Things to Do While Living in Burnaby BC

Living in Burnaby BC is amazing for so many different reasons… There are so many things to do, places to visit, and areas to explore. Burnaby residents are lucky to live in a beautiful city with so many options around them.

If you are considering living in Burnaby, or if you just want good ideas of things to do in the city, keep reading!

This blog discusses Burnaby:

Bars, Restaurants, and Breweries
Cinemas & Theatres
Shopping Malls
Parks and Outdoor Areas
Sports Facility Areas
Arts & Cultural Facilities
Kid Friendly Zones
Communities & Neighbourhoods
Community Centres
Festivals & Events

Bars & Restaurants

Burnaby has diverse cultures and therefore, equally as diverse cuisine. There are hundreds of bars, restaurants, and breweries to grab a drink or a bite to eat at.

Two of the most popular bars in Burnaby are Admiral Pub & Grill and Great Bear Pub. Both are great neighbourhood bars with pub style food. The Admiral has more of a sports bar atmosphere and offers game day specials when the Canucks play.

In addition, The Hop & Wine Tap House is also a popular spot for cocktails and bar games in a cozy atmosphere.

According to Trip Advisor, Burnaby is home to 520 different restaurants. The top authentic cuisines range from Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Indian, and Thai. However there are many others. You can find anything from pizza to Mexican to Vietnamese as well!

A few of the highest rated Burnaby restaurants are: Trattoria, Cockney Kings Fish & Chips, The Pear Tree, and Cotto Enoteca Pizzeria.

Another high rated restaurant is the Hart House Restaurant at Deer lake park. It is best known for fine dining and Sunday brunch. It’s also a great venue for weddings and group events.

In addition to bars and restaurants, Burnaby also has local breweries. Dageraad Brewing and Steamworks are the most popular. They are both great spots for date nights or fun times out with friends.

Cinemas & Theatres

There is only one cinema in Burnaby, called Silvercity Metropolis. It is inside of the Metropolis at Metrotown Shopping Mall, on the third floor. The theatre is near the skytrain station and lots of bus stops.

Silvercity Metropolis is a modern cinema that shows the newest Hollywood film releases. It also shows a few independent movies as well. The Theatre has 10 screens, in addition to 7 3D screens, 2 DBOX screens, and 2 UltraAVX Screens.

The theatre also has concession stands for purchasing drinks and snacks. It offers a few arcade games and a photo booth as well. It’s a great destination for an intimate date night or a family outing with the kids. It’s a popular spot for people living in Burnaby to visit often.

While there is only one cinema in Burnaby, it is also home to the Michael J Fox Theatre. It features live music, dance, and drama performances. It’s also a popular venue for community events. People can also rent it out for private or group events, depending on availability.

Shopping Malls

Burnaby is home to the Metropolis at Metrotown Shopping Centre.

It is the biggest shopping mall in BC, offering almost 400 stores and services. You’ll find the usual products including clothing, electronics, jewellery, home furnishings, and books.

Metrotown also has an international food court with flavours from around the world.

The mall holds unique events year round as well. So there is always something to visit, either alone or with friends and family.

Since Metrotown is the biggest mall in BC, it is the most popular. However, there are lots of other shopping mall options for people Living in Burnaby. Other popular ones include Brentwood Town Centre, Crystal Mall, and The City of Lougheed.

Parks & Outdoor Areas

There are tons of parks and outdoor areas to explore when living in Burnaby.

They range from small dog parks to huge areas that take up hundreds of acres. Some of the parks have forests, fields, trails, and lakes to explore. Most have scenic areas, sitting benches, lakeside views, and open fields.

People living in Burnaby visit these spots daily. They’re great places to enjoy by yourself, with friends, or with your dog. Depending on the day, there are parks for every occasion.

For example, Deer Lake Park. It offers picnic areas, a boat launch, a playground, and washrooms on site. In addition, it has boat rentals, swimming and boogie boarding available. If you’re looking for a fun day out with friends or family, this is a great option.

However if you’re looking for a quiet and relaxing day, maybe a smaller park is better. Burnaby has a park for so many different occasions.

Check out this blog about Burnaby Parks and Recreation. It has a full description on each Burnaby park listed below:

Deer Lake Park: 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby BC V5H 4R4
Central Park: 3883 Imperial Street, Burnaby BC V5J 1A3
Confederation Park: 250 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby BC V5C 5E9
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area: 100 Centennial Way, Burnaby BC V5A 2X9
Kensington Park: 6159 Curtis Street, Burnaby BC V5B 4X7
Taylor Park: 7599 Mission Avenue, Burnaby BC V3N 5C7
Robert Burnaby Park: 8155 Wedgewood Street, Burnaby BC V3N 1C4

Sports Facility Areas

One of the best things about living in Burnaby is the amount of outdoor and sport spaces available. Burnaby has countless sports facilities, fields, and gyms.

Small independent gyms, as well as franchised gyms, are very popular in Burnaby. Some of the franchises include Gold’s Gym, Steve Nash Fitness World, She’s Fit, and Trevor Linden Fitness.

There are also lots of gyms for things like CrossFit, boxing, and martial arts. There are also classes for yoga, pilates, and dance available throughout Burnaby as well.

Burnaby also has lots of sports fields across Burnaby. These include community fields, high school fields, and fields maintained by the city. Group sports and team leagues for all ages are easy to find. Odds are good that there will be options close to your home.

Some of the outdoor parks in Burnaby have great sporting facilities as well. These include:

Swangard Stadium at Central Park. A massive, multi-purpose stadium used for soccer, rugby, football, lacrosse, and track and field. The stadium holds sporting events all year-round. It is a popular destination for residents all over the lower mainland.
Kensington Complex ice sports arena at Kensington Park. A complex for figure skating lessons, ice hockey practice, and children’s programs. Lots of local events happen here. The park outside also has baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and tennis courts. In addition to an outdoor swimming pool.
Burnaby Mountain is popular among hikers and mountain bikers. There are beautiful green spaces and hills for throwing a frisbee or flying a kite. A playground also exists for young children to enjoy.

This is by no means a complete list of parks in Burnaby with sports facilities or fields offered. However it shows a few of the most popular areas and sports options available.

There are hundreds of outdoor sporting areas for people living in Burnaby to enjoy!

Arts & Culture

If you are looking for arts and culture in Burnaby… the Deer Lake Park area should be your first stop. It is home to the Burnaby Art Gallery, the Shadbolt Centre, and the Burnaby Village Museum.

Burnaby Art Gallery – See exhibits by diverse local, regional, national, and international artists.
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts – Try ceramic, media, literary, theatre, and visual arts. They also offer dance and music classes. In addition, watch theatre performances and attend events in an award-winning, multi-purpose community facility. Community programs offered as well.
Burnaby Village Museum – An outdoor collection of heritage and replica buildings. See what life was like in Burnaby back in the 1920’s.

Burnaby has lots of music, drama, visual, literary, and visual showcases throughout the year. The city also offers various public classes, workshops, and exhibits as well.

If you want to learn more about the arts or if you just love to watch arts performances… living in Burnaby provides ample opportunities for both!

For more information on classes contact:

The Shadbolt Centre (arts, music, dance)
Light the Stage Community Arts & Education (theatre and dance)
Willingdon Fine Arts Academy (music)

For dates and deals on arts performances in and around Burnaby, check out this link to Groupon. They offer an amazing variety of showcases, at great discounts!

Kid Friendly Zones

There are so many great places for kids living in Burnaby to enjoy.

Any of the outdoor parks and recreation areas listed above are great places to start.

For example, Central Park has beautiful walking trails through forested areas. It also has a baseball diamond, an outdoor swimming pool, a cycling trail, and a playground.

If your child is high energy, these types of outdoor areas are a great place to let loose and tire them out. For more outdoor spaces in Burnaby, check out these Burnaby Parks & Recreation Areas.

Other fun and kid friendly places in Burnaby include:

Edmonds Community Centre – Indoor pool, Indoor playground, gym, youth lounge, and child programs
Burnaby Central Railway – Miniature train ride (15 minutes), playground, spraypark, and picnic area
Bonsor Recreation Complex – Indoor pool, indoor gym, and kids programs. Child minding is also offered (for kids to play while parents enjoy some of their own classes).
REVS Bowling and Entertainment – Western Canada’s largest bowling centre with a restaurant (48 lanes)
Playland at the PNE – Amusement park that includes carnival rides, games, and food. It’s right on the Vancouver and Burnaby boarder.
Silvercity Metropolis – Movie theatre with food and arcade games (inside Metrotown)

There are so many indoor and outdoor places to take your kids in Burnaby. It is one of the most noteworthy cities in BC when it comes to fun activities. The community and local residents are always planning something.

In addition, Burnaby is so close to other big cities like Vancouver and New Westminster. As a result, there is always somewhere to bring the kids for a fun day out.

Communities and Neighbourhoods

Burnaby is a big city, with tons of different communities within it. Check out this link for specific information on each different Burnaby neighbourhood.

Metrotown, Brentwood, and Edmonds are amongst the most busy communities in the city.

Metrotown has the Shopping Mall, the Burnaby Public Library, and tons of recreational facilities. Brentwood has lots of schools, churches, and scenic areas. Edmonds has a public library and Highgate Mall. Each of these Burnaby neighbourhoods has an active community feel.

Smaller communities include Cascade Heights, Garden Village, and Suncrest.

Cascade Heights is a quiet neighbourhood with french immersion school programs. Garden Village is a suburban community near BCIT and Central Park. Suncrest has beautiful forested areas with lots of green spaces. These are more family oriented Burnaby neighbourhoods.

For a detailed list of all Burnaby neighbourhoods, follow this link.

Community Centres

People living in Burnaby (and areas nearby) have access to 6 different community centres:

In addition to community centres, Burnaby has a lot of Seniors and Youth Centres. There are also many centres focused on specific talents and abilities.

Take a look at this list of Burnaby community centres available to you.

Festivals and Events

Burnaby is such an active and supportive city. It has hundreds of festivals and events throughout the year.

Here are a few popular, annual, events in Burnaby that we recommend:

Rhododendron Festival (May) – Mini workshops, nature tours, and interactive art activities. Buy plants and pottery or enjoy the silent auction.
Symphony in the Park (July) – The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs at Deer Lake Park.
Culture Days (September) – Fun and free public programming. Visit Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby Art Gallery and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.
Haunted Village (October) – Wear your costumes and explore the Village at the night. Witches, ghosts and storybook characters come to life at the Haunted Village.
Heritage Christmas (December) – Thousands of Christmas lights and decorations to see throughout the village.

In addition, Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park is an excellent venue for non-annual events. It hosts outdoor concerts and other live performances.

If you are willing to venture a little outside of Burnaby, there are tons of other festivals and events. Cities like Vancouver, New Westminster, and Surrey also offer fun festivals and events year-round.

Location is a big strength for the city of Burnaby. It is one of the most central cities in BC, with close proximity to so many other popular locations. It is just a 10 minute drive, bus, or sky train to neighbouring cities. Those cities will have alternative events and attractions available to you as well.

As you can see, living in Burnaby your options are limitless! What will you do today?

Living in Burnaby