The Best of Richmond 2023 special section published in our print edition out this week. Click here to see all the profiles of outstanding citizens and the businesses with the most votes in their respective categories.
Lisa Cowell is the Chair of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, a board member at the Richmond Olympic Oval and works as a communications consultant at Apostrophe PR with a focus on helping non-profits. Cowell worked in fundraising and communications in the non-profit sector for more than 20 years.
She began her career in sales and marketing but quickly realized that contributing to the community was her passion. She joined the team at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in 2000 and since then has worked with several organizations in the health-care and social service sectors. Most recently, Cowell was the manager of Fund and Community Development for Aspire Richmond (formerly Richmond Society for Community Living), Richmond’s largest provider of services for people with developmental disabilities.
She lives in Steveston with her husband and two children. For the past two decades, she has spent much of her spare time at the many gyms, fields, pools and rinks in Richmond cheering on her kids and their teammates.
Q & A
What do you like best about Richmond?
Richmond has grown to be a strong independent city, while still maintaining its small-town, personal feel. I’ve lived in Richmond since 1998. Early in my time in Richmond, I found myself going to Vancouver a lot for amenities and shopping. But now, I get everything I need right here in Richmond.
How do you stay healthy in Richmond?
I live in Steveston and my three favourite activities are walking on the dykes, gardening in my community garden plot and training at True Conditioning.
What’s your favourite area of nature in Richmond?
I love the diversity of animals and birds I see along the dykes in Steveston.
Where in Richmond do you to take out-of-town guests?
I love to take my guests for dim sum. Trying new restaurants every chance I get is part of the fun. Any of the fresh seafood items are a staple order.
What is one of Richmond’s hidden gems?
A lot of people perceive Richmond as the airport city, a food destination or an agricultural producer. I don’t think many people know just how many great businesses have headquarters in Richmond, such as Western Canada’s largest Coca-Cola bottling plant, and an incredible number of emerging technology firms that will change the way we all do business.
