Burnaby and the southwest coast of British Columbia are located in an earthquake zone. While we don’t know when a large earthquake will hit, we do know it could have serious impacts on our people, homes, businesses and infrastructure. Burnaby has identified earthquakes as the most destructive natural hazard facing the city.

That’s why the City of Burnaby is creating B-SAFER—short for Burnaby Strategies and Actions for Earthquake Resilience. This citywide strategy will help us better prepare for, respond to, and recover from earthquakes so we can protect what matters most.

B-SAFER is part of the City’s Community Safety Plan and is supported by the Province of BC’s Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program.

The B-SAFER strategy will:

• consider Burnaby’s unique geography, urban growth and infrastructure needs
• study how earthquakes could affect people, the economy and the environment
• support smart, long-term investments that reduce risk
• develop policies to improve emergency response
• propose changes that make buildings and infrastructure more resilient
• encourage collaboration between government, businesses and residents
• build strong, prepared and connected neighbourhoods

The strategy is being developed in five phases and will be completed by 2026. We’re currently finalizing our background research and environmental scan. This includes reviewing existing City policies and drawing on national and regional knowledge of seismic risk and critical infrastructure.

Starting in fall 2025, we’ll begin engaging with the community to gather input and share updates. Click the “Follow” button on this page to subscribe to email updates and stay informed.

We’re committed to meaningful, inclusive engagement. Here’s how you can participate:

• Pop-ups and drop-ins— summer 2025
  • Visit us at local events like Canada Day, Willingdon Community Fair and more. Stop by to learn more.
• Community conversations—fall 2025
  • Join us at two in-person events in different Burnaby neighbourhoods. Learn about earthquake risk scenarios and help shape the strategy.
• Citywide community event—spring 2026
  • Celebrate the launch of the strategy at a fun, family-friendly event. Explore interactive stations, learn about the draft strategy, and share your thoughts.

Creating this strategy will spark important conversations and bring together knowledge from scientific research, modern technology, and traditional Host Nations wisdom and history. By working together, we can make Burnaby a safer, more resilient city—ready to face the challenges of the future.