Richmond is an incorporated city on the Pacific coast of the Canadian province of British Columbia and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Its neighbouring municipalities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, with Strait of Georgia on the west. Richmond is the location of the Vancouver International Airport.

 

Richmond supports about 100,000 jobs in various areas including services, retailing, tourism, light manufacturing, airport services and aviation, agriculture, fishing, and government. Richmond also is a leading centre in the region for high-technology companies, including the Nintendo Corporation of Canada. Microsoft has opened an office in September 2007 for software development. It will eventually employ hundreds of highly-skilled workers from around the world.

 

As of June 2007, Richmond city planners are one year into their update of its official plan for the city centre. The plan is anchored by the Canada Line, currently under construction, and includes the development of nine transit-oriented village centres. The population of the area is expected to grow from about 40,000 to 120,000 residents. According to a senior planner for the city, the goal of the plan is to "turn the middle arm of the Fraser River into a focus instead of an edge." A Richmond parks manager said that for "too long residents have felt contained by the river, seen it as being to their backs. Now, They want people to face the river and embrace the waterfront."