MUNICIPALITY OFBURNABY
Located in the centre of Metro Vancouver, it’s the third-largest city in the province
Burnaby’s historyÂ
The municipality of Burnaby received its charter of incorporation on September 22, 1892. Burnaby, which has always been home to the Coast Salish peoples, is located on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples. We are grateful for the opportunity to be in this territory.
The earliest known human occupation of the Lower Fraser Valley dates to approximately 10,000 years ago, shortly after the retreat of the last glaciers. However, the present configuration of the Fraser River and the height of sea levels didn’t stabilize until at least 5,000 years ago, creating the unique landforms and lush native vegetation of Burnaby.
The ancestors of several local Coast Salish Nations peoples utilized many locations around Burnaby as seasonal food gathering and campsites throughout the year and as sites for family gatherings and cultural or spiritual activities.
Quick facts about Burnaby
- Burnaby has one of the highest open-space-to-resident ratios in North America, with 25% of the land designated to parks and open spaces.
- Burnaby takes its name from Burnaby Lake, named after Robert Burnaby, an English merchant, politician and civil servant who travelled the area in 1859.
- Burnaby is culturally rich and diverse. Roughly 54% of residents have a primary language that is neither English nor French—Canada’s two official languages.
- Two of BC’s largest post-secondary institutions, Simon Fraser University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, are based in Burnaby.
- Burnaby is home to Metropolis at Metrotown, BC’s largest and Canada’s fifth-largest shopping centre.
- Singer Michael Buble, actors Michael J. Fox and Carrie-Anne Moss, Brad Loree, ice hockey player Joe Sakic, national team soccer player Christine Sinclair and many others call Burnaby their hometown.
explore burnabywith Sami
