Thurs. Mar. 21, 2024: Burnaby 2050 moves to next phase

Good morning, Burnaby!

This week, we’re looking at several different projects and developments the city is currently working on. For starters, Burnaby’s official community plan (aka Burnaby 2050) is moving to its third phase, piecing together the city’s vision for the next 25 years. Meanwhile, the Deer Lake Trail loop is getting a significant $3.7 million upgrade, introducing a pedestrian bridge that will allow for easier access throughout the park.

👀 In today's edition:

• Burnaby is actively seeking input from residents

• An important safety update

• A popular artist has announced a second show in Burnaby

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NEWS

Burnaby 2050: Official community plan moves to next phase

City planners updated council’s Planning and Development Committee this week on the latest phase of Burnaby’s official community plan, also known as Burnaby 2050.

The plan, which is now in its third phase, envisions the future of Burnaby in 25 years and has involved several phases of public engagement, including a public engagement session the Beacon covered in September 2023. The city has also created a youth advisory committee to give young Burnaby residents the chance to participate in shaping the city’s future.

“It’s a really exciting project,” said Ed Kozak, the city’s general manager for planning and development. “I think we’re one of the first cities in the country to do it.”

Read more about the next phase of Burnaby’s 2050 community plan here. 

SPONSORED BY TD

Celebrate cherry blossoms at The Big Picnic

The Big Picnic is a special event that brings people from all over Metro Vancouver together to share in the beauty of the cherry blossoms and experience why “there are no strangers under the cherry tree”. The event is inspired by the long-time Japanese cultural tradition of hanami which literally translates to “cherry blossom (hana) viewing (mi)”.

Join other Vancouverites and visitors at The Big Picnic on March 30 at David Lam Park. You’ll be able to relax under cherry blossoms right in the heart of the city in the Yaletown neighbourhood while enjoying a superb line-up of local talent on the Cherry Jam Stage as well as a variety of interactive arts activities, workshops vendors and food trucks.

Find out more here!

Burnaby Bulletin

An important safety update. The City of Burnaby will host a public safety briefing for Burnaby Mountain residents focusing on recent enhancements to emergency and fire safety measures on April 2, 2024.

A second show for Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Neil Young and Crazy Horse have recently added a second show to their Burnaby date this summer as part of their Love Earth Tour, an addition to an initially sold-out show on July 23 at the same spot. [The Georgia Straight]

Input on Brentwood Town Centre. Burnaby residents and businesses will have the opportunity to provide input on the proposed amendments to the Brentwood Town Centre at an open house on April 2, 2024.

A karaoke bar stabbing. BC’s highest court has rejected a bid to overturn a second-degree murder for a man who stabbed another man to death in a Burnaby karaoke bar seven years ago. [CityNews]

Nearly 2,000 new homes. Nearly 2,000 new affordable homes are currently underway for renters in Metro Vancouver, thanks to partnerships between the province and local non-profit housing providers.

A line of disappointing balconies. Presale condo buyers who bought units at Concord Pacific’s Brentwood Hillside East development around six years ago are largely disappointed by one of the property’s key selling points: the balconies. [Vancouver Sun]

NEWS

$3.7M in upgrades to the Deer Lake Trail Loop

If you are one of about 600,000 people who visit Deer Lake Park and walk around the lake every year, you will be happy to know that council has approved a $3.7-million pedestrian bridge and paths to connect the different sections of the trail around the lake. This will ensure pedestrians will have an uninterrupted walk all the way around one of Burnaby’s most beautiful lakes. 

According to Isabel Londono, project manager for parks, recreation, and culture with the city, the current Deer Lake Trail Loop does not have a continuous route along the water’s edge, with the northeastern section disconnected from the rest of the trail. Currently, pedestrians must exit the trail and walk along the lake avenue to cross the deer lake brook, putting them at risk of accidents. It is also inaccessible to wheelchair users—the $3.7-million upgrade will change that.

Read more about what to expect at Deer Lake Park here. 

THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT GOLDEN PLATES

Vote for the best restaurants!

After collecting thousands of nominations, the Georgia Straight team has put together a list of the top contenders in each category for the 2024 Golden Plates Awards.

Vote for all your favourite restaurants here, including a new category: Best Burnaby restaurant!

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

City of Burnaby is seeking your input

With several different projects and community plans currently underway, the City of Burnaby is actively seeking input from residents—any suggestions, comments and/or concerns—to make necessary adjustments and considerations going forward this year.

Some examples include the Brentwood Town Centre Development plan, aiming to provide more diverse housing options and social amenities on site, and both the city’s safety and official community plan for 2050.

Click here to see how you can provide input for the City of Burnaby.

Where to eat & drink

🍖 Tenen Restaurant. Beef tripe soup, goulash and pork schnitzel are just a sample of the items served at this popular Eastern European restaurant specializing in Serbian cuisine. Their cozy dining room, decked out with antiques, makes for a unique special occasion dinner.

🍕 Stan’s Pizza Joint. With a spacious dining room, large, flatscreen TVs and endless pizza flavours to choose from, Stan’s Pizza Joint is the ideal spot for large groups and company events. Flavours like pesto chicken, smokey pulled pork and volcanic Hawaiian are sure to steal everyone’s heart.

🥐 Mon Paris Patisserie. One trip to this quaint French cafe is enough to transport you to the streets of Paris—traditional bakery items like kouign-amann, galette and chocolate croissants can all be found here, as well as fine confectionary like macarons, chocolates and mousse cakes.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Travel Sales Consultant at Odenza

• Medical Laboratory Assistant Instructor at Canadian Career College

• Change Management Specialist at City of Burnaby

• Implementation Specialist at Squirrel Systems

• Human Resources Manager at Sprott Shaw College

• Budget and Financial Analyst at BC Housing

• Occupational Hygiene Officer at WorkSafeBC

• Career Specialist at BCIT Student Association

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Guided Meditation. 5:45pm. Online via Zoom.

• Networking Luncheon. 11:30am. Trattoria Burnaby.

• Global Cafe: Lunch & Chat. 12pm. Global Student Centre.

• English Conversation Circle. 11:30am. Burnaby Public Library.

Friday

• Spring Fling. 9am. Gardenworks at Lougheed.

• Release & Heal Meditation Soundbath. 7pm. Savasana Meditation.

• Coffee with Profs. 2pm. Simon Fraser University.

• Fresh Friday’s Car Meet. 7pm. 7380 Market Crossing.

Saturday

• Mountain Madness 2024. 9am. Simon Fraser University.

• Dominican Bachata Workshop. 12pm. 4534 Hastings St.

• Gardening Well in Today’s World. 9am. Michael J Fox Theatre.

• 70s Disco Bachata Party. 8pm. World Dance Co.

Sunday

• Paint Nite: The Original Paint & Sip Party. 6pm. The Rec Room.

• Saje X Barre with The Beat. 9:30am. Metropolis at Metrotown.

Monday

• Farmers Carry Challenge. 4:30pm. 9304 Salish Court.

• Veterans Virtual Job Fair. 11am. Online via Zoom.

Tuesday

• Technology Virtual Job Fair. 11am. Online via Zoom.

• Burnaby Breathwork & Soundbath Journey. 7pm. The Mindful Lab: Meditation & Creative Studio.

• Trainee Research Symposium. 12:30pm. FHS Student Commons @ SFU.

Wednesday

• Resume Workshop for International Students. 12:30pm. Global Student Centre.

• Creations for Connections: An Evening of Creativity and Connection. 7pm. Women’s Centre @ SFU.

• Restorative Healing Meditation Soundbath. 7pm. Savasana Meditation.