Survey (繁體中文): https://su.vc/jvellshp
- Simplified Chinese Survey (簡體中文): https://su.vc/uighystn
- Japanese survey (日本語): https://su.vc/yvhctvco
- Tagalog survey: https://su.vc/sxrsytxa
- Ukrainian survey (українська): https://su.vc/efplcrrj
- Punjabi survey (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ): https://su.vc/jkljcxzu
- Arabic survey (عربي): https://su.vc/ihqcwntr
->Community Garden Renewals – Jan 6 – 31 (Thanks to Urban Bounty)
The Community Gardens renewal period is from January 6th – 31st. You should have received an email with the link to pay for your annual membership fee on January 6, 2025. Keep an eye out!
Housing News
->How to Build More Homes Quicker (Thanks to The Tyee & The Conversation)
Canada aims to fund new methods of construction. Good, but it’s only part of the puzzle. Read about how Canada can address the housing crisis.
->Over 1,500 illegal short-term rental listings in B.C. targeted as registry gets set to launch (Thanks to Vancouver Sun)
The Ministry of Housing says the vast majority of illegal listings have come to their attention through public complaints. More about the short term rental registry here.
->Home sales rise in Richmond in December (Thanks to Richmond News)
Richmond benchmark prices for single-family homes are the fifth highest in Metro Vancouver. Full story.
->Richmond Centre redevelopment second phase includes 1,300+ homes (Thanks to Richmond News)
Residents are expected to move into the first towers shortly. More about the redevelopment here.
->Woman evicted from parents’ co-op in Delta will get human rights tribunal hearing (Thanks to Vancouver Sun)
A woman who was told to move out of her father’s co-op after his death will get a chance to make her argument before the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal. Full story.
->Building Homes Together: Homelessness Prevention With Indigenous Women (Thanks to Homeless Hub)
Alternative Builds is an ongoing culturally based project that is empowering Indigenous women, girls, Two Spirit and gender-diverse people to design and build housing on their terms. Read more here.
Food Security News
->The Canadian Food Inspection agency’s reliance on third-party audits is a risk to food safety, experts say (Thanks to Richmond News)
Those audits, paid for by the companies being audited, have come under fire for their lack of independence. Full story.
->Food Security Resources
No or Low Cost Community Meals and Food Programs
This document highlights a range of community resources available to individuals and families living in Richmond who are experiencing food insecurity. Services include take-out and sit-down meals, as well as food hampers with delivery and pick-up options available. The No or Low Cost Community Meals and Food Program is regularly updated to have the most current information available.
Health News
->2024 Disability Poverty in Canada Report Card (Thanks to DWP)
This second annual Disability Poverty Report Card tracks the progress, or lack of progress, towards ending poverty for people with disabilities in Canada. Read the full report.
->Flu and RSV numbers climbing in B.C., BCCDC data shows (Thanks to CBC)
Respiratory illnesses have steadily increased since November but COVID numbers have dropped, figures show. See the article.
->People on autism spectrum offered chance to play lacrosse in Richmond (Thanks to Richmond News)
Adaptive lacrosse program broadens opportunities to join the sport. Learn more about the program.
->Safe Consumption Resources
People who use drugs are urged to take advantage of available supports to keep themselves safe. Please do not use drugs alone. Sign up for Toxic Drug and Health Alerts by texting the word JOIN to 253787 (ALERTS).
Remember to access local safe consumption or overdose prevention sites, get your drugs checked, use the Lifeguard app and carry naloxone.
Download the Lifeguard App: Launched in 2020, and designed to combat the toxic drug crisis and save lives, it functions as a valuable harm reduction tool, providing timely and potentially life-saving support to individuals at risk of opioid overdose.
For additional resources visit: https://towardtheheart.com
Income Security
->The Union Scores a Big Win in Starbucks Battle (Thanks to The Tyee)
The labour board rules workers in different locations can bargain toward one contract covering them all. Read more about the ongoing fight for collective bargaining.
Community Safety News
->(Third Call) Temporary winter shelters set up in Richmond ahead of severe weather (Thanks to Richmond News)
Cold weather prompts emergency shelters and services in Richmond. Learn more about the temporary winter shelters in Richmond: https://tinyurl.com/53rwu7f7
Please visit BC 211 Shelter Lists for the most updated shelter information.
->Road salt is killing Metro Vancouver salmon eggs, study finds (Thanks to Richmond News)
The substance we use to keep our roads safe in winter is lethal for freshly fertilized salmon eggs, according to research conducted by a team of West Coast scientists. Learn more here.
->‘Fire Weather’ Is Hitting the North the Hardest, Study Says (Thanks to The Tyee)
In the worst region, bordering BC and the Yukon, extreme conditions increased by 1.8 days every year over two decades. Read more about the study and possible protective strategies.
->Community Safety Resource:
Racist Incident Helpline 1-833-457-5463 (1-833-HLP-LINE) offers trauma-informed support to people who have experienced or witnessed an act of racism in British Columbia. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (PT), in over 240 languages. Visit: racistincidenthelpline.ca.
Our goal is to ensure that those who need and want help can easily
access safe support. Wherever they are.
Childcare News
->Poor but tough: How single mothers in B.C. are fighting for economic stability (Thanks to Vancouver Sun)
Single mothers are disproportionately poor, but a Vancouver group has federal funding to try to change that outcome. Three mothers share their stories. Read the the story here.
->2024 BC Child Poverty Report Card (Thanks to First Call BC)
1 out of 6 BC children — 147,570 children and youth — lived in poverty, according to the annual report. Read the full report here.
->Third Call: Support the expansion of $10aDay child care Ten Days of Action started on November 20th
Petition for $10aDay Child Care for all
Join thousands of others calling for expanding access to $10aDay Child Care and supporting the child care workforce.
Sign the petition: https://tinyurl.com/56rumh8p