Tuesday, August 25, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Tourism Burnaby, a marketing organization designed to support tourism promotional activities in Burnaby, B.C., has joined the Great Northwest Athletic Conference as a corporate partner.

The third largest city in British Columbia, Burnaby is home to GNAC member Simon Fraser University, the only international member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Located at the geographic center of metropolitan Vancouver, Burnaby has a population of more than 223,000.

“We’re delighted to welcome Tourism Burnaby as a corporate partner of the GNAC,” said GNAC Commissioner Dave Haglund. “Through Simon Fraser University, our conference has had the chance to get to know and work closely with leaders at Tourism Burnaby, and we believe this relationship is a natural fit for both entities.”

In the summer of 2014, the GNAC partnered with SFU and Tourism Burnaby to host the annual NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association annual meeting in Burnaby. The event included all 24 commissioners in Division II plus executive leadership from the NCAA office.

This fall, the GNAC Women’s Soccer Championships will be staged at Terry Fox Field on the campus of SFU. It will mark the first GNAC championship hosted by Simon Fraser since it joined the conference in 2009.

“Burnaby has a proud history of hosting world-class national and world events, so this partnership is a natural progression in our quest to be the preeminent sports destination in British Columbia,” said Nancy Small, executive director of Tourism Burnaby.  “Simon Fraser and its athletics program is a real asset to our city, and we look forward to welcoming GNAC athletes and fans to our stunning community.”

BURNABY QUICK FACTS

• Burnaby is the third largest city in British Columbia (after Vancouver and Surrey), with a population of approximately 223,000.
• The city was named after Robert Burnaby, who explored the region around Burnaby Lake in 1859. A merchant and businessman, Robert Burnaby was active in a variety of community affairs and helped develop much of the west coast.
• Famous Burnaby locals include: singer Michael Buble, actor Michael J. Fox, NHL Hall of Famer Joe Sakic, and national soccer team player Christine Sinclair.
• Burnaby’s official flower is the rhododendron.
• Burnaby’s ‘Sister Cities’ are Kushiro Japan, Mesa, Ariz., Hwaseong, Korea and Zhongshan City, China.
• Burnaby’s Simon Fraser University is the only Canadian university competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
• Burnaby’s ratio of parkland to residents is one of the highest in North America. Twenty-five percent of Burnaby’s land is designated as parks and open space (the city has over 200 parks!)
• Installed in 1956 in what is now known as The Heights shopping district, Helen ‘the Swinging Girl” neon sign was approved as a civic heritage landmark in 2010. The landmark is known as one of the best examples of kinetic neon art in North America and is included as a destination on local neon tours.

GETTING TO BURNABY
BY CAR: Centrally located in Metro Vancouver, Burnaby is easily accessible via most major highways and roadways including Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 East, Lougheed Highway (BC-7), Barnet Highway, West Hastings Street, East 1st Avenue and Marine Drive (Vancouver).

BY PLANE: Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has been once again rated the top airport in the world. As Canada’s second busiest airport, YVR welcomes over 19 million people annually and is 25 minutes from Burnaby by car or taxi.

BY FERRY: If you’re coming from Vancouver Island, Burnaby is roughly 45 minutes from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal by car via BC-17 and BC-1A W/BC-99A North and roughly 30 minutes by car from the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 E.