"Burnaby" found 1893 records | Heritage Burnaby

History: The Burnaby Art Gallery association was founded in 1967. The purpose of the association was to present a historical and contemporary art program by local, regional, national, and international artists; facilitate the development of emerging artists; provide diverse art educational programming; acquire culturally significant works on paper. The City of Burnaby assumed management of the gallery, its collection, staff and governance in 1998, with the art gallery then taking on the added responsibility of caring for and managing the City of Burnaby’s permanent art collection. The Gallery, along with the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and the Burnaby Village Museum in Deer Lake Park, are part of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department of the City of Burnaby. The Burnaby Art Gallery is located inside the historic Ceperley House, built by Henry and Grace Ceperley. The couple purchased a strawbery farm on the north shore of Deer Lake from George Clayton in 1909 and built their home, also known as "Fairacres", on the property in 1911. The house was designed by the English architect, R.P.S. Twizell and with its river rock veranda, beautiful hand-crafted woodwork, stained-glass and tile, remains one of the finest examples of Edwardian architecture in the Lower Mainland. Grace and Hentry Ceperley had one daughter named Ethelwyn who married James Edward Hall. Ethelwyn and James Edward Hall had three children: Edith Ceperley, James Edward "Junior," and Florence Renn. In 1917, Grace Ceperley died and left Fairacres to her husband with the stipulation that when the home was sold the proceeds would be used to build a playground for the children of Vancouver in Stanley Park. In 1939, the local Catholic Diocese funded a group of five Benedictine monks from Mount Angel, Oregon to establish a priory in the province. The monks purchased the Ceperley House for their monastery. They also built a large gymnasium on the property. After serving as a monastery, the house was used as a fraternity for some of the first students attending Simon Fraser University, and then became home to the art gallery in the 1960s. The City of Burnaby acquired the property in 1966 and the house was designated a heritage building in 1992. In 1998 the City began restoring exterior of the house and upgraded the building for improved public use. The renovations were completed in 2000, and transformed the house back to its appearance of 1911. The gymnasium built by the Benedictine monks was converted into into the James Cowan Theatre. There are two main galleries, a lounge gallery with a fireplace and easy chairs and The Shopping Bag, a gallery shop run by volunteers. The goals of the gallery are to: provide access to contemporary Canadian art, present works from the permanent collection; collect contemporary works on paper; and offer challenging and educational exhibition related programming.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: Burnaby Art Gallery

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries; PC241, PC242, MSS066

Burnaby Chamber of Commerce subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription15

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1910-1985

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Photographs and textual records

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of records held by the Burnaby Chamber of Commerce, including meeting minutes, correspondence, and photographs, and records related to incorporation.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1910-1985

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Chamber of Commerce subseries

Physical Description: Photographs and textual records

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS1991-20

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of records held by the Burnaby Chamber of Commerce, including meeting minutes, correspondence, and photographs, and records related to incorporation.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: Burnaby Chamber of Commerce

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries; PC257 and MSS057

Burnaby Image Bank subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64462

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1910] (date of original) -1993

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Photographs and other material

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's Image Bank project records. Records include: Image Bank database and backups in a variety of formats; 813 photographs collected by Simon Fraser University Archives staff; eleven screened negatives from the Burnaby Image Bank that were us…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1910] (date of original) -1993

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: Photographs and other material

Description Level: Subseries

Access Restriction: Open Access

Accession Number: BHS1999-03; BHS2004-13; BHS2001-15

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's Image Bank project records. Records include: Image Bank database and backups in a variety of formats; 813 photographs collected by Simon Fraser University Archives staff; eleven screened negatives from the Burnaby Image Bank that were used for the publication "Burnaby: A Cultural Inventory and Resource Guide"; and one VHS tape and DVD access copy of "Burnaby's Photographic Family Album / Burnaby Image Bank Collection / Volume 1 / 1992" which was created by the Committee for public viewing and purchase. The collection of photographs for the Image Bank project were gathered from various donors to commemorate the Centennial of the City of Burnaby. All photographs were collected from Burnaby families' personal albums by Simon Fraser University Archives staff during 1991 with a focus on the history of the people and the landscape of Burnaby. Photographs were collected from every decade for every neighbourhood in effort to describe the City's evolving ethnic, cultural and physical landscape. In March 1992, 20 of these images were selected by a jury for their aesthetic quality and displayed at the Bennett Library Gallery at Simon Fraser University for the "Images of Burnaby" exhibition. This exhibit travelled to various locations between 1992-1993 within Burnaby and Douglas College in New Westminster. The entire 800+ collection was made available for public purchase and viewing on video cassette. As well, each Burnaby school and each branch of the Burnaby Public Library received their own VHS copy for information and research purposes. The "Image Bank" video collection was buried alongside the video "Images and Voices of Burnaby" in the City of Burnaby's time capsule, mounted at City Hall in 1992.

Media Type: Photograph; Textual Record; Moving Images

Creator: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries; PC 370, MSS131, MSS088, MI577

Burnaby Public Library manuscript subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58148

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1912-1937 (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of papers collected by the Burnaby Public Library.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1912-1937 (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Public Library manuscript subseries

Physical Description: Textual records

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS1989-22; BHS1992-47

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of papers collected by the Burnaby Public Library.

History: Burnaby's first library was founded in 1927 as the North Burnaby Library Association. Its first library building was established in 1935 on Hastings Street. In 1954, Burnaby enacted Bylaw No. 3522 to establish the Burnaby Public Library (BPL) and in 1957 BPL merged with the North Burnaby Library Association. BPL's first permanent library was the McGill branch, built in North Burnaby in 1961 and named after North Burnaby Library Association volunteer Grace McGill. Following McGill, BPL then established the Kingsway branch, Central Park branch, and Cameron branch. Central Park was replaced by the Bob Prittie Metrotown branch in 1991 and Kingsway with the Tommy Douglas branch in 2009.

Media Type: Textual Record

Creator: Burnaby Public Library

Notes: MSS058, MSS059; Title based on creator of subseries

Burnaby Public Library photograph subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58147

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1908-1973

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Photographs

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of historical photographs of Burnaby collected by the Burnaby Public Library.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1908-1973

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Public Library photograph subseries

Physical Description: Photographs

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS1989-22

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of historical photographs of Burnaby collected by the Burnaby Public Library.

History: Burnaby's first library was founded in 1927 as the North Burnaby Library Association. Its first library building was established in 1935 on Hastings Street. In 1954, Burnaby enacted Bylaw No. 3522 to establish the Burnaby Public Library (BPL) and in 1957 BPL merged with the North Burnaby Library Association. BPL's first permanent library was the McGill branch, built in North Burnaby in 1961 and named after North Burnaby Library Association volunteer Grace McGill. Following McGill, BPL then established the Kingsway branch, Central Park branch, and Cameron branch. Central Park was replaced by the Bob Prittie Metrotown branch in 1991 and Kingsway with the Tommy Douglas branch in 2009.

Media Type: Photograph

Creator: Burnaby Public Library

Notes: PC225, PC226, PC227, PC228, PC229, PC230, PC231, PC232, PC322, and PC427; Title based on creator of subseries

Burnaby Retired Teachers subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription21

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1900-1928] (date of originals), photocopied [1990]-[1991]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and other material

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of records created by the Burnaby Retired Teachers group in relation to their work in various Burnaby schools. Records include information booklets, photographs, statistics, and other research materials collected by the Burnaby Retired Teachers' Association.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1900-1928] (date of originals), photocopied [1990]-[1991]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Retired Teachers subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and other material

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS2002-11

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of records created by the Burnaby Retired Teachers group in relation to their work in various Burnaby schools. Records include information booklets, photographs, statistics, and other research materials collected by the Burnaby Retired Teachers' Association.

History: Concerned that Burnaby might be losing its educational history, the Retired Teachers’ Association of Burnaby formed the History of Education Committee. The Committee made efforts to assemble types of information that could help in the preparation of school histories, and once this information was assembled, they wrote the “Introductory Resource Materials on Burnaby Schools / 1894-1991” report which gives a one page "introduction" to each school in the Burnaby district, past and present.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph; Sound Recording

Creator: Burnaby Retired Teachers

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries; PC434 and MSS103

How your dollar is spent

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription11160

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1923

Collection/Fonds: Ronald G. Scobbie collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 graph : black ink on paper ; 27 x 21 cm

Scope and Content: Item consists of a circular graph drawn on Corporation of the District of Burnaby letterhead paper about Burnaby tax information and is titled "How Your Dollar is Spent" / "Tax Levy - 1923...”.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Ronald G. Scobbie collection

Series: School and church plans series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 graph : black ink on paper ; 27 x 21 cm

Scope and Content: Item consists of a circular graph drawn on Corporation of the District of Burnaby letterhead paper about Burnaby tax information and is titled "How Your Dollar is Spent" / "Tax Levy - 1923...”.

Responsibility: Corporation of the District of Burnaby

Accession Code: BV003.83.39

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1923

Media Type: Textual Record

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 15-Jan-2021

Scale: 100

Notes: Transcribed title

Images

How your dollar is spent, 1923 thumbnail

Interviews with Bill and Albert Parker by Colin Stevens January 17, 1992

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9840

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1920-1930 (interview content), interviewed January 17, 1992 (date of original), digitized 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 videocassette (53 min., 14 sec.) : col. , sd.

Scope and Content: Film footage documenting informal interviews with brothers William “Bill” and Albert Parker conducted by Burnaby Village Museum curator, Colin Stevens. The footage opens in the administration building of the Burnaby Village Museum where Bill Parker describes a pair of cross country skis that he is …

1 image 1 video

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Jesse Love farmhouse series

Subseries: Love farmhouse oral history project subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 videocassette (53 min., 14 sec.) : col. , sd.

Material Details: Interviewer: Colin Stevens; Interviewee:William (Bill) Parker; Albert Parker; Mrs. William Parker; Location of Interview: Jesse Love farmhouse at the Burnaby Village Museum; Camera: Susan Green and Colin Stevens

Scope and Content: Film footage documenting informal interviews with brothers William “Bill” and Albert Parker conducted by Burnaby Village Museum curator, Colin Stevens. The footage opens in the administration building of the Burnaby Village Museum where Bill Parker describes a pair of cross country skis that he is donating to the museum. Bill recollects how he constructed the skis out of cedar in the late 1920s when he was about 9 or 10 years old. Bill tells of how he skied in the neighbourhood of the Jesse Love farmhouse on Cumberland Road, using the skis until the mid to late 1930s. The film continues with a tour of the Jesse Love farmhouse which is under restoration on site of the Burnaby Village Museum. Curator Colin Stevens takes Albert and Bill Parker through various rooms inside of the house sharing details of what staff have discovered during the restoration process and gathers informative details by interviewing them. During the interviews, the brothers recollect what it was like living in the house in the 1920s. They provide details on the house’s construction, fixtures, heating and water systems along with particulars regarding furnishings and décor. Information that was gathered through interviews such as this, supported the restoration to be completed as accurately as possible.

History: Albert and William Charles “Bill” Parker are the sons of Sarah Parker (nee Love) and William Parker. Sarah Parker was the daughter of Jesse and Martha Love and grew up in the Love farmhouse located at 1390 Cumberland Road in Burnaby. Sarah and William Parker and their three children (Albert, Bill and Elsie) moved into the Love farmhouse in about 1925, eventually buying it in 1928 following the death of Sarah’s father Jesse Love. Sarah continued to live in the house until after her husband William died and eventually sold the house to her daughter Elsie Hughes and her husband John Hughes in 1966.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Sports - Skiing; Buildings - Heritage

Names: Stevens, Colin; Parker, William "Bill" Charles; Parker, Albert "Bert"; Love Family

Accession Code: BV018.41.50

Access Restriction: Restricted access

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 1920-1930 (interview content), interviewed January 17, 1992 (date of original), digitized 2020

Media Type: Moving Images

Photographer: Green, Susan; Stevens, Colin

Notes: Title based on contents of video; Video was digitized to mp4 in March 2020 from original VHS tape

Images

Video

Interviews with Bill and Albert Parker by Colin Stevens January 17, 1992, 1920-1930 (interview content), interviewed January 17, 1992 (date of original), digitized 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2018_0041_0050_001.mp4

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20285

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser M…

1 document 1 audio

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: 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewees: Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy Location of Interview: Residence of Harry Toy Interview Date: September 25, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 02:01:13 Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants’ Association and Harry's daughters, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy's memories of growing up in Burnaby. 00:00:00 – 00:23:53 Harry Toy shares biographical information about himself and his ancestors. Harry provides information about his migration to Canada and his life in Manitoba, attending school, working at the family restaurant and teaching high school. 00:23:53 – 00:41:16 Harry talks about moving his family to Burnaby and his experiences owning and operating the Canada Way Food Market. 00:41:17 – 00:54:19 Harry talks about his involvement with the Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) and provides some history about the organization. 00:54:20 – 1:22:44 Harry talks about running the Canada Way Food Market and the alterations that he made to the store over the years. Harry and his daughters comment as they look through photographs of Harry and his store and the Fraser Merchants Association. 1:22:45 – 2:01:14 Beverley and Christina talk about their early childhood in Manitoba and growing up in Burnaby. They recall what it was like growing up and working in the family owned store.

History: Interviewee biography: Harry Wee Koon Toy was born in February 9, 1936 in Taikong, Toisan county, Guangdong, China. Harry's father William Toy came to Canada in the early 1920s when he was ten years old. Harry arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 9, 1950. After staying in Vancouver for one night, he joined his father in Neepawa, Manitoba where the family operated a cafe business (Royal Cafe). Harry grew up in Neepawa and graduated from the University of Manitoba and teacher's college. He became a high school teacher and worked at schools in Minnedosa and Gladstone, Manitoba teaching various subjects including, science, business, geography, history and physical education. Harry and his wife, had three daughters, Melinda, Beverley and Christina who were all born in Neepawa. When the family decided to move to the west coast, Harry was introduced to the grocery store business through an uncle who was a store operator. Around 1970, Harry purchased a grocery store at 4694 Canada Way in Burnaby which he named "Canada Way Food Market" and Harry and his daughters made their home at the back of the store. Harry owned and operated the store for approximately 40 years between 1970 and 2010. Around 1986, Harry purchased the butcher shop next door (4692 Canada Way) which was no longer in operation, expanding his store and adding a second storey to use a residence. Harry's children helped him operate the store throughout their childhood. In the early 1970s, corner stores were threatened by the spread of small chain-operated convenience stories from Eastern Canada to Vancouver. Formed in April 1972, the Fraser Merchants’ Association was established to protect the rights of corner store operators. With no paid legal help, the association was incorporated in Victoria, BC for the cost of 56 cents. The benefits of being a member of the association included warehouse and group purchasing, common advertising and other advantages of being part of an association. Founded by Gary Lee Ling and five others, Fraser Merchants’ Association’s first member was Graham Grocery. By 1978, the association represented over 200 corner stores in the Lower Mainland (Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, and New Westminster) and Fraser Valley. The association remained active into the 1980s and 1990s. Harry has served as President of the Fraser Merchants' Association from 1992 to present. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Education; Migration; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Grocers; Organizations; Organizations - Business Associations; Persons - Chinese Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores

Names: Toy, Christina; Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"; Babey, Beverley; Canada Way Food Market; Fraser Merchants' Association

Responsibility: Fong, Denise

Geographic Access: Canada Way

Street Address: 4694 Canada Way

Accession Code: BV023.16.19

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Related Material: See also: BV023.25 - Harry Toy fonds

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available

Documents

2023_0016_0019_003

Audio Tracks

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0019_002.mp3

Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12337

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)

Scope and Content: Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. …

1 image 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewee: Josephine Chow Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: February 7, 2020 Total Number of Tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 00:43:19

Scope and Content: Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. The farm is situated in the Big Bend area along Marine Drive and is still in operation today. 0:00-08:45 Josephine Chow provides some historical background on the history of “Hop On Farm” and her family in British Columbia. She tells of how her grandfather Gay Tim Hong and three partners pooled money together to purchase twelve acres on Marine Drive in 1951. Prior to this, most of them farmed on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation Reserve for 20-30 years. It all began when her great grandfather Sui Wing Hong, first came to Canada from China and slowly brought over her grandfather, father and other members of the family. Her grandfather, Gay Tim Hong went back and forth between Canada and China at least four times since he and her grandmother had four children including her father, who was born in 1931. Her father came to Canada at 10 years of age to live with his father. Josephine’s great grandfather came to Vancouver from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). 8:46- 14:20 Josephine provides the names of her siblings from the eldest to the youngest; Pauline, Josephine (herself), Catherine, Noreen, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. She describes what life was like on the farm with her parents working from sunrise to sunset. The family farmed vegetable produce taking orders from local stores in the lower mainland. Often the children helped their parents with the orders starting at eight or nine years of age. Other workers on the farm travelled by bus from Vancouver’s Chinatown. She also tells of how her father was an animal lover and raised chickens, pigeons, geese, koy, goldfish and dogs. 14: 21 – 16:56 Josephine describes what Burnaby was like during the time that she grew up in the late 1950s. She explains that Burnaby was very quiet with nothing being open on Sundays. On the farm, she and her siblings would entertain themselves by playing games like soccer, baseball and kick ball or also by catching frogs, snails, caterpillars and ladybugs. There were neighbours living on Marine Drive and almost every house had someone who we went to the same elementary school. The neighbourhood children would often come to play with them on their farm. 16:56- 26:47 Josephine describes how when they were young there were farms all around them and how on Sunday drives with her father, they would go to feed horses or look at the cows. Josephine shares that her elder sister Pauline was the only one born in China and how when she first arrived that she lived on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations Reserve with their parents before they moved to Burnaby. Josephine recollects that most of her friends were farmer’s kids from the neighbourhood but while in school, she had more Caucasian friends. Josephine and her siblings attended Glenwood Elementary on Marine Drive and later Junior Secondary at McPherson Park (grades 8-10) and Burnaby South Senior Secondary (grades 11-12. ). She shares some of her experiences while attending school. She said that there were about a dozen Asians in school with her, mostly from farming families in the “Flats”. 26:48- 30:45 Josephine describes what life was like for her and her siblings after school. They often helped on the farm when they got home, usually taking care of orders for green onions. Her mother made dinner and did all of the cooking for family and workers on the farm as well as working in the fields. Her father did all of the grocery shopping in Vancouver’s Chinatown two or three times per week where he purchased meat and fish. She says that her grandfather, often travelled by bus every Saturday or Sunday to meet up with friends in Chinatown. Extracurricular activities for her and her siblings included volley ball and soccer as long as it didn’t interfere with their work schedule on the farm. 30:46- 37:03 Josephine describes what occurred while living at home, the food they ate, shopping and attending Chinese school. Her mother cooked only Chinese food, she didn’t know how to cook “Western food”. For school lunches, the kids made their own sandwiches. She tells of a Chinese language school arranged by Mrs. Joe [sic] who lived on Gilley Road and was Canadian born Chinese. Mrs. Joe [sic] also arranged an English class for farmer’s wives on Tuesday nights in which her mother attended. Josephine recollects learning Mandarin from Mrs. Joe [sic] a few days a week after her regular school. Chinese school took place at Riverway School on Meadow Avenue in Burnaby. Mrs. Joe also taught them a lot about Chinese culture including Kung Fu, Chinese Dance and Chinese brush painting. 37:04- 39:39 Josephine describes Medical Care for her and her family in the 1950s and 1960s. She tells of a female Chinese doctor in Vancouver, Dr. Madeline Chung. Dr. Chung was responsible for delivering a lot of Chinese babies including Josephine. The family also visited herbalists in Vancouver Chinatown. They would often buy herbs for colds etc. Josephine also tells of how her parents stayed in touch with family in China by writing letters. Her mother’s family, including her parents and siblings were still in China while most of her father’s family were here in Canada. 39:40- 43:19 – In closing, Josephine shares how life is much busier now and of how she misses the quietness of her days growing up. She briefly describes her life on the family farm now and how different it is from when her parents worked the farm. She explains how farming methods have changed and how they don’t have to work as hard as her parents did.

History: Interviewee biography: Josephine Chow (nee Hong) is the second eldest child of Chan Kow Hong and Sui Ha Hong. In 1925, Josephine's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong immigrated to Canada from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). In 1952, her father, Chan Kow Hong joined his father, Gay Tim Hong and by 1953, he established "Hop On Farms" in the Big Bend area of Burnaby near Marine Drive. Josephine grew up on the farm with her parents and six siblings; Pauline, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. In 1969, Josephine's elder sister Pauline and her husband Jack Chan took over the family farm and in 1972 their father and grandfather moved to Kamloops to open a restaurant. As an adult, Josephine worked in several different areas including owning and running her own Aesthetics business. Josephine eventually retired and returned to the farm to assist her siblings. The farm is still in operation. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Agriculture - Farms; Education; Buildings - Schools; First Nations reserves - British Columbia

Names: Chow, Josephine; Glenwood Elementary School; McPherson Park Junior Secondary School; ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)

Responsibility: Fong, Denise

Geographic Access: Byrne Road

Accession Code: BV020.6.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

Media Type: Sound Recording

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Related Material: See also BV017.36*

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 12/3/2017

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of interview; Photograph info: Gary Hong and Chan Kow Hong harvesting celery at Hop-On Farms [1969]. BV017.36.4

Images

Audio Tracks

Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2020_0006_0001_001.mp3

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Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Financial Reports 1926

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Financial Reports 1927

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Financial Reports 1928

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Financial Reports 1929

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Reports 1920

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Reports 1921

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Reports 1922

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Reports 1923

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Reports 1924

Burnaby Financial Statement - Corporation of the District of Burnaby Reports 1925

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How your dollar is spent

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Interviews with Bill and Albert Parker by Colin Stevens January 17, 1992

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Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy

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Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020

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