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The Richmond Christian School Eagles senior girls volleyball team claimed a title on the weekend.
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MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Civil servant enters race Longtime Nov 5 . 1
councillor calls it quits
City manager retires to run for council Graeme Wood
Staff Reporter gwood@richmond-news.com
The solution to many issues facing Richmond is Semple — Dave Semple. So says the 63-year-old former City of Richmond general manager of parks and community services, who, after retiring this week, is now running as an independent candidate for city council. Semple hopes to go from enacting city policies to creating them. With youthful exuberance, Semple says, in general, the city is on the right path but needs fine tuning, especially when it comes to communications and fostering and promoting community relations, an emerging theme in the lead up to the Nov. 15 election. During an interview with the Richmond News, Semple broached the subject of wellness, health and social services a number of times. He said as more programming and services are downloaded from higher governments to community groups and municipal government, citizens need to be informed of the services out there. “How we get through the system is a hard hill to climb. I want to simplify that so everyone in our community can get to those things,” he said, noting he partly came to that realization while undergoing care at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre following major back surgery recently. There, Semple said he befriended a Taiwanese teenager whose family was out of the country. “If you don’t have someone who can help you, it can be scary,” he said. Not lost on Semple is Richmond’s unique position on the cultural landscape and the perception that
Graeme Wood
Staff Reporter gwood@richmond-news.com
Dave Semple said his biggest asset, if elected, will be providing insight on intergovernmental relations. Photo by Graeme Wood/Richmond News neighbourhoods are eroding, partly begin to “get it” again. due to the rapid influx of Chinese Semple said his biggest asset will be in immigrants. The former Richmond providing insight on intergovernmental Colt football player recalled a time, as a relations, so the city can find best child living in Richmond, when 1950s practices in forming policies. neighbourhoods were also adjusting Yet he maintained it’s community to European groups that need a immigrants. bigger role in the I think we’re evolving He said city. Richmond found “You can always back, with good an identity back go to a bylaw. neighbourhoods, people That’s the easiest then, and he’s caring about each other. thing to do. But confident it will find a new one. it’s more about - Dave Semple “I’m very communication optimistic. I like and working with the multicultural people,” he said. approach. I think we’re evolving Semple spoke further to his concerns back, with good neighbourhoods, for affordable housing options in people caring about each other. It’s an the city, a pragmatic approach to evolution. We have to be patient. We’ve development that cannot leave the got all the right stuff in the city,” he said. environment behind and fiscal The father of two adult children, and responsibility. newly anointed master of a nine-monthHe said he’s joined an informal old dog named Muffin, said he sees more coalition with candidates Alexa Loo and neighbourly interactions emerging, and Harold Steves. ! Full story at Richmond-News.com it’s only a matter of time that people
Another longtime city councillor is calling it a career in politics. After 15 years on Richmond City Council, Linda Barnes will not seek re-election, leaving at least two, empty incumbent chairs at city hall for the Nov. 15 election, after Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt also called it a career last month. The two combined for 34 years of council experience. Barnes said during her time on council she presented a voice for progressive, social issues. “I like to think I brought more of a social conscience to the city,” Barnes told the News. Barnes, 64, cited several projects she’s worked on and advocated for during her time on council, such After 15 years on city as an affordable housing council, Linda Barnes will strategy. not be seeking re-election “How does the city, that next month. doesn’t have the mandate or financial reserves, put in affordable housing? But we were able to do it,” she said, alluding to the city’s development costs charges, which have funded a housing reserve over the years. Yet despite the strategy, Barnes said housing costs are among her major issues in the city. “My biggest concern is we will become an elitist city that only people who are wealthy can live here,” said Barnes. see BARNES› page 4
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