Best of Burnaby 2024

inBurnaby

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Now in its 27th year, the Best of Burnaby awards puts a spotlight on the city’s top businesses and services, paying tribute to organizations that have gone out of their way to make their mark.

Each year, the Burnaby NOW encourages readers to vote for their favourite businesses, events, nonprofits, people and places.

The results of our balloting, taken from thousands of votes in more than 100 categories, show the well-earned esteem earned by local businesses, people, places and a ractions through top-tier products and customer service, and a

Burnaby residents salute the city’s BEST!

strong commitment to stand out from the crowd.

We’re proud to play a part in acknowledging the outstanding achievers in our community, and hope you will keep the Best of Burnaby list and refer to it o en over the coming year. Not only does it make an excellent guide to what the city has to offer, but also helps local businesses stay strong and sustainable.

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Best of Burnaby, and also to everyone who participated.

Lara Graham Publisher / Burnaby NOW

Congratulations to Amy Hui, the lucky winner of a $500 gi card to Metropolis at Metrotown!

BURNABY’S BEST eats

BREAKFAST

◆ OEB Breakfast

BRUNCH

◆ OEB Breakfast

BURGER

◆ White Spot

BUSINESS LUNCH

◆ Cactus Club

CASUAL FARE

◆ Cactus Club

CATERER

◆ Len’s Catering

CHINESE FAST FOOD

◆ Double One

Chinese Restaurant

FAMILY RESTAURANT

◆ White Spot

FINE DINING

◆ Hart House

FISH & CHIPS

◆ Cockney Kings

FUSION

◆ Myst Asian Fusion

GREEK

◆ Sfinaki Greek Taverna

HAPPY HOUR

◆ Earls - Brentwood

IT’SLIKEWINNING ANOSCAR 4YEARSINAROW.

NowreadersvoteCraftsmanBurnaby’sbestagain!

BeingvotedthebestcollisionrepairchaininBurnabyfor fourstraightyearsisnotonlyanincrediblehonour.It’s alsoproofthatourcustomer- rstapproachofourfamily-run businessiswinninghearts–andatall43CraftsmanCollision locationsacrossBCandWesternCanada.Consideringour manyotherpluses–includingathoroughpost-repairdetailing andafulllifetimeguarantee–you’llwantto ndoutfor yourselfwhatthousandsofhappyCraftsmancustomerssince 1977havealreadydiscovered. Thepeopleareneverwrong.

Len’s Catering

No challenge is too big for Len’s Catering – buffet, breakfast or brunch.

The Burnaby business has catered more than 30,000 events, stuffing the mouths of Metro Vancouver residents with delicious, high-quality eats for more than half a century.

This includes weddings, corporate gatherings, dinner parties, cocktail mingles and even outdoor barbecues.

“We understand that planning an event can be overwhelming, which is why we offer a complete range of available services to help you organize your event,” Len’s Catering’s website reads.

“From the initial consultation to the final cleanup, our team of professionals will handle every detail, so you can sit back and enjoy your event.”

In fact, Len’s Catering became so popular over the years that it had to move to a larger facility in the 2000s to meet the demand, and merge with Chef’s Catering and Café in 2018 to keep up with the competition.

And the decisions have worked in Len’s favour, earning the title of best catering company for the Best of Burnaby 2024 in

the “Best Eats” category.

One of the business’ goals is to be as detailed as possible, especially in the quality of food and drinks.

Len’s menu includes assorted appetizers, like fontina riso o balls and mini quiches; buffets with slow roasted beef and lemon grass chicken; canapes like Yukon gold chips and pulled pork sliders; and full holiday dinners with turkey, stuffing and, best of all, cranberry sauce.

“At our catering company, we pride ourselves on using only the freshest ingredients and B.C. products wherever possible, ensuring that every meal is a topquality masterpiece,” Len’s Catering states.

BURNABY’SBEST THAIRESTAURANT

CHADTHAI

“We offer a variety of menus to choose from, each designed to meet your specific requirements. Alternatively, our highly skilled Chef Pamela Sigurdson can help create a bespoke menu for your event.”

Len’s Catering also operates Chef’s Café at its 4191 McConnell Dr. location – just north of Burnaby Lake – for those looking to satisfy any cravings throughout the day.

You can visit Len’s Catering’s website, as well as its Facebook and Instagram pages, for more information. ◆

Len’s Catering prepares a buffet for a large public gathering.

CATERING/FACEBOOK

INDIAN

◆ Saffron Indian Cuisine

ITALIAN

◆ Anton’s

KOREAN

◆ Sooda Korean BBQ

MEXICAN

◆ La Tacqueria

NEIGHBOURHOOD PUB

◆ Admiral Pub & Grill

NEW RESTAURANT (UNDER 1 YEAR)

◆ Pho Super Bowl

PATIO

◆ Earls - Brentwood

PHO/VIETNAMESE

◆ Viet Noodle Guy

PIZZA

◆ Hellcrust Pizza

POKE

◆ Steve’s Poke Bar

SANDWICH

◆ Subway

STEAK

◆ The Keg Steakhouse & Bar

SUSHI

◆ Osaka Sushi

Chad Thai VIETNAMESE

Viet Noodle Guy

Mintara on Burnaby Mountain WINGS

WINGS Burnaby

Body Energy Club

FUN PLACE FOR KIDS

◆ Burnaby Village Museum

LIVE MUSIC VENUE

◆ Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

MUNICIPAL POLITICIAN

◆ Mike Hurley, Burnaby Mayor

OUTDOOR CONCERT

◆ Symphony in the Park

PLACE TO SPEND A RAINY DAY

◆ Metropolis at Metrotown

PROVINCIAL OR FEDERAL POLITICIAN

◆ Terry Beech, MP

BURNABY’S BEST services

ACCOUNTANT

◆ Kustner & Associates

BANK

◆ TD Canada Trust

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

◆ Simon Fraser University

CREDIT UNION

◆ Vancity

DAYCARE

◆ Beehouse Montessori

DOGGY DAYCARE

◆ Metro Dogs Daycare & Grooming

DRY CLEANER

◆ Money’s Dry Cleaning

ELECTRICIAN

◆ Mott Electric

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

◆ Hibernia Financial Group

FUNERAL SERVICES

◆ Bell & Burnaby Funeral Chapel

HEARING CENTRE

◆ Acoustica Hearing

HOTEL

◆ Executive Inn

HVAC

◆ BCRC Heating & Cooling

INDEPENDENT LIVING

◆ Seton Villa

IN-HOME CARE

◆ Home Instead

INSURANCE AGENCY

◆ Waypoint Insurance

INTERIOR DESIGN

◆ Accentrix Design

LANDSCAPING

◆ Para Space Landscaping

LAW FIRM

◆ Cobbett & Cotton Law Corporation

MORTGAGE

◆ Anna Yeung - CIBC

MONTESSORI SCHOOL

◆ Burnaby Montessori

MOVING COMPANY

◆ Secure Moving

MUSIC STUDIO

◆ Mozart School of Music

ORTHOTICS

◆ Total Therapy

PET GROOMING

◆ Metro Dogs Daycare & Grooming

PLUMBING

◆ Milani Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning

PRESCHOOL

◆ Brentwood Preschool

PRIVATE SCHOOL

◆ St. Helen’s

REAL ESTATE AGENCY

◆ Oakwyn Realty Northwest

REALTOR

◆ Lorenzo Daminato, Rennie

RETIREMENT RESIDENCE

◆ Seton Villa

ROOFING COMPANY

◆ Canuck Roofing

SHOE REPAIR

◆ Gam Shoes & Repair

TRAVEL AGENCY ◆ Marlin Travel

VETERINARY CINIC

◆ Hastings Veterinary Hospital

BURNABY’S BEST on wheels

AUTO BODY

◆ Cra sman Collision

AUTO DEALERSHIP (NEW)

◆ Carter Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC

AUTO DEALERSHIP (USED)

◆ Carter Chevrolet

Cadillac Buick GMC

AUTO PARTS

◆ Lordco

AUTO SERVICE & REPAIR

◆ Budget Brake & Muffler Auto Centres

BIKE REPAIR

◆ Jubilee Cycle

BIKE STORE

◆ Jubilee Cycle

CAR WASH

◆ Shine Auto Wash

DRIVING SCHOOL

◆ TD Driving School

TIRES

◆ Kal Tire

Thank you to all communitymemberswho votedand recognized S t.Helen’s Schoolin the excellence ofeducation.

BURNABY’S

BEST health &

ACUPUNCTURE

◆ Trinity Physiotherapy, Sport & Wellness

CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

◆ Total Therapy

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

◆ Dr. Neeta PopatBurnaby Dental Centre

DANCE STUDIO

◆ World Dance Co

DENTAL CLINIC

◆ Eagle Creek Dental Centre

DENTURE CLINIC

◆ North Burnaby Denture Clinic

FITNESS CLUB

◆ Performance Institute

GYM

◆ Performance Institute

HAIR SALON

◆ Pillars Salon & Spa

HAIR STYLIST

◆ Wendy Lee Dente - Planet Hair

Burnaby’sBEST Landscaping Company

MintarafeaturesagrandvenuewithstunningviewsoftheBurrardInlet,IndianArmand theNorthShoreMountains.Mintarahascateringpackagesthatareperfectforholiday celebrations,corporateevents,dreamweddingsandmore. Letusmakeyournexteventonetoremember.

Mintara

It’s no secret that Burnaby hosts a multitude of vistas that showcase city skylines, the ocean, mountains and urban forests.

But there is a spot where local residents, and visitors navigating Metro Vancouver’s dining scene, can get all of the above in a single frame – or even a 360-degree panorama on their smartphone.

Mintara atop Burnaby Mountain has the best view of any other restaurant in the city, according to voters in the Best of Burnaby 2024.

The site, located at 100 Centennial Way, brings thousands of people to check out its “verdant” views, especially in the warmer seasons.

The business consists of giant windows facing west, north and south where diners can see the North Shore Mountains, the Burrard Inlet, downtown Vancouver and, of course, Metrotown.

And Mintara has big plans in the works to expand its elegant se ing.

City council recently approved a new 2,000 sq. . patio for the restaurant, set to be built

!EIZARG !EIZARG

Rendering of Mintara’s new 2,000 sq. . allseasons patio, set to open in December 2024.

and finished by the end of the year to the tune of $2.63 million.

The space would make room for 50 more guests in addition to 120 seats available inside.

The patio will be equipped with “fully operable glass panels” for patrons to experience every season Mother Nature brings.

As well, Mintara’s upgrade will include a full bar and barbecue, turning the extension into “an ideal venue for weddings and other significant events,” according to Bob Farahani, Burnaby’s director of project

management in the city’s parks department. Mintara is owned by the City of Burnaby when it was acquired in 2019.

The site includes the Playground of the Gods sculpture – a gi from Burnaby’s sister city of Kushiro, Japan, in 1990 – which embodies Gods coming to Earth as animals to live with the people.

For more information, you can visit Mintara’s page on Food Burnaby’s website. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twi er). ◆

CITY OF BURNABY

LASER

◆

MANI/PEDI

◆ Vinpearl (Viet Nails & Spa) MARTIAL

◆ Master Gee’s Black

◆ Trinity Physiotherapy, Sport & Wellness

◆ Kensington Medical Clinic

NAIL SALON

◆ Koko Nail and Lash

NATUROPATHIC CLINIC

◆ Total Therapy

OPTOMETRY

◆ Willingdon Heights Eyecare

PHARMACY

◆ Shoppers Drug Mart

PHYSIOTHERAPY, MASSAGE & REHABILITATION

◆ Trinity Physiotherapy, Sport & Wellness

SPA/AESTHETICS

◆ Trinity Salon & Spa

SPORTS FACILITY

◆ Christine Sinclair Community Centre

TANNING

◆ Glaze Tanning Studio

YOGA STUDIO

◆ Heights Yoga & Wellness

Valley Bakery

Everyone deserves to treat themselves to something sweet.

Whether it’s during a celebration, like a birthday or wedding, or just a regular Friday night a er a hard week’s work.

Regardless of occasion, a Burnaby bakery has been cra ing mouth-watering pastries of all shapes and sizes for nearly 70 years and continues to be the go-to goodies spot.

Valley Bakery, located in the “heart of Burnaby” (4058 Hastings St.), has won the hearts of voters once more in two Best of Burnaby 2024 sweets and treats honours.

The business is the best bakery, but it’s also the best place to order specialty cakes.

Using locally-sourced ingredients, Valley Bakery has developed its strong reputation for making eye-popping bu ercream cakes.

But above all, Valley states its priority is to deliver “warmth and goodness” for all.

“Valley Bakery has been a cherished local institution for generations, dedicated to the art of baking,” the bakery’s website adds.

“With a passion for quality and tradition, we

wake up early each morning to cra fresh, mouthwatering breads, delectable pastries, and irresistible cakes that have delighted the taste buds of our community for decades.”

Valley Bakery has been a European-style baked goods and cakes establishment in Burnaby since 1957.

Other popular staples you can purchase over

the counter include breads, buns, croissants, cupcakes, bisco i and a wide assortment of cookies.

For more information, you can visit the company’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages. ◆

Valley Bakery in Burnaby specializes in scrumptious pastries, like croissants.

VALLEY BAKERY

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TD Driving School

One of life’s greatest passages is earning that wallet-sized card with your own face staring back at you. And while it may not be the most fla ering of pictures, it reminds us all, regardless of age, skill or background, that the accomplishment comes with a tremendous responsibility.

TD Driving School has hit the road with countless prospective Burnaby drivers for more than 20 years, entrusting the community with safe, hands-on training for this critical, privileged stage in life.

The local business has been voted the top driving school for the Best of Burnaby 2024 in the “Best On Wheels” category.

A key part of TD Driving’s success is providing flexibility for its students, which includes an option to use a company vehicle for the ICBC road test.

According to the business, this gives the driver confidence and comfortability from the first ignition and complete red-light

stop, to going 30 km/h in a school zone and the dreaded, but all-important, parallel parking.

“We cover all the important rules, regulations, and road test requirements, making sure that our students are fully prepared and confident on the road,” TD Driving School’s mission statement reads.

“We also offer flexible payment options to make our classes more accessible for everyone. Our focus is on providing quality education and training at an affordable price.”

TD Driving School instructors, which are ICBC certified, are also available as early as 7 a.m. seven days a week – another unique offering the Burnaby business implements in keeping up with the busyness of today’s world.

TD Driving is a specialized school

for class 5 and 7 British Columbia driver’s licenses.

It also offers a pair of pickup locations for Burnaby students: the ICBC Lougheed branch near Gilmore SkyTrain Station in Willingdon Heights (2186 Gilmore Ave.) and Pa erson SkyTrain Station in Metrotown (5932 Pa erson Ave.).

For more information about TD Driving school, you can visit its website (tddrivingschool.com), or follow them on Facebook.

TD Driving School has helped thousands of Burnaby residents learn the safety, preparedness and responsibility of hi ing the local roads.

TD DRIVING SCHOOL

FOOD ◆ Whole Foods OPTICAL/EYEWEAR STORE

◆ Integra Eyecare Centre

PAINT STORE

◆ Benjamin Moore

PET STORE

◆ Van Pet

PRODUCE MARKET

◆ Red Apple Market

SEAFOOD/FISH MARKET

◆ Fisherman’s Market

SHOPPING CENTRE (INDOOR)

◆ Metropolis at Metrotown

SHOPPING CENTRE (OUTDOOR)

◆ The Amazing Brentwood

SHOE STORE

◆ Fit First Footwear

TILE STORE

◆ Centanni Tile

VINTAGE & THRIFT STORE

◆ Salvation Army

VITAMIN STORE

◆ Body Energy Club

WINDOW COVERINGS

◆ Monarch Floor & Window Coverings

WOMEN’S FASHION BOUTIQUE

◆ Laura BURNABY’S

◆ Earls Brentwood

WE’REPROUD TO SERVE ourcommunitywithpersonal, compassionatecare.AsyourDignityMemorial® professionals, we’rededicatedtohelpingfamiliescreate auniqueand meaningfulmemorialthattrulycelebratesthelifeitrepresents.

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