Organisers of the Lakeside Classic have made the finish-line prize more than a token: this year’s medal and wider event presentation are deliberately designed to reflect Burnaby Lake and to become a lasting memento for participants.
Design rooted in place
Daniel Simpson, founder of Kamino Running Co., said the creative direction began with the setting. The medal draws on the atmosphere of a summer evening at Burnaby Lake, using a cool summer sunset palette and wavy blue lines intended to represent the lake’s calm waters.
“The main direction with the medals and branding was promoting Burnaby’s beautiful Burnaby Lake,” Simpson said.
Simpson described the approach as deliberately restrained: clean lines and meaningful colours rather than cluttered logos or over-the-top graphics. The aim is for the medal to prompt memories of a specific day by the lake rather than end up forgotten in a drawer.
Experience beyond the medal
Kamino has framed the medal as one element of a broader participant experience. Simpson emphasised the chain of moments that make up race day — from registration to the finish-line photo — and how each piece contributes to what runners take home.
- Event branding and medal design linked to local scenery
- Race-day elements such as DJs and finish-line photography to encourage lingering
- Programming that includes a free Kids Run to draw families and community members
Simpson said organisers hope the combination of thoughtful design and an engaging event footprint will encourage participants to remember the day for years, not just for a few minutes after crossing the line.
Local implications
For Burnaby, events that foreground local assets like Burnaby Lake can strengthen civic identity and boost use of public green spaces. A medal designed to reflect the lake signals a priority on place-making: emphasising the specific landscape of the course rather than generic racing imagery.
| Element | Focus this year |
|---|---|
| Medal design | Wavy blue lines, cool sunset palette |
| Race-day atmosphere | DJs at finish, photography, family programming |
Whether the approach will increase long-term recognition of the Lakeside Classic among Burnaby residents will depend on turnout and how many participants choose to display the medal as a keepsake. For now, organisers are placing a clear bet on local scenery and on an experience that encourages people to stay after the race rather than leave immediately, reinforcing the event as a community occasion at Burnaby Lake.
