Policy directions

1. Ensure there is enough variety and access to facilities and services to meet community needs, including:

a) Facilities that serve a growing population: recreation centres, libraries, child cares, seniors services, cultural spaces, youth centres and schools.

b) Facilities that serve diverse groups of people: newcomer services, Indigenous-serving programs, unique recreation and cultural spaces, non-profit offices, neighbourhood houses, services for people with low income, and services for people experiencing homelessness such as shelters, day centres and supportive and transitional housing.

2. Improve service delivery of community facilities and amenities across the city, especially for amenities that meet daily needs for the community.

3. Find ways to provide more entertainment across the city, such as in commercial and retail hubs with complementary services.

Why we are proposing these policies

Burnaby’s population is growing and becoming more diverse and will need more and different facilities and services in the future.

It’s easier for people to bike, walk or roll to amenities and services if they are clustered in hubs across the city, closer to where people live. This helps people be more active and reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Policy directions

4. Improve areas of the city that do not have many facilities or services.

a) Make regulations less restrictive.

b) Enhance policies and streamline development processes to support delivery of City-owned amenities.

c) Advocate to and partner with other orders of government, host Nations and local organizations to deliver facilities and services.

5. Develop and update strategies to ensure the City plans, funds and builds new infrastructure to keep up with population growth.

6. Work with the Burnaby School District, the provincial government, post-secondary institutions and the childcare sector to plan and create new schools and child cares where the population is expected to grow.

7. Work with Fraser Health Authority, health providers, non-profits and the provincial government to plan and expand health care services, including mental health and substance use treatment, complex care and services for other specialized health needs.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Making it easier to build and offer services across Burnaby will make them more accessible for community members.
• Different orders of government, host Nations and community organizations all play a role in building infrastructure and providing services, ranging from direct investments to advocacy and partnerships.
• Working with different partners will help build and provide high-quality services more efficiently.

Policy directions

8. Make community facilities, spaces and amenities easier and more convenient for people to get to.

a) Build community facilities together and near other complementary amenities.

b) Identify underused spaces that the community could use.

c) Ensure City-owned facilities are accessible.

d) Prioritize upgrades to make streets, public spaces and high-density areas more accessible.

e) Ensure emergency access routes stay open, accessible and functional.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Community facilities are often a hub for communities to access affordable activities, programs and services in their neighbourhood.
• Making it easier to build and find spaces for new community facilities and amenities will make these services more accessible across the city.

Policy directions

9. Increase the sense of belonging and community connection for diverse communities through public art, cultural programming, community events, education and training.

10. Continue to support public safety.

a) Prevent and reduce crime, focusing on youth safety, gangs and guns.

b) Reduce fear of crime through improving service response and use of evidence-based data about crime.

c) Plan, design and program public spaces to make them feel safer.

d) Identify and address safety issues for people from diverse groups through engagement and education.

e) Help community members and neighbourhoods prepare for emergencies.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Safety means different things to different people.
• Public safety can be improved in many ways, including designing public spaces to help people feel more visible and protected, using data to improve services and preparing for emergencies in advance.

Policy directions

11. Create adaptable public spaces that help community members have healthy lifestyles.

a) Create places where people can gather and connect with each other.

b) Create places to have fun and exercise.

c) Create places to relax and rest.

d) Create places for people to go to in emergencies.

e) Design places that are safe, inclusive, welcoming for all people.

f) Design places that celebrate, preserve and share diverse cultures.

g) Design places where people can grow, cook and access healthy food.

12. Explore different ways for community members to care for, manage and use public open spaces.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Public spaces serve many different purposes for the community.
• Neighbourhoods across the city need places that people can use to relax, have fun and access services.

Policy directions

13. Develop a vision and policies for arts, cultural heritage and creative industries.

a) Understand the current state of arts, cultural heritage and creative industries in Burnaby.

b) Find ways to protect and grow cultural spaces.

c) Create a framework to prioritize policies and investments in arts, cultural heritage and creative industries.

d) Increase support for Indigenous, racialized, emerging and diverse artists and organizations.

Why we are proposing these policies

• The City needs to research and work with arts, cultural heritage and creative industries to understand how to support these sectors and increase opportunities for community members to access arts and culture.

Policy directions

14. Continue to explore creative, equitable, and relevant ways to engage and build relationships with the broader Burnaby community.

15. Engage and collaborate with host Nations, Indigenous people living in Burnaby and Indigenous organizations to understand what kind of spaces Indigenous people need.

16. Use an equity lens to identify groups the City doesn’t usually consult with and that don’t have access to the services they need. Engage with these groups to improve community services and build relationships with diverse communities.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Some groups in the city, including Indigenous people living in Burnaby and people of different ages, abilities and backgrounds, are not usually involved in City decision-making.
• Diverse groups have different needs and using an “equity lens” to work with the community will help create more inclusive, accessible services.

This survey is administered by the City of Burnaby. Personal information collected and used for the purpose of receiving information regarding the Official Community Plan will be managed in accordance with s. 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All personal information collected through this survey will remain confidential and de-identified when shared with the public. For questions regarding the collection of Personal Information and receipt of electronic messages please contact: Corporate Communications and Marketing at communications@burnaby.ca.