Burnaby Lake might seem like just another city park at first glance, but it is actually very rich in history. Long before roads and suburbs showed up, this area was cared for by the Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam peoples. They used the lake and surrounding wetlands to fish, gather plants, and live in rhythm with the seasons. It was managed and respected back then until the late 1800s, where things started changing fast. Settlers drained parts of the lake, built sawmills, and brought in invasive plants like blackberry bushes that still grow wild today. The area went from a vital wetland to a space squeezed between highways and housing.

Thankfully, people started realizing what was at stake. In the 1970s, Burnaby Lake was protected as a nature park. Since then, the city and local volunteers have worked hard to restore salmon habitats, clear out invasives, and bring back native plants. You’ll still find trails, boardwalks, and tons of birds here. It’s a mix of nature and people figuring out how to coexist. For me, it is home.