HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 Citizens ReportExtraordinary
People
2010 CITIZENS REPORT
District of Maple Ridge
British Columbia, Canada
Vision 2025
The District of Maple Ridge is among the most sustainable
communities in the world. As a community committed to working
toward achieving carbon neutrality, residents experience the value
of a strong and vibrant local economy and the benefits of an
ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and creation
of stable and special neighbourhoods. Maple Ridge is a world
leading example of thoughtful development and a socially cohesive
community, especially as it relates to the use of leading edge
“environmental technologies,” social networks and economic
development. Other municipalities consistently reference the
District of Maple Ridge for its innovative approaches to dealing
with seemingly intractable challenges.
Mission
A safe, livable, and sustainable community for our present
and future citizens.
Value Statements
Leadership: To encourage innovation, creativity, and
initiative.
Service: To be fair, friendly, and helpful.
Reputation: To stress excellence, integrity, accountability,
and honesty.
Human Resources: To recognize that our people are our
most valuable resource.
Community: To respect and promote our community.
Stewardship: To consider the long-term consequences
of actions, think broadly across issues, disciplines and
boundaries and act accordingly.
Sustainable. Stewardship. Development.
The District of Maple Ridge is pleased to present the
2010 Citizens Report. This publication, along with the
District’s Financial and Annual Reports allows citizens to
see the business of the District at every level, from detailed
budgets to this document with its summary reports and
consolidated financial data.
This report, as with all projects in the District, was a team
effort. The designer and principal photography were done
by two talented local people. Main photography was done
by Oliver Rathonyi-Reusz of InView Images. The publication
design and layout was done by Cailin Green of Avalon Design.
The project is coordinated by the Communications team.
A number of staff made extraordinary contributions to the
2010 Citizens Report. Cindy Dale and Jacquie Bergmann
sourced material, edited copy and generally kept the project
on track with their amazing energy and passion. Sandra
Ramsay managed to organize and wrangle all the staff for
the photo sessions with Oliver.
This publication is available online at mapleridge.ca and we
encourage you to share your print copy with as many people
as possible. If you have further questions or comments about
the 2010 Citizens Report, please contact me at any time.
Fred Armstrong
Manager Corporate Communication
District of Maple Ridge
11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6A9
Telephone: 604-467-7452
Email: farmstrong@mapleridge.ca
Printed on FSC certified 10% recycled Titan paper.
100% recyclable.
Contents
Vision 2025 ....................................Inside Front Cover
Message From The Mayor ....................................... 2
Message from the Chief Administrative Officer ....4
Community Development, Parks &
Recreation Services .................................................. 6
Corporate & Financial Services .............................. 8
Public Works &
Development Services ............................................ 10
Maple Ridge Fire Department ............................... 12
Police Services in Maple Ridge ............................ 14
Downtown Maple Ridge ......................................... 16
Festivals & Events .................................................... 18
Our People ................................................................ 20
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position .... 22
Consolidated Statement of Operations ................ 23
2010 Operating Expenses ....................................... 24
2010 Revenues .......................................................... 25
2010 Capital Additions / Debt Per Capita ............. 26
Taxes vs. Household Costs /
Population Estimate................................................. 27
2010 Taxation ............................................................ 28
Demographics .......................................................... 29
Under Wraps ............................................................ 30
Your Mayor & Council ............................................. 31
Municipal Contact Information ............................. 32
2010 GFOA Award .................................................... 33
1
Message from the Mayor
On behalf of Council, I am pleased to present the
2010 Citizens Report. This report will provide you with
information on the District’s financial performance for
the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2010, as well
as a review of departmental activities and program
highlights for the year.
All of Council has deep roots in this community. We
are proud to call Maple Ridge home, and this is the
place that we are raising our families, and, for some
of us, this is where our grandchildren are growing
up. That has a profound influence on how each of us
works on behalf of citizens.
While the debate around the Council table is vigorous,
there is one thing that we all agree on – Maple Ridge
is a gift that was given to us from our parents and
it’s a gift that we need to pass on to our children and
grandchildren. That means that we need to think a lot
about the future, not in terms of days and weeks, but
years ahead.
There’s a Greek proverb that says, “A society grows
great when old men plant trees in whose shade they
know they shall never sit.” It is that kind of thinking
that guided Council in the development of Vision
2025 which is printed on the inside front cover of
this publication. As you read the Vision and Values
Statements you will come to understand what drives
Council’s debate, discussion and decisions.
The challenge is to move Vision 2025 to actions,
and that’s what this publication is all about. In the
following pages you will meet the citizens and staff
who work hard every day to carry out the work of
building our community for our present and future
citizens. Instead of the formal portraits that often
appear in this publication, we chose to introduce you
to some of the people that inspire us to do our work -
our family members. In my case, my family has lived in
this community for over a century, having come here
to establish a homestead in the 1870’s. My home is on
property that used to be part of my grandfather’s farm,
and the photograph you see here is of four generations
of my family, and was taken on the steps of my
grandparent’s home, the place my dad was born, and
a place that holds many happy memories for me.
An extraordinary community is built by extraordinary people.
2
From right to left: Mayor Ernie Daykin, his daughter Christine,
his grandsons Caleb and Joshua, and his father Norman
The wonderful group photograph of my fellow Council members includes
spouses, children and grandchildren that inspire each of us to do our jobs
well. The Maple Ridge that our offspring raise their families in will be defined
by the decisions and choices each of us make today. That’s what vision and
values are all about.
The passion for this community doesn’t end with Council; it’s shared by
the staff here at the District. A team of dedicated professionals that not
only work here, but the vast majority live here and volunteer here in this
community as they raise their families. It’s the bond that we all share. You
will meet them and discover how they are all doing their part towards
achieving the community imagined in our Vision 2025 document.
When people ask me what makes Maple Ridge such a great place to live, I
never hesitate to tell them that it’s the people. The 2010 Citizens Report will
give you a glimpse of some extraordinary people, some amazing events and
some remarkable projects that we are extremely proud of.
I hope that this introduction captures my enthusiasm and the enthusiasm
of my fellow Council members and our staff for our community. We are
dedicated to the Mission Statement that demands that we create “a safe,
livable, and sustainable community for our present and future citizens.”
Council welcomes your comments on this publication. You can reach us at
mayorandcouncil@mapleridge.ca or by phone at 604-463-5521.
On behalf of Council, I thank you for taking the time to review our 2010
Citizens Report. This is our community, our home, and we have much to
be proud of.
Ernie Daykin
Mayor
“A society grows
great when old
men plant trees in
whose shade they
know they shall
never sit.”
GREEK PROVERB
Council and their families: from
left to right:
Councillor Judy Dueck with her
grandson Jalen, Councillor Linda
King with her grandson Rafiq,
Councillor Mike Morden with his
wife Kim and their dog Jasper,
Mayor Ernie Daykin, Councillor
Al Hogarth with his daughter
Aleesha, Councillor Craig Speirs
with his daughter Adlayna and
Councillor Cheryl Ashlie with
her daughter Kaayla and their
dog Ruby
3
Message from the Chief Administrative Officer
On behalf of the employees of the District of Maple Ridge, I am very proud to present our 2010 Citizens
Report. I am very fortunate to lead a team of professionals who share Mayor and Council’s passion to
achieve the aspirational goals of Vision 2025.
As Mayor Daykin indicated, this report will give you a snapshot of 2010, the financial results for the
year, the key projects that we delivered and a glimpse of what will be described as the big projects in
the 2010 Citizens Report.
The Business Planning cycle at the District of Maple Ridge is year-round. As we celebrate our
accomplishments of 2010, we are in the midst of implementing Council’s plan for 2011, and
preparing the groundwork for 2012’s strategic planning. The District doesn’t plan in terms of days
and weeks, we plan many years into the future. Our ‘vision’ is our desired future, and the Vision
Statement shows us how we will create the community that our children and grandchildren
ought to have.
On April 16, 2010, John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing
Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) spoke to the
Vancouver Board of Trade and shared the lessons that he learned leading the Vancouver
Olympics team. He said something that resonated with me, “The biggest lesson was we had
a VISION, and we never quit on it, never.”
As he and his team faced the challenges in the early hours of the Olympics their focus on
that vision resulted in an incredible experience and reflected the resilience, determination and
pride of all Canadians. This is the kind of passion that our team brings to our work for the
District of Maple Ridge.
In these pages you will meet my colleagues and coworkers whose creativity, ingenuity and
commitment are, frankly, an inspiration. The fact is, the vast majority of District staff, like me,
live in Maple Ridge. We all share the commitment of our Council to planning that balances social,
economic and environmental priorities so the community that we pass to the next generation is
better than the one we inherited.
2010 was a great year. Maple Ridge is rebounding from the economic challenges of 2009, and there
were a number of community events and initiatives that brought us together in ways and in
numbers as never before. As we ended 2010, there was a buzz in our community. The renewal
of our Town Centre, in particular, has created a sense of energy and optimism that is
driving our community towards the future that we all envision.
I would like to offer my thanks to our Council, to all staff and to the passionate and
extraordinary citizens who take the time to be involved in our community as volunteers
and advocates on important issues. All of us, working together, make Maple Ridge an
extraordinary place to live.
Jim Rule
Chief Administrative Officer
Harnessing the vision, creating and implementing our plan.
4
2010 Highlights & Accomplishments
Administration
This Division includes Human Resources, Strategic
Economic Initiatives, Sustainability and Corporate
Planning, and Corporate Communications. Some of the
key accomplishments of 2010 include:
• Development of the Town Centre Investment Incentives Program
to create incentives for residential and commercial development
that will create density, economic opportunities and promote
sustainability. The program creates incentives for new
development, renovations for existing properties and
incentives for area businesses to make improvements to
their building facades.
• Securing Provincial and Federal funding for the Downtown
Enhancement Project.
• Launching the ‘Invest Maple Ridge’ initiative to build awareness
among key target audiences about the investment opportunity
in Maple Ridge and to drive traffic to the investmapleridge.ca
website.
• Launching the ‘Invest North Fraser’ initiative with our partners,
Mission and Pitt Meadows, to build awareness of the investment
opportunity ‘North of the Fraser’ among key target audiences.
• Launching ‘See-It’ an online performance tool at mapleridge.ca,
enabling citizens and staff to track key performance goals and
results in real time.
• Transitioning the emergency planning function to the Manager of
Legislative Services and increasing our capacity around response
and recovery from natural and man-made emergencies.
• Building the leadership skills of our organization with the
graduation of 63 District employees from educational programs,
increasing their capacity as supervisors and managers. British
Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Vancouver
Community College (VCC) were important partners in
these programs.
“The biggest lesson was we had
a VISION, and we never quit on
it, never.”
JOHN FURLONG
The Team (left to right):
Laura Benson, Manager Sustainability & Corporate Planning
Jim Rule, Chief Administrative Officer
Sandy Blue, Manager Strategic Economic Initiatives
Fred Armstrong, Manager Corporate Communications
John Leeburn, Executive Director to the Chief Administrative
Officer
• Implementing an online applicant tracking system at careers.
mapleridge.ca, streamlining recruitment of District staff.
• Recruiting a number of high quality candidates to fill key positions
following the implementation of a succession planning program,
ensuring that key knowledge and skills were transferred for
seamless business operations.
In 2010, the District was recognized with a number of
awards which include:
• The Community Energy Association’s 2010 Energy & Climate
Action Awards, in the Corporate Operations category for energy
efficiency upgrades to the Leisure Centre and an innovative
approach to information services (IT).
• The Hermes Creative Awards, a platinum award in the
Publications/Annual Report category for the 2008 Citizens Report.
• The MarCom Awards, a platinum award in the Communication
Plan category for the ‘Downtown Enhancement Project’
Communications Plan, and a gold award in the category of
Marketing/Promotion Campaign/Promotion Materials for the
‘Invest Maple Ridge’ campaign.
5
Community Development, Parks & Recreation Services
My team is responsible for parks, recreation, cultural activities, programs, facilities, liaison with
community groups, community development work and accessibility issues. The title of my report hints at
the important relationship between recreation, culture, social planning and community development in
creating a strong and sustainable community that we are all proud to live in.
To be healthy, we all need to be active and engaged in our community, and Maple Ridge has a number
of facilities that invite citizens to participate in a wide variety of structured and unstructured activities.
From our swimming pools, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball courts, skate
park, lacrosse boxes, fairgrounds, curling club, lawn bowling green to the arenas. Our job is to provide
citizens with safe, well managed and well maintained facilities, and accessible recreation opportunities.
My team also manages a network of parks and trails, including one of the most comprehensive
hiking and horse trail systems in BC. Maple Ridge encompasses a large outdoor community that
enjoys interacting with the natural environment that surrounds us. I visit favourite trail sites
regularly, and one of my personal goals is to increase our citizens’ use and enjoyment of this
unique asset that we are fortunate to have access to.
In partnership with the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Arts Council, we operate the
Arts Centre Theatre (ACT) and the Maple Ridge Art Gallery, and help citizens to express
their creativity. A partnership with the Maple Ridge Historical Society provides museum
and heritage services to the community including access to historical treasures such as
Haney House.
An especially rewarding aspect of our work is the support that we provide to community
volunteers who host a diverse range of community festivals and events ranging from grass roots
gatherings to multi-dimensional festivals that families come out to enjoy and also attracts visitors
from outside our community.
Another valuable partnership is with the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society to oversee the operation of the
senior’s recreation centre and to offer a range of community programs for our senior citizens. The Greg
Moore Youth Centre is a place where a very special team of staff and volunteers act as role models to reach
out to young people in our community, providing activities that engage and inspire our future leaders.
The Division supports collaboration among a network of community agencies that identify priorities and
work together to meet local social service needs in an effective manner. This is leading edge work that
ensures services are available to local citizens and is a model that other communities aspire to.
We are proud to work with partner agencies such as KidSport, Canadian Tire’s Jump Start program,
School District No. 42 and others to help citizens facing financial challenges become full participants in
our community in recreation and cultural programs and minor sports. Our work in the area of accessibility
has been inspired by people like Rick Hansen, and alleviating barriers for people with disabilities or other
challenges has been part of the mainstream planning and programming in our community for many years.
Maple Ridge has vibrant neighbourhoods, and one of the wonderful aspects of our work is working with
citizens to create great places where we can raise our families. Community building often starts in the
few blocks between your home and the local school. Maple Ridge residents participate at local schools
in their neighbourhoods through programs like Active Kids Clubs and school based
neighbourhood gardens.
In my explanation of what my Division does, it’s about our bodies and minds, and it’s about
being active, both personally and in our community. Our Mayor speaks about Maple Ridge being
about ‘extraordinary people’ and he is correct. My Division has the pleasure of helping citizens
achieve goals of health, wellness and personal growth as well as helping them engage with each
A strong mind, a strong body, a strong community.
6
other to build the socially cohesive community that our
Vision speaks to. My colleagues create the infrastructure
that defines this place, and my team works to increase our
level of participation and sense of belonging which makes
our community a stronger and healthier place.
Thank you to my staff and the extraordinary volunteers
that inspire us every day; and thank you to every
citizen who chooses to be active in our community by
participating in sports, walking the trails, attending arts
events, taking part in special events and festivals, and
enjoying everything Maple Ridge has to offer.
Kelly Swift
General Manager Community Development,
Parks & Recreation Services
2010 Highlights & Accomplishments
• Adopted the Master Plan for Parks, Recreation and Culture.
• Updated School District No. 42 partnership agreement.
• Hosted a number of high profile community events (see page 18)
including the Maple Ridge Olympic Torch Relay Celebration and
the Paralympic Torch Relay and Live Site events.
• Installed public art at:
- Memorial Peace Park;
- Maple Ridge branch of the Royal Canadian Legion;
- Maple Ridge Business Centre lobby in association with the
Spirit of Wood Festival.
• Developed and implemented five off-leash dog parks in the
community.
• Installed five neighbourhood school gardens in our community.
• Initiated the Port Haney Neighbourhood Change Project, including
the completion of a safety assessment and the organization of a
number of neighbourhood meetings and events. More than 50
citizens have become involved in this initiative.
• Installed two LED community reader boards, increasing public
awareness of events and programs.
• Updated the Festival Support Policy to help and encourage
volunteers accessing facilities, services and organizational and
marketing expertise to bring their events to the community.
• Maintenance of 200+ hectares of parkland and trails, including
seasonal landscaping displays throughout the community.
• Maintenance of playgrounds, soccer fields, baseball diamonds,
cemeteries, tennis and sports courts and other municipal
properties including municipal hall, the fire halls and public safety
buildings, and the renovation of the RCMP holding cells and Cliff
Field.
• Upgraded the Computerized Leisure Activity Software System
(CLASS) that citizens use to sign up for programs to comply with
the highest standards of payment security and data protection.
• Reviewed key facilities, spaces and partnership agreements to
ensure that citizens are getting the highest value and usage from
parks infrastructure and relationships.
7
The Team (left to right):
Kelly Swift, General Manager: Community Development,
Parks & Recreation Services
David Boag, Director of Parks & Facilities
Sue Wheeler, Director of Community Services
Wendy McCormick, Director of Recreation
“To be healthy, we all need to
be active and engaged in our
community...”
KELLY SWIFT
Corporate & Financial Services
As the name implies, this Division captures activities that relate to the legislative, financial and technology
management of the District and provides support for the Police and Fire Departments that protect our
community.
Policing in Maple Ridge is provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as part of a broader
fee-for-service contract. However, that financial reality doesn’t really describe the strong relationship
that the District has with our detachment. To properly recognize the RCMP’s contribution to achieving
our vision for a safe and livable community, we’re dedicating a couple of pages to policing later in this
publication (see pages 14 and 15).
The Maple Ridge Fire Department also plays an important role in public safety. In addition to their
courageous work in fighting fires, conducting rescues and responding to life threatening medical
emergencies, our fire department plays a crucial role in the development and implementation of public
safety policies, building inspections, community education programs and school outreach programs that
help make Maple Ridge safer every day. On pages 12 and 13 you will meet the members of our fire rescue
team and read about their accomplishments in 2010.
The balance of this section will speak to the important work of the rest of our Division.
Among our most important responsibilities is managing the District’s money. There’s more to this than
it seems at first glance. In addition to assessing and collecting taxes, fees and utilities, paying the bills of
the District and keeping track of all of these transactions in a safe and secure manner, we manage the
investments of the District to protect and grow our assets.
The financial team also works with every department in the District to develop long term financial plans.
Added to this is the requirement to prepare annual statements, comply with rigorous audit procedures
and report on all of our business in an open and transparent way.
As mentioned in the Chief Administrative Officer’s Report, financial planning is a year-round process in
Maple Ridge, and we are proud that our work has served as a template for other municipal governments.
Our Division is also responsible for all the computer assets of the District. We call this department
‘Information Services’ because the team does much more than keep the District’s computers and
software running. They manage all of the electronic records of the District and provide support
to diverse software from geographic information systems (GIS) to our recreation registration
system. They also manage the District website, maintain all of the communications assets,
such as two-way radios, and provide the management team with advice on programs that
will give citizens greater access to services and information in this digital age.
In 2010, responsibility for Emergency Program Services was transferred to this Division.
This recognizes the important role of our fire and police services in the development and
implementation of our emergency planning. Maple Ridge’s emergency operations plan
has the capacity to expand to manage any level of natural or man-made emergency.
Finally, our Division also captures the work of the Clerk’s Department. This department
ensures that the business of Maple Ridge, including the development of Council meeting
agendas, crafting of legislation, maintenance of all meeting records and passing of bylaws is
done in full compliance of the legislative, statutory and legal framework that the District operates within.
The Clerk’s Department also handles all Freedom of Information requests and runs all elections for the
District and School District every three years.
In November of 2010, while presenting the 2011 to 2015 Financial Plan at a public meeting I joked that
my presentation often lacked the visual appeal of some of my colleague’s reports. They have slides of well
used facilities, smiling faces of citizens engaged in programs and amazing stories and images of people
A clear vision, a long term plan and solid financial foundation.
8
participating in community events and activities. As I
told Council at that meeting, the work our Division does
ensures that there is a sound financial, legislative and
technical foundation on which my colleagues can plan
and execute their important work.
I would like to thank Council for their leadership in sound
financial planning and management. I would also like to
acknowledge the team of professionals that I work with
every day, in every department, who have made sound
planning and management part of our corporate DNA.
Paul Gill
General Manager: Corporate & Financial Services
2010 Highlights & Accomplishments
Fire and Police Accomplishments will be detailed later in
this publication.
• Development, publication and distribution of the District’s Budget
Document, Annual Report, Tax Newsletter and Online Newsletter.
• Development and implementation of the financial component of
the Town Centre Investment Incentives Program.
• Development of a number of online services to allow citizens to
access and pay for more services from home using their
computers. Maple Ridge is the first municipality in BC to offer debit
card payment options online.
• Conducted Emergency Operations Centre training and exercises
to ensure we are prepared for a natural or man-made emergency.
• Modernized District computing systems, leading to a 13%
reduction in energy consumption. In addition the upgrades came
in under budget.
9
• Implemented equipment replacement programs for printers and
mobile phones, resulting in improved service at less cost.
• Modernized audio visual equipment in Council Chambers,
improving facility functionality which resulted in increased use for
non meeting functions.
• Construction of our own radio tower on Thornhill to improve
District radio service for the Fire Department and Operations
Centre. Rental of space on the tower will result in a payback on
this investment within five years.
• Installation of a fibre optic network to Fire Hall #1, improving
electronic communications capability.
• Placement of core computer assets in a ‘hardened’ facility within
the Fire Hall to improve our disaster recovery capability.
• Renewed contract for Police Dispatch Services at a substantially
reduced price.
In 2010, the District was recognized with a number of
awards which include:
• The third consecutive Government Finance Officer’s Association
(GFOA) “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” for the
Financial Plan 2010 – 2014.
• The fourteenth consecutive GFOA’s “Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting” for the 2009
Citizens Report.
• The twentieth consecutive GFOA “Canadian Award for Financial
Reporting” for the 2009 Annual Report.
The Team (left to right):
Silvia Rutledge, Manager of Revenue & Collections
Kathleen Gormley, Manager of Business Systems
Paul Gill, General Manager: Corporate & Financial Services
Trevor Thompson, Manager of Financial Planning
Catherine Nolan, Manager of Accounting
John Bastaja, Chief Information Officer
Ceri Marlo, Manager of Legislative Services
Public Works & Development Services
Our Division captures the diverse, but interrelated, work of Planning, Engineering, Operations, and the
team in our Licences, Permits and Bylaws Department. In Maple Ridge our recycling is done in association
with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society.
As citizens, you own well over a billion dollars worth of infrastructure. Most of it is buried underground
where you can’t see it in the form of our drinking water system, storm water management system and sewer
system. The construction and maintenance of these systems is the most important work that we do on your
behalf. Our lives and health are largely dependent on clean water and proper sanitary sewer systems.
As mentioned, our departments are connected by the fact that all new construction and developments
require that we upgrade and expand our water and sewer systems, and in some cases, we need to replace
old systems to bring them up to today’s high health and environmental standards.
If you came into Municipal Hall after purchasing a property and decided, for example, that you wanted to
build an apartment building, you would likely interact with each of our departments, and our work is best
explained in this context.
The first thing that you’d do is approach our Planning
Department. They would manage the application process
for your project, and as a part of that work would request
that all the environmental assessments were done, work with
you on the zoning of the property towards compliance with
the Official Community Plan and make sure the form and
character of your building fits the area.
As part of the process of building your apartment building the
resources and expertise of our Engineering Department would
come into play. They would make sure that the water, sanitary
and storm sewer systems in the area were sufficient to handle
the demands of your project. In addition, they would ensure
that roadways, sidewalks, streetlights and nearby intersections
were all sufficient for the scope of your project.
Once Council has approved your project, our Licences,
Permits and Bylaws team would ensure that your construction
team had all the information on building, electrical and
plumbing codes, help you to obtain all the necessary
construction permits and inspect the work as required.
As part of the project, your construction foreman would
meet our Operations team as they ensure that water and
sewer connections are made and that any road or sidewalk construction conforms to the plans that were
approved by Council.
Finally, the team at Ridge Meadows Recycling Society would make sure that your building has all the
necessary bins and the information to participate in our extensive recycling program.
Every day the people in my Division do the work described here and much, much more. Maple Ridge has
a team of experts in engineering, planning, infrastructure maintenance and bylaw enforcement that ensure
the investment that we make as a municipality, and those that you make in your property and home, are
done with a solid focus on the District’s Vision and to the highest public safety standards and in the most
sustainable way for today and the future.
In 2010, my Division was involved in a number of projects that will add significant capacity for economic
A billion dollars buried under your feet…
10
11
growth in Maple Ridge. By carefully planning and timing
the execution of our projects, we have been able to
stretch the investment of local taxpayers with funding
from the provincial and federal government to increase
the scope and accelerate the timing of a number of
important projects.
Later in this publication we will share our 2010 progress
relating to the Downtown Enhancement Project and our
investment initiatives in the Town Centre. This project
really speaks to the ways that we can integrate the services
of every department to create the environment for our
citizens to prosper and for our community to achieve the
broad social and economic goals of our Vision.
I would like to thank my colleagues for their dedication
and commitment to excellence as they carry out their
work. Our Division’s work is, literally, 24 hours a day and
seven days a week. Our Operations team is there plowing
snow in the middle of the night and fixing a broken pipe
in rain and wind. Our engineers and planners bring years
of education and experience to bear on every project they
work on.
Thank you too to the citizens of our community who
attend the numerous open houses and information
sessions and offer suggestions and ideas that we are able
to incorporate into our plans. We owe a great debt to the
many citizens who sit on our commissions that help us
keep the environment, agriculture, heritage and character
of our community. We have much to be proud of.
Frank Quinn
General Manager:
Public Works & Development Services
2010 Highlights & Accomplishments
• Completed the second stage, phase one, of the Downtown
Enhancement Project, including 224 Street and Lougheed Highway
streetscape enhancements, upgraded servicing to accommodate
growth and a pedestrian friendly walking environment, bicycle
racks, increased the number of trees and landscaping, street light
enhancement, and improved traffic movements.
• Constructed the 240 Street Bridge at Kanaka Creek.
• Completed major road construction projects, including the street
intersection realignment of Abernethy Way at 224 Street and the
installation of a traffic signal on Abernethy Way and 216 Street.
• Completed major storm/sanitary sewer projects including:
Academy Park sanitary sewer, Storm Water Levy Report, River
Road storm sewer, and sewer extension to the Fraser Regional
Correctional Centre and Alouette Correctional Centre for Women
in east Maple Ridge.
• Completed several initiatives, including the preparation and
submission of the Water System Report to Fraser Health, and the
installation of a bulk water kiosk in east Maple Ridge.
• Dealt with severe snowstorms and a large effort in snow removal.
• Adopted an Area Plan Process Policy, commenced a review of the
Zoning Bylaw, OCP Sustainability targets, commenced work on the
Albion Concept Plan, and continued work on the Regional Growth
Strategy review.
• Advertised, solicited, and encouraged public communication on
strategic initiatives and major projects.
• Implemented award-winning Smart Growth on the Ground Plan for
the Town Centre.
• Continued to implement the Pavement Rehabilitation Program
where multiple roads received new pavement.
The Team (left to right):
Kim Day, Ridge Meadows Recycling Society
Jane Pickering, Director of Planning
Frank Quinn, General Manager: Public Works &
Development Services
Liz Holitzki, Director of Licences, Permits and Bylaws
Andrew Wood, Municipal Engineer
Russ Carmichael, Director of Engineering Operations
Maple Ridge Fire Department
There isn’t a kid alive who at one time or
another didn’t want to be a firefighter. Their
work, protecting our lives, our homes and
the possessions we accumulate over a
lifetime, is the personification of public service
and bravery.
Maple Ridge has a team of 100 dedicated paid-
on-call and 42 full-time firefighters led by six
officers and supported by three civilian staff.
Our Fire Department is a 24 hours-a-day,
7 days a week operation.
In addition to their work answering call outs
for fire emergencies, serious health incidents,
injury accidents and rescues, firefighters train
intensively to enhance their technical and life
saving skills, supporting their participation
and integration in our community’s
Emergency Planning.
On any given day you will see the fire duty
crew out in the community conducting fire
inspections to ensure that properties have the correct and functioning fire suppression equipment,
properly marked exits, and effective escape plans to protect occupants.
One of the best ways to educate the public on fire safety issues is to reach out to young people. In 2010,
our Fire Department provided education sessions for every student from kindergarten to grade 3. Our
children are the best ambassadors for spreading the message about the importance of fire safety and
family planning for emergencies. Their enthusiasm and energy are inspirational.
In 2010, the renovation and expansion of Fire Hall #1 was completed. This project reflects how the
District looks to get the best possible return on the investment in our community. In addition to providing
Protecting life, property and our environment.
12
13
the space necessary for the Fire Department to work and
train, the expansion and renovation was done in a way
that will reduce the energy consumption of the facility. Fire
Hall #1 is now a Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) Silver certified building, with efficiencies in
heating, electrical and lighting systems that are better for
the environment, and reduce our energy costs.
The new facility has a computer training room that allows
our firefighters to do advanced and ongoing training
to build their expertise and the capacity to deal with
emergencies. In addition, the computer lab is also the
place that will serve as our Emergency Operation Centre
(EOC) in the highest level of emergencies. Part of the
construction was to ensure that this building is ‘hardened’
against an earthquake.
As part of the construction project, the District installed
fibre optic cable from the Municipal Hall to Fire Hall #1
and moved some key digital storage devices to the Fire
Hall, ensuring that we have off-site back-up and access
to critical information for the District. This would aid in
a rapid recover from a large scale emergency, such as a
major earthquake.
In the last decade we have seen how climate change and
forest conditions have created a number of massive forest
fires that have moved across the BC landscape into urban
areas. Maple Ridge is surrounded by forests. Our Fire
Department has acquired and deployed a number of fire
suppression systems and firefighters have taken specialized
training to ensure that we are able to properly deal with
a fire in the areas where our community interfaces with
undeveloped land.
Last year, our fire crews were able to test their skills
and training by offering assistance to a number of
BC communities that needed our help and expertise.
The hands on experience gained in this support, plus
the knowledge that our fire crews received, is being
incorporated into how we plan and build communities in
our interface areas.
Saving our lives, and protecting our property and
environment are the first priorities of the Maple Ridge
Fire Department, and we also recognize the special
relationship we have with citizens. We are very proud to
work with local charity and community organizations.
Firefighters have been involved in numerous community
building programs, from our participation in the Olympic
Torch Relay Celebration and the Andrew Ladd Stanley Cup
Homecoming, to the charity work to help raise funds for
the Friends In Need Food Bank Society.
We thank the community for their support of all of our
work. We are very proud to play our part in making Maple
Ridge ‘a safe and livable community’ as stated in the
District’s Mission Statement.
“Their work... is the
personification of public service
and bravery.”
Fire Department (left to right): Firefighter Boo Sharma;
Chief Dane Spence; Assistant Chief Mark Smitton;
Firefighter Mary Butler; Firefighter Jeff Davis;
Acting Lt. Chris McKee; Lt. Kelly Moore; Captain Dave Harcus;
Firefighter Chris Gaudette; Firefighter Shawn Collard;
Chief Peter Grootendorst
Police Services in Maple Ridge
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have a motto on their Coat of Arms that reads
’Maintiens Le Droit’ which translates to ‘Defending the Law.’ The Ridge Meadows RCMP
detachment does a superb job of living up to their motto which helps us achieve the aspirations
for a safe and livable community as described in our community’s Mission Statement.
Policing in Maple Ridge is all about making connections, both with the specialized teams within
the RCMP, and also with the amazing volunteers and community organizations that allow us all
to work together to identify the best ways to reduce crime and to improve public safety.
Our local detachment has 112 members plus three civilian community safety officers. Dispatch
services are done through E-Comm, the regional supplier of 9-1-1 services. In 2010, a five year
agreement was signed with E-Comm that will save local taxpayers a million dollars over the
term of the contract. That was one of the most significant cost containment initiatives in the
year. The local leadership works closely with Mayor and Council to identify key priorities in
policing, manage the challenges of a complex multi-jurisdictional crime environment, the high
standards of investigation required by the courts and emerging issues such as the increased
access to our community by the Golden Ears Bridge.
We are proud that the detachment was able to report reductions in key crime categories
while at the same time coming in under budget in the last fiscal year. At the same time, our
detachment has embraced technology to reach out to the community. We are one of a few
communities in Canada that has a unique Internet and Twitter presence. Go to
mapleridgercmp.ca and sign up for updates or review the RCMP’s full Annual Report and
statistics in detail.
Within the detachment, the RCMP have implemented a crime reduction strategy targeting
geographic areas, or hot spots and prolific offenders. The reality is that a small number of
people are responsible for most of the problems. The other reality is that these individuals
are often known to us because of their past history of involvement in criminal activity. A technique as
simple as using curfew checks, ensuring that those on court ordered curfews
are at home can yield rapid results.
Building strong connections in our community.
14
15
Our team meets on a regular basis to review the most up
to date information and adapt our enforcement plans.
By constantly evolving our strategy and targets, we
increase our presence and effectiveness in crime reduction
and send a clear message that we have no tolerance for
illegal activities.
One of the ways that we increase our effectiveness as a
detachment is through the dedicated and passionate
network of volunteers. Programs such as Block Watch,
Court Watch, Bike Patrol, Citizens on Patrol, and our
community policing committees extend our reach and
add important intelligence that is a key component of our
enforcement strategy. Volunteers invest thousands of hours
in our community, and we are proud to serve with them.
Two very special groups exemplify service to our
community. RCMP Auxiliary members and the Ridge
Meadows Search and Rescue team are skilled volunteers
who have taken special training to assist us in many
important tasks. They are the embodiment of the principle
of community policing.
In 2010, the local detachment hosted Town Hall Meetings
on ‘Guns and Gangs’, ‘Graffiti’ and recently organized a
well attended session to educate the community on the
challenges of ‘social media’ in collaboration with the Youth
Services team.
Our RCMP Auxiliary members, Speed Watch volunteers
and Citizens on Patrol had great success in 2010. A
staggering 76,654 vehicles were checked to ensure that
they were following the speed limit in school zones and
key areas targeted in our partnership with the Insurance
Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and other
organizations. Of these vehicles, 3,700 were sent letters
indicating drivers had been driving over the posted limit.
90,723 vehicles were checked and tagged to increase
awareness on theft from vehicles. In total, our volunteers
gave our community over 10,000 hours of their time in the
last year. This kind of commitment from our community is
an inspiration to all detachment members.
Part of creating a ‘socially cohesive community’, as stated
in our Vision, is for members to reach out in a meaningful
way to people that are struggling with social and financial
burdens, taking them down the wrong path. Our Crisis
Intervention team and Community Response teams work
to help citizens find the resources and support that they
need to be productive members of our community. One
of the best programs is our Youth Diversion Program.
By reaching out to young people when they make that
first mistake, our adult mentors help them make positive
connections in the community to make sure that they do
not reoffend.
Most of our members and support teams live in
Maple Ridge. We are raising our families here. We are
volunteering in local community groups and sports
organizations. This is our home. We take great pride in
displaying the proud image of the RCMP at community
celebrations. From the Olympic Torch Relay, the Andrew
Ladd Stanley Cup event through to our work to raise
funds for Cancer Research and to our RCMP Youth
Academy, we are committed to doing our part in building
a great community.
Police Services (left to right): Constable Cara Thomson, Crisis
Intervention Team; Corporal Dave Somerville, Traffic;
Superintendent Dave Walsh, OIC; Corporal Adam Gardner,
Major Crime; Derrick Keist, Bylaws Auxilary-RCMP;
Inspector Derren Lench, Operations Officer;
Clint Van Blanken, Volunteer Co-ordinator Auxiliary-RCMP;
Corporal Alanna Dunlop, Community Response Team;
S/Sgt Andrew Martin, Operational Support NCO
Downtown Maple Ridge
Prior to the 1930’s most of Maple Ridge’s economy centered on the Port Haney Wharf and the railroad
station located where today the West Coast Express stops to pick up commuters. Businesses such as the
Bank of Montreal and Fuller Watson (both still in the same locations today) moved ‘uptown’ to what
is now the intersection of Lougheed Highway and 224 Street, and the first ‘redevelopment’ of our Town
Centre began.
In the 1970’s, the construction of Haney Place Mall was the catalyst for another huge shift in the
economy, character and form of our Town Centre. In 2009, the construction of Memorial Peace Park’s
Spirit Square was completed, and in February 2010, Memorial Peace Park was the site of the largest
gathering in our community’s history when over 10,000 people came to celebrate the Olympic Torch
Relay. That day ‘Spirit Square’ fully lived up to its name.
In 2008, the Federal and Provincial Government announced a series of programs intended to stimulate
the Canadian economy through grants to allow cities to upgrade and replace old infrastructure, and based
on what we saw during the Spirit Square Project, our Engineering team put together a proposal called the
‘Downtown Enhancement Project’ that would see the water and sewer lines replaced for the key hub of
our Town Centre. With the partners secured, in April of 2010, Maple Ridge Council took part in a
ground breaking ceremony on Lougheed Highway and 223 Street and the next evolution of our Town
Centre began.
The right time. The right place. Our Town Centre is reborn.
16
Not only was the underground infrastructure replaced,
but the entire form and character of the sidewalks,
landscaping and the layout of all the intersections was
reimagined and reengineered. This was a full scale
makeover and integration of benches, bike racks, garbage
cans, streetlights and intersection markings.
One of the most important aspects of this project was
the extraordinary input and advice from a group of local
residents and merchants that came to be known as the
‘Public Liaison Committee.’ The scope of the project was
huge, and their work helped to create a new model for
engaging the community for large public works projects.
Messaging was done through email, newspaper ads
and direct mail to area residents and business
owners detailing project timelines, road closures
and construction schedules. Our crews worked
in the evening and through the night to lessen
the impact on businesses. Engineering and
Operations staff joined the Mayor in frequent
walkabouts and visits up and down the streets to
make sure that everyone was fully on board. Just
over a year after that sod turning the entire project
has been completed.
Our Council saw how much these projects transformed
the area and decided that we needed to create a program
to accelerate the development in our Town Centre to
take advantage of the world class infrastructure and to
achieve goals set out in the development of the Town
Centre Area Plan and the Smart Growth on the Ground
initiative that are already imbedded in our Official
Community Plan (OCP).
In the winter of 2010, Council unveiled the Town
Centre Investment Incentives Program, one of the most
comprehensive programs of its type in BC. The goal is to
encourage commercial and residential development in
the Town Centre. The program also offers incentives for
existing commercial property owners to redevelop their
properties and renovate their buildings so that the entire
Town Centre reflects our Vision of having ‘a strong
and vibrant local economy’ and ‘the creation
of special and stable neighbourhoods.’
The Program has already yielded many
applications for new residential and commercial
developments that will transform the Town Centre in a
way that rivals that dramatic shift we saw in the 1930’s.
The final chapter of this story is Council’s move to
purchase three acres of property located between Haney
Place Mall and Valley Fair Mall. These 14 properties,
located in a strategic part of the Town Centre, have
lain dormant for over three decades. Council seized an
opportunity to purchase these properties in December of
2010. In 2011, the property cleared of the old houses that
17
represent the past, will be an important stepping stone to
the future of the Town Centre.
If there was one big story in 2010, it was the
interconnectivity between the Downtown Enhancement
Project, the Town Centre Investment Incentives Program
and the strategic purchase of the 14 Town Centre
properties. In 2010, the Real Estate Investment Network
named Maple Ridge as one of the Top 5 Investment
Communities in Canada.
The time is now, and Maple Ridge is the right place!
Festivals & Events
In the early hours of February 8, 2010, a team of District staff and volunteers prepared Memorial Peace
Park for the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Celebration. It was a chilly morning with a low fog hanging in the
air. At 5:00 am there were just a couple of dozen organizers, many of whom hadn’t gone to bed since the
night before making sure that the lights and sound system were set-up and tested. The Maple Ridge Fire
Department had set up the ladder truck with a giant flag and our RCMP Auxiliary, in their reflective vests,
were stationed around the almost empty park.
Organizers really had no idea how many people would show up first thing in the morning. The answer
came within a couple of hours. Seemingly everyone in town, young and old, turned up, wearing Team
Canada hockey jerseys and those iconic mittens sold by Zellers and The Bay. Those who didn’t already
have a Canadian flag were given small ones by the organizers. The crowd in the park and along 224 Street
easily numbered 10,000 people, and when the torch made its way through the community, the cheers and
national pride brought us all to tears. While there was a formal rendition of the national anthem as part
of the ceremony, the crowd spontaneously broke out into a second version and everyone in the crowd, for
that amazing moment, was connected in a way that no one could have predicted.
That event, the biggest public gathering in our community’s history, set off a year of spectacular events
and festivals that culminated mid-December when the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stopped down at
the Port Haney Wharf. In February we celebrated our pride in our nation, and at the end of the year we
joined Canadian recording artists ‘The Odds’ and showed our civic pride by raising $30,000 for the local
Food Bank. These two events, spanning our 2010 event calendar, say everything there is to say about Maple
Ridge. These events, as with just about everything on the list that follows, were organized by volunteers.
Maple Ridge is a community that likes to celebrate!
18
19
Here’s a sample of what we celebrated in 2010:
• The second annual Festival of Light took place at Haney Place
Mall and was followed by a lantern parade in Memorial Peace
Park.
• Thousands attended to watch the Olympic Torch Relay pass
through Maple Ridge on the morning of February 8, and the
Mountain Festival Society unveiled a series of wood carvings
created by the community during the festivities.
• Maple Ridge participated as a celebration community for the
Paralympic Torch Relay, which began with a fire creation
ceremony and culminated with the lighting of the Paralympic
cauldron.
• An Annual Easter Egg Hunt was hosted by the Whonnock
Community Association for residents.
• National Volunteer Week celebrated the hundreds of community
members that generously donate their time.
• Earth Day featured workshops, performances and numerous
family-orientated activities.
• The annual Ridge Meadows Home Show including the Funzone
Children’s Festival, the Times Taste of Ridge Meadows, the Body,
Mind and Spirit Psychic Fair, a mini RV Show and West Coast
Amusements Carnival were well attended events.
• The Vintage Car Club Rally took place in May.
• The Silver Valley Spring Festival in Maple Ridge Park celebrated
the natural environment with children’s activities, contests,
vendors and entertainment. Highlights included a salmon release
and floral arrangement contest.
• The Haney Farmers Market was held in Memorial Peace Park
every Saturday from May to October. The market was well
attended and organizers planned a different themed market each
week to reflect in season produce and other events.
• Webster’s Corners Day brought together families to celebrate their
neighbourhood with games, a pie-eating contest, local artisans,
raffle, interactive displays and the Heritage Tea and historic
display.
• Adstock was a free outdoor music event showcasing local youth
bands in Memorial Peace Park.
• Canada Day in Memorial Peace Park began with an early morning
farmers market followed by the traditional flag raising ceremony,
entertainment, children’s art activities, multicultural foods and a
giant craft market.
• The Caribbean Festival featured live Caribbean bands, great
music, colourful costumes, dancing, arts and crafts, and delicious
food.
• The Maple Ridge Museum organized their annual Music on the
Wharf series throughout the summer months.
• The Emerald Pig Theatrical Society produced The Tempest for the
annual Bard on the Bandstand event in July.
• The 109th annual Country Fest featured 4-H youth shows, baby
animal displays, sheep shearing and sheep dog demonstrations,
horse shows, home arts competitions, first class stage and roving
entertainment, festival food and a midway.
• The third annual Ridge Meadows Heritage Day celebrated local
history with the Pioneer Parade, midway games, a community
barbeque, entertainment and fireworks.
• The Breastfest musical took place for the third time as a breast
cancer fundraiser featuring youth bands.
• BC Rivers Day, held at Allco Park and Kanaka Creek, celebrated
our spectacular river heritage and raised awareness of our
streams and rivers. Events included canoe tours, stewardship
displays, walking tours, stage entertainment, a barbecue and
interactive children’s activities.
• The Ghost Ridge Haunted House and fireworks display at the
Maple Ridge fairgrounds entertained thousands of thrill seekers
as a fundraiser for local charities.
• Remembrance Day ceremonies were held at the Memorial Peace
Park Cenotaph following the parade from the Royal Canadian
Legion building.
• Christmas in the Park and the Santa Claus Parade has become a
favourite in December. Entertainment for children and families
with a dazzling parade of lights, music and decorated floats, a
community carol sing along, a photo session with Santa and Mrs.
Claus and free hot chocolate.
• Christmas Haven served dinner and entertainment to those who
were alone on Christmas Eve.
Our People
In June 2010, a young man from Maple Ridge achieved something that all youngsters dream of…he won
the Stanley Cup as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks ice hockey team. For ‘Home Town Hero’ Andrew
Ladd, this was his second Stanley Cup win, and as he did in 2007, he wanted to share his day with the
Cup with the community that he grew up in. In fact, Andrew specifically asked that the ceremony be held
in the Cam Neely Arena, the place where young kids play hockey every day; and he asked that the parents,
coaches and kids playing at all levels get the best seats in the house.
Close to 3,000 area residents attended the event and Andrew spent three hours signing autographs and
posing for pictures. No one was prouder than his grandfather, Gordon Ladd, who used to drive Andrew to
the arena for those early morning practices. Andrew wanted to pay tribute to the people that helped him
achieve his dreams.
Mayor Daykin talked about what defines our community in his introduction to this Report. It’s the
extraordinary people, our friends and neighbours, whose spirit of volunteerism and commitment to the
community is demonstrated by the time they invest for the causes that are near to their hearts. Maple
Ridge is full of heroes. People who volunteer as the coaches and managers for amateur sports, as mentors
for the Ridge Meadows Youth Diversion Program, and in the numerous service clubs and school parent
advisory committees - thousands and thousands of hours invested in our community. Then there is the
generosity of area citizens who donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities. Here is a list of some
of the extraordinary people and organizations that prove that what makes our community so special are
the extraordinary people who go above and beyond.
Extraordinary people doing extraordinary things.
20
• Julie MacMillan, owner of J&M Acres Horse Rescue, has saved
hundreds of horses from slaughter over the past 15 years. Julie
relies solely on donations and fundraisers and even though she
knows she is saving as many as she can from the slaughterhouse,
it makes her sick every time she has to leave some behind. “I get
calls every day,” she said from people wanting her to take their
horses. “If every horse person in Canada adopted a horse every
year, there still wouldn’t be enough homes.”
• Students at Thomas Haney Secondary School raised $3,500 for the
Free the Children Campaign. Funds raised from staying awake all
night will go towards building and equipping a school in Haiti.
• Ex-service woman Margaret Kury received the Minister of
Veterans Affairs Commendation for her tireless work in the veteran
community. She has served on every committee and held executive
positions with the Royal Canadian legion since 1976, volunteered
for Canadian Blood Services for over 30 years, and been involved
with fundraising for many community service groups.
• Retired registered nurse, Peggy Lambert was recognized for her
volunteer efforts when she was chosen as Ridge Meadows
Seniors Society’s volunteer of the year. Peggy runs a health and
wellness clinic for area seniors providing access to 12 retired
registered nurses as well as a massage therapist, pharmacists,
and an optometrist.
• 150 students at Garibaldi Secondary School raised almost $10,000
for the Free the Children Campaign. The funds raised from their
‘vow of silence’ pledge drive will go towards building and
equipping a school in war-torn Sierra Leone.
• Former Maple Ridge resident Cathy Emmerson received the
prestigious Governor General’s Medal for her grass-roots work in
Rwanda. Cathy has continued to work hard through her movement
to empower the families and children of Rwanda.
• Mike Murray and Ineke Boekhorst chosen as the co-winners of
the Maple Ridge Community Foundation Maple Ridge Citizen of the
Year. Their contributions to our community are an inspiration to us
all. As the 2009 winners, they were able to direct $5,000, donated
by Westminster Savings Credit Union and the Community
Foundation, to area charities.
• Maple Ridge resident George Klassen provides residents of
Malawi with two more water wells through his non-profit charity,
Project Wellness. Klassen travelled to Malawi to personally
oversee the construction of the wells. His organization also feeds
more than 300 orphans a day and has built a school for 750
children in Malawi.
• Cancer survivor Nina Fowell raised more than $14,000 to support
cancer sufferers. Nina created calendars featuring bald models
with artistically painted scalps and sold them through her Bald is
Beautiful Project.
• Staff of Salon Fifty Five held a Cut-A-Thon which raised over
$1,000 for Cops for Cancer.
• Students from Alexander Robinson Elementary School raised
almost $3,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Their generous
donation will enable a sick teenager to fulfill a wish of going to
Disneyland.
• Staff of Ridge Meadows Hospital Auxiliary raised more than
$100,000 which was all donated to Ridge Meadows Hospital.
• Local landscapers Meadows Landscape Supply Ltd., Pickett’s
Nursery Ltd., Beneath Your Feet Landscaping Inc., Blasig
Landscape Design and Construction Ltd., Golden Ears
21
Landscaping Ltd., Janzen and Co. Landscaping, and The
Greenman Landscape Services donated materials and labour to
improve the view for patients at Baillie House. Food for the
labourers was donated by KFC, Tim Hortons, and Mona Pizza, and
BC Magnetic Signs donated advertising.
• Lola Montgomery, a teacher at Westview Secondary School
received Physical & Health Education Canada’s Physical
Education Teaching Excellence Award. This award honours
teachers for their “ability to motivate children and youth to
participate in physical activity.”
• Local swimming legend Anne Meraw received the 2010 BC
Community Achievement Award in recognition of “outstanding
community service”. Anne was the founder of the Water Babies
Program in Canada, was the first female lifeguard in Canada, and
helped found the Ridge Meadows Hall of Fame.
• Since 2006, 12-year-old Turner Vink has set up a lemonade stand
at the Haney Farmers Market where he makes wishes come true
for children with life-threatening illnesses, women with breast
cancer, and he also raises money for the Ridge Meadows Hospital
Foundation.
• Maple Ridge trucker John Beeler, received the 2010 Driver of the
Year award from the BC Trucking Association. John is a veteran
driver of 29 accident free years with Canadian Freightways.
• Connor Liversidge shaved his golden locks in support of his
teacher who is battling cancer. He achieved his goal of raising
$300 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
• Samuel Robertson Technical School raised $3,000 for “Free the
Children” at their “Care and Share at the Fair” carnival.
• Local Panago Pizza restaurant owner Dan Maki partnered with
the Maple Ridge Fire Department to raise money for burn units at
Vancouver General Hospital and BC Children’s Hospital. The yearly
carwash raised close to $4,000.
• Jeff Davis and Vince Hands were among 12 individuals from BC
who were presented with the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Commendation in honour of their commitment and dedication to
veterans. Jeff Davis has been the Remembrance Day Parade
Commander for the past 15 years, has organized numerous events,
and spent a considerable amount of his time researching names
for the local cenotaphs. Vince Hands has played a key role in the
organization and preparation for the Remembrance Day Parade
and has spent countless hours working on Remembrance projects
and volunteering at historic sites.
• Thomas Haney Secondary School student Miranda Tymoschuk
raised more than $1,700 over the past two years in order to make
life better for patients at Royal Columbian Hospital. After nine
surgeries she decided to set a goal to raise at least $5,000 for the
Pay It Forward Fund, an organization which helps with meals and
transportation costs.
• Spencer Levan received the Paul Harris Award for his more than
25 years of involvement as a coach and executive in the Ridge
Meadows Minor Hockey Association
• Thomas Haney Secondary School students Kathryn Ryan and
Marc Tracey along with two others shaved their heads for cancer,
raising close to $4,000.
• The Haney and Meadow Ridge Rotary Clubs together raised more
than $200,000 for local charities, education bursaries and youth
programs in addition to their work on International projects such
as the Polio Plus Program and the ShelterBox Canada initiative for
the people of Haiti.
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
As at December 31, 2010
Restated
2010 2009
Financial Assets
Cash and temporary investments $ 30,062,599 $ 29,296,767
Portfolio investments 78,858,466 83,669,160
Accounts receivable 16,402,035 13,154,599
Recoverable local improvments 2,340,672 2,425,921
Other assets 590,720 579,020
Inventory available for resale 471,658 471,658
128,726,150 129,597,125
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 12,221,774 12,145,365
Deferred revenue 12,217,228 13,013,971
Restricted revenue 37,176,499 36,157,206
Refundable performance deposits and other 5,812,594 6,362,066
Employee future benefits 4,411,500 4,468,700
Long term debt 40,383,494 42,229,302
112,223,089 114,376,610
Net Financial Assets 16,503,061 15,220,515
Non Financial Assets
Tangible capital assets 775,432,647 750,735,567
Undeveloped landbank properties 14,515,918 11,071,587
Supplies inventory 394,215 377,342
Prepaid expenses 403,420 376,828
790,746,200 762,561,324
Accumulated Surplus $ 807,249,262 $ 777,781,839
*Financial Statements
The Financial Statements are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP). For
a copy of the full 2010 Annual Report including audited 2010 Consolidated Financial Statements which include
more detailed information, please contact the Finance Department at 604-463-5221 after June 15, 2011.
22
Glossary
Accumulated Surplus – Represents net economic resources; the
amount by which all assets, both financial and non-financial,
exceed all liabilities and indicates that a government has net
resources available to provide future services.
Amortization – The reduction of the value of an asset by
prorating its cost over a period of years.
Annual Surplus/Deficit – The difference between annual
revenues and annual expenses. If positive it is referred to
as Annual Surplus, if negative, it is referred to as Annual Deficit.
Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2010
Restated
Actual Budget Actual
2010 2010 2009
Revenue
Taxes for municipal purposes $ 57,102,978 $ 57,027,851 $ 53,744,200
User fees and other revenue 31,986,573 31,047,355 30,299,883
Senior government transfers 8,689,257 30,153,762 4,960,467
Development revenue 7,412,119 26,704,475 8,445,374
Interest and investment income
Investment income 638,546
Interest income 4,231,940
Less: Deferred amount (933,934)
Interest and investment income 3,936,552 1,885,000 4,675,736
Gaming revenues 125,600 - -
Refinancing and other gains 5,327 - 171,926
Gain (loss) on disposal of capital asset (469,150) - (1,226,799)
Contributed tangible capital assets 17,341,385 17,341,385 15,625,357
126,130,641 164,159,828 116,696,144
Expenses
Protective services 26,763,533 27,081,137 25,008,681
Transportation services 15,244,858 16,005,905 15,519,693
Recreation and cultural 19,251,435 19,129,734 18,952,403
Water utility 10,602,971 11,392,995 9,108,096
Sewer utility 8,348,811 9,167,361 8,005,891
General government 12,813,760 14,493,372 12,497,369
Planning, public health and other 3,637,850 4,002,620 3,173,809
96,663,218 101,273,124 92,265,942
Annual surplus 29,467,423 62,886,704 24,430,202
Accumulated surplus - beginning of the year 777,781,839 777,781,839 753,351,637
Accumulated surplus - end of the year $ 807,249,262 $ 840,668,543 $ 777,781,839
23
Net Financial Assets – The excess of financial assets over
liabilities.
Tangible Capital Assets – Assets of long-term character that
are intended to continue to be held or used, such as land,
buildings, machinery, furniture, and other equipment. These
assets have a significant value and a useful life of greater than
one year. Capital assets are also called fixed assets.
2010 Operating Expenses
Dollars
(thousands) 0 12,500 25,000 37,500 50,000
Labour
Goods &
Services
Debt
Servicing
Capital
Contributed
Infrastructure
Amortization
Expense
Expenditures/Expenses by Object 2006 - 2010
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
24
Expenditures/Expenses by Object 2006 - 2010
Planning, Public Health & Other 4%
General Government 13%
Sewer Utility 9%
Water Utility 11%
Recreation & Cultural 20%
Transportation 16%
Protective Services 28%
Labour
Goods &
Services
Debt
Servicing
Capital
Contributed
Infrastructure
Amortization
Expense
Dollars
(thousands) 0 12,500 25,000 37,500 50,000
2010 Revenues
25
Dollars
(thousands) -10,000 7,500 25,000 42,500 60,000
Taxes
User Fees &
Other Revenues
Senior Government
Grants
Development
Revenue
Interest &
Investment Income
Gaming Revenue
Refinancing
& Other Gains
Gain (loss) on
Disposal of TCA
Contributed
TCA
Revenues by Source 2006 - 2010
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
Revenues by Source 2006 - 2010
Gaming Revenues <1%
Investment Income 3%
Development Revenue 6%
Grants 7%
User Fees & Other 25%
Taxes 45%
Other 13%
Dollars
(thousands) -10,000 7,500 25,000 42,500 60,000
Taxes
User Fees &
Other Revenues
Senior Government
Grants
Development
Revenue
Interest &
Investment Income
Gaming Revenue
Refinancing
& Other Gains
Gain (loss) on
Disposal of Tangible
Capital Assets
Contributed Tangible
Capital Assets
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
$700
$650
$600
$550
$500
$0
Debt Per Capita 2006 - 2010
26
2010 Capital Additions
Debt Per Capita 2006 - 2010
General Government 11%
Sewer Utility 14%
Water Utility 6%
Recreation & Cultural 23%
Transportation 39%
Protective Services 7%
This chart represents the investments that were made in Capital Assets. Additions to our water system, sewer
system, road construction, park acquisitions and development are all examples of Capital Additions.
Debt reduction has been a
high priority for your Council.
Orderly debt reduction is a key
part of our Financial Planning.
27
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
77,000
75,562
74,125
72,687
71,250
0
Population Estimate 2006 - 2010Population Estimate 2006 - 2010
Taxes vs. Household Costs (monthly)*
$0 $25 $50 $75 $100
Recycling (includes capital)
Development Services
Fire Services
General Government
Sewer (includes capital)
Capital (includes debt)
Community Dev't Parks & Rec
Water (includes capital)
Police Services
Home Security System
Telephone (Basic)
Internet (Basic)
Cable (Basic)
BC Hydro (Electricity)
Terasen (Gas)
Home Insurance
$5
$15
$16
$18
$23
$25
$28
$32
$37
$28
$39
$39
$41
$64
$84
$93
* Based on 2010 average
single family residence
Cost of Municipal Services
Standard Houshold Costs
Your 2010 tax bill is comprised of the
following elements. This allows you to
compare these categories to the other
expenses in the operation of your home.
As with other household bills, you can
pay your taxes monthly with our
‘pre-authorized withdrawal’ program.
Look for details online at mapleridge.ca
or with your tax notice.
Based on the actual
2006 Census data and
estimated growth rates
for our community.
Council adopted a financial plan that allows citizens to receive quality services at tax rates that are very
competitive when compared to other municipalities in the region.
Council maintained its commitment to a longer term financial strategy which gradually increases the funding
available for infrastructure maintenance and repairs so that the effect of more costly failures is lessened in any
single tax year.
The District uses reserves to manage its finances. These reserves are built up during strong economic times and
serve as a valuable resource during uncertain economic times.
28
2010 Taxation
2010 Projected Revenue — $210.8 Million
Interest, Grants
& Other $31.9M
Fees &
Charges $31.1M
Development
Fees $26.7M
Reserves $18.7M
Property Taxes &
Parcel Charges $57M
Borrowing
Proceeds $28.9M
Reduce Book Value of
Assets (Amortization) $16.5M
Other $81.4M
Capital
Program $105.9M
Amortization $16.5M
Debt Payments $7M
2010 Projected Expenditures — $210.8 Million
Administration $ 4.0M
Fire Protection $ 6.8M
Police Services $16.5M
Corporate & Financial $ 5.7M
Parks, Recreation &
Gen. Govt. Properties $17.7M
Public Works
& Development $13.6M
Sewer $ 7.3M
Water $ 9.8M
$81.4M
Demographics
29
Ages: 0-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Percentage of Population by Selected Age Groupings, 2006 and 2031
2006
2031
20% 14% 13% 9% 11% 11% 18% 16% 17% 15% 10% 13% 6% 12% 5% 9%Percentage of Population by Selected Age Groupings, 2006 and 2031
197619811986199119962001200620112016202120262031110,000
87,500
65,000
42,500
20,000
Review of Existing Population and Housing Projections
30,200in 1976
76,418in 2010
95,200 in 2021(Metro Vancouver GrowthManagement Scenario 4.0)
95,700 in 2021(BC Stats People 28*)
108,000 in 2021(Typlan & Hudema)
108,900 in 2031
(BC Stats People 28*)
Historical Population Growth BC Stats PEOPLE 28* Projection
(BC Stats)
Metro Vancouver Typlan and Hudema Projection
Growth Management Scenario 4.0 with Fraser River Crossing
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
Projected Median Age, Maple Ridge 1986-2031
Median Age
Projected Median Age
Median Age of
39.7 in 2010
Projected Median Age
of 44.6 in 2031
1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031
Projected Median Age
1986 Actual to 2031 Projection
Review of Existing Population
and Housing Projections
Median AgePopulation
Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference…
Under Wraps
Last year when our Engineering Department started planning for the Downtown Enhancement Project,
one of the Engineers noted that the ‘utility boxes’ which contain the intersection controls for lights and
other functions were, frankly, kind of ugly.
This observation led to the development and execution of one of the District’s most popular
projects, ‘The Utility Box Wraps.’ Michael Eng, Traffic & Transportation
Technologist, developed a proposal to wrap the utility boxes to beautify
intersections and change the boxes from being a glaring target for graffiti into a
showcase for the natural beauty of our community.
Michael developed a contest open to all the District staff to obtain images for
the first few boxes, and his email was full of entries from staff from every
department. A selection team narrowed it down to a few
images and the first few boxes were wrapped as part of regular
maintenance programs. The feedback from area residents was
overwhelming. The project was brought before Council, and
they immediately saw the benefits of the program from an
aesthetic and practical point of view and authorized a project
to wrap all the boxes in the community. That’s where Colin
Andre comes in. He’s a member of our Information Services
team, and a talented amateur photographer. He submitted a
number of beautiful images in the original contest, and teamed
up with Michael to develop the images for the remaining wraps
in the District. In total, thirty utility boxes have been covered,
and the project may expand to include our sewage pump
stations.
On this page you can see some examples of the images that
now adorn the utility boxes at every intersection in Maple
Ridge. There’s no doubt that they look beautiful, and the
benefit is that the graffiti on these boxes has all but gone
away, and those boxes that are ‘tagged’ are easily, and rapidly,
cleaned. One of the Value Statements at the front of this
publication speaks to the desire to promote leadership. The
statement reads ‘To encourage innovation, creativity, and
initiative’. Our Council has provided the opportunity for these
two leaders in our organization to shine.
30
Contact Information:
Mayor Ernie Daykin
edaykin@mapleridge.ca
Councillor Cheryl Ashlie
cashlie@mapleridge.ca
Councillor Judy Dueck
jdueck@mapleridge.ca
Councillor Al Hogarth
ahogarth@mapleridge.ca
Councillor Linda King
lking@mapleridge.ca
Councillor Michael Morden
mmorden@mapleridge.ca
Councillor Craig Speirs
cspeirs@mapleridge.ca
31
• Council Workshops on the first, third, and last Monday of each month at 9:00 am,
with some exceptions. Please see the 2011 Council Meeting Calendar on our website
for further detail.
• Committee of the Whole on the first and third Monday of each month at 1:00 pm.
• Council meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm.
• Public hearings on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm.
• For more information on public hearings, special Council
sessions, and civic events, visit mapleridge.ca.
Our Mayor and Council depend on
two wonderful staff to coordinate
their calendars. Cheryl Ennis
and Sandra Ramsay are
the Executive Assistants
for Council and the
Management Team.
Your Mayor & Council
Warm Reception
Diana Dalton joined the District of Maple Ridge in 1995, and for most
citizens, she is the voice of our community. Diana fields hundreds of phone
calls every day and helps connect people to get the information they need as
quickly as possible.
A few years ago Diana was recognized as the ‘Best Receptionist’ by a local
community newspaper as a part of their annual reader surveys. These
Municipal contact numbers will usually get you directly to the person or
department that you need to talk to, but when someone is away from their
desk that friendly voice you’ll hear answer the phone is usually Diana.
Our Mayor spoke about the ‘extraordinary people’ that make Maple Ridge so
special at the introduction to this report, and he’ll be the first one to tell you
that Diana is one of the treasures of our team.
32
The Voice of Our Community
A
Administration .............................................604-463-5221
Arts Centre & Theatre (ACT) .........................604-476-2787
B
Building Inspections
Building ...................................................604-467-7312
Electrical..................................................604-467-7313
Gas-Plumbing ..........................................604-467-7314
General ...................................................604-467-7311
After-Hours Inspection Requests ...............604-467-7380
Business Licences ..........................................604-467-7440
Bylaw Enforcement .......................................604-467-7305
After-Hours ............................................604-467-7422
C
Cemetery .....................................................604-467-7307
Communications .........................................604-467-7452
Council Members .........................................604-463-5221
D
Dog Licences ................................................604-467-7384
E
Engineering ..................................................604-467-7339
Environmental Enquiries ...............................604-467-7499
F
Finance
Accounts Payable .....................................604-467-7388
Accounts Receivable .................................604-466-4334
Administration & Accounting ....................604-463-5221
Property Taxes & Utilities ..........................604-467-7336
Fire Department (Non-Emergency) ................604-463-5880
Flooding (After-Hours) .................................604-463-9581
G
Garbage – Metro Vancouver .........................604-466-9277
H
Human Resources ........................................604-467-7350
L
Library .........................................................604-467-7417
M
Manager Legislative Services ..........................604-463-5221
Mayor’s Office ..............................................604-463-5221
Municipal Emergency Program ......................604-467-7301
Nights & Weekends ..................................604-463-9581
P
Parking Enforcement ....................................604-467-7305
Municipal Contact Information
District of Maple Ridge
11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6A9
www.mapleridge.ca
Switchboard/GeneraI Information..............604-463-5221
General Fax Line........................................604-467-7329
Public Works Emergency – 24 hours............604-463-9581
Fire, Police & Ambulance Emergency...........................911
GFOA
The Government Finance Officers’ Association of the United States and Canada
(GFOA) has given an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial
Reporting (PAFR) to the District of Maple Ridge for its Popular Report for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2009. The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular
Annual Financial Reporting is a prestigious international award recognizing conformance
with the highest standards for preparation of state/provincial and local government
popular reports. In order to receive an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular
Annual Financial Reporting, a government unit must publish a Popular Annual Financial
Report, whose contents conform to program standards of creativity, presentation,
understandability, and reader appeal. An Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular
Annual Financial Reporting is valid for a period of one year only. The District of Maple
Ridge has received a Popular Award for the fourteenth consecutive year and is very
fortunate to be only one of five municipalities in Canada awarded a PAFR for 2009.
We believe our current report continues to conform to the Popular Annual Financial
Reporting requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA.
33
Parks & Leisure Services
Direct Info Line (24 Hrs) ..........................604-467-7322
Direct Reservation Lines
Arenas - Booking/Program Information
Municipal Ice Rental ......................604-465-2499
Pitt Meadows Arenas ......................604-460-1531
Planet Ice (Maple Ridge) .................604-467-2883
Facilities - Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows . 604-465-2499
Picnic Shelters .....................................604-465-2499
Sportfields ..........................................604-465-2499
Festivals Society .....................................604-467-7325
Greg Moore Youth Centre .........................604-467-7354
Leisure Centre
General Enquiries ................................604-467-7322
or ...................................................604-465-2452
Aquatics Supervisor .............................604-467-7302
Program Registration ...........................604-465-2470
Parks & Facilities Administration ...............604-467-7346
Pitt Meadows Family Rec Centre ...............604-465-2452
Sportsfield Conditions & Closures .............604-465-2499
Volunteer Services ....................................604-467-7459
Youth Services
Children’s Programs ............................604-466-4339
Youth Outreach Initiative .....................604-467-7354
Planning
General Enquiries .....................................604-467-7341
Administration .........................................604-467-7343
Police - RCMP (Non-Emergency) ..................604-463-6251
Volunteer Services Coordinator .................604-467-7644
Pitt Meadows Community Policing ...........604-465-2402
Property & Risk Management ........................604-467-7315
Public Works
General Enquiries .....................................604-463-9581
or .......................................................604-467-7363
Public Works Emergency – 24 hours ..........604-463-9581
Purchasing ...................................................604-466-4343
R
Recycling ......................................................604-463-5545
Roads Maintenance ......................................604-467-7363
S
Schools ........................................................604-463-4200
Seniors’ Programs & Information ...................604-467-4993
Sewer Maintenance.......................................604-467-7363
Sidewalk Maintenance ..................................604-467-7363
Snow Removal ..............................................604-467-7363
SPCA ...........................................................604-463-9511
Strategic Economic Initiatives ........................604-467-7320
T
Traffic Enquiries ...........................................604-467-7339
W
Water Maintenance ......................................604-467-7363
Z
Zoning .........................................................604-467-7341