Compare two cities: Burnaby and Richmond

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Burnaby Culture & History
                           
                                                                        Playground of the Gods, Picture BC photo



Burnaby (pop. 205,000) is British Columbia's third-largest municipality after Vancouver and Surrey, and its history is one of constant growth and diversity. Visit a number of cultural and heritage sites and museums that reflect the diversity of this city.

Burnaby BeginningsThe area, bounded by Burrard Inlet to the north and the Fraser River to the south, was originally inhabited by local First Nations, such as the Musqueam and Tseil-Watuth. The Royal Engineers of the Columbia Detachment of the British Army were deployed to British Columbia in 1858, coinciding with the start of the Gold Rush, and the area was surveyed in 1859 by Robert Burnaby, after whom Burnaby and Burnaby Lake were named. What's now Central Park was used as a naval reserve, where timbers were cut for British warships.
Burnaby remained mostly rural, best-known for its berry and fruit farms, until the 1890s. The catalyst for early urbanization was the 1891 opening of the Central Park interurban tram line between Vancouver and New Westminster, which passed through Burnaby. With new homes and businesses emerging near stations and along the tracks, local settlers applied for incorporation as the municipality of Burnaby, which was granted in 1892.

Industry and GrowthLogging was a major industry in the early days, but Burnaby evolved into a working-class suburb in the opening decades of the 20th century. The Great Depression saw Burnaby wind up in bankruptcy in the 1930s. However, after World War II, it recovered.
Industrial growth from the late 1940s onward focused on areas like fish processing plants, steel-making, and trucks. Residential housing continued to expand as well.

Modern Burnaby HistoryWhen Simon Fraser University (SFU) was constructed atop Burnaby Mountain in 1965, featuring the modern architecture of Arthur Erickson, Burnaby gained increased international prestige. Another educational milestone was the 1960 establishment of what became the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), which spurred technology firms to set up shop in Burnaby. Film studios, telecom giants, and video game designers would follow suit.
The construction of the SkyTrain rapid transit link in 1986 for the World's Fair in Vancouver made Burnaby an increasingly popular and accessible destination. And building the Metrotown shopping complex in the late 1980s proved to be a magnet for visitors and locals alike.

Burnaby History, Museums and ToursTo get a feel for life in 1920s Burnaby, history buffs can visit the Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Ave.), an outdoor collection of heritage and replica buildings.
The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and Burnaby Art Gallery often feature works of historical interest by local artists or visit the SFU Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, which focuses heavily on artifacts from the Northwest Coast aboriginal peoples who first inhabited this region.

Learn more about Burnaby's local museums.
In nearby Deer Lake Park, take a 45-minute self-guided walking tour to learn more about heritage mansions, cottages, and gardens. Download the tour from the City of Burnaby's official web site, or pick it up as a brochure from the City Planning Department (604-294-4700).

Festivals and EventsBurnaby also celebrates its culture and history with different festivals. Check out the annual European Festival (end of May), the Hats Off Day Parade in the Italian-heavy Heights neighbourhood on Hastings Street (June), or the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival in Deer Lake Park (August).
To learn more about Burnaby's dynamic history, check out the Heritage Burnaby web site or visit Tourism Burnaby.

http://www.hellobc.com/burnaby/culture-history.aspx


Richmond Culture & History                                            

                                                                        Richmond farmland, Graham Osborne photo



Richmond has grown from a 19th-century agricultural community into a modern, multicultural city that was a venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Its culture and history truly stand out as distinctive among Metro Vancouver's municipalities.

Rural BeginningsFor thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers, the Coast Salish native people inhabited this area. The Musqueam band used what's now Richmond as a base for harvesting berries and catching salmon, setting up temporary camps or permanent residences on these 17 islands in the mouth of the Fraser River.
There are several theories about the origins of Richmond's name. According to the most popular account, Australian farmer Hugh McRoberts set up an estate on Sea Island in 1862 and named it after a place called "Richmond View" in his homeland. In 1863, Richmond's largest island was dubbed "Lulu Island" in a tribute to the visiting American actress Lulu Sweet.
Farming took off, with dairy, grain, vegetables, and berries emerging as staples. But although Richmond's flat terrain abounded with rich, fertile soil, much of it had to be cleared, drained, and dyked for protection from flooding. At last, in 1879, Richmond was incorporated as a municipality.

Fishing and Transportation Industries The 1870s saw salmon canning emerge as a major industry in the fishing village of Steveston in southwest Richmond. By the 1890's, nearly 50 canneries existed in Richmond, and fishers of Japanese, Chinese, native, and European heritage flooded into town. The boatbuilding industry thrived too. Many international ships docked in Steveston to load up on canned salmon. Among the fascinating history and heritage sites in Richmond, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site in Steveston reveals the city's canning history and is housed in an 1894-built waterfront facility that now serves as a museum.
Meanwhile, Richmond developed closer links with neighbouring communities. The first bridge to the mainland was constructed in 1889. The railway arrived in 1902, and an airport was built in 1931 on Sea Island, where it remains today as Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

Asian Immigration in RichmondWorld War II was a difficult time for Richmond, as many of its Japanese citizens were unjustly sent to internment camps. But after the war, the community rebounded, and more Asian immigrants came to Richmond, including large numbers from China and Hong Kong. In fact, today Richmond's population is 60 percent Asian, adding to its unique character with great dining and shopping venues.
From the 1960s onward, more and more of Richmond's farmland was converted to residential and retail developments to accommodate the growing population. Asian-themed shopping malls attracted consumers from throughout Metro Vancouver, and high-tech companies also set up shop in Richmond in the 1980s. By 1990, Richmond was incorporated as a city. Its citizens were recently recognized as having the longest average life span in Canada at 83.4 years.
Richmond's latest coup was being an official venue city for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The spectacular Richmond Oval was the venue for long track speed-skating.
To learn more about the people and places that make up Richmond's colourful history, check out the images and exhibits at the City of Richmond Archives. It's located at 7700 Minoru Gate, and hours for the Reference Room are 9am to 4:30pm, Monday through Thursday.
Or learn more about Richmond's Museums.

http://www.hellobc.com/richmond/culture-history.aspx