Thursday, June 19 edition: Burnaby mayor calls for changes to BC building code

Good morning, Burnaby!

As we head deeper into summer, Burnaby is getting more festive. This weekend, the city is celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day in Civic Square in front of the library in Metrotown. Canada Day StreetFest returns in two weeks with a new lineup and headliners.

Summer markets are popping up, and the Beacon created a guide to the farmers markets you can visit in Burnaby to pick up some delicious local produce.

In other news, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley recently called on the province to change its new building code. The new code allows for only one stairway up to six storeys in multi-family buildings. Hurley, a former firefighter, expressed concerns about fire safety.

Also, in this edition, discover more about BC Ferries’ controversial decision to award a ferry-building contract to a Chinese state-owned shipyard.

👀 In today's edition:

• Burnaby mayor calls for repeal of single-exit stairway building code

• They promised ship-building in BC — then gave the contract to China

• Your complete guide to Burnaby farmers markets

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NEWS

Burnaby mayor calls for repeal of single-exit stairway building code

At Burnaby City Council’s biweekly meeting on June 10, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley proposed a lengthy motion requesting that the province repeal a building code amendment that allows the construction of residential multi-family buildings up to six storeys with a single exit stairway.

Hurley, who is a former firefighter, spoke at length about the dangers of having only one stairway for a multi-family building. Hurley said the provincial government needs to thoroughly review the building code and prioritize the safety of residents and rescue workers.

“Affordable housing should not mean unsafe housing,” Hurley said. “Fires in BC residential hallways, stairwells, and critical evacuation routes make up almost 9% of all residential blazes. Smoke from these fires quickly block exits, jeopardizing occupant safety.”

Hurley gave an example from his time in the fire department of an arsonist who went around lighting fires in the stairways of residential buildings in Burnaby.

Find out more here.

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Burnaby Bulletin

🥁 National Indigenous Peoples Day: Burnaby will host a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at Civic Square, Metrotown on Saturday, June 21.

🇵🇭 Pinoy Festival in Burnaby: Thousands gathered at the Pinoy Festival in Swangard Stadium, the first Filipino festival since the Lapu Lapu massacre, as the community reflects and rebuilds.

🏞️ Burnaby man presumed drowned: A 29-year-old Burnaby man was swimming in Cabin Lake, a small lake on Black Mountain when he went missing.

🏫 SFU layoffs: SFU president Joy Johnson said more layoffs are likely as international student admissions drop.

🎼 Free classical music in Deer Lake Park: Free summer concerts by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Vancouver Opera are scheduled to take place at Deer Lake Park on July 12 and 13.

🚨 Surrey man charged after deadly Burnaby crash: Chi Sun Park, 35, is facing 15 criminal charges after 2024 crash that killed two women, including impaired and dangerous driving charges.

🌎 Galaxy-themed summer at Metropolis at Metrotown: Summer festival at the mall began June 16, summer market will return on July 3.

👩‍🎓 SFU ranks 35 among world’s top 50 universities: According to Times Higher Education, SFU is among the top in several categories.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ScotFestBC 2025 will bring out some of the best pipers and caber tossers in the world to compete for glory - along with great Celtic music, whisky school, and a whole lot more June 20 and 21 in Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park.*

🥀 Romance, wit, and secrets abound in Much Ado About Nothing, running June 10–September 20, at Bard on the Beach. Tickets start at $35!*

*Sponsored Listing

NEWS

They promised ship-building in BC — then gave the contract to China

In 2021, the NDP government unveiled a “Made-in-B.C.” shipbuilding strategy and created a Shipbuilding Advisory Committee. The new strategy and committee were supposed to herald a turning point and revival for a long-neglected local industry.

Four years later the landscape seems very different, with many of the same politicians quietly reneging on their promises and giving the contracts to overseas contractors.

Not only did they ship the contracts overseas, but, according to Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, they didn’t even give B.C. shipyards a fair shot. The procurement process was so rushed and restrictive that no local yard could realistically compete.

Read more here.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Your complete guide to Burnaby farmers markets

It’s summer and Burnaby’s outdoor markets are bustling and filled with colourful produce, artisanal products, and more. While the Saturday farmers market in front of City Hall gets most of the attention and love, there are other spots to check out this summer for fresh produce and festive energy.

With this guide to Burnaby’s markets, you can ditch the screen and head out for sunshine, fresh produce, and handmade local crafts.

Whether you’re hunting for organic vegetables or handcrafted soaps or want to soak up that quintessential West Coast market atmosphere, Burnaby’s market scene has something special waiting for you every season.

Read more here.

Where to eat & drink

🥘 Saffron Indian Cuisine, is a Burnaby landmark and its beloved lunch buffet is back, after being cancelled for a few years due to COVID.

🫕 Secret Garden Korean Buffet and Grill, in keeping with the buffet theme, this place serves both lunch and dinner buffets.

🍜 Marble House Eatery, make sure you’re really hungry when you visit for all-you-can-eat hotpot. It’s a bit pricey, but well worth it.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Cooks and service staff, Birdies Restaurant

• Sales associate, Nespresso Metrotown

• Bylaw patroller, City of Burnaby

• Registered nurse, Burnaby Hospital

• Part-time retail store associate, Winners/HomeSense, Market Crossing

• Clinical counsellor, MOSAIC Burnaby

• Customer experience associate, TD Bank Burnaby

• Custodian, City Hall Complex, City of Burnaby

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• SFU Toastmasters, 12pm, online.

• Celebrating refugee contributions, 5:30-7:30pm, Burnaby Public Library, Bob Prittie Metrotown

• Burnaby Photographic Society Print Exhibition, 10am-8pm, McGill Library
  4595 Albert St.

Friday

• Latin Beat, 10-11am, Burnaby Neighbourhood South House, 4460 Beresford St.

Saturday

• Farmers Market. 9am. City Hall parking lot.

• Kintsugi: DIY Workshop, 10am-12pm, Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, 6688 Southoaks Cres.

• National Indigenous Peoples Day, 3-7pm, Civic Square, Metrotown

Sunday

• SFU Writer’s Studio, Bluesky writing sprints, 10:30-11:30am, Bluesky or Waves Coffee House, 900 Howe St.

• Introduction to Dungeons & Dragons and Other TTRPGs, 12-4pm, Burnaby Public Library, Bob Prittie Metrotown

Monday

• Board Game Club, 3:30-5:30pm, McGill Library, 4595 Albert St.

• Acrylic Pouring Class: Experiment with Colours, 7-8:30pm, WINGS Burnaby, 6879 Kingsway

Tuesday

• Burnaby Public Library Career Chat, 11am- 12pm, SFU Burnaby Campus, Saywell Hall 9095

• Residential Tenancy Law for New Immigrants in BC, 6-7:30pm, Burnaby Public Library, Bob Prittie Metrotown

Wednesday

• Outdoor storytime, 10:30-11am, McGill Library, 4595 Albert St.

• Toastmasters, 12pm, Burnaby City Hall