Why live in Burnaby?
Just outside the City of Vancouver lies Burnaby. Nestled on the Burrard Inlet, Burnaby is just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver. The area is popular among families, young people, and seniors alike due to its waterfront locale, abundance of green space, and accessibility. Public transportation options in Burnaby are endless, with TransLink running an extensive network of bus routes and SkyTrain routes throughout the region. This allows residents who work downtown to avoid rush hour traffic on the roads and hop on the SkyTrain instead. Getting to other parts of Metro Vancouver, like Surrey or New Westminster is just as easy. It also has a diverse population, which makes it a welcoming and attractive community for people from all over Canada and around the globe. You will find a wide range of food options, religious centres, and cultural programs in Burnaby that reflect this population. Burnaby also happens to have an excellent school system run by the Burnaby School District, as well as multiple post-secondary options - most notably, Simon Fraser University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. In terms of recreation, there are plenty of parks and beaches in Burnaby, like Barnet Marine Park, Railway Beach, Deer Lake Park, Central Park, and Burnaby Mountain Park, to name a few. Climbing to the top of Burnaby Mountain is a popular activity and a great place to watch the sunset. Another fun perk to take advantage of in Burnaby is the shopping. Burnaby is home to two of the top shopping malls in Vancouver, Brentwood Town Centre and Metrotown. Metrotown also happens to be the largest shopping mall in British Columbia, featuring over 400 stores alone. At the end of the day, whether you choose to live in Metrotown Burnaby, Brentwood Park, South Slope, Edmonds, or Government Road, you can’t go wrong with any neighbourhood in Burnaby.
Quality and diversity of education in Burnaby
Burnaby School District, or BC School District No. 41, operates 41 elementary schools and eight secondary schools in the Burnaby area. This gives parents and children plenty of options, not to mention the privately-run schools in the area, of which there are a mix of Catholic and French Immersion options. On top of this, Burnaby is home to Simon Fraser University, one of the top post-secondary institutions in the province. This means that residents won’t have to travel far for a quality university education. However, there are also several other universities and colleges in the Metro Vancouver Area for locals to choose from, including the University of British Columbia, Capilano University, Vancouver Film School, the Art Institute of Vancouver, and the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
Most populous cities in Burnaby
The main neighbourhoods in Burnaby, BC are Burnaby Heights, Brentwood, South Slope, Lochdale, Parkcrest, Metrotown, Westridge, Buckingham Heights, Willingdon Heights, Maywood, Middlegate, Burquitlam, and more.
Quality of infrastructure for Burnaby
As a central part of the Metro Vancouver Area, Burnaby is well-connected to the rest of the city thanks to TransLink’s extensive public transportation system. Beyond the many bus routes that make their way to, from, and within the City of Burnaby, the Millennium Line of the SkyTrain also has several stops throughout Burnaby and the surrounding areas. This makes it extremely convenient to travel to the downtown core of Vancouver. Plus, both the Trans Canada Highway and Highway 7 run through Burnaby, which makes it accessible by car as well. Beyond roads and public transport, Burnaby is only 35 minutes from Vancouver International Airport. The City of Vancouver also has a Via Rail station, a coach bus station, and two ferry terminals that BC Ferries operates out of. When it comes to healthcare, Burnaby Hospital is the main medical centre in the area, though there are several others nearby, like Surrey Memorial Hospital, Ridge Meadows Hospital, Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, and Vancouver General Hospital.
Safety and security for Burnaby
The Burnaby Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are tasked with keeping the City of Burnaby safe and secure. That said, Burnaby has low crime rates across the board. For emergency services, call 9-1-1.
Burnaby property market
Between its natural beauty, proximity to downtown Vancouver, and family-friendly amenities, Burnaby is a sought-after place to live. As such, living here may not come cheap, though it’s still more affordable than other parts of Vancouver. Due to the growth that Burnaby has experienced in recent years, you can now find all sorts of properties here. For instance, buyers may be able to invest in everything from apartments and condos to bungalows, townhomes, semi-detached homes, and detached homes.
Standard of living in Burnaby
Filled with family-friendly neighbourhoods, green space, a vibrant dining and shopping scene, and an excellent public transportation system, the standard of living in Burnaby is high. This can be said for most parts of Metro Vancouver. Just consider the fact that Vancouver was recently ranked one of the most liveable cities in the world. According to The Global Liveability Index’s 2023 Liveability Report, which analyzed cities all across the globe, comparing them using metrics like stability, healthcare, culture & environment, and education, Vancouver is the fifth most liveable city on the planet.
Something wonderful about Burnaby
Did you know that Burnaby has one of the highest open-space-to-resident ratios on the continent? More specifically, 25% of the land in Burnaby is designated for parks and open spaces. Some of the main parks in the city include Central Park, Squint Lake Park, Barnet Marine Park, Deer Lake Park, and the picturesque Burnaby Mountain Park, which can be found next to Simon Fraser University.
