Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19604
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 6 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 7 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 - 00:13:30 Interview opens with introductions. Samuel (Sam) and Angela Nalliah provide biographical details including their p…
- 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) (68 min., 6 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 7 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: James Binks Interviewees: Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah Location of Interview: Nalliah family home Interview Date: May 29, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 68 min., 6 sec. Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph information: Ruth (Angela) Nalliah with husband Samuel Nalliah WARNING: Some of the content discussed in this interview (00:40:58 – 00:57:31) regarding the Tamil genocide may be upsetting to some people.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 - 00:13:30 Interview opens with introductions. Samuel (Sam) and Angela Nalliah provide biographical details including their parentage, place of birth (Sri Lanka), spoken language and education. Sam Nalliah shares details on his education while living in Sri Lanka, his later education in Wales where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and his migration to Halifax in 1978 after obtaining a job at Dalhousie University as a systems analyst. Sam conveys how he decided to relocate from Halifax to Vancouver in 1986 and started his employment with BC Tel. Angela Nalliah shares details on her education and employment after immigrating to Canada from Sri Lanka in 1986. Angela conveys how she first lived in Ottawa, moved to Toronto in 1989 where she began working for TD bank and moved to Vancouver in 1999. 00:13:31 – 00:20:03 Sam Nalliah talks about how he and his wife Angela first met and married in 1999 and moved to Vancouver. Sam shares information on where his other family members immigrated to and why he decided to immigrate to Canada. Angela shares information on other members of her family who immigrated to Canada before her and how her uncle sponsored them all to come. 00:20:04 – 00:29:30 Sam provides further details regarding his family make up including; his first wife, his daughters (born in 1983 and 1985), his step daughter (born in 1991) and his youngest daughter (born in 2000). Sam tells how he worked as a Systems and Operations Manager at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at BC Hydro. Sam provides locations of homes that they lived in Burnaby and Vancouver. Sam and Angela describe what they liked about living in Burnaby, where their daughter attended school and where they did their shopping. 00:29:31 – 00:32:11 Angela talks about working for Prospera Credit Union from 2003 after TD bank downsized. Sam describes how they rented out their house in Vancouver and lived in a rental home in Burnaby that was owned by the City of Burnaby. Sam and Angela recollect the time period that they lived in Burnaby and Vancouver before deciding to move to Surrey in 2015. 00:32:12 – 00:35:59 Sam and Angela provide details regarding their daughter’s post-secondary education and careers. Angela talks about her social activities, volunteer work and involvement with the Thamil Cultural Society of British Columbia, the Women’s Network as well as the Westminster Bible Chapel Church in Burnaby and the Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church in Surrey. 00:36:00 – 00:40:57 Sam recalls hearing Prime Minster Pierre Elliott Trudeau speak about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms at Dalhousie University and the effect that his speech made on him. Sam talks about joining the National Democratic Party when Peter Julian was elected as a Member of Parliament for Burnaby. 00:40:58 – 00:57:31 (WARNING: Some of the content discussed in this portion of the interview may be upsetting to some people) Sam and Angela speak about their involvement with the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC). Angela describes the brutal violence that she witnessed while living in Sri Lanka during the Anti-Tamil state sponsored genocide in the 1980’s. Sam and Angela recollect and discuss their views and actions pertaining to the MV Sun Sea incident where a Thai cargo ship carrying Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to British Columbia were identified as terrorists by the Canadian Government and held in detention facilities. 00:57:32 – 01:08:07 Sam reflects on what he likes about Burnaby. Angela and Sam talk about Hindu temples attended by many Tamil and Sri Lankan people living in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Angela talks about the many cultural events and celebrations that are celebrated within the Tamil and Sri Lankan community including the Pongal Festival. Angela and Sam reflect on how grateful they are to be residents of Canada.
- History
- Interviewees biographies: Samuel (Sam) Nalliah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1949. Sam immigrated to Halifax in 1977 after obtaining a position as a systems analyst at Dalhousie University. In 1986, Sam sponsored his parents to come to Canada. In 1986, after being introduced to the milder weather in Victoria, Sam decided to move to British Columbia. He moved to Burnaby in 1990 and began working for BC Tel in Burnaby. Following his job at BC Tel, Sam worked as a Systems and Operations Manager at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at BC Hydro. Ruth (Angela) Nalliah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1964 and immigrated to Canada in 1986. As a Tamil living in Sri Lanka in the 1980’s Angela witnessed first hand the brutal violence during the Anti-Tamil state sponsored genocide. In 1986 Angela was relieved to be able to immigrate to Canada after being sponsored by her uncle. Angela first lived and worked in Ottawa and Toronto before marrying Samuel Nalliah in Ottawa in 1999 and the couple moved to Burnaby. Angela worked for TD bank in both Toronto and Vancouver until it downsized in 2003 and she began working for Prospero Credit Union. While living in Burnaby, Angela attended the Westminster Bible Chapel and after moving to Surrey she became a member of the Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church. Sam and Angela Nalliah have four daughters and since moving to British Columbia they’ve lived in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. Both Sam and Angela are involved with the Tamil Cultural Association of British Columbia and the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) as well as participates in Sri Lankan and Tamil community cultural events. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Events - Festivals
- Government
- Government - Federal Government
- Migration
- Occupations
- Organizations - Political Parties
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Religions
- Religions - Christianity
- Religions - Hinduism
- Rights
- Rights - Human Rights
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Social Issues - Discrimination
- Names
- Nalliah, Ruth "Angela"
- Nalliah, Samuel "Sam"
- Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC)
- Westminster Bible Chapel
- Thamil Cultural Society of British Columbia (TCSBC)
- Responsibility
- Binks, James
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.8
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum
Images
Audio Tracks
Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah, 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah, 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0008_003.mp3
Lisa Codd, Betty Forbes, Barbara Copan, Don Copan and Daphne Carr at Museum 40th anniversary
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9571
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 jpeg image
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken by Museum staff photographer Leanne Scherp during an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Burnaby Village Museum on June 11, 2011.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum photographs series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 jpeg image
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken by Museum staff photographer Leanne Scherp during an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Burnaby Village Museum on June 11, 2011.
- History
- BVM Curator Lisa Codd, Betty Forbes and Barbara Copan standing in back with Don Copan and Daphne Carr seated in front. They were among the guests at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations.
- Other Title Information
- Title based on contents of photograph.
- Subjects
- Events - Anniversaries
- Accession Code
- BV018.14.18
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scale
- 96
- Photographer
- Scherp, Leanne
- Notes
- Transferred from museum records storage to collection on June 7, 2018.
Images
Maureen and Ron Smitherman at Museum 40th anniversary
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4536
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of museum volunteers, Maureen and Ron Smitherman attending the 40th anniversary celebrations of Burnaby Village Museum on June 11, 2011.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum photographs series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of museum volunteers, Maureen and Ron Smitherman attending the 40th anniversary celebrations of Burnaby Village Museum on June 11, 2011.
- Subjects
- Events - Anniversaries
- Accession Code
- BV018.14.1
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scale
- 96
- Photographer
- Scherp, Leanne
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Member of the Scott Robertson Trio at Museum 40th anniversary
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9557
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a musician from The Scott Robertson Trio performing at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. The musician is playing a stand up bass.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum photographs series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a musician from The Scott Robertson Trio performing at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. The musician is playing a stand up bass.
- Names
- Scott Robertson Trio
- Accession Code
- BV018.14.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scale
- 96
- Photographer
- Scherp, Leanne
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Member of the Scott Robertson Trio at Museum 40th anniversary
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9558
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a musician from The Scott Robertson Trio performing at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. The musician is playing a banjo.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum photographs series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a musician from The Scott Robertson Trio performing at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. The musician is playing a banjo.
- Subjects
- Events - Anniversaries
- Names
- Scott Robertson Trio
- Accession Code
- BV018.14.6
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scale
- 96
- Photographer
- Scherp, Leanne
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Merilyn Darby and Don Copan at Museum 40th anniversary
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9556
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 jpeg image
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken by Museum staff photographer Leanne Scherp during an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Burnaby Village Museum on June 11, 2011.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum photographs series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 jpeg image
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken by Museum staff photographer Leanne Scherp during an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Burnaby Village Museum on June 11, 2011.
- History
- Merilyn Darby and Don Copan were among the guests at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations.
- Other Title Information
- Title based on contents of photograph.
- Subjects
- Events - Anniversaries
- Accession Code
- BV018.14.4
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scale
- 96
- Photographer
- Scherp, Leanne
- Notes
- Transferred from museum records storage to collection on June 7, 2018.
Images
Miscellaneous papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58196
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1870 (date of original) -1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to Deer Lake's development, Burnaby's Heritage Week celebrations and potential heritage buildings. Also included in the file are Real Estate pamphlets, information on Banff Alberta as well as photocopies of early newspaper articles.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1870 (date of original) -1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Evelyn Salisbury subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS061-036
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1991-24
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to Deer Lake's development, Burnaby's Heritage Week celebrations and potential heritage buildings. Also included in the file are Real Estate pamphlets, information on Banff Alberta as well as photocopies of early newspaper articles.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Musicians from Scott Robertson Trio at Museum 40th anniversary
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9561
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of musicians from the Scott Robertson Trio performing at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. One musician is playing a snare drum and the other is playing a stand up bass.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum photographs series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of musicians from the Scott Robertson Trio performing at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. One musician is playing a snare drum and the other is playing a stand up bass.
- Names
- Scott Robertson Trio
- Accession Code
- BV018.14.10
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scale
- 96
- Photographer
- Scherp, Leanne
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2021 subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17534
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- Oct. 2021
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 3 video recordings (mp4)
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of three webinars created in the Fall of 2021 that were presented live on Zoom and the Burnaby Village Museum’s facebook page between October 7 and October 14, 2021. The webinars focus on the history of Japanese Canadians in Burnaby and were hosted by Burnaby Village Museum in p…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 3 video recordings (mp4)
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of three webinars created in the Fall of 2021 that were presented live on Zoom and the Burnaby Village Museum’s facebook page between October 7 and October 14, 2021. The webinars focus on the history of Japanese Canadians in Burnaby and were hosted by Burnaby Village Museum in partnership with Burnaby Public Library. Burnaby Village Museum Community Engagement Coordinator, Christina Froschauer acted as the host for all three webinars. Webinars: 1) From Fuki to Ofuro: Japanese Canadians in Burnaby; presented by Raymond Nakamura 2) Celebrations of Life & Love: Ceramic Works of Thomas Kakinuma; presented by Debra Sloan 3) Timeless Spaces: Japanese Gardens of the West Coast; presented by Tim Nishibata, member of the Vancouver Gardeners Association
- Subjects
- Persons - Japanese Canadians
- Accession Code
- BV021.31
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- Oct. 2021
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- Item level descriptions available
SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97236
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [191-?] (date of original) -2015
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 10 cm. of textual records and other material.
- Scope and Content
- Records consist of material created and collected by the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee in celebration of Burnaby's Centennial in 1992. Celebration projects undertaken by the Committee include: Image Bank project; Centennial Oral History project; Burnaby at 100 video series; and two publications:…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [191-?] (date of original) -2015
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Physical Description
- 10 cm. of textual records and other material.
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Accession Number
- 2015-03
- 2014-28
- Scope and Content
- Records consist of material created and collected by the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee in celebration of Burnaby's Centennial in 1992. Celebration projects undertaken by the Committee include: Image Bank project; Centennial Oral History project; Burnaby at 100 video series; and two publications: "Burnaby: A Cultural Inventory and Resource Guide" and "Suburb of Happy Homes: Burnaby Centennial Themes".
- History
- The SFU (Simon Fraser University)/Burnaby Centennial Committee was established in 1990 and obtained initial funding from the President of Simon Fraser University, which was matched by a grant authorized by the Mayor and Council of the Municipality of Burnaby. Further funding came from the Burnaby (civic) Centennial Committee after the projects had been accepted as part of the recognition for Burnaby's Centennial celebrations in 1992. The suggestion for this committee originated with Professor Robert Anderson from the School of Communications and he was joined by Professors Veronica Strong-Boag from the Department of History and Leonard J. Evenden from the Department of Geography. Primary responsibilities ended up falling jointly to Professor Evenden and Susan Jamieson-McLarnon. The Committee was made up of the following members who helped to carry out the projects to completion: Rodney Fowler (SFU Department of Geography), Terry Fowler (Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago), Edward Gibson (SFU Department of Geography and Director of the Simon Fraser Gallery), James Ross (SFU Archivist), Allen Seager (Department of History), Grant Strate (SFU Fine and Performing Arts), and Arthur Wirick (representing Burnaby Municipal Centennial Committee). Other members of the university community contributed their expertise in a variety of ways, including: Jack Corse (SFU Librarian), Stephen Duguid (Institute of Humanities), Christine Hearn (Continuing Studies), Ken Mennel (Media and Public Relations), Jane Parkinson (Historian and Researcher), Stanley Shapiro (Business Administration) and Jerry Zaslove (Institute for the Humanities). Rodney Fowler also filled the position of committee coordinator. The committee's first undertaking was to explore the extent and availability of historical resources in the community of Burnaby. Two graduate students were hired to help carry out this work in the summer of 1991, which took two forms: a document-based study and an oral history project. The document-based history resulted in an inventory of 'archival' resources titled "Burnaby: A Cultural Inventory and Resource Guide," and the Oral History Project consisted of interviews with 11 Burnaby citizens. With the culmination of these two projects, a day-long workshop was held with both the SFU and the Burnaby municipal committees and other members of the Burnaby community who were pursuing various centennial projects of their own. Following the workshop and several meetings, the committee proposed other projects in addition to the Cultural Inventory and Oral History Project. The other completed projects consisted of: "The Burnaby Image Bank" which included an exhibition titled, "Images of Burnaby"; a finding aid video titled, "Burnaby's Photographic Family Album / Burnaby Image Bank Collection / Volume 1 / 1992"; a video titled "Burnaby at 100: Images and Voices"; a book of essays titled, "Suburb of Happy Homes: Burnaby Centennial Themes"; and a dance festival sponsored by The Centre for the Arts. "Suburb of Happy Homes: Burnaby Centennial Themes", dedicated to the citizens and students of Burnaby, and to the students of Simon Fraser University, was published in 1995. For this project, Leonard Evenden received the City of Burnaby Heritage Award in 1997. A companion project to the book of essays consisted of a map project which illustrated the development of settlement within the city, but it never came to fruition due to funding constraints.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Sound Recording
- Moving Images
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- PC 576, MI 579, MSS 187
St. Helen's Parish fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription77922
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1992-2012
- Collection/Fonds
- St. Helen's Parish fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1.5 cm. of textual records + 1 medallion
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of posters, cards, anniversary programs, a pictorial photo directory, a calendar, a book and a medallion related to St. Helen's Parish. Items in this fonds depict its Centennial Celebrations.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1992-2012
- Collection/Fonds
- St. Helen's Parish fonds
- Physical Description
- 1.5 cm. of textual records + 1 medallion
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Accession Number
- 2013-10
- 2013-11
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of posters, cards, anniversary programs, a pictorial photo directory, a calendar, a book and a medallion related to St. Helen's Parish. Items in this fonds depict its Centennial Celebrations.
- History
- In the first years of the 20th century, the hill overlooking the city of Vancouver was barely developed. This area, known as Vancouver Heights, commands a magnificent view of the city, the north shore mountains, and the sea. During the first decade, there was just a handful of people willing to brave the inconvenience of living in a remote area to dwell in such splendour. Among them were 10 Catholic families. They dreamt about establishing a Catholic community, a church, and perhaps even a school of their own. They knew it would take hard work and sacrifice to realize their dream. In 1912, the Second Narrows Bridge and several industrial plants were built in this area. Archbishop Neil McNeil, recognizing the potential for greater development, requested aid from Toronto's Catholic Extension Society, to help purchase property at the corner of Pandora and Ingleton to build a small church and home for the priest. The $6000 construction expense was donated by Mr. Justice Kelly, who requested that the church be named Saint Helen in memory of his daughter, Helen. On August 11, 1912, Saint Helen's church was blessed. 12 years later, in 1923, a second dream was realized with the construction of Saint Helen's School. The Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul would staff the school for over 50 years, dedicating their lives to the education of thousands of children. 1936 began an era of unprecedented growth under the leadership of Msgr. Daniel Carey. In 1948, despite post-war hardships, he was able to inspire his community to build a new school. He then turned his attention to the over-crowded church and, in 1956, to the delight of the parishioners, the new Saint Helen's Church was blessed. By 1973, the demographics of Saint Helen's Parish had experienced a dramatic change. From the Anglo-Irish parishioners of the early years, Saint Helen's was experiencing a huge increase in parishioners of Italian descent. Archbishop James Carney, realizing the need to better serve these immigrants, asked the Scalabrinian Congregation to take the parish under its care. The second era of physical growth and development in the parish would come under the direction of these missionary priests. The 1970s, with Father Joseph Ponti as pastor, would see the construction of a new rectory, a state-of-the-art hall/gymnasium, and a fully renovated school. Father Joe's dream was the construction of a church, with this in mind, he began to purchase the necessary land. Succeeding pastors Father Angelo Calandra and Father Peter Sordi continued to work towards this dream, accumulating land and initiating the process. Father Claudio Holzer, upon assuming the responsibilities of pastor, took a firm hold of the dreams of his predecessors and shaped them into the reality of the new Saint Helen's Church. From the beginning, St. Helen's Parish has been an active community participant in this area of Burnaby and continues to enjoy this participation not only here but in Metro Vancouver as well. On August 11, 2012, St. Helen's Catholic Church and Parish celebrated its 100th anniversary. -Information contributed by M. Tesan has been combined with information from the official website of the church.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- St. Helen's Catholic Church
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- MSS174
![Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.JPG?width=280)
Through the Lens of Andy Digney
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10099
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (12 min., 17 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a short film featuring a compilation of film footage created by Andy Digney that was edited and narrated by the Burnaby Village Museum. Burnaby resident Andy Digney captured footage of Burnaby and beyond from 1934 to 1964. Highlights within this film compilaton include the constru…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (12 min., 17 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Material Details
- Research and Narration: Lisa Codd
- Editing and Audio Recording: Matthew Ball
- Special thanks to Paul Digney
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a short film featuring a compilation of film footage created by Andy Digney that was edited and narrated by the Burnaby Village Museum. Burnaby resident Andy Digney captured footage of Burnaby and beyond from 1934 to 1964. Highlights within this film compilaton include the construction and events held at the Oak Theatre; Royal visit motorcade of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; Sports Day at Central Park; Gymcana event at Burnaby Lake Riding Stables; lawn bowling at Central Park; a Depression-era May Day workers’ parade in 1936; May Day celebrations in Burnaby; visits to locations throughout the Lower Mainland, including Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain and boat trip up Burrard Inlet; the Digney Speedway; the Digney family at their home on Bonsor Avenue and the Digney Bowling Alley.
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Names
- Digney, Andy
- Digney Bowling Alley
- Digney Speedway
- Codd, Lisa
- Oak Theatre
- Burnaby Lawn Bowling Club
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Central Park
- Street Address
- 6521 Bonsor Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Related Material
- See also the City of Burnaby Archives "Digney Family fonds" MI catalogue 562.003 for film masters
- Notes
- Title based on contents
- City of Burnaby Archives holds the original Digney film masters (562.003) that this narrated segment was disseminated from. See Digney family fonds
Images
![Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.JPG)
Video
Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.mp4
Tom Gooden and Daphne Carr at Museum 40th anniversary
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9559
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator Tom Gooden and guest Daphne Carr at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. Daphne and her husband Harold Carr were active in Century Park Museum association and volunteered at the Village.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum photographs series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator Tom Gooden and guest Daphne Carr at the Burnaby VIllage Museum's 40th anniversary celebrations. Daphne and her husband Harold Carr were active in Century Park Museum association and volunteered at the Village.
- Subjects
- Events - Anniversaries
- Names
- Gooden, Tom
- Carr, Daphne Adel
- Accession Code
- BV018.14.7
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 11 June 2011
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scale
- 96
- Photographer
- Scherp, Leanne
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Virtual Hats off Day
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15401
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 6 Jun. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (43 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of City of Burnaby council members and Mayor Mike Hurley wishing citizens of Burnaby and the public a "Happy Hats Off Day!". They encourage the public to keep the spirit of Burnaby's Hats Off Day alive in their homes since celebrations have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pan…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (43 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of City of Burnaby council members and Mayor Mike Hurley wishing citizens of Burnaby and the public a "Happy Hats Off Day!". They encourage the public to keep the spirit of Burnaby's Hats Off Day alive in their homes since celebrations have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Council members include: Sav Dhaliwal, Pietro Calendino, James Wang, Joe Keithley, Colleen Jordan, Dan Johnston and the late Councillor Paul McDonell.
- History
- Video taken by the City of Burnaby Marketing Department in 2020. The original intent of the clip was to produce communications about the pandemic and changes throughout the City that residents needed to be aware of.
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Subjects
- Officials - Mayors and Reeves
- Events - Festivals
- Officials - Aldermen and Councillors
- Pandemics - COVID-19
- Names
- Hurley, Mike
- City of Burnaby
- McDonell, Paul
- Jordan, Colleen
- Wang, James
- Calendino, Pietro
- Keithley, Joe
- Dhaliwal, Sav
- Johnston, Dan
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Accession Code
- BV021.2.15
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 6 Jun. 2020
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
Images
Video
Virtual Hats off Day, 6 Jun. 2020
Virtual Hats off Day, 6 Jun. 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0002_0015_001.mp4
Chinese Canadian history in Burnaby resource guide
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7608
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Digital Resource
- Accession Code
- BV022.8.1
- Call Number
- 971.1 CHI
- Contributor
- City of Burnaby
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, BC
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- [2022]
- Physical Description
- 36 p. ; ill. (some col.), maps, ports
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby (B.C.)--History
- Burnaby (B.C.)--Social Life and Customs
- Chinese Canadians--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
- Chinese--British Columbia--History
- Pharmacy--Canada
- Pharmacy--United States
- Pharmaceutical museums
- Directories
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Object History
- Chinese Canadians have contributed to Burnaby’s growth for over a century. The long and intertwining histories between Chinese Canadians, Indigenous people and other communities have shaped the founding of Burnaby and British Columbia. This resource guide was created because their life experiences and important contributions to Burnaby’s development are not widely known.
Images
Digital Books
21st Annual Alta Vista Park Celebration
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport59526
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 99468
- Meeting Date
- 16-Jun-2014
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 99468
- Meeting Date
- 16-Jun-2014
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Festivals Burnaby Grant Program Applications
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport79797
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 101519
- Meeting Date
- 1-May-2017
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 101519
- Meeting Date
- 1-May-2017
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Festivals Burnaby Grant Program Applications
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport60686
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 100987
- Meeting Date
- 9-May-2016
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 100987
- Meeting Date
- 9-May-2016
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Indigenous History in Burnaby Resource Guide
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7493
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Digital Resource
- Accession Code
- BV019.64.1
- Call Number
- 971.100497 BVM
- Edition
- First
- Contributor
- Kwantlen First Nation
- Sḵwx̱wú7mesh First Nation
- Tsleil-Waututh First Nation
- ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, BC
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- 2019
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Indigenous peoples--British Columbia
- Indigenous peoples--British Columbia--History
- Indigenous peoples--Canada--History
- Subjects
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Languages
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Societies, etc.
- Name Access
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Object History
- 2019 version of working document developed by Burnaby Village Museum in collaboration with a number of First Nations partners over the course of several years. We recognize that Burnaby falls within the shared, ancestral and unceded territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking people. We equally respect each of the Nations who share territory in Burnaby, and invite and welcome their ongoing participation in developing the contents of the Indigenous History in Burnaby Resource Guide.
Images
Digital Books
Interview 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.mp3