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Sussex-Nelson Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark838
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The Sussex-Nelson Neighbourhood is located just south of Metrotown and in 1980 was characterised as the most populated of all of Burnaby's Planning Study areas. The area immediately south of Metrotown was initially developed as post-war 1950s housing stock, while the sector south of Rumble was developed after the 1960s and 1970s as single-family housing.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Alta Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Sussex-Nelson Area
Images
Rosalie (Moore) Barrett Residence
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark498
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- The Rosalie (Moore) Barrett Residence is a one-storey ranch-style bungalow with a cross-gabled roofline, located on Sperling Avenue. It is located within the Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct, and is adjacent to a related house, the Ethel Moore Residence, built the previous year.
- Associated Dates
- 1942
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Sperling Avenue
- Associated Dates
- 1942
- Description
- The Rosalie (Moore) Barrett Residence is a one-storey ranch-style bungalow with a cross-gabled roofline, located on Sperling Avenue. It is located within the Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct, and is adjacent to a related house, the Ethel Moore Residence, built the previous year.
- Heritage Value
- This house is significant for its connection with first owner, Rosalie Barrett, the daughter of Ethel Hutchings Moore, who lived in the adjacent house at 5145 Sperling Avenue. A spacious modernist bungalow, it was constructed in 1942, and was designed by Rosalie Moore herself. Moore intended to build several houses on this property, but further development was curtailed due to wartime restrictions on domestic construction. The Rosalie (Moore) Barrett Residence is a testament to Deer Lake's continued popularity as a residential neighbourhood in the 1940s. Although Burnaby was serviced by a number of transportation links at the time, the increasing availability of automobiles provided improved access to outlying suburbs. Rising real estate prices in Vancouver and New Westminster attracted residents to this neighbourhood because of its relative affordability, central location and beautiful scenery.
- Defining Elements
- Key elements that define the heritage character of the Rosalie (Moore) Barrett Residence include its: - location within the Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct - residential form, scale and massing as expressed by its one-storey height, rambling linear plan and cross-gabled roof - wood-frame construction with stucco siding and waney-edged boards in the gable peaks - red brick on the front façade and rough-cut granite at the base of the house - Modernist design as exemplified by the asymmetrical, linear plan with low pitched roof - internal granite chimney - original windows, including wooden-sash casement windows in double and triple-assembly with four-part, horizontal leading - original front door with glass block sidelights - associated landscape features such as granite gateposts, foundation plantings and mature coniferous trees
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Function
- Primary Historic--Single Dwelling
- Primary Current--Single Dwelling
- Community
- Deer Lake
- Cadastral Identifier
- P.I.D.006-082-696
- Boundaries
- The Rosalie (Moore) Barrett Residence is comprised of a single residential lot located at 5155 Sperling Avenue, Burnaby.
- Area
- 11291.44
- Contributing Resource
- Building
- Ownership
- Public (local)
- Documentation
- City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department, Heritage Site Files
- Street Address
- 5155 Sperling Avenue
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Images
Oakalla Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark804
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The phasing out and demolition of the Oakalla Prison farm allowed for the planned development of the Oakalla Neighbourhood in the 1980s. By 1991, the City of Burnaby had adopted the Oakalla Development Plan which called for the transfer of land to the Deer Lake Park reserve as well as the creation of a new residential area consisting of multi-family housing types.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Oakalla Area
Images
Big Bend Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark840
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The Big Bend Neighbourhood in Burnaby maintained its status as an important agricultural area in the City in the years following 1955 and it also solidified its role as a prime industrial and commercial district. In 1972, the Big Bend Development Plan was adopted by Council and soon thereafter, approximately 620 acres of land were incorporated into the Agricultural Land Reserve. These lands have been set aside for agricultural and limited recreation purposes. By the 2000s, 160 acres of land were considered highly productive agricultural areas, and over 400 acres of land had been secured as parkland, including the Fraser Foreshore Park. The area also developed large commercial and industrial districts including those at Marine Way/Boundary, the Glenlyon Estates, Riverfront Business Park, Burnaby Business Park, and Glenwood Industrial Estates.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
Images
Burnaby Lake Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark821
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- In 1966 Burnaby Lake was identified as a key potential regional park in the GVRD ’s Regional Park Plan for the Lower Mainland. The lake was to be developed for nature study, strolling, trail riding, canoeing, sightseeing and picnicking. It was formally recognized as a regional nature park in 1979, at which time the GVRD assumed management of the park through a lease agreement with the City of Burnaby. In 1993 Burnaby Lake was selected by the City of Burnaby to be included in Greater Vancouver ’s Green Zone, and was identified as a key component of the GVRD ’s Park and Outdoor Recreation System (PORS) for the Burrard/Peninsula/Richmond sector, which includes Burnaby, Vancouver, New Westminster, and Richmond.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Lake Area
Images
Central Park Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark688
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1925-1954
- Heritage Value
- Although still largely a rural area during the 1920s, subdivisions began appearing in the Central Park neighbourhood at this time. Development was slowed by the Great Depression of the 1930s but the influx of commercial buildings and new housing initiatives in the post-war boom led to a period of rapid growth especially in the Garden Village subdivision which was undertaken in 1953 with the plan to build 500 modern homes in the 140-acre site. Despite the closure of the interurban line in 1953, the neighbourhood remained an active commercial and residential centre.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
Clinton-Glenwood Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark841
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The primarily single-family subdivision and development in the Clinton-Glenwood Neighbourhood occurred during the building boom of the 1950s. Later development fell under the guidelines established in the Royal Oak Community Plan (adopted in 1999) and resulted in an increase in the number of multi-family units.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Alta Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Clinton-Glenwood Area
Images
Montague & Marcia Moore Residence
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark499
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- The Montague and Marcia Moore Residence, situated on Sperling Avenue, is a one and one-half storey wood-frame house with Tudor Revival elements such as half-timbering and diamond-leaded windows. The landscaping includes a large hedge at the front of the property. It is located on a lakefront site w…
- Associated Dates
- 1943
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Sperling Avenue
- Associated Dates
- 1943
- Description
- The Montague and Marcia Moore Residence, situated on Sperling Avenue, is a one and one-half storey wood-frame house with Tudor Revival elements such as half-timbering and diamond-leaded windows. The landscaping includes a large hedge at the front of the property. It is located on a lakefront site within the scenic Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct.
- Heritage Value
- Located within the historic Deer Lake Park neighbourhood, the Montague and Marcia Moore Residence is valued as an example of the late persistence of the historicist influence on domestic architecture, at a time when it was still considered the height of good taste for a house to be designed in a recognizable period revival style. This is reflected in the rustic Tudor Revival elements such as half-timbering, waney-edged boards in the gables, brick nogging, diamond-leaded windows, and bird houses in the main gable. The cobblestone chimney, the major focal point of the house, was constructed from river stones that were transported from Lynn Canyon. Meticulously retained in its original condition, this was the last home to be constructed by the Moore family before the Second World War construction supply rationing took effect. It was built by Danish contractor, Hans Jorgensen Hau (1878-1944), who had a flair for the construction of homes with a rustic character, and shares a number of design features with Hau’s own house at 5070 Canada Way.
- Defining Elements
- Key elements that define the heritage character of the Montague and Marcia Moore Residence include its: - location on a lakefront site, within the Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct - residential form, scale and massing as expressed by its one and one-half storey height, rectangular plan and front gabled roof - wood-frame construction - Tudor Revival elements such as stucco and wood half-timbering, diamond-leaded casement windows, scroll-cut brackets, brick nogging on the front façade, bird houses in the main front gable, waney-edged boards at gable peaks, plank front door with strap hinges and a prominent external cobblestone chimney - associated landscape features such as a granite wall, and mature coniferous and deciduous trees
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Organization
- Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
- Builder
- Hans Jorgensen Hau
- Function
- Primary Historic--Single Dwelling
- Primary Current--Single Dwelling
- Community
- Deer Lake
- Cadastral Identifier
- P.I.D.006-082-696
- Boundaries
- The Montague and Marcia Moore Residence is comprised of a single residential lot located at 5165 Sperling Avenue, Burnaby.
- Area
- 4104
- Contributing Resource
- Building
- Ownership
- Public (local)
- Documentation
- City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department, Heritage Site Files
- Street Address
- 5165 Sperling Avenue
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Images
Moore House
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark497
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- The Moore House is a one-storey, side-gabled house with stepped roof planes and a split-level attached garage. The house faces east, and features distinct river rock porch columns and a large central tapered chimney. It is located within the Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct, and is adjacent to a re…
- Associated Dates
- 1941
- Formal Recognition
- Community Heritage Register
- Other Names
- Ethel Moore Residence
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Other Names
- Ethel Moore Residence
- Geographic Access
- Sperling Avenue
- Associated Dates
- 1941
- Formal Recognition
- Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Council Resolution
- Enactment Date
- 26/05/2003
- Description
- The Moore House is a one-storey, side-gabled house with stepped roof planes and a split-level attached garage. The house faces east, and features distinct river rock porch columns and a large central tapered chimney. It is located within the Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct, and is adjacent to a related house, the Rosalie (Moore) Barrett Residence, built the following year.
- Heritage Value
- The Moore House is significant for its relationship to first owner, Ethel Hutchings Moore (1884-1948), who purchased the property from Maud and Harriet Woodward, two of Deer Lake's first residents. Moore purchased the property with the hopes of introducing her children into the house construction business. This house, built in 1941, borrows its design from a 'California Desert House' built in Carmel a few years earlier. Rendered in traditional materials, this modern style merges comfortably with the rustic British Arts and Crafts tradition of most Deer Lake houses. Unusual for being built during wartime date, it was built at a time when domestic construction was severely curtailed due to shortages of labour and material. It is now owned by the City of Burnaby and is part of the Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct. The Moore House is significant as a testament to Deer Lake's continued popularity as a residential neighbourhood in the 1940s. Although Burnaby was serviced by a number of transportation links at the time, the increasing availability of automobiles provided improved access to outlying suburbs. Rising real estate prices in Vancouver and New Westminster attracted residents to this neighbourhood because of its relative affordability, central location and beautiful scenery.
- Defining Elements
- Key elements that define the heritage character of the Moore House include its: - location within the Deer Lake Park Heritage Precinct - residential form, scale and massing as expressed by its one-storey height, linear plan, side gabled roof with multiple roof planes and split-level attached garage - wood-frame construction with stucco cladding - river rock porch columns and external tapered chimney - decorative embellishments including scroll-cut stickwork on the rear elevation and waney-edged boards in the gable peaks - wooden-sash casement windows with three-part, horizontal leading - associated landscaping features, including stone wall at the front of the property and coniferous and deciduous trees surrounding the property
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Function
- Primary Historic--Single Dwelling
- Primary Current--Single Dwelling
- Community
- Deer Lake
- Cadastral Identifier
- P.I.D. 011-454-521
- Boundaries
- The Moore House is comprised of a single residential lot located at 5145 Sperling Avenue, Burnaby.
- Area
- 993.39
- Contributing Resource
- Building
- Ownership
- Public (local)
- Documentation
- City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department, Heritage Site Files
- Street Address
- 5145 Sperling Avenue
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Images
Parkcrest Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark671
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1925-1954
- Heritage Value
- On May 10, 1951, the Burnaby News-Courier reported on the new Parkcrest subdivision, saying: "Central Burnaby is the scenic locale of a successful attempt to produce modern houses economically and yet avoid the mass production effect common to other housing developments. That is one of the many highlights peculiar to the new Parkcrest development of 275 homes...By giving home purchasers a wide choice of finishes, extras and colours, hundreds of variations are possible on the six basic floor plans...Travelling time by car to Hastings and Granville from Parkcrest has been clocked at 15 minutes...Both primary and junior high schools are within walking distance. A modern shopping centre is planned for the future...Several streets are laid out in a straight but irregular manner, thus eliminating the prosaic side by side appearance block by block, as in other housing developments."
- Planning Study Area
- Parkcrest-Aubrey Area
Images
Stride Avenue Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark845
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The interurban link between New Westminster and Vancouver stimulated the early settlement of Stride Avenue. Infilling of the area took place in the early 1950s and the pace of development had slowed considerably by 1970. Duplexes became a popular feature in the decade between 1970 and 1980 and in the late 1980s, the neighbourhood was incorporated into the Edmonds Town Centre South plan.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
Images
Stride Hill Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark846
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The residential areas that are located within the Stride Hill Neighbourhood were primarily developed in the 1950s during Burnaby's post-war building boom. The area lying to the south of Byrne Creek Ravine Park was used as a municipal garbage dump until the 1960s and as a landfill site for yard waste disposal until the early 1990s at which point the area was incorporated into the Edmonds Town Centre Plan and the land was made into park and open space.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Hill Area
Images
Westridge Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark680
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1925-1954
- Heritage Value
- The Westridge Neighbourhood of Burnaby was created as a new subdivision during the post-World War Two housing boom in Burnaby. Developed by the C.B. Riley Company, it was laid out in a plan contoured to the shapes of the land and was situated to allow residents easy access to main transportation routes.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Westridge Area
Images
Windsor Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark803
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The Windsor Neighbourhood comprises a number of different districts with different characteristics. To the north, stretching to the border of the Deer Lake Park, is the primarily residential area that was developed after the building boom of the 1950s and now consists of a mix of single-family and multi-family housing. To the south, from Kingsway to the Skytrain line, an industrial area was maintained along with a significant commercial corridor along Kingsway. In recent years, the growth and development of this area has been guided by the Royal Oak Community Plan adopted by Council in 1999.
- Planning Study Area
- Windsor Area
Images
Brentwood Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark669
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1925-1954
- Heritage Value
- In July, 1953, Burnaby's Municipal Council gave approval for the construction of a $12,000,000 residential and shopping development to be called Brentwood Park, located on the northeast corner of Lougheed and Willingdon. Plans called for about 400 homes and a 30-acre shopping centre to be built in this new subdivision - the first large residential subdivision in Burnaby to be developed with sewers and paved streets as well as other services.
- Planning Study Area
- Brentwood Area
Images
Sperling-Broadway Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark789
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- By the 1970s, the Sperling-Broadway Neighbourhood was characterised as one of the Municipality's fastest growing residential areas. In 1980, it was estimated that slightly less than half of the homes were single-family residences, while the remaining development was taking the form of townhouse and high-rise apartments. The emphasis shifted back to single family housing during the construction of planned subdivisions such as the Camrose subdivision in the 1980s and the area remains primarily residential in nature. The neighbourhood is well-served by park facilities and is also home to the Burnaby Mountain Golf Course.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Images
Willingdon Heights Neighbourhood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark670
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1925-1954
- Heritage Value
- Willingdon Heights was another new subdivision developed in Burnaby during the post-World War Two building boom. A brochure about the development published in 1948 proclaimed "the Willingdon Heights 500 home development project in Burnaby fulfills its promise to provide a self-contained community for former members of the armed services and their families...the largest single veteran housing project in Canada as far as homes for individual ownership is concerned, Willingdon Heights development was planned by the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation...At this date the earlier built rows of homes have passable roads and the owners are improving lawns and gardens in spare time...eventually additional stores and professional services will be installed and recreational projects will add to the amenities of a community of congenial residents..."
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
Images
Interview with Don Brown by Rod Fowler February 26, 1990 - Track 11
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory512
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1979-1990
- Length
- 00:09:05
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Don Brown’s service as Alderman (1979-1985), his support for Bill Copeland in 1987 and conflicts with Mayor Bill Lewarne, and some of the issues he dealt with such as illegal suites, density planning and highrises for Hastings
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Don Brown’s service as Alderman (1979-1985), his support for Bill Copeland in 1987 and conflicts with Mayor Bill Lewarne, and some of the issues he dealt with such as illegal suites, density planning and highrises for Hastings
- Date Range
- 1979-1990
- Photo Info
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Don Brown, November 2, 1997. Item no. 535-0979
- Length
- 00:09:05
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 26, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Don Brown, conducted by Rod Fowler. Don Brown was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about Don Brown’s description of the changes in Burnaby’s built and natural landscapes and socioeconomic conditions, especially between 1947 and 1975, the strong impression made on him by those changes evident in the interview. He talks about his work and career as a police officer with the Burnaby Provincial Police and RCMP. The interview also details his involvement in Burnaby politics and volunteer community groups. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Donald Neil “Don” Brown was born in Birmingham, England May 4, 1919, and immigrated with his parents and siblings to Winnipeg in 1922. At the outbreak of WWII Don Brown left high school and enlisted in the 12th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, serving six years in the army. Before going overseas he married Helen Birch in 1939. In 1947 Don Brown joined the B.C. Provincial Police which was absorbed by the RCMP in 1950. He worked as a police officer in Burnaby from 1947 to 1954, and then was transferred to Ottawa (with a stop in Regina) for nine and a half years where he attended Carleton University to study forensics. In 1963 Don Brown was transferred back to Vancouver and bought and moved into a house on Watling Street in Burnaby where he still lived in 1990. Another transfer took him to Edmonton for five years, returning to Burnaby in 1975. Following retirement in 1980 with the rank of Supervisor and after 22 years in forensic laboratories, Don Brown started his own business as a private document examiner. Don Brown was active in Burnaby politics, serving as Alderman from 1979-1985. He was also involved in many community groups including the South Burnaby Men’s Club, which he helped found in 1952, as well as active in the Burnaby Historical Society, and served on the Burnaby School Board, Burnaby Centennial Committee, and the Community College for the Retired. Don and Helen Brown had six children: Donna, Don, Gina, Patricia, Christopher and Susan. Don Brown died May 16, 2009.
- Total Tracks
- 14
- Total Length
- 01:35:07
- Interviewee Name
- Brown, Donald N. "Don"
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track eleven of interview with Don Brown
Track eleven of interview with Don Brown
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-016/MSS187-016_Track%2011.mp3
Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 8
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory479
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1956-1990
- Length
- 00:10:17
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s founding and operation of the youth soccer exchange with Washington State, and the importance of soccer to the community. He discusses the problem of isolation between north and south Burnaby, planned development in Burnaby, and the contributi…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s founding and operation of the youth soccer exchange with Washington State, and the importance of soccer to the community. He discusses the problem of isolation between north and south Burnaby, planned development in Burnaby, and the contributions of Ratepayer groups and volunteers
- Date Range
- 1956-1990
- Photo Info
- Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263
- Length
- 00:10:17
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- March 19, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.
- Total Tracks
- 11
- Total Length
- 1:31:44
- Interviewee Name
- Gordon, Merrill
- Interview Location
- unknown
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track eight of interview with Merrill Gordon
Track eight of interview with Merrill Gordon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_8.mp3
Interview with Sev Morin by Rod Fowler April 4, 1990 - Track 10
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory546
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1950-1990
- Length
- 00:09:22
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s views about Burnaby’s identity and the irrelevance of municipal boundary lines for many functions; his identification of Burnaby’s heritage, ecological and educational “gems”; and musings about the next development phases for Burnaby
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s views about Burnaby’s identity and the irrelevance of municipal boundary lines for many functions; his identification of Burnaby’s heritage, ecological and educational “gems”; and musings about the next development phases for Burnaby
- Date Range
- 1950-1990
- Photo Info
- Sev Morin (left) of Severin's in Burnaby (formerly the Gai Paree) hosting a gala New Year's celebration, 1979. Item no. 480-712
- Length
- 00:09:22
- Subjects
- Public Services - Municipal Services
- Planning
- Industries
- Geographic Features - Parks
- Buildings - Recreational
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- April 4, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Severin "Sev" Morin, conducted by Rod Fowler. Sev Morin was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about Sev Morin’s banquet hall, restaurant and night club business on Kingsway, originally named the “Gai Paree Supper Club” (1947-1976) and later “Severin’s” (1976-1985) and “Diego’s” (1985-1994), its function as a Burnaby landmark, and the entertainment and political people he met through his business. He also describes his many volunteer activities in Burnaby, including member of the SFU Senate, Rotary Club, Variety Club and Telethon, fund raising for Burnaby Hospital, and tourism related groups, and his political work for the federal Liberal party. He talks about his parents’ origins, the lives of his brothers Rudy and Rene, and the family’s involvement in establishing the “Gai Paree”. He also shares his views about the business and cultural development of Burnaby. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Severin “Sev” Rene Morin was born September 21, 1927, in Bonneville, Alberta, to Rene Pierre Morin (1878-1963) and Anne Marie (nee Lachiver) Morin (1886-1956). Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Morin and their son Rene Francois (1905-1954) immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, from France in 1913, where Rene Pierre Morin worked for the C.N.R. and a second son Adolphe “Rudy” Ferdinand (1922-1969) was born, followed by their third son Severin. In 1943, after R.P. Morin retired, the family moved to Burnaby to a house on Sperling Avenue. Sometime earlier the two older Morin brothers found work in Trail at the smelter and developed musical careers. In 1946/47 the Morin family purchased property on Kingsway and built a banquet hall, the “Gai Paree Supper Club”. Sev and Rudy Morin managed the club and Rene F. Morin moved to Burnaby to join them with his band. The supper club, with its live music and dance floor, became a popular meeting place and wedding venue, eventually expanding into a restaurant and nightclub in the 1970s. The “Gai Paree” was renamed “Severin’s” in 1976 and “Diego’s” in 1985, closing finally in 1994. Sev Morin’s business life included three record stores which he owned with his friend Jack Cullen. Through these businesses Sev Morin was well known in the entertainment and hospitality industry. He and his restaurant also hosted political and social events that made the restaurant a community landmark. Sev Morin contributed many volunteer hours to community and charitable organizations, including an appointment to the SFU Senate, fundraising for the Burnaby Hospital, Director of the Variety Club and Rotary Club, and consultant for a variety of tourism related ventures. He also was active in the federal Liberal Party. Sev Morin and his wife Pauline married in 1950 and had three children. Sev Morin died at age 86 on March 28, 2014.
- Total Tracks
- 10
- Total Length
- 00:56:44
- Interviewee Name
- Morin, Severin "Sev"
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track ten of interview with Sev Morin
Track ten of interview with Sev Morin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-021/MSS187-021_Track%2010.mp3