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Interview with Alfred Bingham June 10, 1975 - Track 9

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory66

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1932

Length: 0:09:43

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's memories of his involvement with the Army of the Common Good, including asserting influence on the Communist Party and the opening of the first Common Good store.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's memories of his involvement with the Army of the Common Good, including asserting influence on the Communist Party and the opening of the first Common Good store.

Date Range: 1932

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:09:43

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Organizations; Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: June 10, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with Alfred Bingham by SFU graduate student Bettina Bradbury June 10, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression, Pioneers, and the Co-operative Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Angus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 14

Total Length: 1:57:27

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track nine of interview with Alfred Bingham

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-1/100-13-20-1_Track_9.mp3

Interview with Alfred Bingham June 10, 1975 - Track 10

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory67

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1932-1933

Length: 0:09:36

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's memories of the Army of the Common Good, specifically how Labour Units (LU) worked.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's memories of the Army of the Common Good, specifically how Labour Units (LU) worked.

Date Range: 1932-1933

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:09:36

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores; Persons - Volunteers; Organizations

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: June 10, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with Alfred Bingham by SFU graduate student Bettina Bradbury June 10, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression, Pioneers, and the Co-operative Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Angus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 14

Total Length: 1:57:27

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track ten of interview with Alfred Bingham

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-1/100-13-20-1_Track_10.mp3

Interview with Alfred Bingham June 10, 1975 - Track 12

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory69

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1936-1939

Length: 0:08:24

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's memories of his involvement in the Army of the Common Good and the Credit Union movement.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's memories of his involvement in the Army of the Common Good and the Credit Union movement.

Date Range: 1936-1939

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:08:24

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Organizations

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: June 10, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with Alfred Bingham by SFU graduate student Bettina Bradbury June 10, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression, Pioneers, and the Co-operative Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Angus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 14

Total Length: 1:57:27

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track twelve of interview with Alfred Bingham

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-1/100-13-20-1_Track_12.mp3

Interview with Alfred Bingham June 10, 1975 - Track 14

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory71

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1932-1939

Length: 0:07:47

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's thoughts on the outcomes of participating in the Army of the Common Good and the Credit Union movement.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's thoughts on the outcomes of participating in the Army of the Common Good and the Credit Union movement.

Date Range: 1932-1939

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:07:47

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Organizations

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: June 10, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with Alfred Bingham by SFU graduate student Bettina Bradbury June 10, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression, Pioneers, and the Co-operative Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Angus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 14

Total Length: 1:57:27

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track fourteen of interview with Alfred Bingham

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-1/100-13-20-1_Track_14.mp3

Interview with W.H. O'Brien July / August 1975 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory22

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1932

Length: 0:06:39

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's thoughts on the practices and philosophies of Army of the Common Good.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's thoughts on the practices and philosophies of Army of the Common Good.

Date Range: 1932

Photo Info: Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005

Length: 0:06:39

Subjects: Organizations; Persons - Volunteers

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: July / August 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with W.H. "Harry" O'Brien by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury. Major themes discussed are: the Army of the Common Good, the Union of the Unemployed and the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union). To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: W.H. “Harry” O’Brien was born in the coal mining town of Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 20, 1914. He came to Burnaby with his parents and five siblings in 1927. Harry’s mother, a school teacher, wanted her children to live closer to school in order to obtain a better education, so the O’Brien family settled at Inman Avenue, Burnaby. Harry's mother, Mary Anne Crossan, was Gilmore Avenue School's first teacher. Harry left school in June of 1929. Harry’s father worked as the caretaker at Central Park around this time and Harry helped him to clear brush, plant trees and enforce the land clearing and wood cutting permit regulations held by men who were on script. Although too young to vote by just over a week, Harry O'Brien worked as a scrutineer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) during the 1935 Federal Election. On October 12, 1940 Harry O'Brien married Gertrude Sutherland at St. John the Divine in Burnaby. The Sutherland family came to Burnaby from Winnipeg in 1933 and settled at Nelson Avenue. Harry began his involvement with the Unemployment Organization in Burnaby by participating in an organised protest against the municipality for homeowner evictions brought on by unpaid taxes. The South Burnaby Union of the Unemployed organised in order to protest rules around receiving Relief. Harry became involved, eventually becoming one of the spearheads of the organization, taking over as secretary by 1936. Harry was an original member of the Army of the Common Good, helping to produce over one hundred and twenty-five tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed Burnaby citizens suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The members of the Army of the Common Good who cut wood for consumption or worked in the gardens were given credit for their work through LU (Labour Units) which they could then use to buy groceries and that at the Army's Cooperative stores, one of which was at McKay Avenue, where Harry began working as Manager of Groceries in 1937. The Credit Union movement of British Columbia was also organized by Harry O'Brien and his fellow Army of the Common Good members. W.H. "Harry" O'Brien died July 1, 1992.

Total Tracks: 9

Total Length: 1:17:56

Interviewee Name: O'Brien, Harry

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track five of interview with W.H.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-25/100-13-25_Track_5.mp3

Interview with W.H. O'Brien July / August 1975 - Track 6

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory23

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1932-1938

Length: 0:09:14

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's involvement with the Army of the Common Good Cooperative stores and their beginnings. Harry mentions the Credit Union.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's involvement with the Army of the Common Good Cooperative stores and their beginnings. Harry mentions the Credit Union.

Date Range: 1932-1938

Photo Info: Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005

Length: 0:09:14

Subjects: Organizations; Persons - Volunteers

Geographic Access: McKay Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: July / August 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with W.H. "Harry" O'Brien by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury. Major themes discussed are: the Army of the Common Good, the Union of the Unemployed and the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union). To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: W.H. “Harry” O’Brien was born in the coal mining town of Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 20, 1914. He came to Burnaby with his parents and five siblings in 1927. Harry’s mother, a school teacher, wanted her children to live closer to school in order to obtain a better education, so the O’Brien family settled at Inman Avenue, Burnaby. Harry's mother, Mary Anne Crossan, was Gilmore Avenue School's first teacher. Harry left school in June of 1929. Harry’s father worked as the caretaker at Central Park around this time and Harry helped him to clear brush, plant trees and enforce the land clearing and wood cutting permit regulations held by men who were on script. Although too young to vote by just over a week, Harry O'Brien worked as a scrutineer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) during the 1935 Federal Election. On October 12, 1940 Harry O'Brien married Gertrude Sutherland at St. John the Divine in Burnaby. The Sutherland family came to Burnaby from Winnipeg in 1933 and settled at Nelson Avenue. Harry began his involvement with the Unemployment Organization in Burnaby by participating in an organised protest against the municipality for homeowner evictions brought on by unpaid taxes. The South Burnaby Union of the Unemployed organised in order to protest rules around receiving Relief. Harry became involved, eventually becoming one of the spearheads of the organization, taking over as secretary by 1936. Harry was an original member of the Army of the Common Good, helping to produce over one hundred and twenty-five tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed Burnaby citizens suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The members of the Army of the Common Good who cut wood for consumption or worked in the gardens were given credit for their work through LU (Labour Units) which they could then use to buy groceries and that at the Army's Cooperative stores, one of which was at McKay Avenue, where Harry began working as Manager of Groceries in 1937. The Credit Union movement of British Columbia was also organized by Harry O'Brien and his fellow Army of the Common Good members. W.H. "Harry" O'Brien died July 1, 1992.

Total Tracks: 9

Total Length: 1:17:56

Interviewee Name: O'Brien, Harry

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track six of interview with W.H.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-25/100-13-25_Track_6.mp3

Interview with W.H. O'Brien July / August 1975 - Track 7

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory24

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1938

Length: 0:08:23

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's thoughts on the reasons for the closing of the Army of the Common Good Cooperative stores. Harry mentions other Cooperative stores throughout Metro Vancouver.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's thoughts on the reasons for the closing of the Army of the Common Good Cooperative stores. Harry mentions other Cooperative stores throughout Metro Vancouver.

Date Range: 1938

Photo Info: Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005

Length: 0:08:23

Subjects: Organizations; Persons - Volunteers

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: July / August 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with W.H. "Harry" O'Brien by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury. Major themes discussed are: the Army of the Common Good, the Union of the Unemployed and the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union). To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: W.H. “Harry” O’Brien was born in the coal mining town of Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 20, 1914. He came to Burnaby with his parents and five siblings in 1927. Harry’s mother, a school teacher, wanted her children to live closer to school in order to obtain a better education, so the O’Brien family settled at Inman Avenue, Burnaby. Harry's mother, Mary Anne Crossan, was Gilmore Avenue School's first teacher. Harry left school in June of 1929. Harry’s father worked as the caretaker at Central Park around this time and Harry helped him to clear brush, plant trees and enforce the land clearing and wood cutting permit regulations held by men who were on script. Although too young to vote by just over a week, Harry O'Brien worked as a scrutineer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) during the 1935 Federal Election. On October 12, 1940 Harry O'Brien married Gertrude Sutherland at St. John the Divine in Burnaby. The Sutherland family came to Burnaby from Winnipeg in 1933 and settled at Nelson Avenue. Harry began his involvement with the Unemployment Organization in Burnaby by participating in an organised protest against the municipality for homeowner evictions brought on by unpaid taxes. The South Burnaby Union of the Unemployed organised in order to protest rules around receiving Relief. Harry became involved, eventually becoming one of the spearheads of the organization, taking over as secretary by 1936. Harry was an original member of the Army of the Common Good, helping to produce over one hundred and twenty-five tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed Burnaby citizens suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The members of the Army of the Common Good who cut wood for consumption or worked in the gardens were given credit for their work through LU (Labour Units) which they could then use to buy groceries and that at the Army's Cooperative stores, one of which was at McKay Avenue, where Harry began working as Manager of Groceries in 1937. The Credit Union movement of British Columbia was also organized by Harry O'Brien and his fellow Army of the Common Good members. W.H. "Harry" O'Brien died July 1, 1992.

Total Tracks: 9

Total Length: 1:17:56

Interviewee Name: O'Brien, Harry

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track seven of interview with W.H.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-25/100-13-25_Track_7.mp3

Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory476

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1935-1956

Length: 00:04:56

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s marriage and move to Burnaby in 1953, and settling at the house near Cliff Avenue United Church in 1956. He talks about his first encounters with volunteering at Ratepayer meetings attended by his father, and in dance and drama activities at s…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s marriage and move to Burnaby in 1953, and settling at the house near Cliff Avenue United Church in 1956. He talks about his first encounters with volunteering at Ratepayer meetings attended by his father, and in dance and drama activities at school.

Date Range: 1935-1956

Photo Info: Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263

Length: 00:04:56

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Education

Historic Neighbourhood: Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lochdale Area

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: March 19, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.

Total Tracks: 11

Total Length: 1:31:44

Interviewee Name: Gordon, Merrill

Interview Location: unknown

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Images

Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track five of interview with Merrill Gordon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_5.mp3

Interview with Tom Mark by Eric Damer October 12, 2012 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory366

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1930-1995

Length: 0:05:40

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Thomas "Tom" Mark's experiences as a care giver for his wife as well as a volunteer at the Burnaby Health Department. He mentions being awarded Burnaby's Kushiro Cup Citizen of the Year Award in 1995. Tom finishes his interview with a childhood story involv…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Thomas "Tom" Mark's experiences as a care giver for his wife as well as a volunteer at the Burnaby Health Department. He mentions being awarded Burnaby's Kushiro Cup Citizen of the Year Award in 1995. Tom finishes his interview with a childhood story involving his uncle's roadster.

Date Range: 1930-1995

Length: 0:05:40

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers

Interviewer: Damer, Eric

Interview Date: October 12, 2012

Scope and Content: Recording is an interview with Thomas "Tom" Mark conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 12, 2012. Major theme discussed: being a volunteer.

Biographical Notes: Thomas "Tom" Mark was born in 1923 and grew up in New Westminster. In 1937 his family moved to Victoria, British Columbia where he finished his schooling and worked for a year in the shipyard before enlisting in the air force. He was stationed in England during the war, and in 1946 he bought a small house in East Burnaby for his English bride and himself. For three years Tom drove a heating fuel truck for Shell Oil and then became the agent for a Shell marine service station on the Fraser River, near the Patullo Bridge. His aviary garnered him the nickname “birdman of Burnaby.” His son attended St. Thomas Moore High School and then Simon Fraser University when it opened in 1965. In 1995 Tom Mark was awarded the Kushiro Cup for Outstanding Citizen of the Year for his volunteer work with the Burnaby Health Department.

Total Tracks: 4

Total Length: 0:32:43

Interviewee Name: Mark, Thomas "Tom"

Interview Location: Burnaby Village Museum

Interviewer Bio: Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burna-Boom Oral History Project series

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Track four of recording of interview with Tom Mark

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-018/MSS171-018_Track_4.mp3

Burnaby May Day

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35140

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 26, 1934

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.1 x 17.4 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby May Day activities at Central Park. Children are dancing around three Maypoles on a field. A crowd is watching, and a band is seated beside the Maypole on the right side of the photograph.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 26, 1934

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Anderson family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.1 x 17.4 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 203-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby May Day activities at Central Park. Children are dancing around three Maypoles on a field. A crowd is watching, and a band is seated beside the Maypole on the right side of the photograph.

Subjects: Organizations - Bands; Persons - Crowds; Recreational Activities - Dancing; Events - May Day

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Stride, Charles Edgar

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; An "8" is printed at the left side of the photo

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Street Address: 3883 Imperial Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Burnaby May Day

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35141

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 26, 1934

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.2 x 17.4 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby May Day celebrations in Central Park. There are two Maypoles visible with children around them. A crowd is watching, and a band is seated beside the Maypole at the left side of the photograph. The girls at the right Maypole are standing and looking at the top of the Maypole …

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 26, 1934

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Anderson family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.2 x 17.4 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 203-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby May Day celebrations in Central Park. There are two Maypoles visible with children around them. A crowd is watching, and a band is seated beside the Maypole at the left side of the photograph. The girls at the right Maypole are standing and looking at the top of the Maypole where their ribbons may be tangled.

Subjects: Organizations - Bands; Persons - Crowds; Recreational Activities - Dancing; Events - May Day

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Stride, Charles Edgar

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; An annotation at the bottom of the photo reads; "May Day Celebrations / Burnaby, B.C., May 26th, 1934 / Stride Studio Photo."; A "10" is printed at the left side of the photograph

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Street Address: 3883 Imperial Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Personal material

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82732

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1910-1978]

Collection/Fonds: Hazel Simnett collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 9 paintings : colour print, 2 photographs : b&w, and 1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content: File consists of application for a driver's license, Kingsway Driving School report card, driver's examination receipt and a letter addressed to Hazel Simnett from the Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Also included is an immigration inspection card of Fred Simnett aboard the S.S. Lake Champlai…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1910-1978]

Collection/Fonds: Hazel Simnett collection

Series: Simnett personal papers series

Physical Description: 9 paintings : colour print, 2 photographs : b&w, and 1 folder of textual records

Description Level: File

Record No.: MSS167-008

Accession Number: 2013-22

Scope and Content: File consists of application for a driver's license, Kingsway Driving School report card, driver's examination receipt and a letter addressed to Hazel Simnett from the Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Also included is an immigration inspection card of Fred Simnett aboard the S.S. Lake Champlain from Liverpool and a letter from the Office of the Mayor addressed to Mary Ann Simnett for her ninetieth birthday. Also included is a photograph (see item 559-001). Also included are newsclippings regarding Robert Burnaby and the "Bygones of Burnaby" book, a programme of the Robert Burnaby Commemorative Dinner, a photocopy of "The Argus" (Burnaby South High School's newspaper) from 1938, a programme from Madys Pridmore Brown's Variety Programme, "The Buzzer" Volume 40 Issue 16 advertising Vancouver street cars, New Vista Society certificate addressed to Hazel Simnett, an envelope of Fenwick Lansdowne bird prints from 1957 and a print of the Royal Family found in a cardboard envelope postmarked 1972.

Subjects: Arts - Paintings; Documentary Artifacts - Newspapers; Documentary Artifacts - Photographs; Performances - Concerts; Organizations - Societies and Clubs; Personal Symbols - Certificates; Transportation; Persons - Royalty

Names: Simnett, Hazel; Simnett, Frederick "Fred"; Simnett, Mary Ann; Lansdowne, James Fenwick

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph; Graphic Material

Notes: Title based on note accompanying file on folder ; The Argue was stapled together; Simnett personal papers series

Historic Neighbourhood: Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Clinton-Glenwood Area

Burnaby Sports Day

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85204

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1936 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 film clip (8 min., 37 sec.) : digital, col., si.

Scope and Content: Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of the annual Sports Day events held at Burnaby Central Park. The film opens with an unidentified dedication ceremony and tree planting in an unknown location and switches to students marching into Central Park. Hundreds of child…

1 image 1 video

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1936 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Physical Description: 1 film clip (8 min., 37 sec.) : digital, col., si.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 562-002-3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Accession Number: 2012-15

Scope and Content: Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of the annual Sports Day events held at Burnaby Central Park. The film opens with an unidentified dedication ceremony and tree planting in an unknown location and switches to students marching into Central Park. Hundreds of children and Youth are showcased in sporting field events and competitions such as track and field sports, acrobatics, gymnastics, dancing, leap frog, skipping, rugby.

Subjects: Events - Parades; Occupations; Occupations - Labourers; Organizations - Mens' Societies and Clubs; Organizations - Womens' Societies and Clubs

Media Type: Moving Images

Photographer: Digney, Andy

Creator: Digney, Andy

Notes: Title based on contents of film; Film clip originates from digitized version of original 16 mm film footage (item 562-002). This segment was part of digitized portion titled 'May Day Events'

Geographic Access: Kingsway; Central Park

Street Address: 3883 Imperial Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Sussex-Nelson Area

Images

Video

Burnaby Sports Day, [between 1936 and 1939]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-002-3.m4v

Labour parade

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85205

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1936 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 film clip (4 min, 23 sec.) : digital, col., si.

Scope and Content: Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of a May Day labour parade for International Worker's Day. Men, women and children are seen marching with banners held high interspersed with a marching band with bagpipes. Some of the banners are identified as; The Communist Pa…

1 image 1 video

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1936 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Physical Description: 1 film clip (4 min, 23 sec.) : digital, col., si.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 562-002-4

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Accession Number: 2012-15

Scope and Content: Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of a May Day labour parade for International Worker's Day. Men, women and children are seen marching with banners held high interspersed with a marching band with bagpipes. Some of the banners are identified as; The Communist Party of Canada, the Scandinavian Worker's Club, Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, Ex-Servicemen's League, Canadian League Against War and Fascism, Fishermen's Legislative Program, Sailor's Union, B.C. Maritime Workers, Amalgamated Building Workers Union, Bakery and Confectionary Workers International Union of America and The Women's Labour League. Some of the banners in the parade read as follows; 'Support the White Lunch Strike', 'Abolish Deferred Pay', 'Builders of British Columbia- Bill Bennett', 'Communist Party of Canada', 'Free Grange and Molland'.

Subjects: Events - Parades; Occupations; Occupations - Labourers; Organizations - Mens' Societies and Clubs; Organizations - Womens' Societies and Clubs

Media Type: Moving Images

Photographer: Digney, Andy

Creator: Digney, Andy

Notes: Title based on contents of film; Film clip originates from digitized version of original 16 mm film footage (item 562-002). This segment was part of digitized portion titled 'Labour Parade'

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Images

Video

Labour parade, [between 1936 and 1939]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-002-4.m4v

Burnaby and Digney recreational events

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85208

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1934 and 1938]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 film clip (10 min., 30 sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.

Scope and Content: Item is a silent digitized colour and black and white film segment identified as Reel 3. The film segment opens with footage of Digney family automobile travels and of Pelican Lake, Alberta where the family spent their summer, the footage switches to footage of a parade somewhere in the Rockies (B…

1 image 1 video

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1934 and 1938]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Physical Description: 1 film clip (10 min., 30 sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 562-003-3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Accession Number: 2014-04

Scope and Content: Item is a silent digitized colour and black and white film segment identified as Reel 3. The film segment opens with footage of Digney family automobile travels and of Pelican Lake, Alberta where the family spent their summer, the footage switches to footage of a parade somewhere in the Rockies (Banff) which begins in black and white and changes to colour format. This is followed by colour footage of car racing at the Digney Speedway located on 10 acres of property on MacPherson Ave. Jelopy stock car racing is seen taking place with crowds of people looking on.

Subjects: Sports - Swimming; Events - Parades; Persons - Children; Persons - Crowds; Sports - Automobile Racing

Names: Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"; Digney Speedway

Media Type: Moving Images

Photographer: Digney, Andy

Creator: Digney, Andy

Notes: Title based on contents of film

Geographic Access: MacPherson Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Clinton-Glenwood Area

Images

Video

Burnaby and Digney recreational events, [between 1934 and 1938]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-3.m4v

Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory255

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1919-1939

Length: 0:09:44

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's personal memories of first coming to Burnaby in 1919 and the work that the early settlers did for Burnaby, including a mention of woman's backbreaking labour. Alfred describes Burnaby as being organized around the two villages of Edmonds and V…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's personal memories of first coming to Burnaby in 1919 and the work that the early settlers did for Burnaby, including a mention of woman's backbreaking labour. Alfred describes Burnaby as being organized around the two villages of Edmonds and Vancouver Heights. He discusses the Army of the Common Good and the Credit Union movement of British Columbia.

Date Range: 1919-1939

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:09:44

Subjects: Protests and Demonstrations; Organizations

Scope and Content: Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 12

Total Length: 1:38:06

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track five of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-2/100-13-20-2_Track_5.mp3

Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 6

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory256

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1919-1939

Length: 0:09:06

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's description of Commissioner Fraser taking power in Burnaby. Alfred mentions the Burnaby Housing Committee and the Willingdon Heights Subdivision before beginning reading his series of short stories. He reads "I ARRIVE IN BURNABY AND WE BUILD A…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's description of Commissioner Fraser taking power in Burnaby. Alfred mentions the Burnaby Housing Committee and the Willingdon Heights Subdivision before beginning reading his series of short stories. He reads "I ARRIVE IN BURNABY AND WE BUILD A SHINGLE MILL/ 1919/ Burnaby Lake" as well as "WE BUILD A HOME AND DIG A WELL. 1920", both written in 1963.

Date Range: 1919-1939

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:09:06

Subjects: Organizations; Buildings - Industrial - Mills

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood); Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)

Scope and Content: Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 12

Total Length: 1:38:06

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track six of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-2/100-13-20-2_Track_6.mp3

Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 11

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory261

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1937

Length: 0:11:39

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's reading of the letter he wrote to the secretary of The Royal Arsenal Co-Operative Society in London England, November 1937, describing the Co-operative Movement in Vancouver.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's reading of the letter he wrote to the secretary of The Royal Arsenal Co-Operative Society in London England, November 1937, describing the Co-operative Movement in Vancouver.

Date Range: 1937

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:11:39

Subjects: Organizations

Scope and Content: Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 12

Total Length: 1:38:06

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track eleven of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-2/100-13-20-2_Track_11.mp3

BC School Trustees Association

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36610

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1931]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 18.5 x 24 cm (sight) in mat 30.5 x 35.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the members of the British Columbia School Trustees Association meeting for their 26th Annual Convention at a courthouse in Vernon. They are standing on the courthouse steps. The Dickson family is standing in the front row on the far left and Harper is standing beside them. The Britis…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1931]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: J.P. Dickson subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 18.5 x 24 cm (sight) in mat 30.5 x 35.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 308-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1992-51

Scope and Content: Photograph of the members of the British Columbia School Trustees Association meeting for their 26th Annual Convention at a courthouse in Vernon. They are standing on the courthouse steps. The Dickson family is standing in the front row on the far left and Harper is standing beside them. The British Columbia School Trustees Association was founded in 1905 when 20 school trustees representing eight school boards met at the Vancouver School Board office to discuss common problems and ways to improve public education.