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In fall 2026 the Steveston Historical Society asked every candidate the same five questions about local heritage. Answers are published in full, exactly as submitted, in alphabetical order. The Society is non-partisan and does not endorse or oppose any candidate or organization.
Answers appear exactly as submitted, without editing.
Candidates who responded
Richmond-Bridgeport: no responses yet
Richmond Centre: Lawrence Chen
Richmond-Queensborough: Luc Burns
Richmond-Steveston: no responses yet
The questions
- Steveston’s historic fishing village is one of Richmond’s best-known heritage places, but far from its only one. What do you see as the Province’s role in protecting and supporting heritage in Steveston and across Richmond?
- With tariffs putting pressure on BC’s economy, do you see heritage and cultural tourism as part of the response? What would that look like in Richmond?
- Would you support a provincial action plan or strategy for arts, culture and heritage, as the sector has called for?
- Most of BC’s community museums, including those run by heritage societies here in Richmond, are small, volunteer-founded and run on project grants. Would you support a stable provincial operating program for them, separate from project funding?
- Community events like the Steveston Salmon Festival and seasonal village celebrations depend on provincial event funding that has come and gone. Would you support restoring a stable fairs, festivals and events program?
Answers by candidate
Richmond Centre
Lawrence Chen · CanWest Party
1. Steveston’s historic fishing village is one of Richmond’s best-known heritage places, but far from its only one. What do you see as the Province’s role in protecting and supporting heritage in Steveston and across Richmond?
Steveston’s fishing village is the heart of Richmond’s heritage, and our local historic sites tell the story of our community’s roots. The provincial government has three key roles here.
First, stable, dedicated heritage funding. Many heritage societies and museums rely on short-term project grants only. As MLA, I will advocate for ongoing provincial operating funding, not just one-time grants, to maintain buildings, run exhibits and keep local heritage sites open year-round.
Second, protect heritage lands and buildings from overdevelopment. The province sets legislation and zoning oversight. We need balanced rules: we welcome reasonable growth, but historic structures like Steveston’s cannery buildings, fishing docks and heritage homes should get stronger provincial protection so they are not lost to redevelopment.
Third, partner with local volunteers and community groups. Most heritage work is done by volunteer-run societies. The province should reduce red tape for heritage non-profits, support youth and immigrant heritage programs, and promote Steveston and Richmond’s heritage sites as BC tourism assets.
Richmond’s heritage is not only Steveston. From old farm sites to early immigrant landmarks across Richmond, these places deserve provincial recognition and support. The province should work with the City of Richmond, local First Nations and volunteer groups together to preserve our shared history for future generations.
Short version (for questionnaire / social media)
The province must provide reliable long-term heritage funding, strengthen protection for historic buildings and sites against excessive development, and cut bureaucratic barriers for volunteer heritage groups. Steveston’s fishing village and Richmond’s other heritage landmarks are valuable community assets. The provincial government should collaborate with local governments, Indigenous communities and volunteers to preserve these sites and pass our shared history to younger generations.
2. With tariffs putting pressure on BC’s economy, do you see heritage and cultural tourism as part of the response? What would that look like in Richmond?
As MLA, I would push for provincial support focused on three practical actions in Richmond:
1. Provincial marketing funding to promote Richmond’s heritage sites alongside other BC tourist destinations, targeting both domestic and international visitors.
2. Infrastructure grants for safer walking trails, heritage signage, washroom facilities and accessible visitor amenities in Steveston and other heritage locations. This makes sites easier for tourists to visit and benefits local residents too.
3. Support local small businesses and volunteer heritage groups to develop cultural events, seasonal festivals and guided history tours. These low-cost initiatives bring visitors into our community, generate local spending, and create jobs without large high-density developments.
This tourism growth must be balanced. We will protect neighbourhood quality of life, avoid overcrowding, and keep the focus on celebrating authentic local history rather than mass commercialization. Cultural tourism is a win-win: it preserves our heritage while bringing stable, diversified local revenue to help buffer our economy against tariff shocks.
Yes, heritage and cultural tourism should be part of BC’s response to tariff pressures. Richmond’s unique history, especially Steveston, can attract visitors, support small local businesses and diversify our economy. I will advocate for provincial tourism marketing, heritage site infrastructure funding and support for community-led cultural events. Growth will be carefully managed to protect our neighbourhoods and authentic local heritage.
3. Would you support a provincial action plan or strategy for arts, culture and heritage, as the sector has called for?
Yes, I support a provincial arts, culture and heritage action plan. This plan should be built with community input, deliver stable multi-year funding, reduce bureaucracy for volunteer groups, and support Richmond’s heritage sites and local artists while growing responsible cultural tourism.
I support a community-led provincial arts, culture and heritage action plan with stable funding to protect local heritage and support artists.
4. Most of BC’s community museums, including those run by heritage societies here in Richmond, are small, volunteer-founded and run on project grants. Would you support a stable provincial operating program for them, separate from project funding?
Yes. I support a separate provincial operating funding program for volunteer-run community museums. Project grants only fund one-time initiatives. Stable core funding will help cover ongoing operational costs, cut red tape for volunteers, and keep Richmond’s local heritage sites open and accessible.
I support stable provincial operating funding for volunteer community museums, separate from short-term project grants.
5. Community events like the Steveston Salmon Festival and seasonal village celebrations depend on provincial event funding that has come and gone. Would you support restoring a stable fairs, festivals and events program?
Yes. I support restoring a stable provincial fairs, festivals and events program. Voluntary organizers of events like the Steveston Salmon Festival need predictable multi-year funding, instead of inconsistent short-term grants. Simplified paperwork will help these celebrations continue, strengthen community ties and support Richmond local businesses.
I support restoring stable provincial festival funding, so events like the Steveston Salmon Festival can plan ahead and thrive.
Richmond-Queensborough
Luc Burns · BC Green Party
Campaign website: bcgreens.ca/candidates-2026/luc-burns
1. Steveston’s historic fishing village is one of Richmond’s best-known heritage places, but far from its only one. What do you see as the Province’s role in protecting and supporting heritage in Steveston and across Richmond?
From SGang Gwaay to Craigdarroch Castle, to Fort Langley National Historic Site and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, I believe the BC government should help conservation by means of providing both legislative protection and financial grants that go towards sites maintenance.
2. With tariffs putting pressure on BC’s economy, do you see heritage and cultural tourism as part of the response? What would that look like in Richmond?
Heritage is something that needs continuous maintenance and people, especially children, benefit greatly from being able to to revisit the past and connect to it. I don’t think tariffs change that picture.
3. Would you support a provincial action plan or strategy for arts, culture and heritage, as the sector has called for?
Yes, after watching my fiancee navigate the art grant space as a musician, I think an action plan sounds like a great idea.
4. Most of BC’s community museums, including those run by heritage societies here in Richmond, are small, volunteer-founded and run on project grants. Would you support a stable provincial operating program for them, separate from project funding?
For projects that have run for multiple years and received funding across all of them, we can absolutely create new ways of reducing bureaucracy and approval around funding.
5. Community events like the Steveston Salmon Festival and seasonal village celebrations depend on provincial event funding that has come and gone. Would you support restoring a stable fairs, festivals and events program?
Yes, although we would need to revisit amounts allocated and I would need support from the rest of the Legislative Assembly, I would be open to restoring the stable fairs, festivals, and events program that the NDP suspended in 2025.
Answers by question
1. Steveston’s historic fishing village is one of Richmond’s best-known heritage places, but far from its only one. What do you see as the Province’s role in protecting and supporting heritage in Steveston and across Richmond?
Richmond Centre
Lawrence Chen · CanWest Party
Steveston’s fishing village is the heart of Richmond’s heritage, and our local historic sites tell the story of our community’s roots. The provincial government has three key roles here.
First, stable, dedicated heritage funding. Many heritage societies and museums rely on short-term project grants only. As MLA, I will advocate for ongoing provincial operating funding, not just one-time grants, to maintain buildings, run exhibits and keep local heritage sites open year-round.
Second, protect heritage lands and buildings from overdevelopment. The province sets legislation and zoning oversight. We need balanced rules: we welcome reasonable growth, but historic structures like Steveston’s cannery buildings, fishing docks and heritage homes should get stronger provincial protection so they are not lost to redevelopment.
Third, partner with local volunteers and community groups. Most heritage work is done by volunteer-run societies. The province should reduce red tape for heritage non-profits, support youth and immigrant heritage programs, and promote Steveston and Richmond’s heritage sites as BC tourism assets.
Richmond’s heritage is not only Steveston. From old farm sites to early immigrant landmarks across Richmond, these places deserve provincial recognition and support. The province should work with the City of Richmond, local First Nations and volunteer groups together to preserve our shared history for future generations.
Short version (for questionnaire / social media)
The province must provide reliable long-term heritage funding, strengthen protection for historic buildings and sites against excessive development, and cut bureaucratic barriers for volunteer heritage groups. Steveston’s fishing village and Richmond’s other heritage landmarks are valuable community assets. The provincial government should collaborate with local governments, Indigenous communities and volunteers to preserve these sites and pass our shared history to younger generations.
Richmond-Queensborough
Luc Burns · BC Green Party
From SGang Gwaay to Craigdarroch Castle, to Fort Langley National Historic Site and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, I believe the BC government should help conservation by means of providing both legislative protection and financial grants that go towards sites maintenance.
2. With tariffs putting pressure on BC’s economy, do you see heritage and cultural tourism as part of the response? What would that look like in Richmond?
Richmond Centre
Lawrence Chen · CanWest Party
As MLA, I would push for provincial support focused on three practical actions in Richmond:
1. Provincial marketing funding to promote Richmond’s heritage sites alongside other BC tourist destinations, targeting both domestic and international visitors.
2. Infrastructure grants for safer walking trails, heritage signage, washroom facilities and accessible visitor amenities in Steveston and other heritage locations. This makes sites easier for tourists to visit and benefits local residents too.
3. Support local small businesses and volunteer heritage groups to develop cultural events, seasonal festivals and guided history tours. These low-cost initiatives bring visitors into our community, generate local spending, and create jobs without large high-density developments.
This tourism growth must be balanced. We will protect neighbourhood quality of life, avoid overcrowding, and keep the focus on celebrating authentic local history rather than mass commercialization. Cultural tourism is a win-win: it preserves our heritage while bringing stable, diversified local revenue to help buffer our economy against tariff shocks.
Yes, heritage and cultural tourism should be part of BC’s response to tariff pressures. Richmond’s unique history, especially Steveston, can attract visitors, support small local businesses and diversify our economy. I will advocate for provincial tourism marketing, heritage site infrastructure funding and support for community-led cultural events. Growth will be carefully managed to protect our neighbourhoods and authentic local heritage.
Richmond-Queensborough
Luc Burns · BC Green Party
Heritage is something that needs continuous maintenance and people, especially children, benefit greatly from being able to to revisit the past and connect to it. I don’t think tariffs change that picture.
3. Would you support a provincial action plan or strategy for arts, culture and heritage, as the sector has called for?
Richmond Centre
Lawrence Chen · CanWest Party
Yes, I support a provincial arts, culture and heritage action plan. This plan should be built with community input, deliver stable multi-year funding, reduce bureaucracy for volunteer groups, and support Richmond’s heritage sites and local artists while growing responsible cultural tourism.
I support a community-led provincial arts, culture and heritage action plan with stable funding to protect local heritage and support artists.
Richmond-Queensborough
Luc Burns · BC Green Party
Yes, after watching my fiancee navigate the art grant space as a musician, I think an action plan sounds like a great idea.
4. Most of BC’s community museums, including those run by heritage societies here in Richmond, are small, volunteer-founded and run on project grants. Would you support a stable provincial operating program for them, separate from project funding?
Richmond Centre
Lawrence Chen · CanWest Party
Yes. I support a separate provincial operating funding program for volunteer-run community museums. Project grants only fund one-time initiatives. Stable core funding will help cover ongoing operational costs, cut red tape for volunteers, and keep Richmond’s local heritage sites open and accessible.
I support stable provincial operating funding for volunteer community museums, separate from short-term project grants.
Richmond-Queensborough
Luc Burns · BC Green Party
For projects that have run for multiple years and received funding across all of them, we can absolutely create new ways of reducing bureaucracy and approval around funding.
5. Community events like the Steveston Salmon Festival and seasonal village celebrations depend on provincial event funding that has come and gone. Would you support restoring a stable fairs, festivals and events program?
Richmond Centre
Lawrence Chen · CanWest Party
Yes. I support restoring a stable provincial fairs, festivals and events program. Voluntary organizers of events like the Steveston Salmon Festival need predictable multi-year funding, instead of inconsistent short-term grants. Simplified paperwork will help these celebrations continue, strengthen community ties and support Richmond local businesses.
I support restoring stable provincial festival funding, so events like the Steveston Salmon Festival can plan ahead and thrive.
Richmond-Queensborough
Luc Burns · BC Green Party
Yes, although we would need to revisit amounts allocated and I would need support from the rest of the Legislative Assembly, I would be open to restoring the stable fairs, festivals, and events program that the NDP suspended in 2025.
No response received
As of October 7, 2026, we had not received answers from the following candidates. Responses that arrive later will be added.
Richmond-Bridgeport: Linda Li (BC NDP) · Teresa Wat (Conservative Party)
Richmond Centre: Calvin Dang (BC Green Party) · Sacha Peter (Conservative Party) · Henry Yao (BC NDP)
Richmond-Queensborough: Dhar Grewal (BC NDP) · Steve Kooner (Conservative Party)
Richmond-Steveston: Robert Evans (Independent) · Bruce Kong (BC NDP) · Barry Wosk (CentreBC) · Keenan Yang (CanWest Party) · Gordon Zhang (Conservative Party)
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