Burnaby's top cop says there is a "buzz" of excitement among local Mounties and civilian staff about a new, $229-million Burnaby RCMP building that officially broke ground this week.
Dignitaries converged at the corner of Norland and Ledger avenues Tuesday afternoon for the ceremonial launch of construction on the project.
Once complete, the new three-storey, 129,000-square-foot detachment will replace the RCMP's existing facility at 6355 Deer Lake Ave., built in 1967and originally designed as a courthouse.
Mayor Mike Hurley called the replacement "long overdue."
"We all appreciate the integral role the Burnaby RCMP plays in our community ensuring our safety and our security, and we want to ensure that members of the RCMP are equipped with the tools and facilities they need so that they can perform their duties to the best of their abilities."
Chief Supt. Graham de la Gorgendiere, the officer in charge of the Burnaby RCMP, said there's a lot of history in the old building and a lot of amazing work has happened there, but shortcomings – from heating and air conditioning to a leaking roof and a lack of briefing rooms – have affected the "effectiveness and efficiency" of the RCMP's work.
"Policing's changed in the last 50-some-odd years since that building's been built," he told the NOW.
Besides new features that will help with policing work, de la Gorgendiere said he is also looking forward to the new detachment having a more "welcoming" entrance than the old building, with more natural light and more space for the public.
"This is for the community," he said. "It's a service we provide, and we want it to be effective in the community."
De la Gorgendiere said discussions about a new detachment date back to the 1990s without plans coming to fruition, so Tuesday's ground breaking was an exciting step for local Mounties and civilian staff working in the old building.
"People are excited," he said. "They're starting to believe this is going to happen, and events like today are just confirmation that mayor and council value the work that they do and it's important to the community."
The new facility will be built to "post-disaster standards," according to the city, meaning it has been designed to remain operational even after a major earthquake.
It will also be equipped with emergency power generators in the event of a power outage.
"These are important features that will help keep our community safe," Hurley said.
The project is expected to be complete in early 2028, according to the latest report to the city's financial management committee.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on X/Twitter @CorNaylor
Email [email protected]
