Burnaby
You’ll want to stay awhile
Burnaby, British Columbia, is the vibrant core of Metro Vancouver, where city life meets natural beauty. Surrounded by scenic parks, lakes, and Burnaby Mountain, it offers endless outdoor adventures alongside urban convenience. Discover Metrotown, home to one of Canada’s largest shopping centres, or enjoy the peaceful trails of Deer Lake Park. With a thriving arts scene, diverse dining, and direct SkyTrain access to downtown Vancouver, Burnaby blends culture, opportunity, and lifestyle. Whether you’re seeking recreation, connection, or growth, Burnaby is a place where everything comes together beautifully.
Location
A connected city with scenic surroundings
Cradled between the Coast Mountains and the Fraser River, Burnaby is a city where natural beauty and urban energy meet in perfect balance. Just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver, it sits at the geographic heart of Metro Vancouver, offering seamless access to the region via major highways and 11 SkyTrain stations. From the forested slopes of Burnaby Mountain to the tranquil shores of Deer Lake, the city’s landscape is as diverse as its communities. With its central location, scenic surroundings, and vibrant town centres, Burnaby is both a gateway and a destination—dynamic, connected and full of possibility.
One of the highest parkland-to-resident ratios in all of North America
Burnaby is a rapidly growing metropolitan area at the geographic centre of Metro Vancouver with different municipalities at all of its borders. The city is recognized as one of the Lower Mainland’s most attractive suburbs and is known for its schools, lakes, and mountains. It has one of the highest parkland-to-resident ratios in all of North America, and is home to a wide variety of arts and culture. There is always something new to experience.
Burnaby resides on the traditional, ancestral and unceded shared territories of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam) [mus-kwee-um], Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) [Squ-HO-omeesh], and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) [slay-wha-tooth] First Nations, and is home to the North Fraser Métis Association.
Places to live
Burnaby living: urban energy, natural calm
From hillside homes with sweeping views to tree-lined streets perfect for families, Burnaby offers a diverse range of places to call home. Whether you’re drawn to the urban energy of Brentwood and Metrotown or the serene, upscale charm of Government Road and Deer Lake, there’s a neighbourhood to match every lifestyle. With a blend of city convenience, family-friendly communities and peaceful pockets near nature, the city has it all.
Things to do
Flavour. Culture. Urban Nature.
Discover Burnaby’s perfect blend of shopping, dining, and local attractions. Start your day at Metropolis at Metrotown, B.C.’s largest mall, or explore the stylish Amazing Brentwood, both offering top-tier retail and dining options like Italian wood-fired pizza or traditional Japanese omakase. Just minutes away, unwind at Deer Lake Park or explore the immersive Burnaby Village Museum, where history comes to life. For panoramic views and forested trails, head to Burnaby Mountain Park, or catch a show at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts nearby.
Transportation
Getting around the city
Burnaby’s transportation network is built for convenience and connectivity, making it easy to get around by car, transit, or active travel. The city is well-connected via major roadways like the Trans-Canada Highway (BC-1) and Lougheed Highway (BC-7), offering quick access to surrounding communities.
With 11 SkyTrain stations across Burnaby, public transit is a fast and reliable way to travel within the city and throughout Metro Vancouver. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is also just 25 minutes away by car or easily accessible by transit.
For those who prefer greener options, Burnaby also features bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly routes and growing access to electric vehicle charging stations.
Schools for your children
Burnaby Schools, the fourth largest district in B.C., supports over 27,000 students across 49 public schools and a variety of District and Provincial Resource Programs. The city also offers 12 independent/private schools, all fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment.
For post-secondary education, Burnaby is home to two of the province’s top institutions: Simon Fraser University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, both known for academic excellence and innovation. Together, these institutions make Burnaby a hub for lifelong learning.
Visit the Burnaby School District website for more information on schools and registration.
Arriving in B.C.
Making your move easy
While you wait for your moving day, there are a few things you can do to ensure your arrival in B.C. is smooth and you can settle in quickly.
WelcomeBC has information to prepare you for your arrival to B.C. and outlines steps you can take in the first few days to help you settle in.
You’ll also find the B.C. Newcomers’ Guide helpful with tips and information on healthcare, finding a place to live, education, money & banking, and much more. It is available in 13 languages.
FAQs
The Government of British Columbia (Provincial government) health plan is called the Medical Services Plan (MSP). It pays for basic, medically required health services. These include some doctor visits, medical tests, and treatments. Not all health costs are covered by MSP like dental, optometry/vision or physiotherapy to name a few.
MSP is for:
• B.C. residents who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• B.C. residents who are government-assisted refugees
• international students with study permits
• some people with work permits for 6 months or more
Click here to find out if you are eligible for MSP.
Registering for MSP
You should register for MSP as soon as you arrive in B.C.
All residents of B.C. must be registered with MSP. You need to apply to register for MSP. On your application, make sure you write your name exactly as it appears on other official documents.
You may have to wait for up to 3 months for your application to be processed. If you do not have MSP, you should buy private medical insurance. If you need medical care in B.C. and you do not have MSP or private medical insurance, you will have to pay all medical costs yourself. These costs can be very high.
Check out the Newcomers Guide for more details on B.C.’s healthcare system.
You will need a BC Services Card to access health care services.
Follow these steps to get your BC Services Card.
1. Apply for MSP.
- Complete and send the BC MSP enrolment form.
- You can also apply online.
2. Visit an ICBC driver licensing office. After you send your documents and enrolment form, you will receive a letter in
the mail. Take the letter to an ICBC driver licensing office. You will also need to take 2 pieces of identification.
- Find out what kind of identification you will need. icbc.com – Search for “Service card
accepted ID” - Find an ICBC office near you.
Children under 19, people 75 and older, and people with study and work permits do not have to visit an ICBC office. You will receive a BC Services Card without a photo. Click here for more information.
Check out the Newcomers Guide for more details on B.C.’s health care system.
There are many real estate sites that list local rentals and sales of homes in New Westminster. Here are some to choose from:
Buyers:
Renters:
- apartments.com
- realtor.ca
- rentals.ca
- Join a local Facebook group
Tips:
- Check out the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) website for information on mortgages for newcomers to B.C.
- Visit financial institutions like RBC, TD, Scotiabank or a Credit Union for newcomer mortgage programs and book a meeting with a mortgage advisor.
- BC Housing can help you find out about affordable housing and first-time home buyer programs.
Burnaby School District is one of British Columbia’s largest and most diverse, offering inclusive, innovative, and high-quality education.
Learn more on the Burnaby School District site.
Tip: Ensure you have all the documentation needed to register your children in school:
- Birth Certificate
- Proof of Residence (home address)
The child care facilities listed here are licensed by Fraser Health. This list is regulated under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act of B.C. and is updated approximately every four months.
Recreation Facilities & Sport Fields
- Bill Copeland Sports Centre
- Bonsor Recreation Complex (with pool)
- Christine Sinclair Community Centre
- Edmonds Community Centre (with pool)
- Eileen Dailly Leisure Pool & Fitness Centre
- Kensington Complex
- Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre
- Temporary Cameron Community Centre
- Willingdon Community Centre
- Burnaby Lake Sports Complex
- Sports fields
- Swangard Stadium
- Outdoor courts
Parks
- Burnaby has one of the highest parkland-to-resident ratios in all of North America. Click here to check out the more than 150 parks.
Golf Courses
- Burnaby Mountain Golf Course and Driving Range
- Central Park Pitch & Putt
- Kensington Park Pitch & Putt
- Riverway Golf Course & Driving Range
Additional golf courses nearby:
- Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club – private club
- Capilano Golf & Country Club – private club
- Vancouver Golf Club
Live Theatre
More fun activities
For shopping, restaurant, arts, entertainment activities and more, check out Tourism Burnaby for their recommendations on:
From Italian to Greek to Vietnamese and virtually every type of fare in between, there is something to suit every taste and budget. Click here to see the wide variety of restaurants, pubs and breweries.
- Vancouver – 30-minute drive by car
- New Wesminster – 20-minute drive by car
- Surrey – 15-minute drive by car
- Richmond – 40-minute drive by car
- Whistler – 1 hour 40 minutes drive by car
Click here to find information on schedules, routes and pricing.
The only way to get to Vancouver Island from the mainland is by ferry or airplane.
Ferry
The main ferry services are run by BC Ferries, which operates vessels between these ferry terminals:
- Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (for Victoria)
- Tsawwassen and Duke Point (Nanaimo)
- Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) and Departure Bay (Nanaimo).
Seaplane
You can take a seaplane between the downtown Vancouver and Victoria harbours through Harbour Air.
Airplane
You can take a commercial airline and fly between Vancouver International Airport and Victoria International Airport.
Area Facts
Burnaby is centrally located within the Lower Mainland, approximately 20 minutes (20 km) from Vancouver’s city centre. With easy access to major highways, the neighbouring municipalities are conveniently accessible via a widespread network of public transit including bus routes and the SkyTrain.
Burnaby is home to over 232,000 people, making it the third most populous city in the province. The city has a median age of 39.8, which is younger than the median age of British Columbia as a whole.
Burnaby has a number of public and private schools from kindergarten through to grade 12 with a Community and Adult Education Department and an International Students Programme. Burnaby is home to Simon Fraser University’s main campus atop Burnaby Mountain, as well as the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) main campus.
Burnaby is best known for its arts, heritage and cultural community, a thriving technology and business centre for major firms, and world-class higher education hub. Other prosperous industries are film, television and special events, warehousing and distribution, and retail in its flourishing metropolitan centre.
Things To Do
Visit the many attractions and activities that Burnaby has to offer: beautiful lakes, forested mountain parkland, an ocean beach, rivers, parks and botanical gardens, major sports fields, golf courses, bicycle and walking trails, and a major commercial town centre.
Discover Burnaby’s immersive and expressive cultural community.
Explore Our Region
Burnaby is centrally located within the Lower Mainland, approximately 20 minutes (20 km) from Vancouver’s city centre.
Burnaby Hospital
Burnaby Hospital is a community hospital with a bed capacity of 259 acute care beds and eight neonatal intensive care bassinettes. As a large community hospital, Burnaby Hospital provides a full range of primary and secondary acute care and a number of specialized services such as 24/7 emergency care, general and internal medicine, general surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, urology, level one and two obstetrics, neonatal intensive care and tertiary palliative care, adult psychiatry, ambulatory care and other outpatient clinics.
In keeping with the vision of an integrated network of care and given its size, location and mix of specialty services, Burnaby Hospital is a designated receiving hospital for higher level of care cases.
Burnaby Hospital is also a community education facility affiliated with UBC’s Family Practice Residency Program, the Pharmacy Practice Residency, and the Department of Orthopaedics.
In 2016/17, Burnaby Hospital saw 73,419 emergency room visits, provided care to 13,809 inpatient and 13,937 surgical daycare cases, delivered 1,541 newborns, and had 113,781 visits to ambulatory care.
Redevelopment Project
Burnaby Hospital redevelopment is a multi-year project occurring in two phases that will transform almost every area of the hospital. Phase one estimated date of completion in 2025 which include a mental health and substance use unit, maternity unit, neonatal ICU and new medicine unit.
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Fraser Health is generously supported by a network of health care foundations. Donations to our health care foundations build upon government health care funding to help support priority equipment, education, research, facility enhancements and/or other projects in our hospitals and surrounding communities.
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