Following is a letter to Burnaby residents from Mayor Mike Hurley
In Burnaby, we are investing at record levels in the facilities, parks, trails and public spaces that help keep our community active. This investment is essential to meeting the needs of a growing city and ensuring Burnaby remains an outdoor and active city, which is such an important part of our identity and quality of life.
It is crucial that everything we plan for and deliver is accessible and creates opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds across our diverse communities.
Our seniors are integral to that. They helped lay the foundations for the growth and success we see today, and many continue to contribute through their work, as well as playing an important role in family and community life across our great city.
They are also a growing part of our population. In 1996, seniors made up 13% of Burnaby’s population. By the latest census in 2021, that had risen to nearly 18%, with more than 44,000 Burnaby residents aged 65 or older.
That makes it more important than ever to help our seniors stay active, connected and engaged, supporting both their physical health and mental well-being.
So, here are five great ways for seniors to stay active, healthy and connected right here in Burnaby.
1. Tai Chi
Originating in ancient China and practised for centuries, Tai Chi is now enjoyed around the world. Its soft, slow movements may look simple, but they can support balance, flexibility, coordination and strength, while the focus and concentration involved can also help people feel calmer and more relaxed.
At a recent class, a man living with Parkinson’s disease spoke to me about the real difference Tai Chi had made in his life.
You will often see groups practising Tai Chi outdoors in parks across the city, with classes also available at the Cameron and Confederation community centres. Burnaby also offers yoga at its dedicated seniors’ centres at Bonsor and Confederation, and through the 55+ centres within the Edmonds and Temporary Cameron community centres.
Our welcoming, dedicated centres are created around the interests and needs of our seniors. They offer much more than fitness, with everything from arts, music and dancing to clubs, social events and day trips. People can buy a membership for one centre or access all four, while many registered activities are also open to non-members.
There are Tai Chi options for different ages, abilities and levels of experience, including beginner classes and Chair Tai Chi. So, whether you are completely new to Tai Chi or have been practising for years, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
2. Lawn bowling
The South Burnaby Lawn Bowls Club, located in Central Park, will celebrate its 110th anniversary next year. People such as Bernice White and Diana Newton are true legends of the club.
Their years of commitment show what makes places like this so special. It is not just about playing a sport. It is about the friendships, volunteers and welcoming atmosphere that turn a club into a community.
The lawn-bowling season generally runs from late April or early May through September. Throughout the season, there are regular games, leagues, tournaments, beginner lessons and social events, with opportunities for people of all skill levels to take part.
The club is also home to the annual Mayor’s Lawn Bowling Tournament, hosted by the Burnaby Hospital and Community Foundation, raising money for important health and community initiatives
There is also the Burnaby North Lawn Bowling Club at Confederation Park. It has been based there since 1962 and offers outdoor bowling during the warmer months, as well as social activities during the winter. Together, the two clubs provide great opportunities on both sides of Burnaby to get outside, stay active and become part of a friendly community.
3. Pickleball
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in Burnaby, and with over 100 courts and playing spaces, we have one of the highest number of courts per capita across the region.
The smaller court, lighter ball and underhand serve make it more approachable than many other racquet games, but get into a rally with some of our local players and it will not take long to realize how much skill is involved or how competitive it can get.
Go down to the courts at Burnaby Heights Park, Confederation Park or Squint Lake Park on almost any evening of the week and you will see courts full of activity, with paddles lined up and players managing the simple rotation system themselves, keeping the games moving and making sure everyone gets a chance to play. It creates a real community spirit on and around the courts.
Burnaby has also created more weather-protected places to play, with covered and illuminated sports boxes and indoor community centre sessions helping residents enjoy pickleball year-round and into the evening.
4. Yoga
Yoga has its roots in ancient India, stretching back more than 5,000 years. Today, it continues to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together through movement, breathing and mindfulness.
Canada Day celebrates the diversity that makes this the greatest country in the world
A wonderful example can be found at the Hindu Temple Burnaby, one of Canada’s largest and oldest Hindu temples, where Dr. Preeti Misra leads an excellent yoga class. The temple is an important gathering place in the community, offering daily prayer services alongside Hindi and Bhagavad Gita classes, meditation, music, seniors’ support, community meals, cultural celebrations and major Hindu festivals.
Its yoga classes, offered on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings, bring movement, culture and community together in a very special way.
Participants speak about the real difference yoga has made in their lives. The stretching is excellent for flexibility, balance and strength, but the classes offer much more than physical activity. They provide a regular routine, an opportunity to slow down and a place to meet new people.
People of all ages can enjoy yoga and there are also plenty of opportunities to take part through Burnaby’s community and dedicated 55+ centres.
5. Walking
Walking is one of the simplest ways to stay active, socialize and enjoy the outdoors. Burnaby has 145 parks, with trails and pathways running through neighbourhoods, forests and green spaces.
Jim Lorimer Park reflects Burnaby’s long-term commitment to park space
One of the best examples is the Central Park Perimeter Trail, a 3.5-kilometre rubberized path around one of Burnaby’s largest parks. It is one of the longest continuous rubberized walking and running tracks in Metro Vancouver. The surface is gentler on the joints, while the wide pathway, tree cover and lighting make it comfortable throughout the day.
The new Burnaby Lake pedestrian and cyclist overpass is another example of designing with accessibility in mind. By using the naturally higher ground on either side of Highway 1, the crossing is nearly flat, without long or steep ramps. That makes it easier for people using wheelchairs, walkers or strollers.
We recently held our final Mayor’s Walk and Chat of the year, which has been a great way to promote healthy living and connect with residents. From March through August, residents join us on the final Sunday of each month for a walk from the Christine Sinclair Community Centre and a relaxed conversation about their neighbourhoods.
Whatever activity you choose, my best advice is to get out and meet people two or three times a week. Once that becomes part of your routine, it is much easier to keep it going.
PODCAST: The future of Burnaby’s parks—with Cllr Daniel Tetrault and Kate McMahon, For Our Kids
