JANUARY
- 30-year-old Jonathan Leblanc allegedly commits a home invasion in Richmond and leads police on a violent carjacking rampage throughout Metro Vancouver.-
- Kwantlen student Johannes Foo, 23, is targeted and shot to death in the driveway of a Steveston Highway home. He’s Richmond’s first of four alleged homicides.
- Owners of two Rottweilers deemed “dangerous” and sentenced to death by the City of Richmond made the first of many headlines by pleading for the dogs’ release.
- Lawyer and former MP Joe Peschisolido defended Prabjot and Raj Nijjer in the case. Later in the month supporters clashed with Mayor Malcolm Brodie in city council chambers.
- Developers bulldoze an urban forest on Alexandra Road to make way for Walmart.
- The Cap Blanche container ship runs aground near Steveston. An investigation later reveals GPS technology failed the ship’s pilot.
FEBRUARY
- City council approves the densification of the Hamilton neighbourhood.
- Richmond Rapids swim club wins it first ever provincial team title in Kamloops.
- Former fire chief and local volunteer Ted Lorenz passes away. A service attended by hundreds was held March 1.
- A graffiti culprit takes aim at Richmond’s war cenotaph.
MARCH
- Richmond East MLA Linda Reid’s expense scandal makes provincial headlines. Reid spent taxpayers money to pay for her husband’s trip to Africa and tens of thousands on security upgrades to her constituency office.
- Volunteer Frances Clark wins the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Award and donates her $10,000 grant to the Richmond Centre for Disability.
- The Richmond Amateur Radio Club and Cambie secondary students make the slightest of contact with the international space station.
- Richmond approves biopharmaceutical company MediJean to set up a licensed medical marijuana production facility.
- The city’s composting facility shuts down after concerns of Legionnaires disease.
- The Richmond Sockeyes lose 5-1 to the Aldergrove Kodiaks in Game 7 of the PJHL Finals.
APRIL
- A legal loophole in driver licensing led to Richmond RCMP warning that thousands of Chinese motorists in the city could be driving illegally. Mounties said they had no way of verifying Chinese driver licence information because China is not a part of the international drivers permit program.
- Onni seeks rezoning of the Steveston waterfront development Imperial Landing and is subsequently denied.
- The cancellation of the immigrant investor-class program draws a divided response within the Chinese community.
- The Nijjer Rottweilers dodge a death sentence in an out of court settlement.
- Minoru Park changes commence as sports fields are condensed to make room for a new pool.
- The Ling Yen Mountain Temple comes before city council’s planning committee, but the process was muddied when Coun. Bill McNulty told the Buddhist applicants they had not acted in a “Christian way” while applying for rezoning. McNulty apologized while the Committee Against Ling Yen Mega Retreat, led by future councillor Carol Day, continued its criticism. The expansion application was referred back to staff, but did not come back before council before the end of 2014.
- Teacher job action begins with limited recess supervision of children.
- VAPOR files for judicial review of the process of the jet fuel facility consultation process.
- The Richmond Olympic Oval hosts the Pacific Rim 2014 Gymnastics Championships.
MAY
- Jian Hua James Wu is charged with second degree murder of his wife in his Panorama Place apartment on Granville Avenue. It is Richmond’s second murder investigation
- In danger of being cancelled, resident Howard Jampolsky steps forward to organize September’s Terry Fox Run.
- Another Onni boardwalk proposal is turned back as Coun. Harold Steves calls it a “Mickey Mouse” offer.
- Community gardeners beef up education and security against food theft as growing season begins.
- A $28 million autism centre on Sea Island obtains a development permit.
- Teachers begin rotating strikes in Richmond.
JUNE
- The Steveston World Cup begins. Local merchants celebrate each participating nation in the World Cup of soccer by hosting public booths and street parties.
- The Garden City Lands legacy plan passes through city council.
- “Happy hour” comes to Richmond pubs but minimum drink prices are set.
- Students join teachers on the picket lines and local MLA offices are protested.
JULY
- A decision by the Richmond School District to continue its international student program during the lockout ruffles the feathers of local teachers, who picket Richmond Christian school, where classes were held.
- YVR airport officials and Richmond RCMP sound the alarm for personal remote-controlled flying devices (drones) coming too close to flight paths.
- Ground breaks on a new $80 million pool and seniors centre at Minoru Park.
- Christy Mahy is killed by an SUV as she waited at an intersection on Russ Baker Way with her bicycle. Her death draws an emotional reminder of road safety.
- A dirt bike park opens at Garden City community park.
- Geothermal energy at the Alexandra District Energy Utility, a city-owned venture, expands into Phase 3 with a $12.3 million expansion.
AUGUST
- River Road is realigned at the Dinsmore Bridge, causing traffic chaos as drivers adjust to the new route.
- Pianos are placed around the city as impromptu performances ring melodies in the ears of passersby.
- A highly anticipated sockeye salmon run begins as nearly 300 Steveston gillnetters toss their lines into the Fraser River.
- People throw ice all over one another to raise money for ALS.
- Richmond Public Library introduces the Launchpad, a technology-driven interactive display featuring 3D printers.
SEPTEMBER
- Eighteen year-old David Lee is stabbed to death on Mang Road and, to date, police have found no motive or suspect.
- Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment playground opens.
- Another new political slate is born in Renew Richmond, co-led by former Richmond First school trustee Grace Tsang.
- After delays, Canada Post finally opens its new mail sorting facility to the media. The 700,000 square foot, $200 million plant employs 900 people and can sort 41,000 letters per hour
- The Steveston McDonald’s closes.
- School trustee Kenny Chiu is confirmed to run as the Conservative Party of Canada’s candidate for Steveston-Richmond East in 2015.
- Teachers return and classes resume on Sep. 23 as the government and teachers’ union reach a deal.
- Richmond becomes the first city in Canada to recognize the right to a healthy environment via David Suzuki’s Blue Dot campaign.
OCTOBER
- Richmond experiences its fourth homicide investigation of 2014 as a man is shot and killed in Talmey Neighbourhood Park. There are no suspects to date.
- The Steveston Moms Network and the Steveston Mens Support Group form a Facebook movement.
- A Chinese sign bylaw debate comes to the forefront of the municipal election campaign.
- Anti-smoking social activist Norman Wrigglesworth dies at age 88.
- 52 candidates run for school board, city council and mayor combined. It’s believed to be a record.
- Mayoral candidate Richard Lee forms the new political slate Richmond Reform in an attempt to de-seat Mayor Brodie.
- Francis Nand receives a national Medal of Bravery at Rideau Hall for helping save passengers’ lives in a 2011 plane crash on Russ Baker Way.
- Ikea workers return to work after a 17-month labour dispute.
- Ryan Webster pleads guilty to drunk driving and is sentenced to two years in prison for killing Jess and Shane Moses.
- Richmond RCMP Const. Kenrick Whitney pleads guilty to breach of trust. Police seek his dismissal.
NOVEMBER
- RCMP Mounties Kwesi Millington and Benjamin (Monty) Robinson begin perjury trials in the case of Robert Dziekanski’s death at YVR in 2007.
- Mayor Malcolm Brodie sparks interest in the mayor’s race by refusing to shake Richard Lee’s hand on Shaw Cable. While Lee criticizes Brodie’s agenda, he fails to persuade the electorate of his own and loses in a landslide. With a new four-year term, Brodie is scheduled to become Richmond’s third-longest standing mayor.
- The Richmond News hosts the final all-candidates meeting.
- Local activist Carol Day is elected into Richmond City Council on her third try. Running with RITE Richmond, Day campaigned against the city’s fast-paced development.
- Alexa Loo uses her expertise in accounting and sport coaching to convince the electorate she too would be a good city councillor. Loo’s campaign focused on helping alleviate poverty, improving traffic gridlock and promoting healthy lifestyle choices.
- All six incumbent city councillors are elected back into office as voter turnout spiked from 23.4 per cent in 2011 to 32.4 per cent in 2014. Coun. Bill McNulty receives a record 17,417 votes. Andy Hobbs finishes just 582 votes behind Alexa Loo. Michael Wolfe fails in his third straight attempt.
- Four new faces come to the Richmond Board of Education: Sandra Nixon, Ken Hamaguchi, Alice S. Wong and Jonathan Ho. Three incumbent Richmond First candidates join the new members with Eric Yung later named as chair.
- Immigration Watch Canada blames traffic gridlock on immigrants, triggering further debates on racism.
- VAPOR gets its day in court but proceedings are delayed until February. City council donates $2,500 to the legal cause.
- Richmond antique dealer Xiao Ju Guan pleads guilty to dealing rhino horns.
DECEMBER
- The City of Richmond and London Drugs become the first Richmond entities to register automatic electronic defibrillators (AED) online with 911 operators.
- The Richmond Sports Wall of Fame organizers seek public input as to who should be honoured for their sporting achievements. The wall is to be included in the Richmond Olympic Experience, which gets a $4 million boost to its budget. ROX is set to open this spring.
- A community survey reveals Richmond is facing a doctor shortage.
- The Steveston Lifeboat sinks in the Fraser River after hitting a rock wall during a training exercise in a windstorm at night. Coast Guard auxiliary volunteers rescue 14 passengers.
- Metro Vancouver mayors propose a transit referendum for a 0.5 per cent regional sales tax. Richmond stands to gain 12 new Canada Line train cars and extra bus service on some routes (as well as a B-line to Metrotown).
- Ground breaks on the Good Life Fitness Family Autism Hub on Sea Island.
- A 133-unit townhouse development at the old Steveston High site plans to transform a Steveston neighbourhood as concerns are raised about the public consultation process.
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