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Richmond World Festival wins name game Council decide against Lulubaloo, or naming event after traditional Asian dish by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter
Eduardo Fritis with one of his larger radio controlled airplanes: a battery-operated aircraft with a wingspan of 1.4 metres.
Parks bylaw ‘unfair,’ hobbyists say City mulls ‘where, when and how’ hobbies could continue in Richmond by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter
Local hobbyists are calling on city council to rethink a bylaw restricting the flying of model airplanes and power kites in Richmond parks. “In other places like North Vancouver and
Burnaby...they use the parks during certain times of the day,”said Eduardo Fritis, a local real estate agent who has flown radio controlled airplanes for over 30 years. “But here they just want to ban them, and I don’t understand why.” Pending a council ratification vote, the bylaw prohibits all remote or radio controlled aircraft—including unmanned aerial vehicles known as drones—from Richmond parks and school grounds. Also banned are power or traction kites—wheeled contraptions often seen at Garry Point Park. Hobbyists who flout the bylaw face a fine of $150.
City officials say the hobbies pose a safety risk to other park users. But Fritis, 60, who flies his aircraft in the green space around Steveston-London Secondary, said his models haven’t posed a problem to others. “Usually what I do when I go to fly, I go early in the morning before the kids come to play soccer. When they come to play soccer, we take off.” The city does allow model planes at a public field on Rice Mill Road, but Fritis said the small space is only suitable for aircraft flown on a line—not for radio controlled planes. See Page 5
Simple and unambiguous has beaten out spicy and pearly. On Monday elected officials endorsed Richmond World Festival as the name of the city’s new multicultural-themed fair that will take over Minoru Park Sept. 5. They’ve been mulling a name since last fall when city staff unveiled early plans for a daylong party anchored by a major entertainment act and convoy of food trucks. After council thumbed its nose at the name Richmond World Block Party—and later Lulubaloo—staff returned with a winner in Richmond World Festival. “The strength of this name is in its simplicity. It gives prominent recognition to Richmond as the host and speaks to the multicultural nature of the event,” said Bryan Tasaka, manager of major events, in a staff report. Staff had help landing on the name. They hired a communications consultant to convene a meeting of 21 people representing community groups. “The name is easy to remember and will appeal to a broad demographic and diverse cultures,” noted Tasaka, who added the event’s features will elevate the brand in the region. Other ideas in the latest round of the name game had sizzle and flash, but weren’t recommended: the HotPot World Festival, named after the traditional Asian dish; and Pearl in the Park, a nod to Richmond’s geographic reputation as a pearl in a dragon’s mouth. After Monday’s unanimous 7-0 vote, the Richmond World Festival name only awaits a council ratification vote. Still, one councillor still has Lulubaloo on the mind. See Page 5
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