Karl
Alzner is “not, I repeat NOT (from) a small town”. He hails from
Burnaby, British Columbia, a city of approximately 200,000 people,
and the third most populated urban centre in British Columbia.
Burnaby is located on the “west coast” of Canada, “right beside
Vancouver" (click
here for a map). According to Karl, Burnaby is about an “11
hour drive (from Calgary), depending on how fast you drive.” Karl
was “born and raised in Burnaby” and has even lived in the same
house for his whole life. Although most of his extended family does
not live in Burnaby, “they live close by, (an) average of 20 minutes
away.” When he’s away from home Karl misses a lot of things about
his hometown, including his “family, school, friends and (his) old
hockey rink.”
Growing up in
Burnaby, Karl and the other kids had fun “play(ing) cops and
robbers, (going for) bike rides, and (playing) lots of basketball.”
But there are plenty of other ways to have fun in Burnaby. These
days, when he’s home, Karl enjoys “go(ing) to the mall” and when
asked
what he
suggested a tourist
see or do when visiting Burnaby Karl says to “definitely go to
Metrotown Centre; (there’s) lots to do there.” Metrotown is
the
central region of Burnaby, and encompasses a range of shopping and
recreational facilities, including Central Park, Swangard Stadium,
and of course, the mall. The mall in Metrotown is huge. Spanning over
three city blocks it is B.C.’s largest shopping complex, with over
500 shops and 22 cinemas. As Karl puts it: “It’s an unreal mall.”
Karl also suggests that Visitors to Burnaby could “go to downtown
Vancouver, since it’s so close” (only a quick “5 second drive”
away.)
If
you prefer the outdoors, the summers in Burnaby are “really sunny
and warm” (although, according to Karl, “fall and winter is almost
all rain”) and there are numerous ways to enjoy the nice weather.
Karl suggests “go(ing) to the beach in the summer”, where you can
enjoy some swimming, sailing, canoeing, or just taking some time to
relax. You could also visit the Burnaby Lake Regional Park, a
wildlife sanctuary with many walking trails, and an abundance rare
and interesting animal species. Another must-see attraction is the
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, a 1423 acre park comprised
of forested mountain slopes. The Conservation Area is also home to
the “Playground of the Gods”, a fascinating sculpture created by
Ainu sculptors, members of Japan’s aboriginal people, to symbolize
people, gods and creatures sharing the Earth in harmony.
This is just a
small sample of the sights and activities that Burnaby has to
offer. It is a dynamic community that combines city living with the
stunning mountain and ocean views of Canada’s west coast, and, most
importantly, "Burnaby is NOT, I repeat NOT a small town."
Thank-you for
reading about Karl Alzner’s hometown! If you would like to learn
more about Burnaby visit the
City of Burnaby website. Also, a big thanks to Karl for taking
the time to tell us about his hometown and to
www.burnaby.ca for providing the information and pictures used
in this article!
Back to
"My Hometown"
