Burnaby
Quick Facts
- Population ... 202,799
- Distance from Vancouver... 13 km (8 mi)
- Distance from Richmond... 25 km (16 mi)
- Distance from Whistler... 135 km (84 mi)
Burnaby is a vibrant, bustling city situated in the geographic centre of Greater Vancouver. It is the third-largest municipality in the province and is a cosmopolitan, ethnically diverse community.
Burnaby has a significant commercial and industrial presence and is one of the province's key high-tech research hubs. Still, more than 25% of its area is reserved for parks and other green spaces.
Burnaby is also a centre for education and is home to British Columbia's second-largest university and a campus of the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Simon Fraser University sits atop Burnaby Mountain offering spectacular views of Burnaby and Vancouver, as well as the elegant campus, designed by Arthur Erickson.
Burnaby's residents are a diverse and multicultural bunch. Diverse shopping districts are the pride of these unique communities. For example, there is a strong Italian presence in the Heights commercial district and as well as entire malls dedicated to Chinese culture, shopping and dining. Visitors who want to satisfy their shopping needs will also be impressed by Metropolis at Metrotown (often just referred to as "Metrotown"), BC's largest shopping complex and the second largest mall in Canada.
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2010 Host Cities
Venues & Visitor Centres
Transportation
Transportation to 2010 Winter Games Venue Cities
To Richmond:
Richmond is approximately 30-minutes drive from Burnaby.
Public buses connect the two suburbs.
From late 2009, the rapid translit Canada Line will provide an additional public transportation option, and run between downtown Vancouver and Richmond. Passengers will be able to take the SkyTrain or a bus from Burnaby to Vancouver, and then transfer to the Canada Line to go on to Richmond.
To Vancouver:
It takes approximately 20 minutes to drive from Burnaby to Vancouver.
The two cities are well connected by public buses and SkyTrains. From many parts of Burnaby, the SkyTrain is the quickest way to travel to Vancouver.
To West Vancouver:
West Vancouver is approximately 25 minutes from Burnaby by car along the multi-lane Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1).
There are also many public transit options to reach West Vancouver by bus, SkyTrain, and/or SeaBus passenger ferry.
To Whistler:
It takes approximately two hours to drive to Whistler, with a lot of stunning scenery to take in along the famed Sea-to-Sky Highway.
Travelling by coach is also possible. The best way to reach Whistler is to catch a
SkyTrain to Vancouver and
transfer to a coach there.
Accommodation in Burnaby is clustered around the Metrotown shopping mall and on the major roads and highways. Independent and chain hotels and motels are found throughout the city, while higher-end hotels tend to be located close to Metrotown.
Mid-range hotels, budget motels, and an RV park are situated near the Trans-Canada Highway.
Bed and breakfast accommodation is available near serene Deer Lake Park.
Want to talk to an accommodations expert? We'll be happy to help you with your search over the phone. Call us directly at 1-800-HelloBC or 1-800-435-5622. If you're calling from overseas, dial 1-604-435-5622.
Things To Do
Ski and snow thrill-seekers will discover winter adventures less than 45 minutes' drive from Burnaby at the North Shore Mountains. One of the three renowned ski areas, Cypress Mountain, will host freestyle skiing and snowboard during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Seymour and Grouse mountains also provide excellent ski and winter activity opportunities.
Deer Lake Park offers tranquil walking trails, an arts centre, gallery, gardens and a restaurant. For similar amenities and a great view of the Vancouver area, make the climb to the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Stop at the bottom of the mountain at the Barnet Marine Park for stunning views of the Burrard Inlet and Coast Mountains.
Children's activities include the pitch and putt at Central Park or experiencing what life was like during the 1920s at the Burnaby Village Museum and Carousel. Interpreters in period costume conduct tours of heritage and replica buildings and there is a hand-carved carousel on site.
Shoppers have endless bargain-hunting opportunities at the four large malls in Burnaby. These include Metrotown and the Crystal Mall, which services the large Chinese population in the area. The commercial district of Heights is another ethnically diverse area that features dining establishments, cafes and specialty shops.
Read more about what's happening in Burnaby.