Burnaby covers an area of 98.60 square kilometres (38.07 square miles) and is ideally situated at the centre of the Lower Mainland region. Burnaby has a corridor position between the cities of Vancouver to the west and north, and Coquitlam and New Westminster to the east.
Before the advent of settlers in the late 1800's, the area now known as Burnaby was a land of tall trees and wilderness. The earliest pioneers settled around 1850 and Burnaby developed very slowly until 1887, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was extended into Vancouver from the Port Moody terminal. Due to the dramatic increase in traffic between New Westminster and Vancouver, a tram line connecting the two centres through Burnaby was built.
In October of 1891, the land along the route was subdivided and sold. The population of the area along the Canadian Pacific line was only about 200 persons who were mainly employed in the agriculture or logging industries. The property taxes the pioneers paid went straight to the new provincial capital of B.C. in Victoria and gave them no local benefits. A group of community minded neighbours consolidated to apply for a municipal charter that would guarantee their taxes went to local roads and services.
The municipality received its charter of incorporation on September 24, 1892. It was named after Robert Burnaby who had explored the region around Burnaby Lake in 1859. Robert Burnaby, a merchant and businessman, was active in a variety of community affairs and helped develop much of the west coast. Robert Burnaby went on to serve five years in the B.C. legislature before returning to England because of poor health. In all, he has given his name to a city, a park, a lake, a hill, a Vancouver street, a mountain range in McKenzie Sound, an island and a narrows in the Queen Charlotte Islands.
By 1896, Burnaby had its first park along with a store, post office, two schools and a church. Within five years, the population in South Burnaby had grown to 400. The opening of the Barnet Mill in North Burnaby in 1900 started a second settlement within the municipality.
Almost 100 years later Burnaby's population has grown to over 165,500. Its economic base has changed from logging and agriculture to service, commercial and industrial activities. Community, business and personal service industries account for approximately 27 per cent of the employment in Burnaby. This reflects Burnaby's growing role as an urban centre.
In 1992, Burnaby celebrated its 100th anniversary and officially changed from the Corporation of the District of Burnaby to the City of Burnaby.
History of Municipal Hall
Second Municipal Hall, 1911Second Municipal Hall, 1911
Although Burnaby was incorporated as a municipality in 1892, its first Municipal Hall was not built until 1899 and located at Kingsway and Edmonds. At the time, there was no question that this was the most appropriate location. It was close to the tram line on Kingsway and at the population centre of South Burnaby. Two subsequent municipal halls were built at the same location. In 1911 a large brick hall was built to reflect Burnaby's growth into a large suburban municipality and remained in use for over forty years.
As the rest of Burnaby developed, residents in North Burnaby felt that the Edmonds/Kingsway location was too far to travel. A debate on where to build the new Municipal Hall began when staff outgrew the two buildings at Edmonds in 1954. The debate ended when politicians decided to build at the exact geographic centre of the Municipality. Fortunately, this was a beautiful location in the Central Valley near Deer Lake with a sweeping view of Burnaby Lake and the mountains. The official opening ceremony of the Municipal Hall at 4949 Canada Way was on June 22, 1956 where Reeve Charles MacSorley received keys to the hall from the contractor.
Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms
Burnaby's new coat of arms was developed in conjunction with the 100th birthday celebrations in 1992. Elements from Burnaby's unique natural and historical heritage are drawn together in a centuries old art form to create this heraldic symbol.
The Shield of Arms is a visual metaphor of Burnaby's location at the heart of the Lower Mainland. The blue of the Inlet on the North and the Fraser on the South is separated by the gold of the land, representing both the riches of nature and those created by human endeavor. The eagle, symbolizing the spirit of the whole community, lies at the centre of the design. This symbolic bird also refers to the rich natural attributes of Burnaby Mountain and the wildlife which makes its home there. The wings of the eagle are decorated with water symbols: one each for Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake.
The Crest (found above the shield) blends symbols honouring Burnaby's past with others representing civic government. The dominant colours, red and white, are the national colours of Canada and are also those featured in the 16th century coat of arms of Robert Burnaby's ancestors. The crown of silver stones with red masonry is the ancient heraldic emblem for municipal corporations. It is decorated with a heraldic sylization of strawberry flowers (fraises), referring to the strawberry farms once found throughout the municipality and now symbolizing the market gardens on the South Slope riverside lands by the Fraser River. These fraises are also the main element in the arms of the Fraser Clan of which Simon Fraser was an illustrious member. The lion is taken directly from the Burnaby family arms, honouring the District's namesake and the efforts of all the pioneers. It also symbolizes the spirit of the District government, headed by the Mayor and Council. This idea is emphasized by having the lion uphold the district flag.
The Motto continues the sentiment found on the first District Seal dating from 1892, the year of incorporation, providing a link with heritage represented in the original symbol.
The Supporters are two deer, male and female, representing the natural heritage of the District. The men and women who have helped create and preserve Burnaby are made distinctive from other supporters elsewhere in Canada by adding the collars of red rhododendrons, the municipal flower.
The Flag in proper heraldic fashion, the flag is composed of the elements on the shield reshaped to serve as a banner.
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