The City of Burnaby has been recognized with a Creative Cities Impact Award in the Special Events Process category for its innovative approach to event planning, coordination and safety.
The award recognizes the City’s efforts to improve event planning and service delivery through stronger internal processes and cross-departmental collaboration. By streamlining event approvals and supporting consistent event safety practices, Burnaby has strengthened its ability to deliver safe and welcoming community events.
As one of British Columbia’s most vibrant and culturally diverse communities, Burnaby hosts a wide range of events each year. Recognizing the need to make event planning requirements easier to navigate, the City took steps to improve access to information and support for event organizers.
A key part of this work was the creation of the Burnaby Event Safety & Security Team (BESST), bringing together expertise from different departments across the organization. Through BESST, the City developed a coordinated event safety framework, including an event safety plan template and a suite of resources to help organizers plan and deliver events safely and effectively.
The enhanced process provides community event organizers with centralized information, clearer guidance and more consistent support throughout the planning process. By reducing administrative barriers and improving access to resources, the City has helped create a more user-friendly experience for organizers while strengthening the overall local event environment.
This recognition reflects Burnaby’s commitment to continuous improvement and service excellence, ensuring residents and visitors can continue to enjoy high-quality community events that are safe, inclusive and memorable.
Photo credit: Suzan Henke Photography
