Thurs. Aug 10: Burnaby rent prices soar

Good morning!

Though this week’s newsletter features some sad (not-so-shocking) stats on Burnaby’s ever-increasing rent prices, don’t let that get you down. The Blues + Roots Festival this Saturday is the perfect place to shake those worries away. Better yet, let’s couple that with some happy hour food and drinks—the best Burnaby has to offer. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

-Eva

👀 In today's edition:

• Burnaby rent prices hit a record high

• An exciting blues and roots festival this weekend

• Where to find the best happy hour deals

☀️ Today’s weather: Partly cloudy with a high of 23 and a low of 15.

💨 Here is Burnaby’s Air Quality Index.

🚗 Driving in the city? Check out current driving conditions and road closures.

CITY

Burnaby rent prices hit a record high in Canada

Burnaby has been ranked the second-most expensive city to live in Canada, according to a July 2023 rent report, outranking Toronto by $6 per average rent and only next in line from Vancouver’s average rent prices.

The city has seen a stark increase in rent each year—one-bedroom units have gone up by 27.2% and two-bedroom units by 18.4%—while Canada’s average asking prices have gone up by 20% in the last two years, continuously hitting new records on a yearly basis.

Though this doesn’t come as too much of a shock for renters, it can be alarming to learn that BC’s affordable housing standard—rent costing no more than 30% of one’s annual income—means that the average Burnaby renter must make nearly $93,000 each year for their housing to be deemed affordable.

SPONSORED BY BURNABY ARTISAN FARMERS’ MARKET

Support Local at Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market

Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market is based in Burnaby City Hall's parking lot, right near Deer Lake Park. At the market, individuals, families, and friends can immerse themselves in a welcoming and lively community. Each Saturday, the Burnaby location welcomes new and returning vendors who offer a wide array of products to fit anyone's grocery, snacking, or gift-giving needs. Customers can also enjoy a series of musicians during their shopping, who will be playing both covers and original songs over the season.

What more could someone want?

Visit them this Saturday from 9am-2pm at 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby.

Burnaby Bulletin

💸 A Burnaby hookah lounge was ordered to pay over $25,000 worth of withheld wages to two former employees. Both servers claimed to have never received their regular wages or tips on a regular basis. [Burnaby Now]

🏘 The City of Burnaby is looking to introduce more types of housing in Burnaby’s neighbourhoods, such as laneway homes and triplexes, and has released a new survey for residents to share their thoughts.

🎤 American indie-folk band Fleet Foxes are set to replace Buffy Sainte-Marie at the upcoming Burnaby Blues + Roots music festival next week due to Sainte-Marie’s ongoing health concerns.

🎬 Outdoor movie nights are now in full swing at Burnaby’s Civic Square every Friday this summer with free admission for all.

💰 A Burnaby anti-drone technology company has been ordered to pay $800K to a similar Vancouver anti-drone technology company over a stolen confidential source code. [Burnaby Now]

🚴 A new survey has been released by the City of Burnaby about improving the city’s cycling network in Edmonds Town Centre, allowing for safer, eco-friendly travel options.

🗞️ The Burnaby NOW is no longer in print starting today along with its sister publications The New Wesminster Record and Tri-City News. [North Shore News]

🎭 Pushing the limits of performing arts from all across the globe, Vancouver Fringe Festival returns Sep 7 – 17 with 85+ trailblazing new shows. Tickets on sale August 21.*

*Sponsored Listing

EVENTS

Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival

Get ready to sing and dance your heart out at Burnaby’s Blues + Roots Festival this Saturday with a colourful lineup of artists, soulful music performances, and a vast selection of food trucks to enjoy.

Artists include Grammy-nominated poet and singer Allison Russell, Arctic-blues duo The Trade-Offs, and American indie folk band Fleet Foxes. Though not originally part of the lineup, the Fleet Foxes have been called to step in for Buffy Sainte-Marie, who cancelled her performance due to ongoing health concerns.

The festival will be taking place from 1 to 10pm at Deer Lake Park with free admission for all. You can find more information about the festival here. 

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

The best happy hour in Burnaby

We’re continuing with our Beacon’s Readers’ Choice Awards category winners this week. Here are the results for the best happy hour in Burnaby.

What do you think about the results?

Where to eat & drink

🍖 Tenen Restaurant specializes in traditional Eastern European food from the Balkan region—expect heartwarming stews like veal ragout and pork goulash and hearty platters of grilled meats, fish, and roasted veggies.

🍜 Nam Vegan Express is a low key, family-run Vietnamese restaurant serving dishes like spicy lemongrass chicken and bun ho hue all entirely meat- and dairy-free. Suitable for vegans, vegetarians and those simply looking to eat less meat.

🍞 Glenburn Soda Fountain & Confectionery is an iconic, ’50s-style vintage dessert cafe where you can find a wide selection of draft sodas, decadent sundaes and endless flavours of ice cream. A perfect date spot!

🤝 Now Hiring

Looking to make a move? Here are local jobs open right now:

• Psychology Instructor at Alexander College

• Pharmacy Assistant at CareRx

• Research Associate at B2Gold

• RCMP Transport Coordinator at the City of Burnaby

• Event Planner at Simon Fraser University

• Pet Groomer Trainee at Petsmart

• Member Service Representative at Fitness World

Hiring and want to let people know? Reply back and let us know!

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Ghostly Makers and Tending Otherworlds: This intriguing exhibition at the Burnaby Art Gallery looks at diasporic, displaced, and disrupted hauntings in craft and textile practices. Find more details here.

• Open Mic Night: Join fellow singers and songwriters at the Great Bear Pub from 9pm to midnight for a fun night of music. Note: you do not need to be a professional to join!

Friday

• Summer Cinema: Free movie screenings at Civic Square are continuing this week with The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run from 8:15 to 10pm. Be sure to bring a cozy blanket!

• Healthcare Virtual Job Fair: Hosted by JobFairX, this virtual job fair aims to match job seekers with employers with advanced algorithms to help you find your potential dream job in health-care services.

Saturday

• Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival: Put on your best pair of dancing shoes and enjoy a fun lineup of soulful musical performances and food trucks at Deer Lake Park. The festival runs from 1 to 10pm with free admission for all.

• Nature Connections in the City: On this fun walk through Burnaby Lake Regional Park, visitors can learn plant identification tricks, design pressed flower bookmarks and explore the Burnaby Nature House.

Sunday

• Stories from a Suitcase: Enjoy a high-energy, 35-minute theatre performance at Deer Lake Gallery which showcases various adaptations of Italian folktales.

• Burnaby Community Picnic: This free picnic at Foreshore Park focuses on environmental education, with visitors learning various facts about bees and native plants (along with, of course, eating delicious food).

Monday

• Photo Tour: If you’re looking to sharpen your photography skills with your iPhone, this workshop hosted by Apple teaches you how to capture flattering photos of people in different environments.

Tuesday

• Classic Guitar Festival: Hosted by some of BC’s best guitar players and instructors, Vancouver’s classic guitar festival is the perfect place to hone your skills. The festival will be taking place at Deer Lake Gallery and online from 6pm onwards.

• Summer Stages: This free live performance series at Confederation park showcases a wide variety of musical ensembles, such as the Lache Cercel Quartet and the Burnaby Lyric Opera. The event runs from noon to 3pm.

Wednesday

• Soul Journey Meditation: This dimly-lit meditation room in Savasana Meditation offers visitors a one-of-a-kind transformational healing experience with an optional microdose, as well as sounds and music from ancient cultures and traditions to heighten the experience.