RICHMOND, BC (June 23, 2025) — A Richmond city councillor is calling for sweeping changes to how the iconic Richmond Olympic Oval is managed. Councillor Kash Heed has introduced a motion for the next General Purposes Committee (July 7), recommending dismantling the current “arm’s-length” corporation that oversees the facility and replacing it with a more streamlined and responsive governance model.
Councillor Heed points out that since its post‑Olympic repurposing in 2010, the City has subsidized the Oval by approximately $53 million. He argues that decisions are increasingly made without adequate council oversight, leading to management practices that may not align with community needs. To address this, Heed is proposing a $2.5 million annual cap on municipal funding and aims to finalize a new governance framework by early 2027.
The motion also highlights concerns over executive compensation.
According to recent financial disclosures, former CEO George Duncan earned over $582,000 in 2024, including a base salary of roughly $210,000 and additional benefits and payouts totalling about $372,000. Four other Oval executives received salaries exceeding $150,000.
In addition to Heed’s motion, the city has initiated a forensic audit tracing the Oval’s financial activities back to 2012. The audit—covering expense reporting and governance practices—will determine if any questionable or fraudulent transactions occurred during that period.
Reporter