If politicians are like family to the communities they serve, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan must be one proud papa.

This week, Maclean’s magazine named Burnaby the best-run city in Canada, followed by Saskatoon in second place, then Surrey and Vancouver. Centre-of-the-universe Toronto is ranked 10th, Calgary 11th and Montreal 21st.

It’s the national news magazine’s first annual best (and worst) run cities report, based on an analysis by the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies of municipal efficiency and effectiveness. The study looked at a comprehensive list of criteria, including fire services, road conditions, garbage collection, policing, public transit, and taxation levels. It also considered factors such as socio-economic status and population.

“Burnaby, B.C. is the model for the rest of Canada–a smooth-running, municipal machine to which other towns can aspire,” said a press release. “Lean, green and debt-free, the Vancouver suburb received top marks for environmental health, recreation, culture and economic development.”

When a NewsLeader reporter broke the good news to Corrigan, he was, momentarily, a man of few words: “Wow. Isn’t that cool?”

He said he’d been interviewed by the magazine and photos had been taken for it but he didn’t know where Burnaby placed among the 31 cities studied.

“It certainly is a big thrill. I can imagine how our staff are going to feel, and think about the volunteers, the hundreds of people that work with the city and how proud they’re going to be. That’s really, really great news for all the people in Burnaby.”

A major factor behind the city’s success, he said, is the fact its “vibrant committee system” includes regular citizens in its decision-making process.

“I think the first thing we do well is we include people.”

He gave kudos to Burnaby’s “excellent staff” and the continuity of its workforce. “There’s very little turnover so people are committed to the city and committed to the work they’re doing.”

That continuity also extends to city council, which for decades has been dominated by the New Democrat-affiliated, left-leaning Burnaby Citizens Association.

“So much of what is accomplished is accomplished through patient persistence. So we continually are having a longer-term view of our success and I think that kind of approach makes for a better city. You’re not making a decision for tomorrow, you’re making a decision that will have benefits years into the future.”

And last but not least, “We’re fiscally conservative and socially progressive, I think that’s a nice combination.”

Triple bottom line

It’s a combination that’s appreciated by businesses looking to locate in the city, said Burnaby Board of Trade president and CEO Darlene Gering.

“There are high standards which are very good that the city holds,” she said, referring to the types of designs or amenities it requires from developers.

Burnaby has a “triple bottom line of looking at the social, environmental and the economic implications. So when that’s actually explained to business, the benefits of that ... they understand it.”

Among the major reasons businesses move to Burnaby—which has fashioned itself into a hub for the high-tech, green technology and film industries—is the quality of life and opportunities for work-life balance that it offers, she said, noting that that’s a factor in a company’s ability to compete for global talent in those industries.

“The green space, they can go for a walk at lunch and see the trees and not be in the midst of concrete as if you were downtown,” she added.

And because the city is so well managed, business taxes are lower than in many other municipalities. The long-term planning practised by city hall also fits in with the long-term perspective of businesses who know there won’t be any major surprise tax hikes because the infrastructure is so well developed and maintained.

“It’s all about how can we minimize our risk,” Gering said of how businesses choose where to call home. “So when they see [an economic development] plan that says ‘oh, we know until 2020 this is what the city’s going to be focusing on,’ yes, there’s a lot of comfort in that.”

The Maclean’s ranking will only bolster the BBOT’s efforts.

“Oh absolutely. In terms of economic development we’ll certainly be bragging about this,” she said with a laugh.

Well-prepared city

Calling the No. 1 ranking “fantastic,” Diane Gillis was thrilled but not at all shocked.

As chair of the Kingsway-Imperial Neighbourhood Association, Gillis started gaining a greater appreciation for local government when she raised significant concerns with city council about crime and social issues in her neighbourhood.

Not only were her concerns heard, there were systems in place to deal with them and look for solutions, a process that included much input from the affected residents and business people.

In contrast, Gillis’ work as a health care project coordinator and family responsibilities have led her to work with other municipalities throughout the province.

She remembers coming home to Burnaby from such a meeting in another municipality, which she declined to name, “and saying ‘wow, we’re really fortunate.’ There weren’t those systems in place and there was ... a lot of scrambling.” Even when she pays her property taxes, she feels somebody’s looking out for her.

“It looks like we always have a long-range plan and not really reactive,” she explained. “Nobody likes increases but it’s unavoidable ... When I see some of the proposed tax hikes in other municipalities, we really are fortunate that there is that thoughtfulness, [deciding] we can’t just willy-nilly throw these double-digit increases at people.”

Gillis summed up Burnaby’s approach this way: “It’s all about everybody working together for the best results.”

For the record, at the bottom of Maclean’s list were Fredericton, NB, Kingston, Ont. and Charlottetown, PEI.

For more, visit macleans.ca/bestruncities.

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com