Richard has spent 35 years as a Boilermaker and member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Buildings, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB). He served his home Local Lodge 359 as a Job Steward and on the Executive Board. He was an Instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology for the Boilermaker trade. Richard was a Shop Steward in the steel trades department and the Chair of the Bargaining Unit for the Vocational Instructors at the Institute. In 2006 Richard was appointed as International Representative for the IBB. He is married and has a son.