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2nd Burnaby Troop Boy Scouts album
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19612
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1913-1925, predominant 1923-1925
- Collection/Fonds
- David Geoffrey Llewellyn collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 album (151 photographs + ephemera + textual records)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a sixty page photograph album titled "2nd Burnaby Troop Boy Scouts" with photographs and ephemera pasted onto fourty one pages. The album includes photographs of the Burnaby Boy Scouts at various events, camps and hikes, the Burnaby Girl Guides and May Day events in Burnaby and New…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- David Geoffrey Llewellyn collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 album (151 photographs + ephemera + textual records)
- Material Details
- 41 pages of album have pasted content
- 19 pages at the back of the album are blank
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a sixty page photograph album titled "2nd Burnaby Troop Boy Scouts" with photographs and ephemera pasted onto fourty one pages. The album includes photographs of the Burnaby Boy Scouts at various events, camps and hikes, the Burnaby Girl Guides and May Day events in Burnaby and New Westminster.
- Subjects
- Organizations - Boys' Societies and Clubs
- Events - May Day
- Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs
- Accession Code
- BV995.8.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1913-1925, predominant 1923-1925
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-07-20
- Notes
- Transcribed title from cover of photograph album
- Sticker on lower left of back cover reads, "No. D", "Glendale Album", "Made in Canada by Canadian Kodak Co., Limited. Toronto"
- Individual photographs + ephemera within album are numbered BV995.8.2 to BV995.8.153 - item level descriptions available
Images
Documents
50th Anniversary G.G.C.
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4594
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1926-1979]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook (51 photographs + 1 postcard + textual records)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a scrapbook with a handpainted wood cover titled "50th Anniversary / G.G.C". The scrapbook documents events and ceremonies of the 4th Guide Company with the first half of the scrapbook containing photographs and documents regarding the 50th Anniversary of Girl Guides which was cele…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook (51 photographs + 1 postcard + textual records)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a scrapbook with a handpainted wood cover titled "50th Anniversary / G.G.C". The scrapbook documents events and ceremonies of the 4th Guide Company with the first half of the scrapbook containing photographs and documents regarding the 50th Anniversary of Girl Guides which was celebrated at St. Nicholas Church in 1960 while the second half documents earlier events from 1926, as well as other events in the 1960s such as; "Year of the Golden Jubilee", a parade in North Burnaby as well as Thinking Day 1976-1978, banquets, a disco contest, camping on Hollyburn mountain and a visit to Victoria in 1979. On November 3rd, 1926 the company was registered as the 5th Burnaby Guide company, in 1951 the number was changed to the 4th Vancouver Guide Company and in 1956 the number was changed to the 4th Burnaby Company.
- Accession Code
- BV015.35.166
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1926-1979]
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Items within scrapbook have been redacted in compliance with Section 22 of FIPPA
- A selection of photographs are described at item level (BV015.35.285 to BV.015.35.300).
Images
Documents
Alice Hart photograph album
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14366
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1893-1923 (date of original), copied 1976
- Collection/Fonds
- Florence Hart Godwin fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 album (31 photographs: b&w negatives ; 35 mm)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a photographic reproduction of a twenty nine page photograph album that was created by Alice Hart. Inscription inside of front cover reads "To dearest Alice from father 30th March 1906". The album is filled with photographs of the Hart family along with friends and relations. The p…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Florence Hart Godwin fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 album (31 photographs: b&w negatives ; 35 mm)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a photographic reproduction of a twenty nine page photograph album that was created by Alice Hart. Inscription inside of front cover reads "To dearest Alice from father 30th March 1906". The album is filled with photographs of the Hart family along with friends and relations. The photographs range between 1893 and 1923 and document time spent at residences in New Westminster, Deer Lake and Kerrisdale along with family vacations at Mayne Island, Stanely Park and Pitt Lake.
- Accession Code
- HV976.169.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1893-1923 (date of original), copied 1976
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Scan Date
- 10/27/2020
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph album
- Inscription on first page of album reads: "To dearest Alice / from father / 30th March, 1906”.
- 31 b&w copy prints accompanying
- Album pages are described at item level
Images
Documents
B.C. Girl Guides
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription5234
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1914 -1982 (date of original), copied 2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook (2 digital files (pdfs) + 39 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of images of a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia pertaining to guiding in Burnaby between 1930 and 1981. The scrapbook includes a photograph of the 1st Burnaby Girl Guide Company in 1914 and The Girl Guides Conference from 1950. This scrapbook was often us…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook (2 digital files (pdfs) + 39 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of images of a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia pertaining to guiding in Burnaby between 1930 and 1981. The scrapbook includes a photograph of the 1st Burnaby Girl Guide Company in 1914 and The Girl Guides Conference from 1950. This scrapbook was often used by Paulene Hall at presentations.
- Creator
- Walker, Bea
- Names
- Girl Guides of Canada
- Accession Code
- BV016.49.83
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1914 -1982 (date of original), copied 2016
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on content of scrapbook
- Selective retention of original records from scrapbook
- Selected photographs were retained and described at item level : BV016.49.126 & BV016.49.96
Images
Documents
Burnaby Girl Guides
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4592
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1914]-1969, predominant ca. 1920 (date of original), copied 2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook (textual records + 2 digital files : (pdfs) + 102 photographs : (tiffs))
- Scope and Content
- File consists of images and selected contents from a scrapbook with 38 double sided pages containing mostly photographs with some newspaper clippings, written material and emphemera including a page of badges and ribbons which reads "Enrolment & Membership Card of / Joan Bailey 1926 / 1st Burnaby" …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook (textual records + 2 digital files : (pdfs) + 102 photographs : (tiffs))
- Scope and Content
- File consists of images and selected contents from a scrapbook with 38 double sided pages containing mostly photographs with some newspaper clippings, written material and emphemera including a page of badges and ribbons which reads "Enrolment & Membership Card of / Joan Bailey 1926 / 1st Burnaby" and an embroidered alphabet of the Morse Code. The third page of the scrapbook includes a four page chronology titled "History of Guiding - Burnaby / 1913 - 1960" compiled by Mrs. Dolly Weber, Mrs. J. Heaps, Miss Eileen Periton, Mrs. J. Albertson and D. Fowler. The scrapbook also includes an original letter and post-script from Lady Olave Baden-Powell to Mrs. Fowler dated November 5, 1961; a typewritten copy of: "TSOONA" / PROVINCIAL GUIDE CAMPSITE - ROSEDALE B.C." and a three page typewritten copy of "THE CAMPFIRE / Volume 1, No. 4 _ November 1935 _ Vancouver, B.C.". Many of the events documented in photographs [between 1914 and 1969] are identified on each page and read as the following: "Burnaby Brownies - Guides & Rangers" / "Early 1920" (1 photograph); "Ambulance / Display / 1st. Co."; "Girl Guide Rally - New Westminster and / Burnaby - June 16, 1923" (5 photographs); "Girl Guide Rally - New Westminster and / Burnaby - June 16, 1923" (5 photographs); "Burnaby Guides and / Brownies / June 17, 1923" (5 photographs); "April 1923" (1 photograph); "June 1923 / 2nd Burnaby Company" (1 photograph); "Burnaby May Day / 26.5.28"(2 photographs); "Sechelt 1929_ 2nd "B" Company" (2 photographs); "Leaders and Seconds / 2nd Burnaby / Grouse Mountain" (1 photograph); "Sechelt 1929 / Commandant Mrs. Peal" (1 photograph); "2nd Company / June 1930" (1 photograph); "1932 / 2nd Company at Rally / Municipal Hall Grounds" (1 photograph) ; "First Burnaby Folk Dancing team / Winners of the E.F.D. cup 1940--41-42" (1 photograph); "1st Burnaby Company / winners of Bessborough Shield / 1942 / Captain L. Crane" (1 photograph); "May 6th 1935 / Dedication of flag at Central Park" (1 photograph); "May Day Celebration / Burnaby B.C. May 6th 1935 / Stride Studios Photos" (1 photograph); "Mrs. Don Wilks / Mrs. Georgie / Runcie / Publicity Photo re- / Brownie / Training / 1958-60" (1 photograph); "Kathleen Anderson / about 1958-60?" (1 photograph); "1957 / Burnaby Camp Site / at / Wilson Creek" (1 photograph); "Work Party (1958)" (1 photograph); "Burnaby Camp Site / Spring 1958 / Cabins & Staff Houses / Dining Shelter / Cabins" (3 photographs); "Can. Girl Guide Assoc. - Provincial Leaders Conference / April 14-15/61 Civic Centre, Prince George, BC" (1 photograph) ; "June 8th, 1958 / Opening / Ceremonies / Burnaby Site / Wilson Creek / Camp Site" (4 photographs); 2 unidentified photographs [ca.1915] of a large group of Girl Guides gathered on the Pacific National Exhibition grounds (photo credit- Leonard Frank); 1 unidentified photograph of a group of Girl Guides gathered for a group portrait [ca.1914]; "Girl Guide Camp / Granthams / Landing / July 1923" (4 photographs); 4 unidentified photographs of girl guides gathered on the ship "Lady Evelyn" [ca. 1920]; "Burnaby Girl Guides" 1918; "First Burnaby Girl Guides 1920" (2 photographs on page); "2nd Co. 1923" (1 photograph) "1st Burnaby Co." [1923] (1 photograph); "Gypsy Scene - Concert / Mar 17, 1923 / Unveiling / War / Memorial / Edmonds / 1923" (3 photographs on page); "Faith Jacobson / 1961" (2 photographs); "Eve MacLean / 1961" (1 photograph); "Beverley Simkin of Montreal and Judy Robins / of the S.R.S. Royal Oak taken on the day they / sailed from Montreal for the Ranger Camp at / "Our Chalet" in Adelboden, Switzerland, May 1962" (1 photograph) and "Religion & Life Emblem / Diane Peters 11th Bby. Co. / Rev. G.W. Luetkehodeter / 1961" (2 photographs on one page).
- Names
- Girl Guides of Canada
- Accession Code
- BV015.35.164
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1914]-1969, predominant ca. 1920 (date of original), copied 2016
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Edmonds Area
- Maywood Area
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Digital images were created of the scrapbook prior to selective retention of original records that were removed for conservation purposes
- Some textual records that were selected for retention have been described at file level under BV015.35.164: "Tsoona" Provincial Guide Campsite - Rosedale B.C." and Burnaby Girl Guides newsletter, "The Campfire" (November 1935)
- Photographs that were retained from scrapbook have been described at item level (BV015.35.221 to BV015.35.284)
- Some textual records and ephemera that were selected for retention have been described at item level (BV015.35.320, BV015.35.321, and BV015.35.334 to BV015.35.348).
Images
Documents
Burnaby May Day proclamation
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19579
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 8 Apr. 1925
- Collection/Fonds
- Hawkshaw family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 4 p. textual record
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a Burnaby May Day Proclamation April 8, 1925 from chairman, Mrs. Hawkshaw. One is a signed copy and the other is unsigned draft.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hawkshaw family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 4 p. textual record
- Material Details
- orignal and transcript copy
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a Burnaby May Day Proclamation April 8, 1925 from chairman, Mrs. Hawkshaw. One is a signed copy and the other is unsigned draft.
- Subjects
- Events - May Day
- Accession Code
- HV977.17.4
- Date
- 8 Apr. 1925
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Documents
Easter Hike to Crescent
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20571
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1924
- Collection/Fonds
- David Geoffrey Llewellyn collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a group of Boy Scouts posing together on a wooden structure at Crescent Beach. According to annotations in album, they group were on an Easter Hike to Crescent Beach.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- David Geoffrey Llewellyn collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a group of Boy Scouts posing together on a wooden structure at Crescent Beach. According to annotations in album, they group were on an Easter Hike to Crescent Beach.
- Names
- Boy Scouts of Canada
- Accession Code
- BV995.8.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1924
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photograph is part of photograph album BV995.8.1, pasted to page 1
- Inscription below photograph on page of photograph album BV995.8.1 reads: "Easter Hike to Crescent / 1924"
Images
Documents
Esther Love Stanley photograph album 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19284
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1900-1928]
- Collection/Fonds
- Esther Love Stanley fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph album (429 photographs)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph album consists of photographs of various members of the Love family, relatives, friends and descendants including the members of the Brandrith, Stanley, Whiting and MacKenzie families. Album includes photographs taken by family members as well as portrait photographers that document even…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Esther Love Stanley fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph album (429 photographs)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph album consists of photographs of various members of the Love family, relatives, friends and descendants including the members of the Brandrith, Stanley, Whiting and MacKenzie families. Album includes photographs taken by family members as well as portrait photographers that document events, celebrations, gatherings, travels throughout British Columbia, various residences and vacation homes. Album and annotations were created by Esther Love Stanley and descendants.
- Creator
- Stanley, Esther Love
- Accession Code
- BV022.32.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1900-1928]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of album
- Individual photographs within album are described at item level BV022.32.2 to BV022.32.430
- Duplicate photographs within album were not accessioned or described
Images
Documents
Family and political photograph album
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3654
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1914-1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold Edward Winch collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 album (ca. 85 photographs)
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph album containing ca. 85 photographs, including both personal and work-related subjects such as the Winch family and homes, and Winch's political work and travels. Also included are some textual records relating to Winch's political work.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold Edward Winch collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 album (ca. 85 photographs)
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph album containing ca. 85 photographs, including both personal and work-related subjects such as the Winch family and homes, and Winch's political work and travels. Also included are some textual records relating to Winch's political work.
- Names
- Winch, Harold Edward
- Winch, Linda Marian Hendy
- Winch, Grace
- Winch, Eileen
- Winch, Ernest "Ernie"
- Winch, Eric
- Co-operative Commonwealth Federation "CCF"
- New Democratic Party
- Douglas, Tommy
- MacInnis, Grace
- Accession Code
- BV013.12.11
- Date
- 1914-1977
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- A selection of photographs from scrapbook have been described at item level (BV013.12.36 to BV015.35.117)
Images
Documents
Florence Hart Godwin photograph album
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3049
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1893-1923 (date of original), copied 1976
- Collection/Fonds
- Florence Hart Godwin fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 album (29 photographs: b&w negatives ; 35 mm)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a photographic reproduction of a twenty nine page photograph album that was created by Florence Hart Godwin. The first page of the album reads "Florence, with Grandma's and Auntie Felicia's best love, Xmas 1910" and the other pages contain photographs. The album was given to Flore…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Florence Hart Godwin fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 album (29 photographs: b&w negatives ; 35 mm)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a photographic reproduction of a twenty nine page photograph album that was created by Florence Hart Godwin. The first page of the album reads "Florence, with Grandma's and Auntie Felicia's best love, Xmas 1910" and the other pages contain photographs. The album was given to Florence Hart for Christmas in 1910, by her grandmother Jane Chapman (nee Isbell) and her Aunt Felicia Chapman. Album contains photographs of the Alice and Frederick J. Hart and Chapman families, including childhood photographs of the five Hart children, Kingsley, Florence, Fredricka, Edwyna and Jack; the Hart family at their home in New Westminster and at "Avalon" their summer residence and home on Deer Lake.
- Names
- Godwin, Florence Hart
- Accession Code
- HV976.168.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1893-1923 (date of original), copied 1976
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-07-24
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph album
- 29 b&w copy prints accompanying
- Item level descriptions available per album page
Images
Documents
Indexed guide map of the City of Vancouver and suburbs
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription8678
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1920]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Map collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 map + textual record : col. lithographic print on paper ; 51.5 x 71 cm folded to 21 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a fold out map entitled "Indexed Guide Map of Vancouver and Suburbs" with index. Map includes concentric circles raditating out from Vancouver City Hall on corner of Hastings Street and Main Street; electric railways are indicated by heavy red lines in centres of streets. Includes …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Map collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 map + textual record : col. lithographic print on paper ; 51.5 x 71 cm folded to 21 x 10 cm
- Material Details
- Scale [1:47520]
- Index on 4 pages within cardstock cover with advertisements on verso
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a fold out map entitled "Indexed Guide Map of Vancouver and Suburbs" with index. Map includes concentric circles raditating out from Vancouver City Hall on corner of Hastings Street and Main Street; electric railways are indicated by heavy red lines in centres of streets. Includes old and new street names. Index includes a District Lot Index and Street Index.
- Publisher
- Vancouver Map and Blue Print Company
- Accession Code
- HV975.61.13
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1920]
- Media Type
- Cartographic Material
- Textual Record
- Publisher Series
- 6th edition revised June 1920
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-11-10
- Notes
- Title based on contents of map
- Cover of booklet reads: "INDEXED / Guide Map / of the CITY of / VANCOUVER / and / SUBURBS / Compiled and Published by / The Vancouver Map & Blue Print Co. / ...."INTERNATIONAL / BOOK SHOP / Cor. Columbia and Hastings Sts._Vancouver, B.C.".
Documents
Zoomable Images
Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20285
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser M…
- 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 Norman Dowad
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19638
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (wav) (61 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (61 min., 37 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Norman Dowad conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on August 14, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:14:38 Norm shares biographical information about himself and background information on the Dowad family. Norm conveys information …
- 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 recording (wav) (61 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (61 min., 37 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Norman Dowad Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: August 14, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:14:37 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 Norman Dowad conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on August 14, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:14:38 Norm shares biographical information about himself and background information on the Dowad family. Norm conveys information about his grandfather Samuel Dowad's immigration to Canada and his father Wilfred Dowad's military service and successes as a property developer. 00:14:39 – 00:17:26 Norm provides background information on his mother’s side of the family. 00:17:27 – 00:31:36 Norm talks about his childhood, growing up in the Deer Lake neighbourhood, his early education in Burnaby and sports that he played. 00:31:37 – 00:39:59 Norm talks about his educational experiences attending Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and Osgoode Hall law school and information regarding his law career. 00:40:00 – 00:45:03 Norm reflects on his childhood growing up in Burnaby and on his experiences and relationships as a student and in his career as a lawyer. 00:45:04 – 01:01:37 Norm talks about his siblings and shares information about family property development projects as well as career and business successes. In closing he talks about research that he’s done through Archives Canada on his grandfather Sam Dowad and father Wilfred Dowad.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Normam Dowad was born and rasied in Burnaby. Norm graduated from Burnaby Central Secondary School, Simon Fraser University for one year, and obtained his law degree from York University. Norman began practicing law in 1974 years and has his own law practice that he operates out of Vancouver as of 2023. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Farms
- Education
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Migration
- Sports
- Sports - Football
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Dowad, Norman W. "Norm"
- Dowad, Samuel Esper "Sam"
- Dowad, Wilfred "Wilf"
- Dowad, Naomi "Mamie" David
- Dowad, Martha Elias Shaheen
- Dowad, Kathleen "Kay"
- Rideout, Dr. John Anthony
- Burnaby Central Secondary School
- Douglas Road School
- W. Dowad Limited
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Geographic Access
- Buckingham Avenue
- Deer Lake
- Street Address
- 5533 Buckingham Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.16
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available
Images
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Norman Dowad, [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
Interview with Norman Dowad, [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0016_002.mp3Interview with Shirley Cohn
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19597
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Shirley Cohn Location of Interviews: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Dates: April 14, 2023 and September 6, 2023 Total Number of Tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 67 min., 33 sec. Digital master recording (wav) of second interview (50 min., 36 sec.) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on September 6, 2023: 0:00 – 16:09 Shirley Cohn shares background information about her parents who immigrated to Detroit from Hungary in the 1930’s. Shirley recalls what it was like for her parents being Jewish during World War II and how many of their relations were killed in the Holocaust. Shirley talks about her Jewish Hungarian heritage, what it was like growing up in Detroit, the Jewish community in Detroit and the Jewish holidays and traditions that her family celebrated. Shirley recalls her high school and University education and experiences, starting her career in social work and how she met her future husband, Theodore “Ted” Cohn. 16:10 – 18:27 Shirley shares the story about her father in law, Dr. Daniel E. Cohn who was Harry Houdini’s doctor at the time of his death in Detroit on Oct. 31, 1926. Shirley explains that she donated some of Dr. Daniel E. Cohn’s original documents pertaining to this event to the New York Public Library. 18:28 – 26:04 Shirley describes her experiences living and working in London Ontario while her husband was a professor at University of Western Ontario and Shirley worked as a social worker in family services. Shirley recalls experiences of anti-Semitism while living in London. Shirley talks about moving to Burnaby in 1977 after her husband took a job as a professor at Simon Fraser University. Shirley describes her experiences living in Burnaby, raising a family and working as a social worker at Burnaby General Hospital. 26:05 – 26:18 Shirley talks about her interests outside of work, her family’s involvement in the Burquest Jewish Community Association and being a member of Temple Shalom. Shirley conveys information about other Jewish synagogues in Greater Vancouver, describes Reform Judaism at Temple Shalom and some Jewish cultural practices that her family has been involved with. 26:19 – 33:12 Shirley describes her family’s experiences living in the Garden Village nieghbourhood in Burnaby, her involvement sharing Jewish cultural traditions at her children’s school and recalls her children’s experiences attending school in Burnaby. 33:13 – 40:46 Shirley conveys the career paths that her children took and talks about what she likes about living in Burnaby including; the walking and hiking trails, the cultural and art performances and her involvement in local politics. Shirley talks about her and her husband’s involvement in the SFU retirees association and the SFURA walking and hiking group. Shirley reflects on her husband’s academic career, experiences teaching at SFU and the role of the Hillel Jewish Students Association at the Simon Fraser University. Shirley talks about the difficulties of discussing political views about the State of Israel. Shirley describes some traditional Jewish foods, the roles that they play and a local bakery that carries Jewish bake goods. 40:47 – 50:36 Shirley describes her current daily life in Burnaby; working one day a week as a social worker, gardening, her involvement at Temple Shalom and the Jewish Community Centre and how she travels in Burnaby. Shirley recalls the changes that she’s encountered in Burnaby and in her career over the years, shares a story about her husband losing his thesis and describes what Burnaby was like while she was raising her family. Shirley shares what she thinks about the areas of development in Burnaby and conveys the importance of having parks and affordable housing. In closing, Shirley reflects on what is like to be a Jewish person living in Burnaby.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Shirley Tanner was born in Detroit in 1947. Her parents were both Jewish. Her mother fled Hungary as a refugee in 1939, while her father emigrated from there in 1934. Shirley attended public schools in Detroit, and then studied social work at the University of Michigan. After marriage, Shirley and Ted Cohn moved to Ontario where Ted had a faculty appointment at the University of Western Ontario in political science. Six years later they moved to Burnaby for Ted’s teaching position in political science at Simon Fraser University. While living in Burnaby, Shirley took care of a growing family while also practicing social work, mainly at Burnaby Hospital. The family enjoyed Burnaby’s libraries and parks. Shirley helped out at her children’s schools, became a Block Watch captain, and the family joined Burquest Jewish Community Association. The Cohns later became members of Temple Sholom Synagogue in Vancouver, while remaining in Burnaby. Beginning in 2009, Ted started an informal hiking group for retired Simon Fraser University staff. This group has been open to others, so now has a wide variety of members. Shirley has also helped lead hikes in the region. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Recreational Activities - Hiking
- Organizations - Societies and Clubs
- Migration
- Persons - Jewish Canadians
- Religions - Judaism
- Social Issues - Racism
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Cohn, Dr. Daniel E.
- Cohn, Shirley
- Cohn, Theodore H. "Ted"
- Burquest
- Hillel Jewish Students Association
- Simon Fraser University
- SFURA walking and hiking group
- Simon Fraser University Retirees Association "SFURA"
- Temple Shalom
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Summary, recording and transcript of second interview available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_003.mp3Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
- Clothing
- Crafts
- Employment
- Migration
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Occupations - Labourers
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Names
- Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
- Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
- Manhas, Ghania Singh
- Singh, Mayo
- Manhas, Kashmir Singh
- Manhas, Sher Singh
- Manhas, Budhan Kaur
- Manhas, Lashman Singh
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep
- Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby
- Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3Writings of Mabel E.H. Hawkshaw
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19355
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1925-1935
- Collection/Fonds
- Hawkshaw family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1.5 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a collection of written work by Mable E.H. Hawkshaw. File includes a letter written by Mabel E.H. Hawkshaw, March 23, 1925 to Reeve and Councillors of Burnaby seeking support for the first Burnaby May Day to be held on 23rd of May, 1925; a newspaper clipping dated January 26, 1926 …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hawkshaw family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1.5 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a collection of written work by Mable E.H. Hawkshaw. File includes a letter written by Mabel E.H. Hawkshaw, March 23, 1925 to Reeve and Councillors of Burnaby seeking support for the first Burnaby May Day to be held on 23rd of May, 1925; a newspaper clipping dated January 26, 1926 with headline "Burnaby May Day Committee Elects Officers and General Executive" (concerning the second Burnaby May Day to be held in May of 1926); three copies of publication "The Periscope" with articles written in 1935 by Mabel Hawkshaw under her pen name of "Percy Egerton Sterling" and one copy of "The Covenant Clarion" with article "An Acient Lineage" written by M.H. (Mable Hawkshaw).
- Accession Code
- HV982.25.2
- Date
- 1925-1935
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-06-13
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Articles published in "The Periscope" by Percy Egerton Sterling include: "Early Story of the White Race" (Volume 2 - Number 3 - January 1935); "In the Beginning" (Volume 2 - Number 4 - February 1935); "The Son's of Laughter -- Sax - Ons" (Volume 2 - Number 7 - June 1935).
- Article by Mable Hawkshaw included in "The Covenant Clarion" (Volume 1 - June 1935 - No. 11) titled "An Ancient Lineage)