At Bl3nd Design, our work is grounded in clarity, structure, and strategic visual communication. We’re a Fraser Valley-based graphic design agency services company located in Abbotsford, and we often collaborate with clients and partners throughout the Lower Mainland. In the course of our regional work, we’ve observed how different cities approach creative infrastructure—and one city that increasingly stands out is Burnaby.
Recently, we were introduced to the depth of support Burnaby offers the film and screen-based production industries. With its streamlined permitting process, large-scale studio infrastructure, and visually diverse geography, Burnaby is playing a central role in shaping British Columbia’s creative economy. We found the details worth studying, and as neighbours, worth sharing.
This article offers a comprehensive overview of what Burnaby has built, what’s available to producers and creatives, and how this contributes to broader regional growth.
Geographic Position and Access
Burnaby is located in the geographic centre of Metro Vancouver. With direct highway and SkyTrain access, it connects efficiently to Vancouver, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and the broader Fraser Valley. Its location supports rapid crew movement, equipment transport, and a short travel radius for both rural and urban scenes. This makes it logistically favourable for production teams who need to shift between locations without adding complexity to the schedule.
Filming Locations Across the City
Burnaby has cultivated a wide-ranging selection of civic, natural, and historical locations that accommodate various genres and formats of production.
These include:
Banquet and event venues: Burnaby Lake Pavilion, Burnaby Mountain Clubhouse, Mintara atop Burnaby Mountain, Riverway Clubhouse
Cultural and historic sites: Alan Emmott Centre, Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby Art Gallery Barn Studio, Burnaby Village Museum, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
Libraries: Bob Prittie Metrotown Library, McGill Library, Tommy Douglas Library
Parks and outdoor filming areas: Barnet Marine Park, Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park, Burnaby Lake, Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, Capitol Hill, Central Park, Confederation Park, Deer Lake Park, Kensington Park, Robert Burnaby Park, Swangard Stadium
Recreation and community centres: Bonsor Recreation Complex, Christine Sinclair Community Centre, Edmonds Community Centre, Eileen Dailly Leisure Pool and Fitness Centre, Willingdon Community Centre
These locations offer different qualities—urban density, historical visuals, natural scenery, waterfronts, and civic interiors. Combined, they give location scouts a high degree of flexibility when planning shoots.
Film Studio Infrastructure in Burnaby
In terms of studio and technical infrastructure, Burnaby houses more than two-thirds of the studio space in Metro Vancouver. This includes large-scale sound stages, post-production facilities, and digital media resources.
Major studios include: Beresford Studios, Bridge Studios (Boundary, Griffiths, Lake City), Canadian Motion Picture Park (Main, CinePrep, MJA Studios), Eagle Creek Studios, Mammoth Studios
Studios under the MBS Group: Byrne Studios, Kingsland Studios, Lake City Studios, McConnell Stages, Northbrook, Riverbend, Winston Studios
Independent and specialized facilities: Norco Studios, Peacemaker Filmworks, RGA Film Studios, Versatile Media, William F. White Studios (Creekwood, Lakewood)
These studios are capable of supporting high-end series, international feature films, and large-scale commercial projects.
Digital Media and Animation
In addition to traditional film production, Burnaby also supports a growing digital media and animation sector.
Some of the digital and animation studios currently operating in the city include:
Animatrik Film Design, Arcana Studio, Gloo Studios Inc., Snowlight Studios Inc., The Meeds, Vertex Creations, Virtual Rendering – 3D Modeling
These facilities provide services for CGI, motion capture, visual effects, and interactive 3D experiences.
Neighbourhoods Used for Location Shoots
Burnaby’s diverse mix of neighbourhoods provides production designers with varied architectural styles and atmospheres.
Frequently used neighbourhoods include:
Ardingley-Sprott, Big Bend, Brentwood, Burnaby Heights, Burnaby Lake, Burnaby Mountain, Capitol Hill, Clinton-Glenwood, Edmonds, Garden Village, Government Road, Kingsway-Beresford, Lake City, Lochdale, Marlborough, Maywood, Morley-Buckingham, Parkcrest-Aubrey, Sperling-Broadway, Stride Avenue, Suncrest, West Central Valley, Willingdon Heights, Windsor
This range allows the city to serve as a stand-in for many geographic and historical locations worldwide.
Permitting and Administrative Structure
The City of Burnaby has developed a permitting system that prioritizes clarity and responsiveness. Standard production applications are $500 plus tax. Minimal impact applications are $250. Student film applications are $50. Daily on-location filming permits are $100 per day, with additional fees for traffic control ($247+), drone usage ($240), and permit modifications.
Damage deposits range from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the use of parks or buildings. Liability insurance requirements are clearly defined and must include $5 million in coverage with automobile insurance and municipal indemnification.
There is also a clean energy incentive that offers a 10% discount on daily filming permits for productions that qualify under sustainability guidelines.
Location Rental Pricing Examples
Many popular locations are priced starting at $1,500 per filming day and $600 per non-filming day. These include: Barnet Marine Park, Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park, Central Park, Confederation Park, Deer Lake Park, Kensington Park, Robert Burnaby Park, and the exterior grounds of the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.
City Hall is priced at $1,875 per filming day and $875 for non-filming use.
Burnaby Village Museum offers multiple rental configurations: single building or exterior from $1,250, street exterior from $2,500, full village from $3,750 per filming day.
Available Tax Incentives
Film productions in Burnaby may be eligible for a range of tax credit programs, including:
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC): 25% of qualified labour costs for Canadian-controlled companies
Federal PSTC: 16% for foreign or non-Canadian-controlled productions
Film Incentive BC: Up to 35% of labour costs for BC-controlled production companies
DAVE Tax Credit: 16% of labour costs for digital animation, visual effects, and post-production
Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit: 17.5% for eligible companies creating VR, AR, or mixed reality products
SR&ED (Scientific Research & Experimental Development): federal and provincial R&D tax incentives
Final Context and Observations
Burnaby’s role in the regional film industry is significant, both in scale and reliability. Productions rely on the city for both its physical locations and its administrative efficiency. The benefits are not limited to studios or producers; surrounding communities—including those in the Fraser Valley—contribute services, talent, and creative support. This includes tradespeople, technicians, designers, logistics providers, and more.
At Bl3nd Design, we support local businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region with visual communication, brand development, and design strategy. While we are not directly involved in film production, the health of the film industry impacts a wide range of local sectors, including ours.
The systems Burnaby has built—clear, accessible, and production-ready—serve as a useful model for other municipalities. For those in business, design, logistics, or property development, it’s worth understanding how local economies benefit when creative infrastructure is taken seriously.
More information about Burnaby’s filming guidelines, locations, and resources is available at → Burnaby.ca/Film 🎥
Download PDF – Burnaby Film Office Film Kit ⬇️
If you’re looking to communicate your own story more effectively—whether online, in print, or through visual branding—Bl3nd Design offers local insight with practical application. Let us know how we can help. ❤️
