Thursday, Jan. 16 edition: Burnaby rents second-highest in Canada

Good morning, Burnaby!

While a new report published by Rentals.ca shows that rents have declined by 3.2% in 2024—the lowest rate they have reached in the past year and a half—they’re still 16.8% higher than before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly five years ago. Worse yet, Burnaby is still number two on the list of the highest rents in Canada, second only to neighbouring Vancouver (more of that below). In other news this week, planning is underway for a giant 72-storey building in Metrotown and Burnaby equestrians may lose a beloved riding trail.

👀 In today's edition:

• Burnaby rents second-highest in Canada

• Giant 72-storey tower planned for Metrotown

• Burnaby equestrians may lose beloved riding trail

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NEWS

Burnaby rents second-highest in Canada, despite nationwide decline

There is good and bad news for renters across Canada.

The good news is that rents have declined by 3.2% in 2024, the lowest rate they have reached in the past year and a half. The bad news is that rents are still 16.8% higher than before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly five years ago. This information is based on a new report by Rentals.ca and Urbanation published on Rentals.ca. The report predicts that rents will continue to decline in 2025. 

The news is a bit less rosy for Burnaby renters—while rent has declined ever so slightly in the city, Burnaby is still number two on the list of the highest rents in Canada, second only to neighbouring Vancouver. In the Lower Mainland and the rest of BC, apartment rents declined by a mere 0.5% overall, with small units such as studios experiencing the sharpest decline of 2.3% in 2024.

Get the full story here.

Burnaby Bulletin

Managing the Michael J. Fox Theatre. Following discussions with the Burnaby School District, the City of Burnaby is considering the possibility of taking an active role in the management and operations of the Michael J. Fox Theatre, which is located on Burnaby South Secondary’s property.

Crash causes outage. A crash involving a dump truck closed a section of Boundary Road, bordering Burnaby and Vancouver, in both directions on Monday this week. According to police, the truck brought down several hydro wires during the crash, causing power outages in the area that affected several homes and businesses. [CityNews]

A new design library. The City of Burnaby is making it easier for new homebuilders to explore expanded options for developing their property by publishing a housing design library. The library contains 12 designs for a range of different options, from laneway homes to quadplexes, all fully reviewed by City staff to ensure they meet the BC Building Code and comply with City bylaws.

Drug charges. A "complex" multi-jurisdictional investigation has led to drug charges against three men in Burnaby. Federal RCMP investigators, with help from local police and specialized units, executed seven search warrants simultaneously in three Lower Mainland jurisdictions and the South Okanagan in July 2023, according to an RCMP news release. [Burnaby Now]

NEWS

Giant 72-storey tower planned for Metrotown

During its first meeting of 2025, Burnaby City Council had a full docket of agenda items. The new schedule has come into effect, and now council meetings take place on Tuesdays, providing councillors and staff with a little extra time to examine agenda items and combat any case of the Monday blues. 

Of the many items discussed during the meeting this week, one of the highlights was undoubtedly a new 72-storey tower—the building will not only be extremely tall, but it will also span a large portion of a commercial area in Metrotown at 4900 Kingsway, a portion of 4940 Kingsway, 6446 Nelson Ave., and 6450 Nelson Ave. According to a council report, the new development will be a high-density, mixed-use development that includes commercial, residential, and office spaces, as well as an art gallery. 

Councillors also spent time discussing a proposal brought forth by Coun. James Wang to create a new landmark sign for the City of Burnaby and, as wildfires rage on in California, a proposition to add climate resiliency planning and preparedness to the city’s Official Community Plan (OCP) process.

Get more details on this week’s council meeting here.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby equestrians may lose beloved riding trail

For more than 50 years, the Burnaby Horsemen’s Association (BHA) has been housing horses and offering horse-related activities to residents within the city. The BHA is a non-profit run entirely by volunteers. As of the end of 2024, it had 288 members and housed 59 horses.  

However, in December 2024, the City of Burnaby decided to pave the Burnaby Lake Southeast Greenway, a decision that shocked BHA members and volunteers. BHA board member Erika Nassichuk told the Beacon that BHA members and horse-riding enthusiasts in Burnaby will no longer be able to use the trail if it is paved.

During its Dec. 16, 2024 meeting, council discussed the proposal to pave the greenway. While Coun. Alison Gu opposed the plan, council ultimately approved the plan to proceed with paving the first section. 

“I don’t see how this aligns with our transportation goals because this is already an AAA cycling network,” Gu said. “I don’t think we should be paving section one before we move forward with having a general strategy around this area, especially if the entire trail will never, ever be completely paved, we would be paving an already separated cycling path.”

Get the full story here.

Where to eat & drink

Claudio’s Ristorante. With an elegant, high-end atmosphere and comforting, authentic “home away from home” dishes, Claudio’s Ristorante is a true Burnaby gem for delicious Italian cuisine. Pair a freshly baked focaccia with spicy, garlic confit prawns for happy hour and/or indulge in any of their pastas, pizzas and secondi options for dinner—you’ll find everything you’re looking for and more.

Suzette’s Deli. Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat, breakfast sandwich or any wholesome soup and salad combo for lunch, Suzette’s is a great spot in the Lower Mainland for classic deli offerings. Some of their most popular items are their sandwiches—egg salad, shrimp avocado and chicken schnitzel on a bun cannot be beat on an empty stomach.

Thai Chef Eatery. You can’t go wrong with any of the dishes at this small diner and takeout spot just outside of SFU. Made with the intention of “savouring the essence of Thailand in every bite,” their curries, luscious broths and rice/noodle dishes do just that. Don’t miss out on their pad see-iew and pineapple curry with prawns, you won’t regret it!

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Budget Analyst at City of Burnaby

• Sales Associate at Footlocker

• Order Picker at Home Depot

• Back of House Supervisor at The Rec Room

• Housekeeping Aide at Fraser Health

• Customer Experience Associate at TD Bank

• Production Supervisor at Rocky Mountain Chocolate

• Shift Manager at McDonalds

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Lunar New Year Celebration. 10am-9pm. Metropolis at Metrotown.

• Real Estate Industry Night. 5:30pm. BCIT.

• SFU Men’s Basketball vs. Western Oregon University. 7pm. West Gym at SFU.

Friday

• The Scott Riddell Band. 8pm. Admiral Pub & Grill.

• Cantonese Storytime. 10:30am. Burnaby Public Library.

• Bites & Brews. 3pm-7pm. Habitat Pub.

Saturday

• West Coast Swing Beginner Bootcamp & Dance Party. 2pm-7pm. Bonsor Recreation Complex.

• Portuguese Movie Night. 6:30pm. 5344 Imperial St.

• Meditative Sound Bath. 6:30pm. 4701 Hastings St.

• Poush Parbon Bangali Food Festival. 5pm-10pm. New Westminster Secondary School.

Sunday

• Tropical Terrarium Workshop. 10am. Gardenworks at Lougheed Hwy.

• Learn to Square Dance. 3pm. Wesburn Community Centre.

• Paint Nite. 6pm. The Rec Room.

Monday

• JBNG with Jonathon Goldie. 6pm-11:45pm. Bully’s Studios.

• Cardio Kickboxing Class. 6pm. Heart & Soul Fitness.

Tuesday

• English Conversation Circle. 1:30pm. Burnaby Public Library.

• Kindred Tracings. 10am-4:30pm. Burnaby Art Gallery.

Wednesday

• Free Kenko Talk. 1pm. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

• Famous Last Words. 7pm. The Gallery at Queen’s Park.

• Kokyu Mini Concert. 2:45pm. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.