'Burnaby is a great place for business,' says Mayor Mike Hurley | Daily Hive

Metrotown skyline. (City of Burnaby)

Burnaby’s municipal government is looking to put a greater emphasis on catalyzing economic and business growth.

Last week, during his annual State of the City address, Mayor Mike Hurley announced the creation of a new Mayor’s Task Force on Burnaby Economic Growth and Resilience.

“Burnaby is a great place for business, and we are poised to take the next step in the economic development of our city,” said Hurley.

“Burnaby’s strengths as an economic generator and a home for business are many – whether it’s our central location, our extensive transportation network, our amazing amenities… the list of advantages is long. This task force will help us capitalize and build on those strengths.”

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The task force’s work will begin in early 2026, after the City finalizes the Burnaby 2050 Official Community Plan (OCP) this fall. It will take place concurrently with the municipal government’s update to its Economic Development Strategy.

“We want businesses to be here, we want businesses to be successful, and we want businesses to stay. We want great jobs for our residents and great services for our community. A thriving Burnaby economy. This is about building on this great thing we’ve got going,” continued Hurley.

Currently, amongst its economic strengths, the vast majority of the sound stages and other production facilities supporting British Columbia’s film and television production industry, Hollywood North, is situated within Burnaby.

The city is also home to a substantial portion of Metro Vancouver’s industrial land supply.

metropolis at metrotown mall redevelopment april 2024

April 2024 master plan concept for the Metropolis at Metrotown redevelopment: Full buildout of the entire mall redevelopment. (Ivanhoe Cambridge)

The jurisdiction of the municipal government is also well-served by SkyTrain, enabling some of the region’s largest and most successful high-density, transit-oriented developments.

Signalling its status as a prime destination for major investment, Burnaby is already home to Metro Vancouver’s tallest building — the Two Gilmore Place tower — and most of the region’s future tallest towers are also planned within its city limits.

Burnaby’s identity has long been associated with Metropolis at Metrotown mall, but there are long-term plans to demolish nearly all of the shopping centre into a high-density, mixed-use residential and commercial district — the core of downtown Burnaby — into 12,000 new homes.

The move to create a task force is endorsed by the Burnaby Board of Trade.

“The Burnaby Board of Trade is pleased to see the formation of this Task Force as a positive step in supporting the continued momentum of Burnaby’s business success story,” said Angie Whitfield, CEO of the Burnaby Board of Trade.

“As the established voice of Burnaby’s business community and a trusted partner to the City, we look forward to continuing to contribute our decades of experience and insight to help shape a strong, resilient future for Burnaby’s economy.”

mccarthy plaza tower metrotown 5000 kingsway burnaby

Preliminary concept of McCarthy Plaza tower at 5000 Kingsway, Burnaby. (Dialog/WPJ McCarthy and Company)

Observation deck on the 71st level; preliminary concept of McCarthy Plaza tower at 5000 Kingsway, Burnaby. (Dialog/WPJ McCarthy and Company)

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