Richmond’s First New Mayor in 25 Years Wants a Waterfront Trade Centre — But the Last Developer’s Land Is Tied Up in Court

Rob Howard took office as Richmond’s mayor on November 2, 2026, ending Malcolm Brodie’s quarter-century tenure and immediately placing a new trade and exhibition centre at the top of his agenda. In his inauguration speech, Howard pledged to approach stakeholders along with provincial and federal governments to build what he described as a “world-class” facility, paired with a separate waterfront arts and culture centre in Richmond City Centre. He cited the city’s location beyond Vancouver International Airport, its port access, and direct highway connections as natural advantages for a Pacific gateway hub. The promise revives a concept that has circulated in various forms for over a decade, though Howard did not name a specific site for either project during his address.

The most logical backdrop for Howard’s vision is the former Richmond Night Market site at Duck Island, a waterfront parcel at the northern edge of Richmond City Centre directly adjacent to SkyTrain’s Bridgeport Station and the River Rock Casino Resort. In 2024, Jingon International Development Group secured municipal rezoning approval for a massive mixed-use complex there that included up to 2,000 hotel rooms, more than 538,000 square feet of entertainment space, and nearly a million square feet of office and institutional uses. Earlier concepts dating back to the early 2010s also envisioned a 450,000-square-foot convention and exhibition centre alongside major arts venues. Those plans stalled when the developer encountered major financial issues, and the property is now under a court-ordered sale process with no clear resolution timeline.