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Historical Timeline

1925

Richmond Board of Trade founded

1930s

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) opened: 1931 

1940s 

Boeing became Richmond’s largest employer: Burkeville was established to house the workforce. – 1940s

1950s

George Massey Tunnel Opened as Deas Island Tunnel: Inauguration by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

1960s

Richmond Board of Trade name changed to Richmond Chamber of Commerce: November 29, 1960  

McDonald's opens in Richmond: 1967 (first in Canada) 

Richmond General Hospital opened: 1966

1970s

Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) implemented: 1973 (use a photo of a farm from the archives) 

IKEA opens in Richmond: This was the first IKEA in North America. - 1976  

1st Business Excellence Awards (BEA): 1977 - Businessman of the Year award given to Gerry Culver, a business consultant and lecturer at the Federal Business Development Bank 

1st female chair (Doreen): 1977

1980s

1st Golf Tournament: 1984  

Kwantlen established its first official campus: 1981 

City of Richmond designated as a City: December 3, 1990 

1990s

1st Female Executive Director Appointed, Shelley Leonhardt: 1993 

1st Chair of Asian Heritage Elected, Ken Lam: 1994

2000s

Canada Line Opened: 2009 

2010 Winter Olympics Hosted: Richmond proudly hosted the long-standing track speed skating events. 

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