About Burnaby
History of the city
Burnaby was incorporated in 1892 and is the 3rd largest city in British Columbia after Vancouver and Surrey. According to the 2021 Census, Burnaby had a population of 249,125 residents. Burnaby is known for its gorgeous mountain parks and for having the biggest shopping centre in British Columbia. The city is also home to 2 post-secondary education options, British Columbia Institute of Technology and Simon Fraser University.
Appeal
Young Graduate
Average rent in North and Southeast Burnaby and Metrotown for a 1-bedroom unit starts around $1,267 and goes up to around $1,941 for a 3-bedroom unit according to CMHC 2021. The average price for a condo sells between $740,500 and $816,700 whereas detached homes sell between $1,888,500 to $2,271,400 according to Greater Vancouver REALTORS®. Burnaby is a great option for a young graduate. The area is perfect for young graduates as it offers many hookah lounges, bars and restaurants. Hookah lounges are primarily located on Hastings Street and are prohibited in other cities of the lower mainland.
Families
Burnaby is a great city for new and existing families. The city is affordable and offers access to mountains, lakes and astonishing viewpoints. The city is home to a high-end metropolis shopping centre. This inner-city is surrounded with houses, residential towers and town homes giving a family options to select a dream home. The surrounding parks in the area also make it a very friendly place to spend an afternoon with friends and family.
Top Places to See
Metrotown
Is the the downtown of Burnaby and is officially one of the four designated town centres of the lower mainland. The neighborhood is home to Central Park and Metropolis at Metrotown. Central Park is known for having a well-preserved forest with gorgeous trails.
Brentwood
Located in North Burnaby Brentwood is home to Brentwood Town Centre a mid-size mall that was opened in 1961 and offers over 96+ up and coming stores and services. The mall is connected to Brentwood Town Centre station on the millennium line of the Skytrain and allows you to travel all over Burnaby and neighboring cities.
Lougheed
Lougheed is a neighbourhood located in Burnaby, BC. It is known for its convenient location, with easy access to major transportation routes, including the Lougheed Highway and the SkyTrain. The neighbourhood is home to the Lougheed Town Centre, a large shopping mall that offers a wide range of shops, restaurants and services. Lougheed also has several parks and recreational facilities, including Cameron Recreation Complex which offers swimming pools, fitness center and ice rinks. The area is also home to Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus, which provides educational opportunities for students and also hosts cultural events for the community.
Edmonds
Edmonds is a vibrant and inclusive neighbourhood located in Burnaby. Known for its diverse population and cultural richness, Edmonds boasts well-maintained parks and recreational facilities that cater to the needs of all members of the community. The neighbourhood is home to the Edmonds Community Centre, which offers a plethora of programs and services for residents of all ages, ethnicities, religions, and abilities, including fitness classes, sports programs, and cultural events that celebrate the diversity of the community. The retail district along Kingsway offers a variety of shops, restaurants and services, reflecting the diverse tastes and preferences of the residents. The neighbourhood is also well connected to public transportation, making it easy for residents to travel throughout the city.
Things to do in Burnaby + Local tips
Metropolis at Metrotown
Metropolis at Metrotown is the largest mall in British Columbia and is the third biggest mall in Canada. Metrotown lives up to its name by having 27 million customer visits annually. Metrotown is a hub as its Skytrain station and bus loop exchange connect everyone within the lower mainland.
Surrounded by a million square feet of Class A office building directly adjacent to the shopping centre and many residential buildings, the mall first opened in 1986 and now offers over 342 shops with 14 of them being anchor stores. From Metrotown, you can easily access Surrey, New Westminster, Vancouver, Coquitlam and Richmond.
So, if you love to shop, Burnaby offers some of the best and most accessible shopping in the lower mainland.
Burnaby Village Museum
Burnaby Village Museum is a reconstructed village that serves as a reminder of life in the 1920’s. The museum was founded in 1972 and has had both heritage and reconstructed buildings placed in the village.
The Museum is open seasonally from May to September the is located in Deer Lake Park. Although, not original the village has 31 buildings that include authentic heritage buildings.
One very interesting sight to see at The Village is it’s the B.C. Electric Railway interurban tram.
Access is seasonal, so make sure to check on when you can visit.
Burnaby Mountain Park
Burnaby Mountain Park is a small Forrestal mountain located at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. The mountain park is a forest and a great introduction for those foreign to Canada who’ve never experienced Canadian wildlife, but want the safety of a well-marked path
When roaming around the mountain, you can expect to see all sorts of animals like woodpeckers, stellar’s jays, blue herons, raccoons, coyotes, deers and black bears. A sightseeing paradise.
The park offers hiking trails, bike trails and a viewpoint that overlooks Centennial Park. Burnaby City is a sister city to Kushiro, Japan and has a collection of Ainu poles to represent the relationship and are found at the entrance of the park.
Deer Lake Park
Deer Lake Park is a versatile park that offers pedal boat, canoe, kayak and rowboat rentals for all ages to enjoy the lake. The park is also home to the Burnaby Art Gallery that put-on exhibitions to display historical and contemporary art. Shadbolt Centre for the Arts is located in Deer lake and is a performing arts theatre that serves as a multi-use facility perfect for hosting weddings, recitals, festivals, crafts fairs and concerts.
Playland at the PNE
The amusement park is located in the City of Vancouver and opened in 1910. The park is the oldest amusement park in Canada. To this day the park operates a wooden roller coaster that dates back to 1958. The park features all sorts of exhilarating rides for kids and adults. The park also has other attractions such as a video arcade, old west shooting gallery, a 35 ft climbing wall, glass house, mini golf and a haunted mansion. The park opens spring to summer and mid-October to host Fright Nights and closes again at the end of the Halloween weekend, details about definite opening dates and hours can be found on the PNE website annually.
Education
41 elementary schools, 8 secondary schools, a poly-technic institute (BCIT) and a university (SFU). All schools are accessible by transit.
Simon Fraser University
The university was established in 1965 in the city of Burnaby and is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, International Association of Universities and Universities Canada which are all considered members of a higher education. Simon Fraser University offers eight faculties that include Applied Science, Arts and Social Sciences, school of Business, Communication Art and Technology, Education, Environment, Health Sciences and Science.
Named after a fur trader and explorer Simon Fraser University has a strong rivalry against The University of British Columbia and is the only University outside of the United States that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Established in 1964, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is located in Burnaby and is a public polytechnic institute that operates as vocational and technical school. The institute has 5 campuses in the lower mainland with an Aerospace Technology Campus in Richmond. The institute offers apprenticeship programs for skilled trades and diplomas and degrees for vocational technicians.
BCIT offers 6 schools that involve, Business, Computing & Academic Studies, Construction & the Enviroment, Energy, Health Sciences and Transportation. The institute provides students with full-time and part-time studies.
Leisure and Hobbies
A Romantic Boat Ride
Plan a lovely afternoon at Deer Lake Park. Enjoy a picnic with a special friend and continue the lovely atmosphere with a nice walk along the lake. Make your way to the boat rental and go pedal boating at the park. End the night off at the Burnaby Art Gallery viewing cultural and historic pieces of fine art.
Capture The City
Head over to Capitol Hill located in Northern Burnaby. The neighborhood offers a breathtaking view of Vancouver, the Lion’s Gate Bridge and the North Shore. The viewpoint is a hidden gem and definitely worth checking out.
Future of the area
In 2017 a Metrotown Downtown Plan was approved with goals to hone in on exciting and inclusive identifiable neighbourhoods and create a truly recognizable city skyline. The new downtown core will both compliment and efficiently lead to each of the other three main Town Centers to accommodate the City’s predicted growth and change by 2041.
The transformation of the Downtown neighbourhood will involve the redevelopment of large sites that currently hold popular places like Metropolis at Metrotown Shopping Center, Old Orchard, and Plaza 5000.
