2 records – page 1 of 1.

Dr. Sadhu Binning fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19279
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1984]
Collection/Fonds
Dr. Sadhu Binning fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
2 photographs : col.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two photographs of actors from Vancouver Sath performing in the play "Maluka" at Sexsmith Elementary School.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Dr. Sadhu Binning fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
2 photographs : col.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two photographs of actors from Vancouver Sath performing in the play "Maluka" at Sexsmith Elementary School.
History
Dr. Sadhu Binning was born on May 10, 1947 to mother Gurmej Kaur and father Jeet Singh Binning. Due to lack of proper records management in India at the time of his birth, it is believed that he was actually born sometime in December of 1947. He grew up alongside two brothers and one sister in a village located in Kapurthala, Punjab. Dr. Binning attended secondary school in the nearby city of Phagwara, Punjab although he did not complete his education here. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed reading both Punjabi and Hindi novels and learned how to read Urdu as well. Dr. Binning’s uncle, Dhana Singh immigrated to Canada in 1933 and returned to India in 1953. When Dhana Singh returned to Canada in 1957, he sponsored Dr. Binning’s father, Jeet Singh Binning to immigrate. Dhana Singh co-owned a few saw mills in British Columbia and also worked in the truck driving industry. Dr. Binning remembers that some people who had lived in Canada would visit their village and that they appeared to be strong and healthy and looked happy. He also noticed that they would eat meat, so whenever they would visit there would be meat available. In 1967, when he was nineteen and a half years old, Dr. Binning immigrated Canada to join his father. He recalls his father and uncle and a friend arriving at the airport to pick him up. During his first few days, Dr. Binning made the decision to remove his turban and beard upon receiving advice from his uncle. Dr. Binning first obtained work on a farm in Abbotsford, working alongside his mother. While working, Dr. Binning also attended English classes in Vancouver. Dr. Binning’s Uncle Dhana Singh worked in a Vancouver saw mill and tried to help find work for his nephew but was unsuccessful. Dr. Binning soon found work at a saw mill in Avola and worked there until the end of the summer until a friend helped find him work in a saw mill in North Vancouver. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with friends. In 1970, Dr. Binning left the saw mill after obtaining a job at the post office. The post office offered lower wages than working at the mill but Dr. Binning believed that he would become more educated working here. While working as a postman, Dr. Binning recalls facing a lot of discrimination and racism and was often referred to as a ‘Paki’ multiple times a day. In 1973, Dr. Binning married Jagish Sihota. Sadhu and Jagdish originated from nearby villages in India and met each other in Canada. Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish worked at the Royal Bank of Canada for thirty years until her retirement. While working, she also looked after the household and their son and daughter. Jagdish also handwrote a magazine, “Watno Dur’ (English translation: ‘away from homeland’) which was distributed in the community. In 1976, Dr. Binning became the editor of the magazine and the name was later changed to “Watan’ as they had accepted their new homeland of Canada. While working at the post office, Dr. Binning also attended night school starting in eighth grade. After receiving his high school diploma, he was accepted to Simon Fraser University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology and in 1986 he obtained a Masters degree from Simon Fraser University. While attending university, Dr. Binning was very active within the community and wanted to work to improve society. He first thought that he would return to India to contribute and improve rights in his homeland but upon seeing the prevalence of the movements in Canada, he realized that work needed to be done here too. In 1983, Dr. Binning became a founding member and contributor to a theatrical collective known as “Vancouver Sath”. The theatrical group produced plays that represented societal issues and were invited to perform at multiple conferences throughout British Columbia and Canada. The group focused and acknowledged the many issues in Punjab and in Canada. One of the plays that the group produced focused on the exploitation of Punjabi women who worked on farms in Canada. Dr. Binning continued to be involved as an integral member of Vancouver Sath until 1995. Over the years, Dr. Binning has strongly lobbied for Punjabi language education and between 1988 and 2008 he worked as Punjabi instructor at the University of British Columbia. He first worked as a teaching assistant at UBC under Dr. Harjot Oberoi and due to low wages, he simultaneously worked at the Post Office. In 2019, Dr. Binning received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UBC in recognition of his work. Since 1973, Dr. Binning has lived in Burnaby and has resided in the same home that he and his wife purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips.
Creator
Binning, Dr. Sadhu
Accession Code
BV023.7
Date
[1984]
Media Type
Photograph
Related Material
See also artifacts descriptions for related materials re: Vancouver Sath and Watan magazine: BV023.7.1 to BV023.7.16
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Earl and Adell Philips family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18927
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1939-1969
Collection/Fonds
Earl and Adell Philips family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
22 photographs + 2 p. of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of Earl Gene and Adell Philips and family along with realestate listing slips for homes on Barker Avenue and Spruce Street in Burnaby.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Earl and Adell Philips family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
22 photographs + 2 p. of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of Earl Gene and Adell Philips and family along with realestate listing slips for homes on Barker Avenue and Spruce Street in Burnaby.
History
Earl Gene Philips (1915-1968) was born, Eugene William Phillips in Kamloops, British Columbia and Adell Philips (1915-2022) was born, Lilian Odell Greenwood in Jaffray, British Columbia. The couple met at Mac & Mac Hardware in New Westminster where Earl was working as a salesman and Adell was working as a secretary and bookkeeper. Earl and Adell were married on May 15, 1942 in New Westminster. The couple lived briefly in Mission while Earl was working for the Mackie Brothers and returned to New Westminster where they lived on Queens Avenue while Earl worked for the Nelson Brothers Fisheries. In 1943, their first child, Cory (Linda Anne Phillips) was born followed by; Lorayne (Donna Elaine Phillips) in 1944 and Judith (Diane Elizabeth Phillips) in 1949. In 1949, the family moved to 5877 Barker Avenue, Burnaby and Adell worked for MacDonald Realty as a legal secretary. In 1952, Earl became involved in numerology and changed his name from Eugene William Phillips to Earl Gene Philips (with one “l”). The names of his wife and children were also changed from; Lilian Odell Phillips to Adell Philips, Linda Anne Phillips to Cory Philips, Donna Elaine Phillips to Lorayne Philips and Diane Elizabeth Phillips to Judith Philips. In 1955, their fourth child Lea Philips was born. All four children attended schools in Burnaby including; Nelson Elementary, Kingsway West School, Suncrest Elementary School, Maywood Elementary School, Burnaby South High School, Moscrop Junior High School, Burnaby Central Secondary School and BCIT. In 1969, following the death of Earl (in 1968), Adell and her son, Lea moved from their home on Barker Avenue to a house located at 4085 Spruce Street. Lea lived with his mother Adell until 1978 when he was married. Adell continued to live on Spruce Street until 2021 when she moved to a care home at the age of 106. Adell died in 2022, just 3 weeks shy of her 107th birthday.
Creator
Philips, Adell Greenwood
Philips, Earl Gene
Accession Code
BV022.11
Date
1939-1969
Media Type
Photograph
Textual Record
Arrangement
Family records within fonds were compiled and arranged by Lea, Cora and Judith Philips and arranged and described at item level in the order in which they were donated to Burnaby Village Museum.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail