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(a) Lot 2, SD "A", Block 1, DL 175 E1/2 of E1/2 of SE 1/4 (Demolition of Buildings) (b) Lot "A", Block 1, DL 175 E1/2 of S1/2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport40375
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 37223
- Meeting Date
- 21-Nov-1960
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 50
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 37223
- Meeting Date
- 21-Nov-1960
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 50
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Caretaker and Lavatory Buildings at Central Park
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport37919
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 34713
- Meeting Date
- 12-Nov-1963
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 66
- Item No.
- 6
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 34713
- Meeting Date
- 12-Nov-1963
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 66
- Item No.
- 6
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Centennial Project - Acquisition of 8.4 Acres of Land and Buildings from the Universal Life Foundation
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport35436
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 31531
- Meeting Date
- 27-Jun-1966
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 31531
- Meeting Date
- 27-Jun-1966
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Construction of Buildings on Property Not Serviced by Water Distribution System of the Municipality
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport36776
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 32051
- Meeting Date
- 25-Jan-1965
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 32051
- Meeting Date
- 25-Jan-1965
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport32657
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 28085
- Meeting Date
- 11-Aug-1969
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 52
- Item No.
- 4
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 28085
- Meeting Date
- 11-Aug-1969
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 52
- Item No.
- 4
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport33657
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 29692
- Meeting Date
- 17-Jun-1968
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 39
- Item No.
- 8
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 29692
- Meeting Date
- 17-Jun-1968
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 39
- Item No.
- 8
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport33854
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 29491
- Meeting Date
- 1-Apr-1968
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 23
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 29491
- Meeting Date
- 1-Apr-1968
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 23
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings - 7006, 6906 and 3820 Hastings Street
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport37055
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 33734
- Meeting Date
- 19-Oct-1964
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 66
- Item No.
- 18
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 33734
- Meeting Date
- 19-Oct-1964
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 66
- Item No.
- 18
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings at 1520 Willingdon Avenue, 4777 East Grandview-Douglas Highway, 8175 Patterson Avenue and 1160 Willingdon Avenue
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport35137
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 31853
- Meeting Date
- 31-Oct-1966
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 61
- Item No.
- 4
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 31853
- Meeting Date
- 31-Oct-1966
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 61
- Item No.
- 4
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings at 3818, 3824/28, 3896 and 3918 Hastings Street Plus 3915 Pender Street (Hastings Street Redevelopment Project No. 1)
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport33055
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 28253
- Meeting Date
- 24-Feb-1969
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 13
- Item No.
- 4
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 28253
- Meeting Date
- 24-Feb-1969
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 13
- Item No.
- 4
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings at 6654, 6670 and 6690 Fern Avenue
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport35332
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 31633
- Meeting Date
- 8-Aug-1966
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 45
- Item No.
- 1
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 31633
- Meeting Date
- 8-Aug-1966
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 45
- Item No.
- 1
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings - Bonsor Park Extension
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport35291
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 31665
- Meeting Date
- 22-Aug-1966
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 47
- Item No.
- 5
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 31665
- Meeting Date
- 22-Aug-1966
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 47
- Item No.
- 5
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Demolition of Buildings on Hastings Street on one on Royal Oak Avenue
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport37490
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 33301
- Meeting Date
- 11-May-1964
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 32
- Item No.
- 13
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 33301
- Meeting Date
- 11-May-1964
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 32
- Item No.
- 13
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Recreation Centre Buildings at Willingdon Heights Park, Charles Rummel Park and Wesburn Park
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport37957
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 34682
- Meeting Date
- 4-Nov-1963
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 34682
- Meeting Date
- 4-Nov-1963
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Three Recreation Buildings - Charles Rummel Park, Wesburn Park and Willingdon Heights Park
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport37911
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 34739
- Meeting Date
- 18-Nov-1963
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 68
- Item No.
- 11
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 34739
- Meeting Date
- 18-Nov-1963
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 68
- Item No.
- 11
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Interview with Georgia and Alex Chronakis
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20395
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1934-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Nov. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recordings (wav) (41 min., 57 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (41 min., 57 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Georgia Chronakis and her son Alex Chronakis conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher James Binks on November 8, 2023. 00:00:00 - 00:08:39 Georgia and her son share biographical details about Georgia and her husband Louis Chronak…
- 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) (41 min., 57 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (41 min., 57 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: James Binks Interviewees: Alex Chronakis and Georgia Chronakis Location of Interview: Fraser Wilson Room, Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 8, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 41:57 Digital master recordings (wav) were converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Georgia Chronakis and her son Alex Chronakis conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher James Binks on November 8, 2023. 00:00:00 - 00:08:39 Georgia and her son share biographical details about Georgia and her husband Louis Chronakis, including their Greek background, migration to Canada, marriage, children, Louis’ career as a mechanic and gas station owner and owning restaurants in White Rock and Burnaby. 00:08:40 - 00:13:59 Georgia and her son Alex recall the great memories of owning and operating their restaurant Mionas Taverna and share details of their family life in Burnaby and White Rock. 00:14:00 - 00:19:15 Alex and Georgia talk about Louis Chronakis' work experience and how he became involved in the restaurant business. They share their experiences of operating Minoas Taverna including their opening in 1986. 00:19:16 - 00:36:59 Alex and Georgia describe some of the foods that were on the menu of Minoas Taverna, the design of the restaurant, the Minoan history that it’s based on, memories of running the restaurant and why they decided to close. 00:37:00 – 00:41:52 Alex talks about his involvement with Greek festivals in Vancouver and Alex and Georgia reflect on their life in the future now that the restaurant has closed.
- History
- Interviewees biographies: Georgia Giannias Chronakis was born in Selassia, Sparta, Greece in 1941 and when she was sixteen years of age she moved to Athens. In 1964 Georgia immigrated to Canada and lived in Montreal before moving to Vancouver a few years later. In 1966, while living in Vancouver, she met and married Ilias "Louis" Chronakis who was born in Crete, Greece. Soon after marrying, Georgia and Louis Chronakis bought a house located at 3823 Kingsway and welcomed their first child, Anna. Four years later, Georgia and Louis moved to White Rock but continued to own their house on Kingsway and rented it out. While living in White Rock, they had three more children named Virginia, Alex and Ellie. Louis was a trained mechanic working independently and for various companies including CP Air, BC Ferries and Esso before deciding to get into the restaurant business. He partnered with another businessman to open a Mr. Mike's franchise and later a cafe and Greek restaurant in White Rock. In 1986, Georgia, Louis and family moved back to Burnaby and moved into a house on Sandall Street and began converting their former home on Kingsway into a restaurant which they named Minoas Greek Taverna (Minoas Taverna). They opened the restaurant on May 1, 1986, just one day before Expo '86 was opened. In 2023, after 37 years of running their restaurant they sold their business but continued to own the land and building on Kingsway. Alex Chronakis is the son of Georgia and Louis Chronakis and was born in 1972. Alex has spent time working with his family running their restaurant and has been involved in the Greek Day Festival in Vancouver. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Foods
- Occupations
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Occupations - Mechanics
- Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
- Buildings - Commercial - Service Stations
- Migration
- Persons - Greek Canadians
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Smith Avenue
- Street Address
- 3823 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.21
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1934-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Nov. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Georgia and Alex Chronakis, [1934-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Nov. 2023
Interview with Georgia and Alex Chronakis, [1934-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Nov. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0021_002.mp3![Digney film 1 - Digney's at Brentwood mall, [between 1961 and 1963] (date of original), copied 2019 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0003_004.jpg?width=280)
Digney film 1 - Digney's at Brentwood mall
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10601
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1961 and 1963] (date of original), copied 2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (12 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of Andy Digney, Alice Digney and Joyce Digney walking along a sidewalk outside stores at Brentwood mall in Burnaby. The Brentwood Shopping Centre opened in August 1961.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (12 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of Andy Digney, Alice Digney and Joyce Digney walking along a sidewalk outside stores at Brentwood mall in Burnaby. The Brentwood Shopping Centre opened in August 1961.
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Malls
- Geographic Access
- Lougheed Highway
- Street Address
- 4567 Lougheed Highway
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.3.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [between 1961 and 1963] (date of original), copied 2019
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Planning Study Area
- Brentwood Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film segment
- Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.3)
Images
![Digney film 1 - Digney's at Brentwood mall, [between 1961 and 1963] (date of original), copied 2019 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0003_004.jpg)
Video
Digney film 1 - Digney's at Brentwood mall, [between 1961 and 1963] (date of original), copied 2019
Digney film 1 - Digney's at Brentwood mall, [between 1961 and 1963] (date of original), copied 2019
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0003_004.mp4
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 …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Jesse Love farmhouse series
- 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
- 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
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.mp4Interview 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…
- 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
Audio Tracks
Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023
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.mp3Interview with Jenny Siormanolakis
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19635
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1960-2023] (interview content), interviewed 26 Jul. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (87 min.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (86 min., 51 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Jenny (Eugenia) Siormanolakis conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks on July 26 2023. 00:00-12:02 Interview opens with introductions. Jenny Siormanolakis shares details about her parents Eugene and Europe Siormanola…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (87 min.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (86 min., 51 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: James Binks Interviewee: Jenny (Eugenia) Siormanolakis Location of Interview: Prado Cafe, 4321 Still Creek Dr., Burnaby Interview Date: July 26, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:26:60 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Ambient sound from cafe in background of interview
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Jenny (Eugenia) Siormanolakis conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks on July 26 2023. 00:00-12:02 Interview opens with introductions. Jenny Siormanolakis shares details about her parents Eugene and Europe Siormanolakis who were both born in Greece and immigrated to Vancouver. Jenny provides details about the history of Romana Pizza restaurant including; the restaurant partners, the various locations, her father’s work ethics of running the restaurant and the staff who worked there. Jenny provides details about her father's life, his ancestral background and family relations which lead him to immigrate to Vancouver. Jenny shares childhood memories of helping out in her parents’ restaurant and later working there. 12:03 – 26:41 Jenny describes various food dishes that have been on the menu of Romana Pizza and Steak House and Romana Pizza, how they've evolved over time, how her father learned to cook traditional Greek food and develop his own recipes and where he sourced his restaurant food supplies. Jenny conveys how they used social media to advertise the restaurant, describes the election pizza poll that Romana Pizza held during the federal and provincial elections and a baby poll that was held at the restaurant to guess the weight of her and her sister’s babies. 26:42 – 31:47 Jenny talks about her marriage and recollects how she got married in a civil ceremony at Romana Pizza. Jenny talks about her family life while her family was running the restaurant, their decision to sell the restaurant and describes the last days of running the restaurant. 31:48 – 46:33 Jenny conveys the background story of her business “Granpa J’s”. Jenny describes how her uncle Jimmy Voulides, created his own seasoning salt product and after he died in 2003, Jenny and her sister Nora purchased the business. Jenny describes how they developed their business, created new products, their struggles and how they became successful. Jenny describes how their products have been developed from family recipes and recalls how the actor Ryan Reynold’s helped their products become even more successful overnight. 46:34 – 55:38 Jenny talks about different community festivals and events that she’s been involved with including; Greek Day on Broadway (Vancouver) and the Hats Off Day event in North Burnaby. Jenny shares the background history of Greek Day in Vancouver and information about other Greek community events. Jenny talks about the importance of bringing the community together and the importance of knowing the history of your ancestors and where they came from. 55:39 - 1:04:35 Jenny talks about her involvement with the Greek community newspaper “Gnome” and provides details about; the former creator and editor Kostas Karatsikis, the newspaper's content, it's importance in the Greek community and the distribution. Jenny describes some of the articles that she’s written for the Gnome newspaper. 1:04:36 - 1:14:12 Jenny describes some pivotal moments that occurred over the years at Romana Pizza including; placing second in the Vancouver Sun newspaper contest for Best Pizza (1986) and having members of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team frequent their restaurant. Jenny conveys how the restaurant benefited from having a website and using social media as a marketing tools. 1:14:13 - 1:22:42 Jenny talks about her involvement with Kolanki Group West, Euro Find foods and her passion for Greek food and other European foods. Jenny describes some traditional Greek recipes, family recipes, talks about marketing Grandpa J's products and reflects on the menu of Romana Pizza. 1:22:43 - 1:26:51 Jenny reflects on the role of the Greek community, how food plays a roll, the future of the Greek community in Vancouver and Burnaby and the importance of engaging the younger generation. In closing Jenny provides a quote from an article that she wrote “Forgive the mistakes of the past, let it go and realize that we are all equals...”.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Eugenia "Jenny" Siormanolakis is the daughter of Eugene and Europe Siormanolakis. Jenny’s father, Eugene Siormanolakis immigrated to Canada from Greece in the late 1960’s and her mother Europe Siormanolakis immigrated in 1973. In April 1973, her father and five partners opened the restaurant “Romana Pizza and Steak House” (later renamed "Romana Pizza") located at 4660 Hastings Street in the Burnaby Heights neighbourhood. Jenny and her sister Eleanora Iliakis spent much of their childhood in the family owned restaurant and also worked at the restaurant as they become older. Jenny’s parents continued to own and operate the restaurant until 2014 when they decided to retire from the business. In 2004, an opportunity arose for Jenny and her sister Eleanora to buy their recently deceased uncle’s business Grandpa J’s Seasoning Inc. They launched their business of “Grandpa J’s” seasoning first selling to local restaurants and eventually adapted their product line to include other Greek seasoning products which they developed from their own recipes. They expanded their clientele to include retail outlets and in 2020, they got a boost to their sales when actor Ryan Reynolds promoted their seasoing product "Vancity Grind" on Instagram. Since launching their business they have been featured in many culinary and business publications and were nominated in 2022 as finalists for Product of the Year by BC Food and Beverage. Jenny is extremely passionate about food, her Greek heritage and is an advocate for food security for children and seniors and mental health. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
- Businesses
- Elections
- Foods
- Migration
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Persons - Greek Canadians
- Names
- Gnome Publications
- Iliakis, Eleonara Siormanolakis
- Karatsikis, Kostas "George"
- Siormanolakis, Eugenia "Jenny"
- Nikolaidis, "Eleni"
- Nikolaidis, Stelios
- Romana Pizza
- Siormanolakis, Eugene
- Siormanolakis, Europe
- Voulides, Demetrios "Jimmy"
- Responsibility
- Binks, James
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Street Address
- 4660 Hastings Street
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.13
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1960-2023] (interview content), interviewed 26 Jul. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Jenny Siormanolakis, [1960-2023] (interview content), interviewed 26 Jul. 2023
Interview with Jenny Siormanolakis, [1960-2023] (interview content), interviewed 26 Jul. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0013_003.mp3