It was founded in 1955 by Alan Emmott and Eileen Dailly.

[2] The BCA is the official municipal affiliate of the BC NDP in Burnaby, and membership in the BCA requires membership in the BC NDP as a prerequisite.

In October 2018 the BCA won 7 of 8 seats in the city council 2018 municipal election but the BCA incumbent Derek Corrigan lost the mayoral race to independent Mike Hurley.

[3] On February 5, 2020 three councillors resigned from the BCA over housing policy disagreements and other party issues.

[4] In the 2021 by-election, following the deaths of two city councillors, the BCA won one of the two seats up for election.