City of Burnaby, BC: Complete City Guide

Burnaby is the third-largest city in British Columbia, home to about 250,000 people right in the middle of Metro Vancouver. It sits between Vancouver and the Tri-Cities, stretching from Burrard Inlet in the north to the Fraser River in the south. Burnaby is best known for Metrotown, the province's biggest shopping centre, Simon Fraser University on top of Burnaby Mountain, and a surprising amount of green space: lakes, forests and parks make up about a quarter of the city. It is also one of the region's busiest job centres, with major tech, film and video game studios.

Burnaby sits on the traditional and unceded territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Nations.

Burnaby at a Glance: Quick Facts

Statistics Canada counted the population again in May 2026, but city-level results are not expected until 2027. Figures on this page use the 2021 census unless stated.

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History of Burnaby

Before the city

For thousands of years, Coast Salish peoples fished, hunted and gathered across what is now Burnaby. The marshes around Burnaby Lake and the Brunette River were rich in fish, birds and plants, and the shores of Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River were part of a wider network of villages, seasonal camps and trade routes.

In 1859, during the Fraser River gold rush, the Royal Engineers under Colonel Richard Moody cut North Road and Douglas Road through the forest to link the new colonial capital at New Westminster with Burrard Inlet. That same year, Moody's private secretary, Robert Burnaby, explored the lake that would later carry his name.

District municipality

Settlers began clearing farms and logging the forest in the 1880s. The opening of the BC Electric Railway's interurban line between Vancouver and New Westminster in 1891 changed everything: stations along the line, such as Central Park and Edmonds, became small communities. Central Park itself was set aside in 1891. On September 22, 1892, residents incorporated the District Municipality of Burnaby.

For decades Burnaby was a mix of farms, orchards, small villages and logging land. The Oakalla Prison Farm opened beside Deer Lake in 1912 and operated until 1991. Industrial land grew along the Fraser River at Big Bend and along Burrard Inlet, where oil refineries and storage terminals were built.

Suburban boom

After the Second World War, Burnaby filled up quickly with family homes. The Trans-Canada Highway and Lougheed Highway cut through the city in the 1950s and 1960s. Two institutions opened that still define Burnaby today: BCIT in 1964 and Simon Fraser University in 1965, with its striking hilltop campus designed by Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey.

In the 1970s the municipality designated four town centres to focus growth. Metrotown became the largest, and its shopping centre opened in 1986, the same year the Expo Line SkyTrain began running through south Burnaby. Burnaby officially became a city on its 100th birthday in 1992, and the Millennium Line arrived in north Burnaby in 2002.

Recent decades

Rapid tower growth around Metrotown in the 2010s led to the "demoviction" controversy, as older rental apartments were torn down for condos. Housing anger helped independent candidate Mike Hurley defeat four-term mayor Derek Corrigan in 2018. Burnaby Mountain also became a national flashpoint over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, with protests and arrests in 2014 and 2018; the expanded pipeline began operating in 2024. Today the city is building at a record pace, with tall mixed-use towers rising at Brentwood, Lougheed and Metrotown.

Key dates in Burnaby history

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Geography of Burnaby

Burnaby covers the middle of the Burrard Peninsula. Boundary Road separates it from Vancouver to the west. Burrard Inlet forms the northern shore, Burnaby Mountain and North Road mark the edge with Port Moody and Coquitlam to the east, New Westminster lies to the southeast, and the North Arm of the Fraser River forms the southern edge.

The city rises from the river flats in the south to a series of ridges and slopes, topped by Burnaby Mountain at about 370 m. In the centre, a low valley holds Burnaby Lake, Deer Lake and Still Creek, which drain east into the Brunette River. Large protected areas, including Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, Burnaby Lake Regional Park and Central Park, give Burnaby one of the highest shares of parkland of any city in the region.

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Burnaby Neighbourhoods

The four town centres

Burnaby concentrates its towers, shops, offices and transit around four town centres.

All Burnaby neighbourhoods

Neighbourhood boundaries in Burnaby are informal, but these are the names locals use, grouped by part of the city.

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Burnaby Climate and Weather

Burnaby has the same mild oceanic climate as Vancouver: cool, rainy winters and dry, warm summers. Elevation makes a big difference, though. Burnaby Mountain and the SFU campus, at around 370 m, get noticeably more rain and snow than Metrotown, and it is not unusual for SFU to be snowy and foggy while the rest of the city stays wet and grey.

Figures are approximate, based on Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for the area.

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Urban Planning in Burnaby

Burnaby's planning has followed one main idea since the 1970s: put the tall buildings and the shops around four town centres connected by SkyTrain, and protect the lakes, ravines and single-family neighbourhoods in between. The result is an unusual skyline, with clusters of 40- to 60-storey towers rising out of an otherwise low-rise, leafy city.

Housing is the biggest planning issue. After the Metrotown demoviction controversy, the city adopted tenant protections that require developers to replace demolished rental homes one-for-one and help displaced tenants. Burnaby has also created a Burnaby Housing Authority to build below-market rentals and is adding small multiplexes in lower-density neighbourhoods under provincial housing laws.

Major projects include the Brentwood and Lougheed master-planned communities, the expansion of Metrotown, the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment, and new and rebuilt community centres and pools across the city.

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Burnaby Architecture and Landmark Buildings

Burnaby's architecture ranges from Edwardian estate homes to brutalist concrete and record-breaking glass towers.

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Burnaby Demographics and Population

The 2021 census counted 249,125 people in Burnaby, up 7% from 2016. About half of residents were born outside Canada, and roughly two-thirds belong to a visible minority group, one of the highest shares in the country. Burnaby is younger than average around SFU, BCIT and the town centres, while the older single-family neighbourhoods have many long-time families and seniors.

Burnaby's households are split fairly evenly between owners and renters, with renters concentrated in the towers and older walk-up apartments around Metrotown, Edmonds and Brentwood.

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Ethnicity and Cultural Diversity

Burnaby is one of the most diverse cities in Canada. People of Chinese origin are the largest group, at about a third of residents. The table below shows approximate shares from the 2021 census.

Figures are rounded from the Statistics Canada 2021 Census Profile. You can see this diversity in daily life: Chinese restaurants and bakeries along Kingsway and at Crystal Mall, a growing Korean food scene around Lougheed, Filipino shops and restaurants across south Burnaby, and Italian delis on Hastings Street in Burnaby Heights.

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Languages Spoken in Burnaby

English is the shared language of daily life, but most Burnaby residents have a mother tongue other than English. Mandarin and Cantonese are by far the most common, followed by Tagalog, Korean, Punjabi, Persian (Farsi), Spanish, Vietnamese and Russian. Many signs, businesses and services in the town centres operate in several languages, and the City and Burnaby Public Library offer materials and programs in the most common ones.

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Religion in Burnaby

Close to half of Burnaby residents reported no religion in 2021. Christians (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox) make up roughly a third, and there are sizeable Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities. Notable places of worship include the Ismaili Centre on Canada Way (designed by Bruno Freschi), along with many Chinese and Korean churches, Buddhist temples, mosques and gurdwaras.

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LGBTQ2S+ Burnaby: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Burnaby is an inclusive city with LGBTQ2S+ residents in every neighbourhood, though most of the region's queer nightlife and big events are in Vancouver's Davie Village, a short SkyTrain ride away. The City raises the Pride flag each year, and SFU's Out on Campus centre and local youth programs offer community closer to home. Burnaby Public Library and community centres run regular 2SLGBTQIA+ programs, especially for youth.

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Homelessness in Burnaby

Homelessness is less visible in Burnaby than in Vancouver, but it is growing. The 2023 Metro Vancouver count found 209 people experiencing homelessness in Burnaby, a 69% increase from 2020: 77 sleeping outside, 106 in shelters and warming centres, and 26 with no fixed address. Indigenous people were heavily over-represented at 27% of those counted, compared with about 1.5% of the population. Almost half had lived in Burnaby for five years or more. Local advocates say the true number is much higher because the count misses people who are couch-surfing or living in vehicles.

Burnaby long had no permanent shelter. The city now has year-round shelter space, supportive housing sites and seasonal warming centres, and the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby coordinates local outreach.

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Burnaby Economy and Major Employers

Burnaby has one of the strongest local economies in Metro Vancouver, with more jobs than many cities twice its size. Its central location, SkyTrain lines and large business parks attract technology, film, logistics and head offices.

Technology and video games. Electronic Arts' huge EA Vancouver studio, known for the FIFA/EA Sports FC and NHL franchises, is in Burnaby, along with hydrogen fuel-cell maker Ballard Power Systems and quantum computing company D-Wave. Business parks such as Discovery Park, Glenlyon and Willingdon Park host hundreds of tech firms.

Film and television. Burnaby is a core part of Hollywood North, with major sound stages including Bridge Studios and Mammoth Studios. The City runs its own Burnaby Film Office to manage location shoots.

Education and health. Simon Fraser University, BCIT and Burnaby Hospital are among the largest employers in the city.

Retail. Metropolis at Metrotown is the largest shopping centre in British Columbia, and The Amazing Brentwood, Lougheed Town Centre and Crystal Mall draw shoppers from across the region.

Head offices and industry. Best Buy Canada and Metro Vancouver's regional government are headquartered in Burnaby. Heavy industry includes the Burnaby oil refinery, the only one in the Lower Mainland, and the Trans Mountain pipeline's Burnaby terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal on Burrard Inlet. Big Bend along the Fraser River is a major area for warehouses, manufacturing and distribution.

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City Government, Mayor and Council

Burnaby is governed by a mayor and eight councillors, all elected city-wide for four-year terms. Unlike Vancouver, Burnaby has no separately elected park board; parks and recreation are overseen by council through the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission. Voters also elect seven school trustees to the Burnaby Board of Education (School District 41).

Burnaby City Hall is at 4949 Canada Way, beside Deer Lake. The city is known for keeping property taxes relatively low and having no debt.

Mayor and city councillors (term 2022–2026)

The next civic election is Saturday, October 17, 2026, with advance voting on October 3, 7 and 10. Voters elect 1 mayor, 8 councillors and 7 school trustees. Mayor Hurley is seeking a third term and, unlike in 2022, faces challengers.

Other levels of government

Burnaby is split among several federal ridings, including Burnaby Central and Burnaby North–Seymour, and five provincial ridings: Burnaby Centre, Burnaby East, Burnaby North, Burnaby South-Metrotown and Burnaby-New Westminster. Regional services such as drinking water, sewage treatment, regional parks and garbage disposal are run by Metro Vancouver, which is headquartered in Burnaby, while TransLink runs transit.

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Policing and Crime in Burnaby

Burnaby is policed by the Burnaby RCMP, one of the largest RCMP detachments in Canada, under contract with the City. Metro Vancouver Transit Police patrol SkyTrain and buses, and Burnaby Fire Department provides fire and rescue services.

Crime rates in Burnaby are generally moderate for a large Canadian city. Most reported crime is property crime: shoplifting at the big malls, car break-ins, bike theft and break-ins. Busy transit hubs such as Metrotown see more incidents than residential areas. Public safety is a key issue in the 2026 election.

For emergencies call 9-1-1. For non-emergency police matters call Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999.

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Military in Burnaby

Burnaby has no Canadian Armed Forces base or major reserve unit; the region's naval and army reserve units are in nearby Vancouver and New Westminster. Several cadet corps and squadrons train in Burnaby, and the city's main Remembrance Day ceremony is held each November 11 at the cenotaph in front of Burnaby City Hall at Deer Lake.

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Burnaby Sister Cities

Burnaby reviewed its international relationships in recent years and ended or scaled back several others, including with Zhongshan, China. The Ainu sculptures at Burnaby Mountain Park are a gift celebrating the friendship with Kushiro.

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Public Transport and Getting Around Burnaby

Burnaby is one of the best-connected cities in the region, with two SkyTrain lines and 11 stations inside city limits. Fares, Compass Cards and tap-to-pay work the same way as in the rest of Metro Vancouver.

Driving

The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) crosses Burnaby east to west, with interchanges at Willingdon, Kensington, Sprott and Gaglardi. Other key roads include Lougheed Highway, Hastings Street, Canada Way, Kingsway and Marine Way.

Cycling and walking

The BC Parkway follows the Expo Line from Vancouver through Metrotown to New Westminster, and the Central Valley Greenway runs past Burnaby Lake. Burnaby Lake's 10 km loop trail, the Burnaby Mountain trail network and the Burnaby Fraser Foreshore trail are popular for walking, running and mountain biking.

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Schools, Universities and Colleges in Burnaby

The Burnaby School District (School District 41) runs 49 public schools: 41 elementary schools and 8 secondary schools, serving about 25,000 students. It offers French immersion, Mandarin bilingual and international student programs, and the BC Provincial School for the Deaf is based at Burnaby South Secondary.

Public secondary schools

Universities and colleges

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Burnaby Public Library

Burnaby Public Library has four branches: Bob Prittie Metrotown, McGill (Burnaby Heights), Tommy Douglas (Edmonds) and Cameron (Lougheed). Membership is free for residents and gives access to books, e-books, streaming services, language learning, museum passes and maker programs. SFU's W.A.C. Bennett Library and BCIT's library are also open to the public for in-person use.

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Arts and Culture in Burnaby

Deer Lake is Burnaby's cultural heart, with the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, the Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby Village Museum and Hart House all within walking distance of each other around the lake.

Museums and galleries

Theatre and performing arts

Filming locations in Burnaby

Burnaby hosts a steady stream of film and TV crews. Bridge Studios, one of Canada's oldest major studios, has housed productions such as The X-Files and Stargate SG-1. Simon Fraser University's futuristic concrete campus is a favourite location and has appeared in Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG-1 and The 6th Day. Burnaby Village Museum, Deer Lake, Central Park and the Metrotown and Brentwood towers also show up regularly on screen.

Media

• Local news: Burnaby Now, Burnaby Beacon, Freshet News
• Television: Global BC broadcasts from its studios in Burnaby; other regional stations include CBC Vancouver, CTV Vancouver and CityTV
• Radio: Regional Metro Vancouver stations, plus CJSF 90.1 FM, SFU's campus radio station

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Burnaby Nightlife

Burnaby is quieter at night than Vancouver, with the focus on food rather than clubs. Late-night eating is the city's strength: Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants and dessert cafes along Kingsway and around Metrotown and Crystal Mall, Korean barbecue and fried chicken near Lougheed, and pubs and patios on Hastings Street in Burnaby Heights. Brentwood and Metrotown have cinemas, bowling, karaoke and late-opening restaurants. The Grand Villa Casino near Metrotown is open late. For clubs and live music, most people take SkyTrain into Vancouver.

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Parks and Gardens in Burnaby

Burnaby has more than 200 parks, and large forests and lakes make up about a quarter of the city.

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Natural Attractions In and Near Burnaby

Burnaby's "jungle" is temperate rainforest of cedar, fir and maple on Burnaby Mountain and in Central Park, where it can feel far from the city. Burnaby Lake is one of the best bird-watching spots in the region, with herons, ducks, eagles and turtles. Barnet Marine Park offers a small beach and calm water for paddling on Burrard Inlet. Nearby you can reach Deep Cove, Belcarra Regional Park, Port Moody's Rocky Point and the North Shore mountains in under 30 minutes.

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Things to Do in Burnaby: Top Attractions

Top 10 places to visit in Burnaby

1. Burnaby Mountain Park: sunset views over the inlet and mountains, and the Ainu sculptures.
2. Burnaby Village Museum: free heritage village with an old-time carousel, especially magical at Christmas.
3. Deer Lake Park: easy lakeside loop, paddling and summer concerts.
4. Metropolis at Metrotown: the biggest mall in BC, with hundreds of stores and food courts.
5. Burnaby Lake and Piper Spit: feed the birds and walk the forest loop.
6. Simon Fraser University: walk the famous Erickson campus and its galleries.
7. Central Park: tall forest trails right beside Metrotown.
8. The Amazing Brentwood: new shopping, dining and plaza at the base of Burnaby's tallest towers.
9. Nikkei National Museum: Japanese Canadian history, gardens and festivals.
10. Kingsway and Crystal Mall food crawl: some of the best Chinese and Taiwanese food in Canada.

Full list of Burnaby attractions

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Sports Teams and Recreation in Burnaby

Teams

Recreation facilities

Burnaby has a large network of community centres, pools and arenas, including Bonsor, Edmonds, Confederation and Cameron community centres and the Eileen Dailly Leisure Pool. Outdoor pools at Central Park, Kensington, Robert Burnaby, Confederation and other parks open in summer. The city also runs golf courses at Burnaby Mountain and Riverway, the Central Park pitch and putt, the Burnaby 8 Rinks ice complex, an indoor velodrome, tennis and pickleball courts, and dozens of sports fields.

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Annual Events and Festivals in Burnaby

Dates change from year to year, so check with organizers before you go.

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Sustainability and Green City Goals

Burnaby declared a climate emergency in 2019 and adopted a Climate Action Framework with a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Key steps include requiring low-carbon heating in new buildings, expanding EV charging, protecting forests on Burnaby Mountain and in Central Park, restoring Burnaby Lake and salmon streams, and concentrating growth near SkyTrain so more people can walk or take transit. The large oil tank farms on Burnaby Mountain and at Westridge are an ongoing environmental and safety concern for many residents.

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City Services and Amenities

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Burnaby FAQ

Is Burnaby part of Vancouver?

No. Burnaby is a separate city with its own mayor and council. It borders Vancouver and is part of the wider Metro Vancouver region.

How far is Burnaby from downtown Vancouver?

About 17 minutes by SkyTrain from Metrotown to Waterfront Station, or 20 to 30 minutes by car depending on traffic.

What is Burnaby known for?

Metrotown, Simon Fraser University, BCIT, Burnaby Mountain, its lakes and parks, its diverse food scene, and major tech and film studios.

Is Burnaby a good place to live?

Many people choose Burnaby for its central location, SkyTrain access, large parks, good schools and lower costs than Vancouver, although housing is still expensive.

What is the population of Burnaby?

The 2021 census counted 249,125 people, making Burnaby the third-largest city in British Columbia after Vancouver and Surrey.

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Sources

• City of Burnaby: General Local Election 2026
• City of Burnaby: Burnaby and Hwaseong celebrate 15 years as sister cities
• City of Burnaby Archives: Sister Cities series
• Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population

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