Tara Shushtarian

Over six years on the Environment Committee, I helped advance key climate and sustainability initiatives in Burnaby. I supported implementation of the Climate Action Framework, including “Quick Start” initiatives targeting a 45% reduction in community emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. I helped advance Burnaby’s voluntary adoption of the Zero Carbon Step Code, strengthening emissions standards for new construction. I also supported the Urban Forest Strategy plan outlying the canopy health of the City and using our forests to mitigate the urban heat island effect. I was part of the Edmond's Cohort of the Climate Action Fellowship and Urban Resilient Futures project. Our Capstone Project was on heat mitigation. Additionally, I voted on carbon pricing into municipal budget and project decisions.
The most rewarding and enjoyable aspect of being a climate activist is being part of numerous campaigns advancing climate resiliency and being in community with co climate health advocates. Be it for Sue BIg Oil, The FFNPT, promoting an Climate Emergency Plan, anti TMX rallies, hug the mountain and water ceremonies at the watchhouse on Burnaby Mountain. The Forest Grove community, ENGOs and SFU students have organised three town halls for fire safety and evacuation and disaster management over the past 3 years. We also held a massive rally at Cityhall in the past year over the signing of the NDA with TMX. The ultimate reverence and deep commitment has been with Indigenous leadership guiding us through all these campaigns, recognizing our natural heritage as sentient beings.

In Burnaby, we need to be climate-ready. Meaningful climate action means preparing for flooding, extreme heat and wildfire smoke while protecting the natural systems that make our communities safer and healthier.
I would work toward a minimum 20% tree canopy in every neighbourhood by 2040 and 40% city-wide by 2050, supported by annual large-scale tree planting on streets, in parks and on City land. Trees reduce the urban heat-island effect, cool neighbourhoods, improve air quality, manage stormwater and reduce heat-related illness while supporting physical and mental well-being.
Air-quality resilience must also be part of emergency preparedness. I would support better filtration, ventilation, cooling and clean-air spaces in community facilities, particularly during wildfire smoke and extreme heat. Homes and schools should become climate-ready through energy-efficient retrofits, heat pumps and geothermal energy, with solar and battery storage where appropriate. Cool roofs that deflect thermal heat from the sun.
I would protect Burnaby’s natural areas, including Burnaby Mountain, Deer Lake, Burnaby Lake and the Fraser Foreshore, while creating new parks and green spaces in underserved neighbourhoods. We should restore streams and creeks as living ecosystems and natural drainage infrastructure, including opportunities to daylight buried streams such as Silver Creek.
Climate resilience also means food security. I would support community gardens, urban agriculture and neighbourhood food hubs, strengthen access to community fridges, and reduce food waste by helping surplus food reach people who need it.
Finally, residents are essential environmental stewards. Burnaby currently has nine Streamkeepers; I would work toward gradually doubling that

Everyone in Burnaby deserves safe, accessible and affordable ways to get around whether by transit, walking, rolling or cycling. Reliable, frequent transit and a connected active-transportation network can make it easier to travel while reducing emissions.
I would establish a 2-metre minimum sidewalk standard, with wider sidewalks in town centres, and separate multi-use paths into accessible sidewalks and protected bike lanes to reduce conflicts between pedestrians, people rolling and cyclists.
We should redesign dangerous streets and intersections using proven, economical quick-build measures, including raised crossings, continuous sidewalks, protected cycle tracks, narrower vehicle lanes, improved sight lines, modal filters and lower speeds. Permanent improvements should be incorporated whenever roads are repaved or utilities are upgraded. I would establish a 30 km/h speed limit on neighbourhood streets and around schools, supported by better pedestrian-scale lighting.
Burnaby also needs a connected cycling network. I would ensure every home is within 500 metres of a high-comfort bikeway by 2040, develop a Main Cycle Network where cycling and rolling receive priority, and progressively convert major routes into protected, efficient express routes. Expanding e-bike share and accessible bike parking near commercial areas and community facilities would make cycling practical for more residents.
Our streets should also be places to gather. I would establish at least one year-round car-free street in each town centre, shaped with residents, businesses and local artists.
Finally, parking policy should be developed through an open public process that balances residents’ and businesses’ needs with limited public curb space. Parking free at Skytrain.

Being an avid transit rider as i don't drive, i see the gaps. Too often, buses are delayed by traffic or long waits at intersections. There are solutions.

I would work with TransLink to speed up buses by at least 20% during peak periods within two years through transit priority on all frequent routes. This means full signal priority, dedicated bus lanes and queue jumps on key corridors including Kingsway, Hastings, Edmonds, 6th Street, Canada Way, Willingdon, Imperial, Central Boulevard, Marine Drive, Kincaid and Barnet Highway. We should use road space efficiently to move the most people.

I would work with TransLink to reinvest savings from faster bus operations into more frequent and reliable service, ensuring riders benefit directly.

Every bus stop should be comfortable and accessible. I would ensure a bench and shelter at every bus stop by 2030, using simple, cost-effective designs that can be quickly installed at lower-use stops. Where appropriate, shelters could include trees and overhead vines. I would work with Translink for installation of washrooms at main skytrain stations for public comfort.

Transit must be affordable. I would push for a regional and provincial Low Income Transit (LIT) Pass. If one is not implemented within two years, I would work with TransLink to establish a Burnaby LIT Pass that other municipalities could join.

Finally, I would support north-south rapid transit, including improving the R2 RapidBus toward bus rapid transit between Metrotown, Brentwood, Burnaby Heights and the North Shore. Provide bike locker facilities at main stations.

Housing affordability, homelessness and climate change are connected.
I would triple purpose-built rental housing to 40,000 homes by 2050, with 20% of all housing as non-market rental and more than 30,000 publicly owned through the Burnaby Housing Authority, with strong accountability and oversight. A repeatable construction model would deliver 1,500+ new non-market and below-market rental homes annually, working with BC Housing, federal programs, non-profits, Community Land Trusts and Indigenous housing providers.
We must protect existing affordable rental homes from displacement. Flexible zoning for townhomes, multiplexes and low-rise apartments can create more family housing. Eliminating some minimum parking requirements for purpose-built rental can reduce construction costs and emissions while maintaining accessible, visitor, bicycle and loading requirements. Pre-approved and modular designs can speed delivery.
Housing stability means stronger renter protections during redevelopment, including a strengthened Renter’s Office and Tenant Assistance Policy. Early intervention for rent arrears, displacement, income loss, family violence, disability or health crises can prevent homelessness. People experiencing homelessness should have access to housing alongside health, mental-health, disability, employment, outreach and tenancy supports.Climate action should be built into housing. I would expand heat pumps, energy-efficient construction and low-carbon buildings while reducing reliance on natural gas. I would bring forward a Right to Cool bylaw requiring landlords to keep at least one living space in every rental unit at an average temperature of 26°C or lower between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM from April 1 to October 31. Establish a lending library for portable fans and air conditioners for seniors/ underpriviledged

Burnaby’s parks and green spaces do much more than provide places to relax and play. They are also essential infrastructure for managing rainwater, capturing carbon, supporting biodiversity and producing food.
We can expand nature-based storm water management by restoring wetlands, streams and riparian areas and incorporating rain gardens, bioswales, permeable surfaces and rainwater-retention landscapes into parks. These features can slow and absorb rainfall, reduce flooding and sedimentation, and help protect our waterways. New park designs should prioritize natural drainage and climate resilience from the beginning.
We will strengthen the role of trees and urban forests in capturing carbon, cooling neighbourhoods and improving air quality. We will protect mature trees wherever practicable, expand canopy toward our 20% citywide (in every neighbourhood) target by 2040, and prioritize planting in neighbourhoods with low canopy and high heat exposure. Native and climate-appropriate species can strengthen biodiversity and long-term resilience.
Parks can also contribute to local food security. We will expand community gardens, food-producing landscapes and opportunities for residents, schools and community organizations to grow food. Where appropriate, underused park spaces and public lands can support orchards, edible landscapes and community gardens, while maintaining recreational access and ecological functions.
The goal is to design parks as multifunctional infrastructure, places that store and filter rainwater, capture carbon, provide habitat, grow food, cool our communities and create opportunities for recreation and connection.
With these green oases we can prioritize investments that deliver multiple benefits and make Burnaby’s parks evolve into resilient infrastructures for the environment/climate adaptation.