Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) + 65 photographs + 26 photographs (jpg) + 1 portfolio (15 col. photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and his wife, Donna Polos; photographs of Jimmy Chow and his family soon after they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s as well as a sampling of photographs and records documenting Jimmy Chow's career in the film industry. Fonds is arranged…

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) + 65 photographs + 26 photographs (jpg) + 1 portfolio (15 col. photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and his wife, Donna Polos; photographs of Jimmy Chow and his family soon after they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s as well as a sampling of photographs and records documenting Jimmy Chow's career in the film industry. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos interviews series 2) Jimmy Chow family photographs series 3) Property master photographs series 4) Property master records series

History: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow was born in Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China in 1948. In 1950, Jimmy Chow and his mother, Gim Gee Chow (1913-1991) fled China to escape the Communist Revolution and to be reunited with his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow (1906-1990) who’d immigrated to Canada many years earlier. Jimmy’s elder sister Shao-Lin Chow stayed behind in China. Jimmy’s father, Robin Chung Dip Chow immigrated to Canada in 1921 at 14 years of age and was forced to pay the Chinese head tax of $500. In 1950, Jimmy and his mother first fled to Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada and arriving in Vancouver. Jimmy Chow’s birth name is Hipman Chow but when he arrived in Canada, his father indicated that he needed an English name and he was given the name “Jimmy” but retained his birth name “Hipman Chow”. Over the years, Jimmy has also used the name “James H. Chow” and is often credited by this name in the film industry. For the first four years after immigrating, Jimmy and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec where his father had work in hotels and restaurants. While living in Asquith, Saskatchewan Jimmy attended school and began to learn English. In 1954, Jimmy and his parents returned to Vancouver, first living in the area of Strathcona before settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant where they purchased a house located on 15th Avenue east of Main Street. While living in Mount Pleasant, Jimmy attended both elementary and high school. While attending high school, Jimmy began working at the local grocery store where he worked for many years living at home and saving his money. In 1970 while attending Vancouver City College, Jimmy met his future wife Donna Polos. Two years later, they moved in together, married in 1981 and started a family. Jimmy and Donna first lived in North Burnaby before purchasing a house on Victory Street in Burnaby where they raised their three children. Growing up in a traditional Chinese Canadian family, Jimmy was always one who went against the grain. Although his father wanted him to get a business degree, Jimmy had aspirations for a different career path. Through the referral of a friend, he entered the film industry in 1973 working for CBC Vancouver. While working at the CBC, Jimmy gained valuable experience working on the set of the television series The Beachcombers, which launched his career in the film industry. Over a 45 year career, Jimmy worked on over 50 blockbuster movies, historical period films, science fiction films and fantasy films, where he honed in on his expertise as a set decorator, art director and property master. He built an international reputation through working with production companies, prop makers and antique sellers across the globe. As a property master in the film industry, Jimmy Chow has been responsible for designing, managing, and sourcing props for films such as: The BFG, Warcraft: The Beginning, X-Men 2, Fantastic Four, Watchman, Tron: Legacy, Little Women, Seven Years in Tibet, Shanghai Noon, The Shipping News, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Changeling, Man of Steel (Superman), Snow Falling on Cedars, Legends of the Fall, And the Sea Will Tell, Once a Thief and many more. With Jimmy's many years of professional experience in the film industry, he has been a union member of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians...) from July 1979, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science from 2018 and has worked as a guest lecturer in film production at Capilano University and Langara University. He was also a key contributor to the Burnaby Village Museum’s 2014 temporary exhibition Burnaby Makes Movies. Donna Polos was born in Vancouver in 1949 to parents Mayme "May" Helen Tillikana Polos (1931-1977) and Donald James Polos (1926-2017). Donna’s maternal grandparents, Elvi Tienhara and Toiva Tillikana immigrated to Canada from Helsinki, Finland. Donna’s paternal grandmother, Pauline Chimiki Polos emigrated from Ukraine to Argentina and then to Winnipeg. Donna’s paternal grandfather, James "Jimmy" Kostopolus emigrated as an orphan from Sparta Greece at the age of 12 years. In 1908, he first immigrated to the United States where he was denied entry so immigrated to Canada, entering through Halifax at Pier 17. When immigrating, James changed his last name to "Polos". Jimmy Polos arrived in Halifax with only five dollars in his pocket. He lived in Halifax for many years before making his way to Vancouver where he established three restaurants and raised his family. James was the proprietor of three restaurants in Burnaby including; the Home Apple Pie Café (1941-1944) located on East Hastings near Princess Avenue; Jimmy’s Café (1945-1955) located on East Hastings near Hawks Avenue and another restaurant located near 10th Avenue and Alma Street. Donna grew up with her family in Vancouver, first living in the downtown eastside before moving to a home near Joyce Station. Donna attended elementary school and high school while growing up in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station. Donna moved out of her family home at 21 years of age and lived with roommates before moving in with Jimmy Chow in 1972. Donna attended Vancouver City College and the University of British Columbia where she obtained her teaching degree in 1974. Donna first taught at Gilmore Elementary School before being hired to teach at Clinton Elementary School where she taught for nine years. While raising their three children, Donna worked part time teaching in schools in Burnaby. In 1991, after a near death experience, Donna became interested in fine art and took drawing and watercolour painting classes. This experience led her to experimenting with different painting techniques on paper and fabric. In 2008, Donna retired from teaching but continued her art career often working as an Artist in Residence at various schools and exhibiting her work. While living in Burnaby Donna has been politically active with a particular passion for heritage, housing and preserving the natural environment. Donna was instrumental in advocating and petitioning for the establishment of a tree bylaw in Burnaby which was eventually adopted by the City.

Creator: Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"; Polos, Donna

Accession Code: BV022.21; BV023.11

Date: 1950-2022

Media Type: Sound Recording; Photograph; Textual Record; Graphic Material

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds; Hipman "Jimmy" Chow's name in Cantonese is Chow Hipman and in Mandarin is Zhou Xiamin.

Historical atlas of Canada : Canada's history illustrated with original maps

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1455

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Hayes, Derek, 1947-

Publication Date: c2002

Call Number: 911.71 HAY

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 1553650778; 9781550549188; 1550549189; 9781553650775

Call Number: 911.71 HAY

Author: Hayes, Derek, 1947-

Place of Publication: Vancouver

Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre

Publication Date: c2002

Physical Description: 272 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.) ; 35 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Canada--Historical geography--Maps; Canada--Discovery and exploration--Maps

Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 265-267) and index.; Oversized book

Historical atlas of Vancouver and the lower Fraser Valley

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1424

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Hayes, Derek, 1947-

Edition: 1st paperback ed.

Publication Date: 2007; c2005

Call Number: 911.71133 HAY

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 9781553652830; 1553652835; 1553651073

Call Number: 911.71133 HAY

Edition: 1st paperback ed.

Author: Hayes, Derek, 1947-

Place of Publication: Vancouver

Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre

Publication Date: 2007; c2005

Physical Description: 192 p. : ill. (chiefly col.), maps, ports. ; 31 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Vancouver (B.C.)--Historical geography--Maps; Lower Mainland (B.C.)--Historical geography--Maps; Lower Mainland (B.C.)--Discovery and exploration--Maps

Notes: Maps on end papers.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 186-187) and index.; "Winner of the Lieutenant-Governor's Award for Historical Writing"

History of Burnaby Council and council committees since 1982

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6666

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: City of Burnaby, Office of the City Clerk

Publication Date: 2005

Call Number: 971.133 BUR

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Textual Record

Call Number: 971.133 BUR

Author: City of Burnaby, Office of the City Clerk

Place of Publication: Burnaby, B.C.

Publisher: City of Burnaby

Publication Date: 2005

Physical Description: 221 p ; 30 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby, B.C.; Burnaby (B.C.)--History

Subjects: Government - Local Government

Holidays on display

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5850

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Bird, William L.

Edition: 1st ed.

Publication Date: c2007

Call Number: 741.67 BIR

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 9781568986951

Call Number: 741.67 BIR

Edition: 1st ed.

Author: Bird, William L.

Contributor: National Museum of American History (U.S.)

Place of Publication: New York; Washington, D.C.

Publisher: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History; Princeton Architectural Press

Publication Date: c2007

Physical Description: 153 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 23 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Show-windows--United States--History; Christmas show windows--United States--History; Holiday decorations

Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-150).

Hollywood North : the feature film industry in British Columbia

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6426

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Gasher, Mike, 1954-

Publication Date: c2002

Call Number: 384.8 GAS

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 0774809671; 9780774809672

Call Number: 384.8 GAS

Author: Gasher, Mike, 1954-

Place of Publication: Vancouver

Publisher: UBC Press

Publication Date: c2002

Printer: Friesens

Physical Description: viii,176 p. ; 24 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Motion picture industry; Motion pictures--History

Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.

The homestead on the hillside

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary210

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Holmes, Mary Jane, 1825-1907

Publication Date: c1856

Call Number: 813.4 HOL

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: HV971.136.100

Call Number: 813.4 HOL

Author: Holmes, Mary Jane, 1825-1907

Contributor: Lexow, Lucas

Place of Publication: New York

Publisher: J. H. Sears & Company, Inc.

Publication Date: c1856

Series: The Reader's Library

Printer: Kingsport Press

Physical Description: iv, 242 p.

Inscription: "W25", in black pen inside front cover, crossed out in pencil "Mary Lambert", handwritten in pencil on front endpaper

Library Subject (LOC): Fiction--19th century

Hong Kong apothecary : a visual history of Chinese medicine packaging

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7443

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Go, Simon, 1967-

Publication Date: 2003

Call Number: 615.10951 GO

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 9781568983905; 1568983905

Call Number: 615.10951 GO

Author: Go, Simon, 1967-

Place of Publication: New York, New York

Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press

Publication Date: 2003

Physical Description: 199 p. : col. ill. ; 25 cm

Library Subject (LOC): Drugs--Packaging--China--Hong Kong--History; Medicine, Chinese; Medicine, Chinese--History; Materia medica--China--Hong Kong--History

Household counts : Canadian households and families in 1901

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1420

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: c2007

Call Number: 306.850971 SAG

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 9780802038029; 9780802038609; 0802038603; 0802038026

Call Number: 306.850971 SAG

Contributor: Sager, Eric W., 1946-; Baskerville, Peter A.

Place of Publication: Toronto

Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Publication Date: c2007

Physical Description: 485 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Families--Canada--History--20th century; Households--Canada--History--20th century; Families--Canada--Statistics; Canada--Population--History

Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; Contents: Transitions in household and family structure : Canada in 1901 and 1991 / Stacie D. A. Burke -- Canadian fertility in 1901 : a bird's-eye view / Peter Gossage, Danielle Gauvreau -- Family geographies : a national perspective / Larry McCann, Ian Buck, Ole Heggen -- Family geographies : an urban perspective / Larry McCann, Ian Buck, Ole Heggen -- Rural to urban migration : finding house hold complexity in a New World environment / Kenneth M. Sylvester -- Family geographies : Montreal, Canada's metropolis / Larry McCann, Ian Buck, Ole Heggen -- Families, fostering, and flying the coop : lessons in liberal cultural formation, 1871-1901 / Gordon Darroch -- Canadian children who lived with one parent in 1901 / Bettina Bradbury -- Boundaries of age : exploring the patterns of young-old age among men, Canada and the United States, 1870-1901 / Lisa Dillon -- Inequality, earnings, and the Canadian working class in 1901 / Eric W. Sager -- 'Leaving God behind when they crossed the Rocky Mountains' : exploring unbelief in turn-of-the-century British Columbia / Lynne Marks -- Giving birth : families and the medical marketplace in Victoria, British Columbia, 1880-1901 / Peter Baskerville -- Language, ancestry, and the competing constructions of identity in turn-of-the-century Canada / Chad Gaffield -- Constructing normality and confronting deviance : familial ideologies, household structures, and divorce in the 1901 Canadian census / Annalee Lepp. Edited by Eric W. Sager and Peter Baskerville

How the farm pays : the experiences of forty years of successful farming and gardening by the authors

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1338

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Crozier, William, 1833-1904; Henderson, Peter, 1822-1890

Publication Date: 2001

Call Number: 630 CRO

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 1894572254; 9781894572255

Call Number: 630 CRO

Author: Crozier, William, 1833-1904; Henderson, Peter, 1822-1890

Place of Publication: Ottawa

Publisher: Algrove Pub.

Publication Date: 2001

Series: Classic reprint series (Ottawa, Ont.)

Physical Description: 400 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Agriculture

Subjects: Agriculture

Notes: Reprint of ed. published: New York : P. Henderson & Co., 1884.

In and Out of a Cedar Shake Shack

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4617

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [ca. 2000]

Collection/Fonds: Waplington family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 manuscript : 200 pages

Scope and Content: Item consists of a copy of an unpublished manuscript titled "In and Out of a Cedar Shake Shack The life of a little girl from World War I to Canada's Diamond Jubilee" written by Frances L. Fleming (nee Waplington).

1 image 1 document

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Waplington family fonds

Series: Frances Fleming manuscripts series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 manuscript : 200 pages

Scope and Content: Item consists of a copy of an unpublished manuscript titled "In and Out of a Cedar Shake Shack The life of a little girl from World War I to Canada's Diamond Jubilee" written by Frances L. Fleming (nee Waplington).

Creator: Fleming, Frances "Fanny" Waplington

Other Title Information: Title continues:... The life of a little girl from World War I to Canada's Diamond Jubilee

Accession Code: BV016.46.51

Access Restriction: Restricted access

Reproduction Restriction: Reproductions subject to FIPPA

Date: [ca. 2000]

Media Type: Textual Record

Notes: Transcribed title; Experts from this manuscript (pages 113-126) “Christmas Time” and “The Fire Brigade”. have been made available as a pdf. Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view the Manuscript in it's entirety.

Images

In and Out of a Cedar Shake Shack, [ca. 2000] thumbnail

Documents

2016_0046_0051_002

Index to ALHFAM annual proceedings 1974-2000

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6685

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums

Edition: New ed.

Publication Date: 2000

Call Number: 631.074 ALH

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Textual Record

Call Number: 631.074 ALH

Edition: New ed.

Author: Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums

Contributor: Seelhorst, Mary L.

Place of Publication: North Bloomfield, Ohio

Publisher: Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums

Publication Date: 2000

Physical Description: 1 v ; 28 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Historic farms; Agricultural museums; Directories

Subjects: Agriculture

Notes: "Prepared by Mary L. Seelhorst".; Includes index

Information for Harold Winch biography

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3647

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1935-2003

Collection/Fonds: Harold Edward Winch collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records + 1 photograph : col.

Scope and Content: File consists of records relating to the development of a biography of Harold Winch, including newspaper clippings, Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) publicity material, and a photograph of the dedication of MacInnis Park in Vancouver, including Glen Clark, MLA.

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Harold Edward Winch collection

Series: Harold E. Winch biographical records series

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 1 folder of textual records + 1 photograph : col.

Scope and Content: File consists of records relating to the development of a biography of Harold Winch, including newspaper clippings, Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) publicity material, and a photograph of the dedication of MacInnis Park in Vancouver, including Glen Clark, MLA.

Subjects: Government - Provincial Government

Names: MacInnis, Grace; MacInnis, Angus; Clark, Glen; Winch, Harold Edward

Accession Code: BV013.12.4

Date: 1935-2003

Media Type: Photograph; Textual Record

Notes: Title based on contents of file

Interurban 1231 on the track between Science World and Granville Island

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription2887

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1998 and 2011]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. inkjet print ; 20.5 x 25 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of British Columbia Electric Railway Interurban car 1231 "Burnaby Lake Line" on the tram tracks between Science World and Granville Island. The Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway was a heritage electric railway that was in operation between 1998 and 2011 which ran two restored interurba…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. inkjet print ; 20.5 x 25 cm

Material Details: Inkjet print of a digital image on white photocopy paper.

Scope and Content: Photograph of British Columbia Electric Railway Interurban car 1231 "Burnaby Lake Line" on the tram tracks between Science World and Granville Island. The Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway was a heritage electric railway that was in operation between 1998 and 2011 which ran two restored interurban trams on the line between Science World and Granville Island. These tracks were formerly used as a frieght railway right-of-way.

Subjects: Transportation - Electric Railroads

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Geographic Access: Vancouver

Accession Code: BV012.18.11

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [between 1998 and 2011]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 300

Scan Date: 13-Mar-2018

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Interurban 1231 on the track between Science World and Granville Island, [between 1998 and 2011] thumbnail

The interurban line : put on track by the Volunteer Advisory Commitee, fall & winter 2000

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6709

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: 2000

Call Number: 971.133 INT fall & winter 2000

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Textual Record

Call Number: 971.133 INT fall & winter 2000

Place of Publication: Burnaby, B.C.

Publisher: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: 2000

Physical Description: 10 p. : ill ; 28 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History--Anecdotes; Burnaby Village Museum--History; British Columbia--History; Periodicals

Notes: "Burnaby Village Musuem for all staff and volunteers".

The interurban line : put on track by the Volunteer Advisory Commitee, spring 2001

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6710

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: 2001

Call Number: 971.133 INT spring 2001

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Textual Record

Call Number: 971.133 INT spring 2001

Place of Publication: Burnaby, B.C.

Publisher: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: 2001

Physical Description: 10 p. : ill ; 28 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History--Anecdotes; Burnaby Village Museum--History; British Columbia--History; Periodicals

Notes: "Burnaby Village Musuem for all staff and volunteers".

The interurban line : put on track by the Volunteer Advisory Commitee, spring, summer 2000

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6708

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: 2000

Call Number: 971.133 INT summer 2000

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Textual Record

Call Number: 971.133 INT summer 2000

Place of Publication: Burnaby, B.C.

Publisher: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: 2000

Physical Description: 12 p. : ill ; 28 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History--Anecdotes; Burnaby Village Museum--History; British Columbia--History; Periodicals

Notes: "Burnaby Village Musuem for all staff and volunteers".

Interview with Bill Gruenthal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19636

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (74 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (74 min., 37 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on July 31 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:27:01 Bill Gruenthal provides details on his family background, his early life experiences, how he got into the insurance business,…

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (74 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (74 min., 37 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Bill Gruenthal Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 31, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:14:37 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on July 31 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:27:01 Bill Gruenthal provides details on his family background, his early life experiences, how he got into the insurance business, his knowledge and interest in Judaism, places that he and his wife lived before moving to Burnaby, family life in Burnaby and his political involvement in running for the Burnaby school board. 00:27:02 – 00:42:50 Bill Gruenthal talks about the Burquest Jewish Community Association, it’s background and his involvement, experiences of discrimination in his career, a brief history of the Jewish people and some cultural traditions. 00:42:51 – 00:56:04 Bill Gruenthal mentions some of the charities that he supports including Burnaby Hospital, his volunteer work within the community and community organizations including the Nikkei Place Foundation and shares more details on his insurance career. 00:56:05 – 01:14:37 Bill Gruenthal shares information about his Burnaby neighbourhood and Jewish funeral customs and provides his impressions of new development at Brentwood, Burnaby Council and other development projects in Burnaby.

History: Interviewee biography: Bill Gruenthal was born in the British Mandate of Palestine, now Israel, in 1935 after his parents had fled Germany in advance of the then worsening political situation. Bill’s father died in 1942; some years later his mother remarried to an Irish-born senior civil servant in that government. He had a difficult and somewhat dangerous job. Soon after marriage, the family, including Bill’s older brother, Martin, immigrated to Canada in January 1947 on the strength of his step-father’s British Passport. They traveled via New York, where Bill’s uncle and his family resided and who put up the family. Later that month, the parents travelled by CP rail from Montreal to Vancouver, followed by Bill and his brother in March 1947 who travelled from New York to White Rock on an American railroad. While passing through the Fraser Valley Bill’s parents took an interest in Silverdale, a small hamlet west of Mission where the four eventually settled. Bill finished High School in Mission and soon joined the insurance industry. Bill connected with the Jewish Community in Vancouver where he met his soon-to-be wife. Upon marriage they were transferred to Calgary; after five years suffering its cold weather they were transferred back to Vancouver. They settled in Burnaby in 1966 as an affordable neighbourhood with easy access to his office downtown Vancouver. Outside work, Bill helped raise his family of three daughters who all graduated Burnaby High School (Alpha). They joined Temple Sholom in Vancouver, and he volunteered and still volunteers for a number of non-profits, including The Jewish Museum and Archives and Nikkei Place Foundation (Burnaby). He was an early long-term supporter and a past president of Burquest Jewish Community Association, mostly involving persons from Burnaby, New Westminster, and the Tri-Cities area (hence the name). He ran for political office in Burnaby in 1976 but was not elected. He delivers food in Burnaby for the Food Bank and is a donor to many worthy causes including Burnaby General Hospital. 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: Migration; Persons - Jewish Canadians; Transportation; Transportation - Rail; Religions - Judaism; Cemeteries; Organizations; Elections

Names: Gruenthal, Bill; Gruenthal, Noemi Yadlow; O'Connor, Herta Ingrid Gruenthal; O'Connor, John; Burquest; Jacobson, Max Alec; Temple Shalom; Brentwood Shopping Centre; Brentwood Park School; Alpha Secondary School; Burnaby School Board

Responsibility: Damer, Eric

Accession Code: BV023.16.14

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available

Documents

2023_0016_0014_004

Audio Tracks

Interview with Bill Gruenthal, [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0014_003.mp3

Interview with Bob Lowe 2005 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4493

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 2005

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:04:56 min)

Scope and Content: Track 1: This portion of the recording pertains to Bob’s school activities, recreation, responsibilities, and his jobs. Bob grew up in the area of Central Burnaby known as Skunk Hollow, and talks of living near Norfolk and Douglas Road in his early childhood, and then on Government Road. He recalls…

1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Growing Up in Burnaby subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:04:56 min)

Material Details: Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Bob Lowe Date of interview: May 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 6 Total length of all Tracks: 0:43:36

Scope and Content: Track 1: This portion of the recording pertains to Bob’s school activities, recreation, responsibilities, and his jobs. Bob grew up in the area of Central Burnaby known as Skunk Hollow, and talks of living near Norfolk and Douglas Road in his early childhood, and then on Government Road. He recalls attending Douglas Road School and Burnaby South High School. Bob describes his extracurricular activities in school, organized and informal. He mentions the games he played with his friends. Bob discusses his family chores, and his first job, which was a newspaper route for the Vancouver Province. He describes his later jobs, one at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, working for Mr. Arnold, and then for Mr. Robertson at Burnaby Lake Nurseries.

History: Recording of an interview with Robert "Bob" Lowe recording by Tom Gooden in 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1930s and 40s.