With only two months before the municipal election, Richmond Community Coalition (RCC) announced two new candidates for the Richmond Board of Education Trustee position.
The new candidates are Grace Tsang, a former school trustee from 2005 to 2014, and Harv Puni, a professional stand-up comedian.
Tsang, who owns a financial planning business, was a three-term Richmond School Trustee before running for city councillor in 2014, but she didn’t succeed.
“I think it’s a good time for me to get back on the school board. It’s where I can serve the community the best and where I should put my energy,” Tsang told the Richmond News.
Tsang said her years of previous experience working for the school board and being on different committees, as well as being fluent in Chinese and Cantonese, sets her apart from the other candidates.
If elected, Tsang hopes to focus on solutions like building a city centre school and making sure that students can study in their in-catchment schools. She also hopes to focus on seismic upgrade projects.
“At least over 10 years ago we were talking about looking into a city centre school, and I’m sort of disappointed because it hasn’t materialized. It seems like the focus has shifted,” said Tsang.
“And I understand that right now due to school size many students can’t go to their in-catchment schools. I think that’s a problem and I’d like to look into that.”
Another candidate, Puni, also known as “Hollywood Harv,” is a celebrity in his fans’ eye.
He has performed shows throughout the U.S., England and across Canada in the past eight years, including one-night performances at the River Rock and Vogue theatres.
Born and raised in Richmond, Puni is also a long-time coach and mentor for Richmond’s Secondary School students.
“I have seen many changes in my city over the last 41 years. I have been fully entrenched in this community through schooling, sports and my professional life,” said Puni.
“Now I am a father of two young boys who attend the same elementary school that I attended. I have a vested interest in making sure Richmond schools continue to provide a quality education and a positive school experience for our children.”
Puni told the News that he has good connections with the community, the youth and especially teachers in Richmond.
“A lot of my friends and the people I grow up with are now teachers here in Richmond, and I have been speaking to a lot of them and just asking their opinions and what are some of the things they need,” said Puni.
“For example, we really need a downtown school, and some schools need a new playground. And there are other things I’d like to see such as students being taught financial literacy in high school."
A RCC press release commented that Puni’s “work in the community and ability to bridge generational gaps with his humor have helped him excel at all of his endeavors.”
Tsang and Puni will join three other trustee candidates announced by RCC earlier, who are Keith Liedtke, Rahim Othman and Rod Belleza.
Back in May, the RCC announced four candidates for city council, including incumbent councillors Chak Au and Ken Johnston.
