It was almost four decades ago, on Lord Kirshna’s appearance day in 1983, that we officially opened our present temple on Marine Drive in Burnaby. In a grand celebration, a then record number of 600 to 700 guests attended.

The opening of this new temple, however, was not the beginning of the Hare Krishna movement in Burnaby. In fact it was as early as 1967, less than a year after the ISKCON Hare Krishna movement was founded on the lower east side of New York city in July of 1966, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, that he first started corresponding with a Mr. S.B. Renovich of Burnaby.  

On June 9th, 1967, Srila Prabhupada wrote to Mr. Renovich, “I wish to open a similar branch in Vancouver, with your cooperation”. Although nothing solid developed, at that time, Srila Prabhupada's merciful glance had now fallen on Vancouver.

In 1968 a young man (later to become Ananda Dasa) arriving and renting an apartment in Vancouver’s West End, received a letter from Srila Prabhupada on December 12th. “I have heard from Upendra that you have had some success in arranging for a temple in Vancouver. This is most encouraging news.” And again, on December 17th, “I am glad that you have already started a center in small scale and please try to improve it as far as possible.”

A short while later a small center in East Vancouver at 260 Raymur Street was established. It was here that Krishna Consciousness got a better foothold in Vancouver.

On December 15th, 1969, Srila Prabhupada again acknowledged the efforts of the few Vancouver devotees, “It is very much pleasing to know that Vancouver center is improving daily. Just make your center more established, and when you are prepared to install Deities in a nice place, certainly I shall go.”

When the devotees outgrew their humble center on Raymur Street. They moved to a large rented house on West 16th Avenue.  It was here, on August 17th, 1974, that Sri Radha Madana Mohan were installed. Srila Prabhupada sent a letter to the Temple President, Bahudak Dasa, “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your invitation for August 17th, 1974, to attend the installation of Radha Krishna in your temple. So, I will be glad to know how you have installed Them in your temple.” Photos were sent to Srila Prabhupada and on December 19th, 1974, he wrote, “The pictures of your newly installed Deities are very nice.  And you can name them Sri Radha-Madana Mohan.” Srila Prabhupada closed his earthly pastimes in November 1977 but his “vision” continued.  

In 1978, a large nine-acre property on Marine Drive in Burnaby was purchased and Sri Radha Madana Mohan took up Their new residence in a small shed transformed into a beautiful little temple. While holding all temple functions, morning programs, aratis, feasts and festivals in this little make shift temple, after just a few years the devotees outgrew the “shed” and turned their attention to an old Quonset building on the far side of the property. The building was used as a steel fabrication workshop by the previous property owner and had now lay abandoned.

So, in 1982, construction began to transform this Quonset workshop into a big temple. It was estimated that it could be built to last about twenty years or so. Working wholly as a labor of love the Quonset was amazingly transformed into a beautiful temple with ornate chandeliers, carved columns and arches, marble floors, stained glass windows, beautiful murals of Lord Krishna and marble floors.

As one honoured member of parliament guest said that special festival opening on September 1st, 1983, “this temple is truly the hidden gem of Burnaby.”

Although the building was estimated to last for twenty years, after all it was just a transformed workshop initially, it was thirty years later, that a major renovation would be necessary. 

So, in 2013 at an estimation of $500,000 for repairs and upgrading, it was concluded that the current temple should be preserved and upgraded for a few more years. Thus, work began. 

Solid progress was made over the next two plus years, and on Krishna’s appearance day September 2013, the 30th anniversary of the original temple opening in 1983, the temple re-opened.

The New Temple opened in 1983

The large main domes had been rebuilt, critical areas of the foundation restructured and the main water lines--that have been continuously leaking over some time--replaced. 

Drywall, stucco work and external painting were completed, and with the beautiful landscaped grounds, the newly rejuvenated temple had miraculously been preserved by the blessings of Sri Radha Madana Mohan and shone once again. 

But the intended shine was only a temporary intermediate short-term gloss. It is now really necessary to completely replace the Quonset temple for good. 

Just as in 1982 it was apparent that the original “shed” temple had become unsuitable for our needs, it is even more apparent that the dear “Quonset” temple has finally reached its end.

The building certainly served Their Lordships, and congregation well over the decades. It has hosted thousands of events over its thirty plus years including daily worship, festivals, feasts, dramas, seminars, and the list goes on. 

More now than ever with the present world’s chaotic tensions weighing upon us it is necessary to create an attractive spiritual oasis to give relief to the parched souls who are desperately seeking relief. 

The temple should be so attractive that everyone, regardless of race, colour or creed will feel comforted from the shelter of its multifaceted venues of cultural performances, artistic embellishments, sanctified vegetarian nourishment, spiritual enlightenment and all it sitting within a garden park oasis.

Let us be instruments to realize the vision of Srila Prabhupada, for his ISKCON Burnaby Complex.