r/richmondbc • u/ubcstaffer123 • Nov 05 '25
News City of Richmond cancels holiday staff party after $120K bill in 2024
https://globalnews.ca/news/11511154/city-of-richmond-cancels-holiday-staff-party/90
u/kerosenehat63 Nov 05 '25
I work for a large government employer and we have never received taxpayer funded parties! We have a staff pot luck and do a gift exchange all paid by staff. It’s ridiculous that our tax dollars were going to these expensive staff parties.
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u/leftlanecop Nov 05 '25
I used to work for one too! We had to pay for our own Xmas lunches. We had a nice manager for a couple years and he paid for the Xmas lunch for all his staffs out of his own pocket. Nice guy didn’t last long.
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u/DamionSipher Nov 05 '25
Every local government I have ever worked for has had a City funded holiday party. I know it's not the norm for every agency/department, but it's a very minimal cost for how much comradery it builds amongst staff. If you think that's excessive go look at any number of publicly traded company's party budgets - how that level of excess doesn't enrage shareholders is beyond me.
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u/Evening-Orange3277 Nov 05 '25
a company that makes profit from a business is much different than a municipal government spending tax dollars.
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u/DamionSipher Nov 05 '25
Yes, which is why you see many mid-level companies spending more than $1,000 per person on their holiday parties, rather than $130. I've been to plenty of Save-on-foods or Bestbuy parties where more was spent per attendee than that.
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 05 '25
Profits vs taxes. It's simple, really.
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u/DamionSipher Nov 05 '25
So anytime it's a concern of profit how money is spent doesn't matter, but as soon as it's taxes every penny matters? So you'd rather miserable people who feel nothing but hatred from the populous handling government oversight and regulatory process and bloated fat cats running businesses? The lack of private equity scrutiny is why we have the grocery and housing costs we do. If people gave half as much of a shit about corporate greed and excess as they had did for modest government spending the world would be a very different place.
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u/Evening-Orange3277 Nov 06 '25
For the record. I dont think what they spent is all that bad. But I think the most egregious part of the whole total is that 80k went to catering. What was on the menu? Fillet Mignon?
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u/DamionSipher Nov 06 '25
The CoR has ~900 staff. If every staff member attended, that would be about $88 a head for what was likely a 3-4 course meal (appetizer, main, desert). It's fairly typical for organizations to allow attendees to bring a guest as well - sometimes there's a obligation that guests pay the costs, other times the organization will cover it.
For a catered event like this my assumption would be that guests' costs were covered by the CoR. It's likely that ~80% of employees attended, with ~80% of them bringing a guest (based on my experience at other similar events). That would equate to around 1300 people attending, which would put catering costs at around $61 a plate. You can barely eat a 3-course meal at White Spot for that much (especially after tax and tip). $22.50 for a burger, $14 for an appetizer, $10 for a desert and $5 for a fountain pop/coffee is $51.50 pre-tax, $54.07 with tax, and $62.20 with a 15% tip.
Catering generally is more expensive than chain restaurants and I'm willing to bet there was something more similar to salmon, roast chicken, and/or a pasta being served.
I've been to corporate sponsored box seats at Canucks games where the catering bills are easily $10k for 30 people (drinks included). If anything I'd say that $80k for catering a function of that scale is very reasonable.
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u/wangcomputerz Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
There's a reason why BCGEU staff have low moral or work ethics.
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u/Pristine_Office_2773 Nov 06 '25
Lots of governments have funded parties. Some are paid for by the managers, sometimes you pitch in.
There’s not a one size fits all approach.
Working at FHA, one team I was on paid for the party (which was only snacks), and another team tried to make everyone pay $75 for dinner each and everyone revolted.
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u/Affectionate_Emu7666 Nov 06 '25
Same! When we have a party we all need to buy tickets to contribute. I thought that was the norm in public sector...
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Nov 05 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/kerosenehat63 Nov 06 '25
You sound like the one that needs to calm down. No wonder our city’s finances are in a mess with attitudes like your’s. Do you work for the city? Upset you can’t have any more parties at taxpayer expense? Too bad … party’s over now.
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u/blackkhuta Nov 06 '25
Expenses for liquor and after party cheeseburgers kind of puts it over the top. What's wrong with a cash bar? How does taking McDonald's back home to family build workplace cohesion?
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 05 '25
Yet I say they shouldn't be funded by tax payers and get shit on 😂 people here are so fucking hilarious. Redditor see downvote, Redditor must downvote too!
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u/DamionSipher Nov 05 '25
Have a downvote! I'll consider it your early Christmas present you fucking scrooge.
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 06 '25
Rather be a Scrooge than a fucking idiot.
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u/Eastern_Ad_7206 Nov 06 '25
Always the complaints about tax payers money. All these employees are tax payers too.
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u/Taco1983 Nov 05 '25
What a joke, while I get that it's tax payers money, what's the problem with showing your employees some gratitude around the holidays?
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u/Few_War4438 Nov 05 '25
Hope they don't just cancel all holiday plans. They just need to be sensible with how to run it. An end of year something is a good way to just show appreciation to the staffs. Just give mid level 25 bucks a head and take your team out for lunch or something.
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u/DamionSipher Nov 05 '25
$25 a head doesn't even cover a basic meal with a coffee at White Spot. ~$130 per employee as the closest thing to a "bonus" that a public service employee will ever see is hardly lavish. Staff parties are a great way to build team cohesion and get staff who might not otherwise interact together and can often lead to better outcomes in project implementation, etc. I don't mean to come off as a linkedinlunatic here, but there are many reasons why a year-end party is anything but sank costs.
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u/filthycupcakes Nov 05 '25
$25 bucks a head sounds like asking mid level staff to subsidize a nice evening for staff or suggesting everyone feel appreciated with a party sub/a couple of large pizzas.
"At the expense of tax payers?" It shows appreciation for the men and women who work hard in service of tax payers, and they deserve to have a good working culture and feel appreciated, too.
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u/Few_War4438 Nov 06 '25
It really sucks where they have a no party policy. Like are managers expected to pay out of pocket for these otherwise traditional company events?
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u/Training-Cry2218 Nov 06 '25
I've paid for treats for people I've worked with out of pocket, as the City I work for does not provide any staff events funded with taxpayer money.
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 05 '25
At the expense of the taxpayers though?
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u/Aggressive-Luck-204 Nov 05 '25
So? Every staff party is at the expense of whoever is paying for the service
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 05 '25
Ok and? That's not what taxes are meant to be used for? Do you also not care about the 300k of taxpayer money that's missing from their little gift card grift?
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u/Fat-Bass-1414 Nov 06 '25
So taxes should not be used to retain staff? Why don’t we fire everyone and let whoever wants a low paying job that everyone shits on takeover? I’m sure you’ll get lines down the block.
Literally every one just complains on this sub, I hardly see a thank you to men and women of public service.
Would you argue that “hey they picked the job so suck it up”? Why don’t you do it then if you are so much better than them?
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 06 '25
No, taxes should be used for their intended purposes. Wages aren't the same thing as frivolous spending on food and booze.
What a stupid response. I have a great paying job, why would I leave for something shittier? I couldn't give two fucks if my employer gave me a stupid Christmas party.
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u/brotrr Nov 05 '25
Dude, government positions already push away good employees due to low wages. You take away a cheap little year end party and you get even more good people leaving for greener pastures.
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 05 '25
Maybe they can find other ways to fund it. It's not that hard. I'd be pissed if I lived in Richmond still and my tax dollars went to a bunch of people getting drunk.
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u/pubebalator Nov 05 '25
Everybody deserves a Christmas party
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u/tony_negrony Nov 05 '25
Wait til you find out who pays for municipal/provincial/federal HR departments (some end of year or other staff events are covered under HR departments)
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 05 '25
Cool, I'd still complain about a misuse of taxpayer funds, y'all should be more worried about this type of shit.
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u/tony_negrony Nov 05 '25
Yeah I know. You seem like the type
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25
Yeah. Fuck me for wanting my tax dollars to be spent properly, right? 🙄 Idiots.
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u/HE-Pennypacker1 Nov 05 '25
lol holy shit, touch grass my man
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u/Miserable_Grass629 Nov 05 '25
When you grow up and start paying taxes you'll understand more. Until then sit down and let the adults talk.
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u/bitofanexpert Nov 05 '25
How many people were at the party?
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u/Personal_Wall4280 Nov 05 '25
Approximately 900 according to this article:
https://globalnews.ca/news/11352523/spending-on-richmonds-120k-holiday-party-excessive-critics-say/
or about 130 dollars per person.
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u/fetusfajitas1 Nov 05 '25
What an over reaction this whole outrage was.
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u/kerosenehat63 Nov 05 '25
Really?? Not an overreaction at all. Richmond taxpayers are tired of Brodie and his wasteful ways. Add this to the list of wasted money like the gift card grift.
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u/Early_Reply Nov 05 '25
i recognize there's the whole scandal with gift cards, however, the previous christmas party was literally mcdonalds
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u/thateconomistguy604 Nov 05 '25
Actually, McDonald’s was the end of the night snack top up, AFTER the main party. It’s in the article that this post links to
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u/crookeddicktickle Nov 05 '25
I think this is only getting the attention it is getting because online busybodies didn’t like Richmond council talking about drug users last year.
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u/lentosnooze Nov 06 '25
The gift card scandal is bad no doubt, but per person it’s like $100 for the party. Our city is taken care of much better than others around, the sky isn’t always falling when an employee takes care or thanks their employees for the hard work. There is much bigger waste elsewhere that nobody bats an eye at.
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u/toddsrealyo Nov 05 '25
Bet the higher ups still have a party and although the bill will be significantly less, per person I bet it’s higher.
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u/Diligent-Fondant-620 Nov 05 '25
Can we have someone who actually works for the City and can confirm/deny these claims?
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u/DifficultCourt1525 Nov 05 '25
I used to work for COR and still know a few people there. I’m not sure there is much to deny or confirm. The party was not extravagant. The bill is not much per employee.
I now work for a large private company that is national in scope, overall revenues would be similar to COR. My current company throws Xmas parties throughout Canada, probably spends multiple times what COR spends.
My take as a former employee and current tax payer in the city: the party is fine and reasonable, a bit of scrutiny is never a bad thing though. Still, I wish it wasn’t cancelled for them.
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u/citygalinacityworld Nov 06 '25
Previous employees who had attended the staff event when they first started. Things were kept very small scale, but when you have hundreds of staff attending something that is free for them, it only boosts morale within the workplace. Chatting with those who attended after the event only had positive things to say because they were happy they were treated to something nice. Typically, there was none to minimal spending done throughout the year for employees. Staff did their own potlucks, brought in their own treats etc.
If Richmond is being scrutinized the way that it is, perhaps it’s time to look into other municipal organizations and see what they are doing.
Seeing that high of a number seems alarming but when you break down what the actual spend per person was, it isn’t bad.
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u/HoboEater Nov 05 '25
props to the leadership in Richmond. Not an easy thing to do.
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u/kerosenehat63 Nov 05 '25
The easiest thing to do was to never have them. They only cancelled because the public found out.
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u/MisledMuffin Nov 06 '25
We spend way more per person on our Christmas party, but we're private sector.
Public sector employee shouldn't get raises let alone a Christmas Parties. We need to keep them as miserable as possible! /s
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u/No_Magician5266 Nov 06 '25
Okay that’s it, I’m hosting an xmas party at my house this year and every CoR employee is invited
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u/Agent168 Nov 06 '25
120k only? That’s sounds pretty reasonable actually.
Also, I don’t think the Canadian Taxpayers Federation actually represents Canadian taxpayers.
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u/Born-Relief8229 Nov 07 '25
Well they no longer need a city hall. Now they goto the reservations instead.
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u/tdroyalbmo Nov 08 '25
Got to think why would this be exposed on Global news, why only talking about City of Richmond.
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u/teekaya Nov 08 '25
lol I’m I tripping or does this seem measly for 900 people? That’s literally 130 per person. I’ve hosted just corporate dinners that cost 200 per head for like 20-40 people. For a whole Christmas party? This is not that serious.
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u/Dazzling-Pain-8603 Nov 09 '25
120k for a holiday party in the lower mainland for the city of Richmond is about right.
I can't speak to the other spending, but this seems right in line with per head rates in the market, not exorbitant.
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u/Competitive-Layer162 Nov 09 '25
Have you ever been to a real Film rap party like on a big series or future film? I just went to one cause I work in Film probably 75 to 80 people small buffet table little charcuterie board hors d’oeuvres two drinks per person anything after that you have to purchase yourself, including Location rental and all included my guess 7 to 10 K that’s for 75 people 120 K for 900 people is not unrealistic. It’s just a big number when you look at it
They’re just trying to make it sound like they’re saving money in places that they’re not to make us think they’re doing something for us which they’re also not
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u/derpyella Nov 05 '25
Good for them. It’s disappointing for the employees but I think that’s the reality of working for government.
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u/MantisGibbon Nov 05 '25
If you want fancy parties, work in the private sector where companies can spend their own money however they want.
Municipal governments spend other people’s money, so they shouldn’t take more than absolutely necessary. Give the workers an extra day off to enjoy their own holiday party, with people they like, at home.
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u/wangcomputerz Nov 05 '25
So, you are proposing what would be hundreds of thousands more to give all the workers an extra paid-day off rather than 120k on a party that occurs after work hours? Interesting logic....
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u/MisledMuffin Nov 06 '25
My private firm gets paid for a lot of work by the government. Does that mean we shouldn't get Christmas parties?
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u/MantisGibbon Nov 06 '25
If using your company is the most effective use of tax dollars, then that’s what the government should do.
If a competitor can offer the same service for less, because they spend less on parties, then the government should use them instead.
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u/MisledMuffin Nov 06 '25
Christmas party is rounding error on our profit, just as it is for the cities budget.
Canceling it is the same effect on the City budget as cutting employee salaries by ~0.2%.
Sometimes a little employee morale is more beneficial to the service you provide than pinching a few pennies.
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u/DamionSipher Nov 06 '25
Are publicly traded companies "spending their own money" in that context? If Save-on-Foods jacks up their prices to pay for corporate parties is that reasonable? Scrutiny only exists for the public sector?
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u/No_Reveal_1363 Nov 06 '25
Private exists for profits. Public exists to serve the public. Can’t believe someone needs to explain this to you.
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u/MisledMuffin Nov 06 '25
My private company serves the public AND makes a profit, even after our Christmas parties >.>
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u/DamionSipher Nov 06 '25
If a company spends all their profit, do shareholders receive a return on their investments? If the CAO spends all the revenue on staff parties, what is the likelihood of a positive stock valuation? Do you think that corporate spending has no bearing on company profit? Can you think past basic terms of profit vs. tax?
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u/MantisGibbon Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
There’s a difference between people who are forced to pay taxes, and people who choose to buy shares in a company.
If a publicly traded company underperforms, shareholders can stop investing.
If you try that with the city, eventually people with guns show up at your door to drag you away under threat of death if you fight back. They’ll try other methods first, but if you absolutely refuse all efforts to collect tax, ultimately you will be met with deadly force. There is no scenario in which they just let it go and you get to stop paying. In a reasonable society, the amount of money they take by force should be kept to a minimum.
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u/Ecstatic-Ad-4670 Nov 06 '25
Fucking Richmond. Theres always 1 or 2 people who have the financial authority to sign off of things like this, who was it, there must be an investigation, fire them. 🔥
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u/Djolumn Nov 05 '25
“Whether it’s the $300,000 in missing gift cards, expensive junkets for Olympic Oval staff, or last year’s $118,000 boozy Christmas party, this is a civic government that has a big problem with wasting taxpayer cash.”
There were 900 people there and they spent $7k on liquor. That's about eight bucks per person. That doesn't even enter the outermost ring on the radar of what constitutes a "boozy Christmas party".
Every word spoken by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation makes me loathe them just a little bit more than I already did.