I’m Mike Hurley, proud Mayor of Burnaby since 2018. I started this podcast to explore the people, values, and issues shaping our diverse and dynamic city - and to share the ideas and experiences of those who live, work, and contribute here. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with residents, community leaders, and experts about the challenges we face, the opportunities ahead, and the vision guiding Burnaby’s future. Follow and subscribe to catch every episode, and discover the stories that make our city strong, diverse, and vibrant.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with Cameron and Graham Roxburgh, two brothers who have dedicated their lives to building community and bringing people together in Burnaby and beyond. Cameron was part of the founding team of The Neighbourhood Church in #Burnaby and has spent more than 30 years helping shape its work in the Edmonds neighbourhood. Graham Roxburgh is the founder of TeamUp Canada, a non-profit organization that uses sport to create opportunities for young people and strengthen communities around the world. Their conversation explores how sport can shape young leaders and break down barriers, the diversity and collaboration that make #Edmonds such a special community, the importance of supporting vulnerable residents facing #poverty through the food pantry and emergency weather shelter, and the latest on the exciting Edmonds Community Hub Project.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with Dan Marsolais, president of Ventana Construction, one of Burnaby’s long-standing construction companies. They discuss shifting #construction costs, skilled #trades shortages, rising demand from population growth and changing community needs, and the realities of how major infrastructure gets planned, built and delivered in #Burnaby today. This episode also explores the construction of the new Burnaby Lake Recreation Centre.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with Mayor Brad West of Port Coquitlam and Mayor Nicole MacDonald of Pitt Meadows. They discuss the shared challenges and opportunities facing our communities across the Lower Mainland, and how local governments are being asked to do more than ever before while too often being sidelined from decisions that directly impact the people we serve. This episode will also cover provincial zoning legislation, the impact of the BC budget on affordable housing and childcare, municipal fiscal responsibility, property taxes, public safety, and supporting economic growth in our communities.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with Chris Peters, CEO of Tourism Burnaby, the organization working to promote Burnaby as a leading destination and to support the growth of the city’s visitor economy. He explains how #TourismBurnaby's is positioning the city for FIFA #WorldCup — the largest sporting event in the world — coming to our region this month. The discussion also explores how through continued investment in our facilities and infrastructure, we’re building toward becoming Canada’s competition capital. While our diverse communities shape the city as a destination for food and culture, supported by our location at the heart of the Lower Mainland, our town centres and shopping destinations, our universities and our beautiful outdoor and active spaces.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority. He explains #TransLink’s governance structure, financial model and responsibilities, as well as its future plans in #Burnaby. The discussion also explores the balance between financial sustainability, accessibility and affordability, the role of transit in enabling economic growth and the importance of aligning this with local planning and infrastructure capacity, and the need to move away from long-term car dependency by first delivering reliable alternatives, such as active transportation.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, president of BCIT – BC’s leading polytechnic institution. He explains what it means to be a polytechnic institution, shares future plans for BCIT’s main campus in Burnaby, and highlights why delivering Phase 2 of #BurnabyHospital is critical for the broader education and health sectors. The discussion also explores challenges and opportunities in journalism, the booming TV and film industry in #Burnaby, ongoing skilled trades shortages and their impact on the local economy, and the importance of reflecting Burnaby’s values of diversity and accessibility in post-secondary education.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with John Brendan McEown, the first-ever CEO of the Burnaby Housing Authority. Their discussion covers the Burnaby Housing Authority's mission to create affordable, non‑market housing and market rental housing in #Burnaby, explains how as a municipal corporation they act like a developer for public benefit, using innovative approaches to deliver housing faster and to help fill gaps in the local supply. As well as the impacts of the #BCbudget on housing delivery and affordability goals, the current state of the construction sector and what actually defines #affordablehousing.
Mike Hurley talks with Monika Verma, executive director of Dixon Transition Society. Their discussion covers the essential work Dixon Transition Society does in #Burnaby through emergency, transitional, and second-stage housing, along with counselling and outreach services; the importance of education and community collaboration in both prevention and response; the number of women being turned away due to limited shelter capacity and available housing; and addresses misconceptions about who is affected by gender-based violence.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with John McCarthy, vice president of McCarthy Properties, and Dr. Alex Butskiy, a physician at Burnaby Hospital. This is a special episode on the #BurnabyHospital redevelopment - and the deeply disappointing decision in the #BCBudget to “re-pace” this urgent and essential project. Their discussion covers the importance of Phase 2 and what it will deliver, the impact of delays and uncertainty on fundraising efforts led by John and other key community partners, the effect on staff like Alex, and what they are calling on the provincial government to do to ensure the project proceeds.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with Dr. Joy Johnson, president and vice‑chancellor of Simon Fraser University. Their discussion covers how universities, cities, and industry can collaborate to drive economic growth and #innovation, the importance of #diversity and creating opportunities for #students from all backgrounds, and how university and student safety priorities have evolved as SFU has grown into its own community on Burnaby Mountain. The episode also explores what attracts students and faculty to live and work in #Burnaby, and how the city and SFU have transformed together over the past decade
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with executive director of the Beedie Foundation, Cindy Beedie. Their discussion covers the vision behind YWCA Cindy Beedie Place and the seven-year journey to bring it to life in #Burnaby, the inspiration behind her three decades of philanthropy, and the family’s support for Simon Fraser University and British Columbia Institute of Technology. The episode also explores the realities and challenges of delivering #affordablehousing, the importance of partnership between #philanthropy and all orders of government, and what’s next for the Beedie Foundation.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with STEMCELL Technologies president and CEO Dr. Allen Eaves, an Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia recipient and R.M. Taylor Medal honouree. Their discussion covers how he and his wife built STEMCELL into Canada’s largest biotechnology company, his deep passion for advancing #cancerresearch, the potential for the #lifesciences sector in #Burnaby, and why our city is such an attractive place for businesses looking to either set-up or expand. If you find this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and sharing so more people in Burnaby can join the discussion.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with local hero Joanne Morgan, a longstanding volunteer with Burnaby's Citizen Support Services and Confederation Seniors Centre, where she also serves on the Board. Their discussion covers how we can best support our #seniors in #Burnaby, across public safety, accessibility, affordable housing and tackling issues such as isolation and cybercrime. If you find this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and sharing so more people in Burnaby can join the discussion.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with Chief Superintendent Bill Parmar, the new Officer in Charge of the Burnaby RCMP Detachment. Their discussion covers how policing is structured in #Burnaby and why that matters, what modern #CommunityPolicing looks like under Bill’s vision, the limits of #police authority regarding people who are unhoused, and just how safe is the City of Burnaby? If you find this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and sharing so more people in Burnaby can join the discussion.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks with the current Kushiro Cup winners - the award for Burnaby’s Outstanding Citizens - Henry Wakabayashi and Ken Shinozaki. This discussion will cover everything from growing up in internment camps, to their incredibly successful careers in business, philanthropy, collaboration, community leadership, how we support our seniors, and celebrating the broader #JapaneseCanadian heritage in #Burnaby.
Mayor Mike Hurley talks homelessness and community safety with Carol-Ann Flanagan, the Programme Co-Ordinator of the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby (the Burnaby Board of Trade's 2025 Not-For-Profit Organization of the Year). Carol-Ann is someone who has spent years on the front lines working with vulnerable residents and helping coordinate essential services across the City. Earlier this year she was awarded the King Charles III's Coronation Medal for her inspirational work. They discuss how access to shelter, services, and support, in locations that are suitable and sustainable, means both vulnerable residents and neighbourhoods are much safer. https://campsite.bio/mayorofburnaby
In this first episode of Voices of Burnaby, Mayor Mike Hurley sits down with Andy Yan, Director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University and one of Canada’s leading voices on housing and urban planning. They discuss the impact of recent provincial zoning legislation, what thoughtful city planning should look like, the responsibilities of each level of government, how infrastructure keeps pace with growth, and why true affordability requires more than simply adding density. If you find this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and sharing so more people in Burnaby can join the discussion.
