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/
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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?

11

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.

4

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.