McBurney Plaza

Named after Dr Albert McBurney Dr. McBurney was Langley’s second doctor. Born in Quebec in 1884, he earned his medical degree at McGill before moving west in 1911.  Albert and Olive, his wife, arrived in Fort Langley in 1914 where Dr. McBurney took over the practice of Dr. Marr as he served overseas. The McBurneys moved to Langley Prairie in 1919 after Dr. Marr had returned from overseas and practiced there. It was there, in the growing community of Langley Prairie, where tough times were often too often, that McBurney earned his reputation as a kind and caring doctor. He was known for never hesitating to provide care as he was always taking care of those who were unable to pay, and for making house calls to help those in need, to aid the sick, and to mend the injured no matter what the hour or the weather. He worked at Langley Memorial when it first opened, and also served as Langley’s municipal medical health officer and coroner until he retired in 1950. He died the next year, a few days after suffering a stroke. Dr. McBurney was involved in the Masonic Lodge, the Aldergrove Elks Lodge, the Royal Canadian Legion, and Langley Prairie’s May Day event.  He was the creator of the Langley Amateur Athletic Association and president of the Langley Tennis Club.

Previously McBurney Lane was just a laneway dominated by delapetated trees, parking stalls and travel aisles. Now in heart of it all, in the centre of the lane,the new and the beautiful McBurney Plaza is a large wooden deck that cascades across the old lane providing a venue for staged performances with casual wooden bench seating for the crowds to sit and enjoy the entertainment, a coffee with a friend, or even a romantic late night stroll. Nestled right in the downtown core of Langley the Plaza emphasizes pedestrian safety by providing a clearly marked path connecting from the historic centre thru to Douglas Park's new amphitheatre and cenotaph. The linear space features arching benches, a unified paving system, a double row of Katsura trees with drought tolerant perennials and grasses. Coordinated with the relocation of 26 parking stalls from the lane to an adjacent street, the Lane is now a pedestrian-priority space and an improved venue for numerous events including the Arts Alive Festival and the Langley Good Times Cruise-In, one of the most popular mixed car shows in North America.