Burnaby Farm Tour
Located in the unique urban farming district in Burnaby’s Big Bend neighbourhood, this self-guided tour is a must-see for those who enjoy purchasing nursery plants and farm products directly from the farmers who grew them.
Experience a variety of plants, vegetables, vendors, nurseries and other attractions of this historic farming district.
Big Bend: A Historical Farming District
The Big Bend area was once a natural cranberry marsh, where berries and other resources were harvested for thousands of years by Indigenous Peoples. The lands that are known today as Burnaby are located on the unceded and traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛəm (Kwikwetlem) Peoples.
After the colony of British Columbia was established in 1858, European settlers were encouraged to claim land through preemption, which allowed non-Indigenous people to become landowners. Indigenous people were excluded from this system.
The first farmers in the 1860s were of European origin and grew crops and raised animals. By the early 1890s, the area had attracted a more diverse group of farmers, including Chinese Canadians.
Most early Chinese Canadian farmers leased or rented farmland from European landowners due to discriminatory legal and social restrictions on land ownership. By 1946, Chinese Canadian farmers rented an estimated 200 acres of Burnaby land.
Chinese Canadian farmers worked together to share the labour-intensive work. They achieved high levels of productivity on small size farms using traditional farming techniques and supplied fresh food to produce distributors and supermarkets in Burnaby and Greater Vancouver.
The active participation of Chinese Canadians during the Second World War changed social attitudes towards the community. Land ownership opportunities became available to Chinese Canadian farmers shortly after.
By 1974, there were approximately 27 farms in the Big Bend area operated by Chinese Canadian farmers. Most were less than 12 acres in size. Some families continue to operate these farms today, growing a variety of produce and plants.
Over 550 acres of land between Marine Drive and the Fraser River is protected under the City’s Urban Agricultural Land Reserve. Big Bend’s agricultural lands remain distinctive because of the relatively small farm size and proximity to urban areas.
Farm Tour map brochure
Physical copies of the Burnaby Farm Tour map can be found at Burnaby recreational facilities, Burnaby Village Museum and at featured local vendors.
Heritage resources
Burnaby has a rich and diverse history. For additional information, visit HeritageBurnaby.ca or download a copy of the resource guide. Information about Burnaby’s history is also available at the Burnaby Village Museum, which features 38 exhibits in a 10-acre open-air museum.