Narrow Results By
![Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_001.jpg?width=280)
Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19602
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pe…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewees: Ellen and Bill Schwartz Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: May 15, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:08:52 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph information: Bill and Ellen Schwartz.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pennsylvania the 1970s. Bill and Ellen explain how in the 1970s, they were discouraged about the current politics in the United States under the Nixon administration and how they were inspired by the “back to the land” ideals, rejecting materialism and wanting an alternative lifestyle. With these ideals in mind, they recall how in 1972 they and a few other friends decided to leave the United States, move to British Columbia with the goal of buying land in the Okanagan or Kootenay region and starting a new lifestyle for themselves. Bill and Ellen recollect how they purchased 20 acres of land in Galena Bay in the Kootenays and how they lived in the area off and on until the early 1980s. They describe how they cleared three acres of land, built a cabin, put in a garden, chicken coop and honey bees. With the challenges of the isolated location and no access to electricity they explain how they decided that they had to live elsewhere in order to make a living. Ellen talks about working as a special education teacher in Revelstoke and Slocan and how Bill obtained his teaching certificate while they lived in Nelson. Bill and Ellen describe themselves as environmentalists and of how they both became active Provincial environmentalists during the construction of the Revelstoke Dam. Bill talks about getting work with the “Energy Van” program talking about energy conservation, renewable energy and recycling. They explain how after their first child was born in 1980, they returned to Galena Bay for about a year and a half until Bill was offered a job with the Department of Energy Conservation which lead them to move to Vancouver. 16:48 – 22:46 Bill and Ellen describe their first few years of living in Vancouver and at University of British Columbia while Ellen completed her master’s degree in creative writing. During this time, they had their second child. They recall how in 1988 how they purchased a house in Burnaby, selecting to live in the Deer Lake neighbourhood. They talk about the benefits of the neighbourhood including; a French immersion school for their children, proximity to the trails around Deer Lake and having transit close by. 22:47 – 33:55 Bill and Ellen talk about their consulting business “Polestar Communications”. A Burnaby based communications consulting firm composed of three people, Ellen and Bill and colleague Richard Banner. They describe how their business got started and some of the projects that they’ve worked on including; BC Hydro’s Power Smart Program, financial literacy curriculum that was introduced in B.C. schools and reports for the Province of British Columbia. Ellen and Bill convey how Bill has been a very active member with the City of Burnaby Environment Committee, the Steering Committee to develop a sustainable environmental strategy for Burnaby, how he’s been awarded for his contributions in coaching youth sports and other areas in which they have both volunteered. 33:56 – 43:07 Ellen describes how she got started in writing educational resources about the environment and how since she completed grad school in 1984, she’s published nineteen books. Ellen conveys how her first book was published and sold to the Province of British Columbia as part of the B.C. educational curriculum on the environment. Ellen talks about some of the children’s books that she’s written and published with themes including; social justice, the labour movement and racism in sports. Ellen describes some of her books and the research that she’s done. 43:08 – 51:04 Ellen and Bill Schwartz reflect on what they like about living in Burnaby. They talk about the benefits of their neighbourhood including; performances at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival, the Burnaby Art Gallery and Deer Lake as well as having access to parks and community centres in Burnaby. 51:05-56:36 Bill and Ellen reflect on their involvement in the Jewish community, considering themselves non-secular Jews. Ellen talks about how they were involved with “Burquest” a Jewish Community Association and how they often observe some of the Jewish holidays including Hanukah and traditions including the Jewish coming of age ritual, bar mitzvah (masc.) and bat mistvah (fem.). Ellen mentions her involvement with the “Jone Betty Stuchner Oy Vey! Funniest Children’s book Award” where she acts a judge and her involvement with the Jewish Book festival and that she is a recipient of the Jewish Book award. 56:37 – 1:08:53 Bill and Ellen reflect on their 35 years living in Burnaby and how they’ve seen it change. They talk about the increased development and density in the city, how they are troubled by a lack of low income housing, the benefits and importance of public transportation and preservation of green space including Burnaby parks.
- History
- Interviewees' biographies: Ellen Schwartz was born in Washington, DC, (1950) but grew up in New Jersey. She attended the Universities of Chicago and Wisconsin before moving to a farm in Pennsylvania, where she met her future husband Bill Schwartz. Bill Schwartz grew up in and around Philadelphia (b. 1947), and attended Pennsylvania State University. After travelling, and discouraged with life in eastern America, he and Ellen decided that British Columbia held better prospects. Bill and Ellen quit their jobs in 1972 and moved to the Kootenay region where they adopted a “back to the land” lifestyle, a very new experience for both of them. After eight years of modest success, and occasional work in nearby towns, they opted to return to Vancouver where Bill had work and where they could raise a family more easily. They rented in Vancouver for a few years before moving to family housing at UBC, while Ellen studied creative writing. Bill founded a communications and writing company, and in 1988 they purchased a home in Burnaby. Ellen launched a new career as a writer, mainly for children young adults. Both were active in their careers, raising a family, and participating in local social and political activities. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Environmental Issues
- Environmental Issues - Environmental Protection
- Geographic Features
- Geographic Features - Parks
- Housing
- Occupations
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Occupations - Writers
- Persons - Volunteers
- Persons - Jewish Canadians
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Religions
- Religions - Judaism
- Names
- Schwartz, William "Bill"
- Schwartz, Ellen
- City of Burnaby
- Polestar Communications
- British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.6
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Lake Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
![Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_001.jpg)
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_003.mp3![Gilmore School staff, [1964 or 1965] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/1985_0087_0001_001.jpg?width=280)
Gilmore School staff
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription170
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1964 or 1965]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1964-1965. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Miss Lynne Atchison, Mrs. Ann Herbert, Mrs. Nannaly Lawson, Mrs. Miriam Benson, Mrs. Alice Wade, and Miss Olive Shuttleworth. Row 2: Mrs. Lydia Derks…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1964-1965. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Miss Lynne Atchison, Mrs. Ann Herbert, Mrs. Nannaly Lawson, Mrs. Miriam Benson, Mrs. Alice Wade, and Miss Olive Shuttleworth. Row 2: Mrs. Lydia Derkson, Miss Gloria Allen, Miss Eileen Brennan (nurse), Mrs. Muriel Fletcher, Miss Iris Willis, Miss Margaret Brown, and Mrs. Ruth Calder. Row 3: Miss Mary MacDonald, Mrs. Myra Maloney (School Secretary), Mrs Doreen Metzker (nee Nickle), Miss Clare Clemo, Mrs. Mae Curtis (Reading Centre), and Mrs. Bunny Gaskill. Row 4: Mr. Keith Stainton (Vice Principal ?), Mr. Robert Thomson (Principal / donor), Mr. Hudson Shannon, Mr. Charlie Johnson (Custodian), and Mr. Harry Seddon. Annotation in pencil on the back of the photograph reads: "Kieth [sic] Stainton back row / left #1 / (principal ?)" and "64-65."
- Names
- Allen, Gloria
- Atchison, Lynne
- Brennan, Eileen
- Benson, Miriam
- Brown, Margaret
- Calder, Ruth
- Clemo, Clare
- Curtis, Mae
- Derkson, Lydia
- Fletcher, Muriel
- Gaskill, Bunny
- Gilmore Avenue School
- Herbert, Ann
- Johnson, Charlie
- Lawson, Nannaly
- MacDonald, Mary
- Maloney, Myra
- Metzker, Doreen
- Seddon, Harry
- Shannon, Hudson
- Shuttleworth, Olive
- Stainton, Keith
- Thomson, Robert
- Wade, Alice
- Willis, Iris
- Geographic Access
- Gilmore Avenue
- Street Address
- 50 Gilmore Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV985.87.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1964 or 1965]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-12-19
- Photographer
- Croton Studio Limited
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Gilmore School staff, [1964 or 1965] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/1985_0087_0001_001.jpg)
![Gilmore School staff, [1967 or 1968] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/1985_0087_0002_001.jpg?width=280)
Gilmore School staff
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription171
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1967 or 1968]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.6 x 17.6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1967-1968. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Miss Olive Shuttleworth, Mrs. Doreen Weltens, Shirley Young (steno), Mrs. Ruth Calder, Mrs. Dorothy Raines, Mrs. Ingrid ?, Mrs. Lydia Derkson, and Mr…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.6 x 17.6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1967-1968. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Miss Olive Shuttleworth, Mrs. Doreen Weltens, Shirley Young (steno), Mrs. Ruth Calder, Mrs. Dorothy Raines, Mrs. Ingrid ?, Mrs. Lydia Derkson, and Mrs. Queenie Scargill. Row 2: Mrs. Vi Rotta, Eileen Duthie (Secretary), Miss Pam Box, Miss Barbara Hart, Miss Margaret Brown, Mrs. Ruth Carrington (Library), and Mrs. Alice Wade. Row 3: Miss Gloria Allen, Mrs. Bunny Gaskill, Miss Ann Malcolm (Nurse), Mrs. Loa Thorarinson, Mrs. Gladys Heshedahl, Miss Sophie Adams (Sr. Spec), and Miss Sheila Pratt. Row 4: unidentified woman, Mr. Harry Mazur, Mr. Robert Thomson (principal / donor), Mr. Ron Henderson, Mr. Charlie Johnson (Custodian), Mr. Art Robinson, and Mrs. Tracy Wilson. An annotation on the back of the photograph reads: "Harvy Mazur 2nd from left/ [arrow] back row."
- Names
- Adams, Sophie
- Allen, Gloria
- Box, Pam
- Brown, Margaret
- Calder, Ruth
- Carrington, Ruth
- Derkson, Lydia
- Duthie, Eileen
- Gaskill, Bunny
- Gilmore Avenue School
- Hart, Barbara
- Henderson, Ron
- Heshedahl, Gladys
- Johnson, Charlie
- Malcolm, Ann
- Mazur, Harry
- Pratt, Sheila
- Raines, Dorothy
- Robinson, Art
- Rotta, Vi
- Scargill, Queenie
- Shuttleworth, Olive
- Thomson, Robert
- Thorarinson, Loa
- Wade, Alice
- Weltens, Doreen
- Wilson, Tracy
- Young, Shirley
- Geographic Access
- Gilmore Avenue
- Street Address
- 50 Gilmore Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV985.87.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1967 or 1968]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-12-19
- Photographer
- Croton Studio Limited
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Gilmore School staff, [1967 or 1968] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/1985_0087_0002_001.jpg)
![Gilmore School staff, [1968 or 1969] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/1985_0087_0003_001.jpg?width=280)
Gilmore School staff
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription172
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1968 or 1969]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.6 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1968-1969. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Mrs. Dorothy Raines, Mrs. Evelyn Boyle (Pri. Spec), unidentified woman, Mrs. Tracey Wilson, Mrs. Ingrid ?, Miss Michi Lee, and Miss Kathy Coles. Row…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.6 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1968-1969. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Mrs. Dorothy Raines, Mrs. Evelyn Boyle (Pri. Spec), unidentified woman, Mrs. Tracey Wilson, Mrs. Ingrid ?, Miss Michi Lee, and Miss Kathy Coles. Row 2: Mrs. Queenie Scargill, Mrs. Lydia Derkson, unidentified woman, Mrs. Bunny Gaskill, Mrs. Alice Wade, Mrs. Ruth Calder, Mrs. Kitty Warren, and an unidentified woman. Row 3: Miss Ruth Carrington (Librarian), Miss Pam Box, Miss Betty Manring (chair mistress), Miss Loa Thorarinson, Mrs Gladys Heshedahl, Miss Ann Malcolm (school nurse), Mrs. Eileen Duthie (School Secretary), and Mrs. Doreen Weltens. Row 4: unidentified woman, Mr. Harry Mazur (Vice Principal), Mr. Norm Johannson (Custodian), Mr. Ron Henderson, Mr. Art Robinson, Mr. Robert Thomson (principal / donor), and Miss Sophie Adams (Sr. Special). An annotation on the back of the photo reads: "68-69."
- Names
- Adams, Sophie
- Box, Pam
- Boyle, Evelyn
- Calder, Ruth
- Carrington, Ruth
- Coles, Kathy
- Derkson, Lydia
- Duthie, Eileen
- Gaskill, Bunny
- Gilmore Avenue School
- Henderson, Ron
- Heshedahl, Gladys
- Johannson, Norm
- Lee, Michi
- Malcolm, Ann
- Manring, Betty
- Mazur, Harry
- Raines, Dorothy
- Robinson, Art
- Scargill, Queenie
- Thomson, Robert
- Thorarinson, Loa
- Wade, Alice
- Warren, Kitty
- Weltens, Doreen
- Wilson, Tracey
- Geographic Access
- Gilmore Avenue
- Street Address
- 50 Gilmore Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV985.87.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1968 or 1969]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-12-19
- Photographer
- Croton Studio Limited
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Gilmore School staff, [1968 or 1969] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/1985_0087_0003_001.jpg)
Fraser Wilson
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46144
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1969
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 7.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of cartoonist Fraser Wilson, taken in a photographic studio and used as his official photograph when he ran as a Burnaby Citizen's Association candidate for council.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1969
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 7.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 480-1032
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- 2003-02
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of cartoonist Fraser Wilson, taken in a photographic studio and used as his official photograph when he ran as a Burnaby Citizen's Association candidate for council.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Artists
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Croton Studio Limited
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Gilmore School Staff, [1969 or 1970] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/1985_0087_0004_001.jpg?width=280)
Gilmore School Staff
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription173
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1969 or 1970]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.6 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1969 to 1970. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Miss Michi Lee, Miss ? Paoli, Mrs. Dorothy Raines, unidentified woman, Mrs. Wendy Matthison, unidentified woman, and Miss Kathy Coles. Row 2: Mrs.…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.6 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1969 to 1970. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Miss Michi Lee, Miss ? Paoli, Mrs. Dorothy Raines, unidentified woman, Mrs. Wendy Matthison, unidentified woman, and Miss Kathy Coles. Row 2: Mrs. Queenie Scargill, Mrs. Tracy Wilson, unidentified woman, Mrs. Kitty Warren, Miss Ruth Carrington, Mrs. Evelyn Boyle, and Mrs. Lydia Derkson. Row 3: Mrs. Marylou Leung, Mrs. Ingrid ?, Mrs. Stella Peterson, Miss Bev Cowie, Mrs. Gladys Heshedahl, Miss Betty Manring, Mrs. Eileen Duthie (Secretary), Miss Pam Box, and an unidentified woman. Row 4: Mr. Nick Calderone, Mr. Art Robinson, Mr. Norm Johannson (Custodian), Mr. Ron Henderson, Mr. Robert Thomson (principal / donor), and Mr. Harry Mazur (Vice Principal). Annotations on the back of the photograph read: "69/70", u.r. "Harry MAZUR/ back row at rt."
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Box, Pam
- Boyle, Evelyn
- Calderone, Nick
- Carrington, Ruth
- Coles, Kathy
- Cowie, Bev
- Derkson, Lydia
- Duthie, Eileen
- Gilmore Avenue School
- Henderson, Ron
- Heshedahl, Gladys
- Johannson, B.L.
- Lee, Michi
- Leung, Marylou
- Manring, Betty
- Matthison, Wendy
- Mazur, Harry
- Paoli, Miss
- Peterson, Stella
- Raines, Dorothy
- Robinson, Art
- Scargill, Queenie
- Thomson, Robert
- Warren, Kitty
- Wilson, Tracy
- Geographic Access
- Gilmore Avenue
- Street Address
- 50 Gilmore Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV985.87.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1969 or 1970]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-12-19
- Photographer
- Croton Studio Limited
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Gilmore School Staff, [1969 or 1970] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/1985_0087_0004_001.jpg)
Interview with David Skulski
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19606
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (80 min., 38 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (80 min., 38 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Murray "David" Skulski conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00:00 – 00:22:22 David Skulski provides biographical information about himself. He talks about his childhood experiences growing up, at…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (80 min., 38 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (80 min., 38 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: David Skulski Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 6 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 80 min., 38 sec. Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Murray "David" Skulski conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00:00 – 00:22:22 David Skulski provides biographical information about himself. He talks about his childhood experiences growing up, attending school in New Westminster and Burnaby and Hebrew school in Vancouver. David recalls his early experiences in music, instruments that he played and describes some of his Jewish family traditions. 00:22:23 – 00:49:57 David talks about his experiences studying music at university and following his passion as a musician and oboist. He recalls his experiences of working with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the CBC Orchestra, Vancouver Society for Early Music, the Burnaby Symphony Orchestra, other musical ensembles and venues where he’s performed. 00:49:58 – 01:00:00 David talks about living in Burnaby in the Deer Lake neighbourhood. David describes some his experiences playing traditional music from different countries. 01:01:01 – 01:14:15 David comments on the changes that he’s seen in Burnaby over the years, some of his favourite places, activities, cultural amenities and development on the Fraser River. David talks about the Jewish community in Burnaby, his involvement with the Peretz Centre and examples of Jewish cuisine. 01:14:16 – 01:20:38 David talks about Yiddish being his first language, his language studies in Lithuania, the roots of the language and provides some examples of speaking Yiddish.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Murray "David" Skulski was born in 1942 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and moved to British Columbia with his parents in 1948. Skulski and his family settled in New Westminster before moving to Burnaby in the late 1950's. Skulski took piano lessons at an early age and began playing obo while attending junior high school in New Westminster. In 1960 at the age of 17 years, Skulski began performing with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as solo English horn and is the youngest player to ever be employed with the VSO. In 1991, Skulski started playing with the Vancouver Folk Orchestra and was the conductor between 1997 and 2004. Skulski has been the principal oboe player in many orchestras. In 1968, Skulski founded the Hortulani Musicae; in 1970, he founded the Vancouver Society for Early Music and in 1983 he founded Harmonie, an ensemble concentrating in classical wind music. In 2003, Skulski became president of the Pertez Centre for Secular Jewish Culture. In 2005, Skulski became principal oboist of the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Burnaby Symphony Orchestra and between 2009 and 2019 he was the principal oboist for the Pilgrim Orchestra under Pilwon Suk. David has served as president of the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture and since 2022, he’s served on the board of the Vancouver Chamber Music Society. Skulski has taught summer courses in Renaissance music in Austria (1972-1979), has been a music resident at Simon Fraser University (1973-1976), has lectured on the history of musical instruments at SFU and UBC and in 2008 began teaching at the Pacific Coast School of Music, Richmond School of Music and Oakridge Music Studios. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Foods
- Music
- Musical Instruments
- Occupations - Musicians
- Performances - Concerts
- Persons - Jewish Canadians
- Religions - Judaism
- Names
- Burnaby Symphony Orchestra
- Burnaby South High School
- Burquest
- Skulski, Murray "David"
- Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
- Vancouver Society for Early Music
- Peretz Centre
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake
- Deer Lake Park
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.10
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with David Skulski, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023
Interview with David Skulski, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0010_003.mp3