The heart of Richmond is known by many names, but most folks who live in the city core, emanating from around No. 3 Road and Westminster Highway, simply refer to the area as Richmond Centre.
The name suggests that it is right in the middle of everything, which is exactly why most people seemingly choose to live in the popular location.
Richmondite Ian Yeung is fortunate to be one of those people who live and work in the same city.
He and his wife Maggie moved into an apartment building three years ago, only a couple blocks away from the Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD) on No. 3 Road where he is a career development facilitator.
"I was in Vancouver before, and mainly going to work in the morning it was kind of a long commute all the way to Richmond. It was at least 40 minutes from where I was on
Oak and 33rd," said Yeung, who chose their current home not only because of the close proximity to his work but that virtually everything is within walking or cycling distance. "For me, I do a lot of sports. My wife and I, we bike all around Richmond - the roads are very, very well maintained. There are badminton places where we can play with friends," he said.
Other places the couple frequent include Minoru Park, the endless eateries on Alexandra Road - dubbed "Restaurant
Row," by locals - and the Lansdowne Centre and Richmond Centre malls.
Former local resident Kiki Lin works at Richmond Centre, and said it's a spectacle to witness the 100 seniors that gather inside the mall almost every morning, before the stores open, to practise tai chi.
Like Yeung, she thinks the area's greatest asset is its walkability - something that is vital for the growing older population.
"Everything is so close. If they need to go to the supermarket, doctor, lawyer - on No. 3 Road everything is walking distance," said Lin.
She also loves the multiculturalism that is the most concentrated in the core, and the fact that you can find traditional western grocery stores right next to places like Yaohan Centre and T&T Supermarket that offer the most authentic Asian products.
With a young son and the need for more space, Lin recently relocated to a house in Tsawwassen. However, she spent many years living on General Currie Road and later on Hemlock Drive near Garden City and Westminster. At her latter residence, Lin said she loved taking her family to a tucked away gem, the Garden City Community Park that features a lake with a bridge, a children's play area, basketball and tennis courts. "I'm still coming back here when I retire," she said.
