"Our buildings reflect the pride we have in our great city, and we are honored to be recognized for our work and investments in those buildings," said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "The city has taken a ground-breaking approach to ensure our buildings, new and old, will continue to support our thriving community, and the advocate award from VFA is a reflection of our success."

The City of Richmond’s facility management department implemented VFA's capital planning software and building condition assessment methodology to develop long-range plans for the optimal management and care of public facilities. The city used VFA's solution to achieve significant savings, from reducing emergency repair costs through more on-target planning to cutting material and procurement costs. With a proactive facility management program in place, the city’s buildings contribute to and advance its vision to become one of Canada's most appealing, livable and well-managed communities.

"Municipalities, cities, and educational organizations alike have turned to the City of Richmond for guidance and direction in pursuing capital planning initiatives," said Jerry Kokos, president and CEO, VFA. "We applaud the City of Richmond for its leadership, innovation and success in achieving long-range capital plans for its facilities. In recognition of the city’s successes, it is our pleasure to honor the city and its facilities team with the VFA Customer Advocate Award."