02 The story
South Burnaby’s town centre
Edmonds is named after Henry Valentine Edmonds, a businessman and local politician who owned land in the area. It grew up along Kingsway, the historic road between New Westminster and Vancouver, and today it is one of Burnaby’s four official town centres. The core runs from Edmonds station north to the intersection of Kingsway and Edmonds Street.
The area has seen steady growth, with new mid-rise and high-rise buildings replacing older low-rise apartments. It remains one of the more affordable parts of Burnaby and is home to a large community of newcomers to Canada. You hear many languages on the street, and the small grocery stores and restaurants reflect that.
Community and parks
Edmonds is well served for recreation. Edmonds Community Centre has a pool, gym and programs for all ages, and the Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre offers two NHL-sized ice rinks. Highgate Village, at Kingsway and Edmonds, is the local shopping centre for groceries and daily errands.
For green space, Byrne Creek Ravine Park runs south from the station area through a forested ravine with trails and a salmon-bearing creek that local volunteers help restore. Further south, Burnaby’s Fraser River foreshore parks are a short drive away.
Edmonds suits families and renters who want SkyTrain access, schools and recreation without Metrotown’s crowds. It is a residential, everyday kind of place rather than a destination, but the ravine trails and the variety of small eateries make it worth a stop.
