City of Richmond, BC: Complete City Guide

Richmond is an island city of about 210,000 people at the mouth of the Fraser River, just south of Vancouver. Built mostly on Lulu Island and Sea Island, it is home to Vancouver International Airport, the historic fishing village of Steveston, the famous Richmond Night Market and some of the best Chinese food in North America. Richmond has one of the highest shares of Asian-Canadian residents of any city outside Asia, and its mix of farms, waterfront dike trails, temples, modern towers and seafood docks makes it one of the most unusual and interesting cities in the region.

Richmond sits on the traditional territories of Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and other hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking nations.

Richmond at a Glance: Quick Facts

Statistics Canada counted the population again in May 2026, but city-level results are not expected until 2027. Figures on this page use the 2021 census unless stated.

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History of Richmond

Before the city

The islands of the Fraser River delta have been used for thousands of years by Coast Salish peoples, who came each summer to fish for salmon and sturgeon, hunt waterfowl and gather plants on the rich marshlands. Seasonal villages stood along the river, including a Cowichan (Quw'utsun) village site on the south arm known as Tl'uqtinus. In 2025 the BC Supreme Court recognized Cowichan Aboriginal title to some lands in Richmond in the case Cowichan Tribes v. Canada; the City has appealed the decision.

Farming and fishing

European settlers began farming the fertile delta in the 1860s, building the first dikes to hold back the river. The Township of Richmond was incorporated on November 10, 1879. In the 1880s and 1890s Steveston, at the mouth of the river, became a booming salmon canning town with dozens of canneries, and was once known as the salmon canning capital of the world. Japanese Canadian fishermen and their families formed a large part of Steveston's community until 1942, when they were forcibly removed from the coast and their boats and property seized; many returned after the war.

Airport and suburb

Vancouver's airport opened on Sea Island in 1931, and the area grew into a major aviation centre. After the Second World War, new bridges and the George Massey Tunnel (1959) turned Richmond into a fast-growing suburb. Richmond became a city in 1990.

Modern Richmond

From the late 1980s, immigration from Hong Kong, Taiwan and later mainland China transformed Richmond, creating its Asian malls, restaurants and temples. The Canada Line SkyTrain opened in 2009, and the Richmond Olympic Oval hosted speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Malcolm Brodie, mayor since 2001, is the longest-serving mayor in Richmond's history and is retiring in 2026.

Key dates in Richmond history

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Geography of Richmond

Richmond is an island city in the Fraser River delta. Most residents live on Lulu Island, between the North Arm and the main (South) Arm of the Fraser. Sea Island, to the northwest, holds Vancouver International Airport, and Mitchell Island and other small islands lie in the North Arm. Vancouver is across the North Arm, Delta is across the South Arm, and New Westminster's Queensborough shares the eastern tip of Lulu Island. The land is extremely flat and close to sea level, protected by about 49 km of dikes. West of the city, the tidal flats of Sturgeon Bank are part of one of the most important bird habitats on the Pacific coast.

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Richmond Neighbourhoods

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Richmond Climate and Weather

Richmond has a mild oceanic climate and is one of the drier parts of Metro Vancouver, because it is far from the North Shore Mountains. Winters are cool and rainy, summers are sunny and warm, and the flat, open landscape can be windy, which makes Garry Point a great kite-flying spot.

Figures are approximate, based on Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Vancouver International Airport, which is in Richmond.

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Urban Planning in Richmond

Richmond focuses most new development in City Centre, around the Canada Line stations, where towers and mixed-use neighbourhoods such as Oval Village and Capstan Village are rising. About 38% of the city is in the Agricultural Land Reserve, and protecting farmland from development pressure is a constant debate. Flood protection is a central planning issue: the City is raising and strengthening its dikes to prepare for sea-level rise. Other priorities include affordable housing, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Centre, and the replacement of the George Massey Tunnel with a new eight-lane tunnel. The 2025 Cowichan title decision and the City's appeal have also raised questions about land ownership in part of the city.

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Richmond Architecture and Landmarks

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Richmond Demographics and Population

The 2021 census counted 209,937 people in Richmond, up about 6% from 2016. Around 60% of residents were born outside Canada, one of the highest shares of any city in the country, and roughly four in five residents belong to a visible minority group.

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Ethnicity and Cultural Diversity

Richmond has the highest share of residents of Chinese origin of any major city in North America.

Figures are rounded from the Statistics Canada 2021 Census Profile.

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Languages Spoken in Richmond

Cantonese and Mandarin are spoken at home by a large share of residents, and many businesses operate mainly in Chinese. English is the shared language of daily life. Other common languages include Tagalog, Punjabi, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Spanish. Richmond is often described as having more than 150 languages spoken.

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Religion in Richmond

Richmond is famous for its religious diversity. About 45% of residents reported no religion in 2021; Christians make up about a third, and Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus form large communities. No. 5 Road in East Richmond is nicknamed the "Highway to Heaven" for the more than 20 churches, temples, gurdwaras and mosques along a few kilometres, including the India Cultural Centre (Gurdwara Nanak Niwas), Thrangu Monastery, Ling Yen Mountain Temple and the Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre. The International Buddhist Temple on Steveston Highway is one of the largest Chinese Buddhist temples in North America.

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LGBTQ2S+ Richmond

Richmond has a growing LGBTQ2S+ community, with Richmond Pride events, inclusive programs at the library and community centres, and local support groups. Vancouver's Davie Village is about 30 minutes away on the Canada Line.

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Homelessness in Richmond

Richmond has relatively low visible homelessness compared with Vancouver and Surrey, but numbers have grown. The 2020 regional count found about 85 people experiencing homelessness in Richmond, and later counts found more. The City has opened supportive housing and works with local non-profits on shelter, outreach and meal programs.

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Richmond Economy and Major Employers

Richmond has one of the strongest local economies in BC. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Sea Island is the biggest driver, supporting tens of thousands of jobs in aviation, logistics and tourism, along with dozens of airport hotels. Other major sectors include:

• Retail and food: Aberdeen Centre, Richmond Centre, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet and the restaurants of Golden Village and Alexandra Road ("Food Street")
• Technology and aerospace: MDA Space, aircraft maintenance and many tech companies
• Agriculture: blueberries, cranberries and vegetables on the farmland of East Richmond
• Head offices: London Drugs is headquartered in Richmond
• Tourism and entertainment: River Rock Casino Resort, the Richmond Night Market and Steveston

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City Government, Mayor and Council

Richmond is governed by a mayor and eight councillors, all elected city-wide for four-year terms. Voters also elect seven trustees to the Richmond Board of Education (School District 38). City Hall is at 6911 No. 3 Road.

Mayor and city councillors (term 2022–2026)

Councillor Chak Au resigned effective February 1, 2026. Council chose not to hold a by-election, so the seat stays vacant until the October election.

The next civic election is Saturday, October 17, 2026. With Mayor Brodie retiring after 25 years, candidates for mayor include Councillor Kash Heed and former MLA Henry Yao.

Other levels of government

Richmond is divided among several federal and provincial ridings, including Richmond Centre–Marpole and Richmond East–Steveston federally. Metro Vancouver provides regional services, and TransLink runs transit.

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Policing and Crime in Richmond

Richmond is policed by the Richmond RCMP detachment under contract with the City, and Richmond Fire-Rescue provides fire services. YVR is patrolled by its own RCMP detachment. Richmond has relatively low violent crime; the most common crimes are property crimes such as thefts from vehicles and shoplifting at busy malls.

For emergencies call 9-1-1. For non-emergency matters, contact the Richmond RCMP.

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Military in Richmond

Sea Island was home to a Royal Canadian Air Force station during the Second World War, when the airport was used to train pilots and support coastal defence. Today Richmond has no military base. Remembrance Day is marked each November 11 at the cenotaph at Richmond City Hall and in Steveston.

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Richmond Sister Cities

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Public Transport and Getting Around Richmond

Driving and bridges

Highway 99 runs north–south through Richmond, crossing to Vancouver over the Oak Street Bridge and to Delta through the George Massey Tunnel, which is being replaced. Other crossings include the Knight Street, Arthur Laing (to Sea Island), Dinsmore, Moray, No. 2 Road and Queensborough bridges, and Highway 91 links to the Alex Fraser Bridge.

Cycling and walking

Richmond is flat and ideal for cycling. The dike trails around Lulu Island, especially the West Dyke Trail from Terra Nova to Garry Point and the Steveston waterfront, are some of the region's most scenic walks and rides. The Middle Arm Waterfront Greenway runs along the river beside the Olympic Oval.

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Schools, Universities and Colleges in Richmond

The Richmond School District (School District 38) serves about 20,000 students in around 40 elementary schools and 10 secondary schools, with French immersion, Mandarin bilingual, Montessori and International Baccalaureate programs.

Public secondary schools

Universities and colleges

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Richmond Public Library

Richmond Public Library has four branches: Brighouse (main branch, in the Richmond Cultural Centre), Cambie, Ironwood and Steveston. It has one of the largest Chinese-language collections of any public library in Canada, plus e-books, streaming, a makerspace and programs for all ages.

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Arts and Culture in Richmond

Museums and galleries

Theatre and performing arts

Filming locations

Steveston is one of the most famous filming locations in Canada. It became the fictional town of Storybrooke in the TV series Once Upon a Time, and its waterfront, wharves and heritage buildings appear in many other productions.

Media

• Local news: Richmond News, Richmond Sentinel
• Chinese-language media: Many Chinese newspapers, radio and online outlets serve Richmond
• Regional: CBC, CTV, Global BC and CityNews

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Richmond Nightlife

Richmond's nightlife is all about food. Golden Village and Alexandra Road, known as "Food Street," have hundreds of restaurants serving dim sum, hot pot, noodles, dumplings and desserts late into the night. The Richmond Night Market runs on summer evenings. River Rock Casino Resort has gaming, bars and live shows, and Steveston's restaurants and pubs are popular for sunset dinners. For clubs, Vancouver is a short Canada Line ride away.

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Parks and Gardens in Richmond

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Natural Attractions In and Near Richmond

Richmond's nature is shaped by the Fraser River estuary. The tidal flats of Sturgeon Bank and Boundary Bay attract millions of migrating shorebirds and waterfowl, as well as eagles, herons and, in some winters, snowy owls. The raised bog at Richmond Nature Park is a rare ecosystem. Nearby are the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, the beaches of Tsawwassen and Centennial Beach, and the Pacific Spirit forests at UBC.

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Things to Do in Richmond: Top Attractions

1. Explore Steveston Village and buy seafood off the boats at Fisherman's Wharf.
2. Tour the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
3. Visit the Richmond Night Market on a summer evening.
4. Eat your way down Food Street in Golden Village.
5. Fly a kite and watch the sunset at Garry Point Park.
6. See the International Buddhist Temple.
7. Walk the Iona Beach jetty.
8. Try the Olympic Experience at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
9. Shop at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet or Aberdeen Centre.
10. Cycle the West Dyke Trail.

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Sports Teams and Recreation in Richmond

The Richmond Olympic Oval is now one of North America's best multi-sport centres, with ice rinks, courts, a fitness centre and an indoor track. The Minoru Centre for Active Living has pools and seniors programs, and the Richmond Ice Centre has multiple rinks. Richmond has strong clubs in soccer, rugby, cricket, field hockey, badminton, table tennis and dragon boating. The flat dike trails make running and cycling especially popular.

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Annual Events and Festivals in Richmond

Dates change from year to year, so check with organizers before you go.

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Sustainability and Green City Goals

Because most of Richmond sits near sea level, climate adaptation is a top priority. The City's Flood Protection Strategy is raising dikes and upgrading drainage pump stations to protect against sea-level rise and river flooding. Richmond also runs the Lulu Island Energy Company, a city-owned district energy utility that heats and cools buildings in the Alexandra and Oval Village areas, protects farmland in the Agricultural Land Reserve, and was one of the first BC cities to ban some single-use plastics.

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City Services and Amenities

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Richmond FAQ

Is Richmond part of Vancouver?

No. Richmond is a separate city with its own mayor and council, just south of Vancouver across the Fraser River's North Arm.

Is Vancouver's airport in Richmond?

Yes. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is on Sea Island in Richmond.

What is Richmond known for?

The Richmond Night Market, Steveston, its Chinese food scene, the "Highway to Heaven," YVR and the Richmond Olympic Oval.

How do you get from Vancouver to Richmond?

Take the Canada Line from downtown Vancouver; it reaches Richmond–Brighouse Station in about 25 minutes.

What is the population of Richmond?

The 2021 census counted 209,937 people.

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Sources

• City of Richmond: Statement on Councillor Chak Au's resignation
• City of Richmond: 2026 news and information
• Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver: Japan–BC sister cities
• Metro Vancouver: Homeless population data
• Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population

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