I truly believe that if we can create neighbourhoods that work for everyone, with housing we need, easy access to most of the daily essentials and are built to be adaptable to a changing climate then we end up with a neighbourhood that thrives. Crime goes down because there are more eyes on the street and neighbours watch out for one another. Traffic accidents are less common and more people choose to walk or roll or use transit because it is fast, easy and safe. Our most vulnerable residents have people to check in on them in times of need and their housing is adequate to withstand strong heat waves, bigger storms and all the other climate changes we face. Kids are out playing in the streets, being active and independent. Our health is better because we have stronger social connections and more opportunities and desire for physical activity.
But in order to get there we can't just continue to put bandaids on the status quo. We need to fundamentally re-think some of our policies from the ground up. Richmond has great bones and really good visions on where we want to go. But council hasn't been willing to make the deep changes needed to bring those visions to life.
To see my full platform ideas around these three topics please visit evandunfee.ca/platform to learn more.
Climate Change
Active Transportation
Electric Bikes & Scooters
I really think this is the future. Micro mobility. We are seeing delivery companies creating electric delivery bikes to efficiently move packages, families ditching the car for a cargo bike, seniors and others with limited mobility have a brand new way of getting around. We need to account for this and make sure we are building space for them. Not just taking these modes on to the periphery. But build them into our priority.
The e-bikes and scooters are very expensive relative to other bike shares like Mobi and the e-scooters are certainly getting on some people's nerves. I don't belief e-scooters are inherently bad, just that our infrastructure isn't in place to support them. Currently they are illegal to ride in most of the city. They are only allowed in bike lanes and on roads with no yellow dividing line. It is impossible to get almost anywhere in the city following those 2 rules, so of course people take them on the side walk. We need to improve the infrastructure, not demonize a very efficient, sustainable and accessible way of moving people.
The provincial rebates just aren't good enough. But taking cars off the road would save the city a ton of money on repairs, improve congestion, health and safety. So looking at ways that we can incentivize that for Richmond residents would be great!
Energy-Efficient Buildings & Retrofits
If we are going to be leaders in this space we need to lead by example. The new Steveston Community Centre is very disappointing as they claim sustainability is at the forefront of the design but it is lacking affordable housing that should be attached, it has expensive and carbon intensive underground parking and it is only built to LEED Gold standards rather than net-zero. We are not putting action to our rhetoric.
The City owned district utilities are amazing and award winning. They have thousands of units connected into them in the City Centre, Oval district and Alexandra district and will eventually provide heat and hot water services to those buildings using either geo-thermal or waste heat energy recovery. Unfortunately while we wait for those to come online they are temporarily serviced with gas furnaces. It might be 10 years before they become operational so I want to look at the feasibility and cost/benefit analysis of switching those out for electric heat pumps.
Flooding
The City is already doing amazing work in this space and I am fully committed to continuing it.
Green Space
The Bee Turf requires much less watering and mowing (which saves resources and money) while also acts as an amazing pollinator source for our pollinators. Using this on city owned greenspace where appropriate and incentivizing it on private property could allow us to keep our water usage down as we continue to grow.
Parking
Public on street parking is paid for by everyone in the city. Whether we own a car or not. It also takes up valuable space to store private vehicles that could be used to move people. As we move to more active transport and fewer people are choosing to drive we will have and even bigger abundance of parking that we already do and can re-allocate that space.
Low fee parking permits should also be explored to create equity between who uses the space and who pays for it. These permits would be low cost and have exemptions for low-income residents who rely on their car.
Private Vehicles
I would explore extending Evo's home zone to include Richmond city centre at the very least with the goal of expanding it from there.
Urban Heat
This is really good way to decrease the heat gain in homes. Especially when you look at our new glass tower buildings that just suck in heat. We should look at making sure our buildings are adaptable to the changing climate and external shading is a big part of that.
Zoning
We need a mix of housing type, form, and affordability levels in every neighbourhood. We have ways that we can stack the deck in favour of non-profit development to provide more affordable housing options. We can increase density, speed up permitting, lower or eliminate some of the many fees developments have to pay.
Right now the only thing you are allowed to build on the vast majority of our residential land is detached mansions. We need the type of housing that is fit for young families, teachers, nurses, seniors looking to downsize, wage workers, for everyone! And we need it in every neighbourhood. Young families are fleeing Richmond's subdivisions and we have fewer overall kids today than we did in 2001. Schools are on the brink of closing and we to reserve that trend and zoning is orders of magnitudes the biggest thing we can change to create positive change.
A Richmond Housing Corp that can buy and develop its own land, in partnership with non-profits could be an incredible way to create affordable housing across the city. Burnaby is looking at using this tool, many Vancouver parties are promising it in their city and we should look at it as well.
We could take 2 of our large lots in Richmond and zone them so instead of two mansions you'd be allowed to build 8 1000-1500 square foot family sized houses with big porches, looking inward towards a big communal garden space with a playground, a large communal kitchen and living space for big gathering together, a guest suite, or even a child care centre. WIth parking for car shares, a bike storage shed, electric charging space. We can have this type of a community, we just need to allow it.
Parking is expensive and is one of the biggest factors that prevent developers building more affordable units. Many cities across North America have gotten rid of mandatory minimums and as we look to build near transit, it makes sense to do the same. We already have good measures in place to reduce parking in exchange for things like more bike parking, car share spaces etc... but it is time to take the next step and require those other things, while leaving parking up to the market.
Our vacancy rate is around 1%. We need thousands of new rental units in the coming years to catch up on years of inaction. We have the tools to deliver that rental housing, we just have to use them.
Housing & Homelessness
Affordability
Building Maintenance & Occupant Health
We saw from the heat dome last year that our most vulnerable residents need more protection in their own home. Air conditioning may not be the best for the environment but while we transition to adapting to our warming environment we need to make sure we are protecting our most vulnerable. Everyone should have the right to cooling in their home. While at the same time we work to upgrade city facilities with heat pump cooling systems, and mandating them in new builds, along with active solar protection and more energy efficient buildings.
Co-Op Housing
Co-op housing and co-housing (where a home owner could decide to develop their own land with their family or some friends...) are incredibly important tools in delivering affordable housing. There are lots of ways we can prioritize and incentivize this type of development.
Housing Accessibility
Apartments are much more accessible than townhouses and yet outside of the city centre there are almost no places where we can build low or mid density (4-6 storey) apartments. We need to change that to allow people with limited mobility the right to live in every neighbourhood. To allow seniors to downsize and stay close to their community. As our population ages this is so so important.
Indigenous-Led Housing
A municipal housing corp could work with the Indigenous community to identify needs and work together to acquire and develop land to suit those housing needs.
Property Taxes
Instead of taking on debt and paying interest, Richmond is able to gain interest on our savings and put that towards projects significantly decreasing the cost to taxpayers for the infrastructure we get.
Public Housing
Rent
Rental Stock
Unhoused People
Zoning
We need a mix of housing type, form, and affordability levels in every neighbourhood. We have ways that we can stack the deck in favour of non-profit development to provide more affordable housing options. We can increase density, speed up permitting, lower or eliminate some of the many fees developments have to pay.
Right now the only thing you are allowed to build on the vast majority of our residential land is detached mansions. We need the type of housing that is fit for young families, teachers, nurses, seniors looking to downsize, wage workers, for everyone! And we need it in every neighbourhood. Young families are fleeing Richmond's subdivisions and we have fewer overall kids today than we did in 2001. Schools are on the brink of closing and we to reserve that trend and zoning is orders of magnitudes the biggest thing we can change to create positive change.
A Richmond Housing Corp that can buy and develop its own land, in partnership with non-profits could be an incredible way to create affordable housing across the city. Burnaby is looking at using this tool, many Vancouver parties are promising it in their city and we should look at it as well.
We could take 2 of our large lots in Richmond and zone them so instead of two mansions you'd be allowed to build 8 1000-1500 square foot family sized houses with big porches, looking inward towards a big communal garden space with a playground, a large communal kitchen and living space for big gathering together, a guest suite, or even a child care centre. WIth parking for car shares, a bike storage shed, electric charging space. We can have this type of a community, we just need to allow it.
Parking is expensive and is one of the biggest factors that prevent developers building more affordable units. Many cities across North America have gotten rid of mandatory minimums and as we look to build near transit, it makes sense to do the same. We already have good measures in place to reduce parking in exchange for things like more bike parking, car share spaces etc... but it is time to take the next step and require those other things, while leaving parking up to the market.
Our vacancy rate is around 1%. We need thousands of new rental units in the coming years to catch up on years of inaction. We have the tools to deliver that rental housing, we just have to use them.
Human Rights
Physical Accessibility
Public Spaces & Services
Green Space
The Bee Turf requires much less watering and mowing (which saves resources and money) while also acts as an amazing pollinator source for our pollinators. Using this on city owned greenspace where appropriate and incentivizing it on private property could allow us to keep our water usage down as we continue to grow.
Sidewalks & Bike Paths
Zoning
We need a mix of housing type, form, and affordability levels in every neighbourhood. We have ways that we can stack the deck in favour of non-profit development to provide more affordable housing options. We can increase density, speed up permitting, lower or eliminate some of the many fees developments have to pay.
Right now the only thing you are allowed to build on the vast majority of our residential land is detached mansions. We need the type of housing that is fit for young families, teachers, nurses, seniors looking to downsize, wage workers, for everyone! And we need it in every neighbourhood. Young families are fleeing Richmond's subdivisions and we have fewer overall kids today than we did in 2001. Schools are on the brink of closing and we to reserve that trend and zoning is orders of magnitudes the biggest thing we can change to create positive change.
A Richmond Housing Corp that can buy and develop its own land, in partnership with non-profits could be an incredible way to create affordable housing across the city. Burnaby is looking at using this tool, many Vancouver parties are promising it in their city and we should look at it as well.
We could take 2 of our large lots in Richmond and zone them so instead of two mansions you'd be allowed to build 8 1000-1500 square foot family sized houses with big porches, looking inward towards a big communal garden space with a playground, a large communal kitchen and living space for big gathering together, a guest suite, or even a child care centre. WIth parking for car shares, a bike storage shed, electric charging space. We can have this type of a community, we just need to allow it.
Parking is expensive and is one of the biggest factors that prevent developers building more affordable units. Many cities across North America have gotten rid of mandatory minimums and as we look to build near transit, it makes sense to do the same. We already have good measures in place to reduce parking in exchange for things like more bike parking, car share spaces etc... but it is time to take the next step and require those other things, while leaving parking up to the market.
Our vacancy rate is around 1%. We need thousands of new rental units in the coming years to catch up on years of inaction. We have the tools to deliver that rental housing, we just have to use them.
Reconciliation & Indigenous Nations
Indigenous-Led Housing
A municipal housing corp could work with the Indigenous community to identify needs and work together to acquire and develop land to suit those housing needs.
Transit & Getting Around
Active Transportation
Electric Bikes & Scooters
I really think this is the future. Micro mobility. We are seeing delivery companies creating electric delivery bikes to efficiently move packages, families ditching the car for a cargo bike, seniors and others with limited mobility have a brand new way of getting around. We need to account for this and make sure we are building space for them. Not just taking these modes on to the periphery. But build them into our priority.
The e-bikes and scooters are very expensive relative to other bike shares like Mobi and the e-scooters are certainly getting on some people's nerves. I don't belief e-scooters are inherently bad, just that our infrastructure isn't in place to support them. Currently they are illegal to ride in most of the city. They are only allowed in bike lanes and on roads with no yellow dividing line. It is impossible to get almost anywhere in the city following those 2 rules, so of course people take them on the side walk. We need to improve the infrastructure, not demonize a very efficient, sustainable and accessible way of moving people.
The provincial rebates just aren't good enough. But taking cars off the road would save the city a ton of money on repairs, improve congestion, health and safety. So looking at ways that we can incentivize that for Richmond residents would be great!
New Transit Projects
Parking
Public on street parking is paid for by everyone in the city. Whether we own a car or not. It also takes up valuable space to store private vehicles that could be used to move people. As we move to more active transport and fewer people are choosing to drive we will have and even bigger abundance of parking that we already do and can re-allocate that space.
Low fee parking permits should also be explored to create equity between who uses the space and who pays for it. These permits would be low cost and have exemptions for low-income residents who rely on their car.
Private Vehicles
I would explore extending Evo's home zone to include Richmond city centre at the very least with the goal of expanding it from there.
Ride-Hailing
Sidewalks & Bike Paths
Transit Fares
Biography
Born and raised in Richmond I went to Kingswood Elementary where our motto of Dream It. Think It. Live It. still rings true throughout my life. It is actually the name I gave my school presentations! I then attended McNair Secondary, squeaked into UBC before learning to really apply myself and finishing the last 2 years of my Kinesiology degree with a 94% average. My career in sport has taken me all over the world for travelling and competing. I have gotten to see some amazing places and it's also made me grateful for so much of what we have here in Richmond. Despite all of my travelling, I have never called anywhere but Richmond home.
I am so lucky to have gotten to spend my life chasing after my dream and using some of my free time to give back to the community. In my aforementioned school talks I have connected with over 10,000 school kids in and around Richmond. My talks have centred around the transformative power of sport, the lessons and skills I developed chasing after and realizing my dream of winning an Olympic medal and how we can all use the skills we acquire along our journey to help lift others up.
Between these talks and other fundraiser ventures I have raised over fifty thousand dollars for KidSport to help ensure more kids in Richmond and BC get to experience a life changing season of sport and activity. Through a sponsorship with Kraft Dinner I was able to get 35,000 boxes of KD donated to the Richmond food bank in 2021 to provide assistance to so many families. I coach with the Richmond Kajaks Track Club. And I have tried to never say no to a community member, group or event that thinks I could create value or be a positive influence for them.
I have been nationally recognized with awards for community involvement as well as sportsmanship. Internationally, I have been acclaimed for my integrity, honesty, and passionate way I have advocated for clean drug-free sport.
The last few years I've taken a keen and passionate interest in municipal politics. As I start to think about my life after sport, and the family and life I want to start in Richmond, I've been watching keenly and reading through hundreds of pages of staff reports to get an idea about how our city operates and create a vision for what we could look like a generation from now.
To learn more about me, my platform and my vision check out evandunfee.ca or follow me @evandunfee on twitter and instagram or add me as a friend on facebook.
Reason for running
I have a vision for a Richmond with the housing we need in every neighbourhood; resilient in the face of a changing climate; where people can safely and easily access their daily needs; and where everyone feels welcome, included and at home.
I believe it is time for a new generation of leaders at the decision making table and I know the skills I've developed chasing my own big dreams can be transferred to helping the city achieve big dreams.
You can learn more about me, my vision and my specific platform at evandunfee.ca
evandunfee.ca www.evandunfee.ca