Burnaby started off as a rural agricultural area which supplied nearby markets. In the latter years, it became an important transportation corridor between Vancouver, the Interior, and Fraser Valley. Its name was derived from Robert Burnaby, who was a private secretary of Richard Moody, the first land commissioner in the Colony of British Columbia.
Culture, Heritage and Arts are essential to Burnaby. Amongst the most popular places to go to are the Burnaby Art Gallery (it provides educational programs for kids, adults and seniors, exhibition and community projects in recreation facilities, community centres and schools), Burnaby Eco-Sculptures (eco-sculptors make art from nature), Burnaby Symphony Orchestra (now in its sixth year of performing successful concerts), Burnaby Village Museum and Carousel (small meeting or a large corporate gathering), Century Gardens,Centennial Rose Garden at Burnaby Mountain Park , Deer Lake Park (opportunities for boating, launching a canoe, sailboating, sunbathing, bird watching, hiking, wild-life viewing, or simply relaxing), Michael J. Fox Theatre (professional, community-oriented theatre which offers an affordable, beautiful and practical place for amateur and professional artists), National Nikkei Heritage Centre, Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, SFU Walking Tour and Art Gallery (it hosts six or seven exhibitions a year, both contemporary and historical, covering the full range of media), and Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (ideal place for small gatherings to large entertainment and corporate events - like for example meetings, award ceremonies, conferences, weddings, press conferences, gala dinners, festivals, recitals, concerts and craft fairs).
metro Vancouver and the City of Burnaby has lots of traditional and non-traditional attractions all-year round, consisting of: The Burnaby Village Museum (self-guided tours that letsallows people discover the farmhouse and village at their own pace), Capilano Suspension Bridge (suspended 230 feet above and 450 feet across Capilano River), Gateway Casinos, Greater Vancouver Zoo (over 600 various animals in 120 acres of wide open spaces within the Fraser Valley), Grouse Mountain (panoramic views of the city, oceans and mountains unfold as the Skyride, North America's largest aerial tram system, whisks people to the mountaintop, 3,700' above the city), Harbour Cruises, Hell's Gate Air Tram (situated in British Columbia's supernatural interior, with peak spring levels, over two hundred million gallons of water flow through its 35 metre (110 ft) wide gorge. That is twice the volume of Niagara Falls), IMAX Theatre (offers individuals of various ages and backgrounds with larger-than-life-experiences which inspire, entertain and educate), Science World, Minter Gardens, Pacific national Exhibitions Vancouver Aquarium within Stanley Park (provides incredible creatures, like for instance beluga whales, dolphins, and sea otters, plus many other fascinating creatures, from the Arctic to the Amazon).
In the Burnaby area, there are major technological firms comprising Chevron Corporation, Petro-Canada petroleum refineries, Telus, Ballard Power Systems, Creo (now part of Eastman Kodak) and Electronic Arts. Other major companies include: Nokia, Future Shop, and eBay.
