![Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023 thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_001.JPG?width=280)
Interview with Shirley Cohn
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19597
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Shirley Cohn Location of Interviews: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Dates: April 14, 2023 and September 6, 2023 Total Number of Tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 67 min., 33 sec. Digital master recording (wav) recording of second interview (50 min., 36 sec.) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on September 6, 2023: 0:00 – 16:09 Shirley Cohn shares background information about her parents who immigrated to Detroit from Hungary in the 1930’s. Shirley recalls what it was like for her parents being Jewish during World War II and how many of their relations were killed in the Holocaust. Shirley talks about her Jewish Hungarian heritage, what it was like growing up in Detroit, the Jewish community in Detroit and the Jewish holidays and traditions that her family celebrated. Shirley recalls her high school and University education and experiences, starting her career in social work and how she met her future husband, Theodore “Ted” Cohn. 16:10 – 18:27 Shirley shares the story about her father in law, Dr. Daniel E. Cohn who was Harry Houdini’s doctor at the time of his death in Detroit on Oct. 31, 1926. Shirley explains that she donated some of Dr. Daniel E. Cohn’s original documents pertaining to this event to the New York Public Library. 18:28 – 26:04 Shirley describes her experiences living and working in London Ontario while her husband was a professor at University of Western Ontario and Shirley worked as a social worker in family services. Shirley recalls experiences of anti-Semitism while living in London. Shirley talks about moving to Burnaby in 1977 after her husband took a job as a professor at Simon Fraser University. Shirley describes her experiences living in Burnaby, raising a family and working as a social worker at Burnaby General Hospital. 26:05 – 26:18 Shirley talks about her interests outside of work, her family’s involvement in the Burquest Jewish Community Association and being a member of Temple Shalom. Shirley conveys information about other Jewish synagogues in Greater Vancouver, describes Reform Judaism at Temple Shalom and some Jewish cultural practices that her family has been involved with. 26:19 – 33:12 Shirley describes her family’s experiences living in the Garden Village nieghbourhood in Burnaby, her involvement sharing Jewish cultural traditions at her children’s school and recalls her children’s experiences attending school in Burnaby. 33:13 – 40:46 Shirley conveys the career paths that her children took and talks about what she likes about living in Burnaby including; the walking and hiking trails, the cultural and art performances and her involvement in local politics. Shirley talks about her and her husband’s involvement in the SFU retirees association and the SFURA walking and hiking group. Shirley reflects on her husband’s academic career, experiences teaching at SFU and the role of the Hillel Jewish Students Association at the Simon Fraser University. Shirley talks about the difficulties of discussing political views about the State of Israel. Shirley describes some traditional Jewish foods, the roles that they play and a local bakery that carries Jewish bake goods. 40:47 – 50:36 Shirley describes her current daily life in Burnaby; working one day a week as a social worker, gardening, her involvement at Temple Shalom and the Jewish Community Centre and how she travels in Burnaby. Shirley recalls the changes that she’s encountered in Burnaby and in her career over the years, shares a story about her husband losing his thesis and describes what Burnaby was like while she was raising her family. Shirley shares what she thinks about the areas of development in Burnaby and conveys the importance of having parks and affordable housing. In closing, Shirley reflects on what is like to be a Jewish person living in Burnaby.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Shirley Tanner was born in Detroit in 1947. Her parents were both Jewish. Her mother fled Hungary as a refugee in 1939, while her father emigrated from there in 1934. Shirley attended public schools in Detroit, and then studied social work at the University of Michigan. After marriage, Shirley and Ted Cohn moved to Ontario where Ted had a faculty appointment at the University of Western Ontario in political science. Six years later they moved to Burnaby for Ted’s teaching position in political science at Simon Fraser University. While living in Burnaby, Shirley took care of a growing family while also practicing social work, mainly at Burnaby Hospital. The family enjoyed Burnaby’s libraries and parks. Shirley helped out at her children’s schools, became a Block Watch captain, and the family joined Burquest Jewish Community Association. The Cohns later became members of Temple Sholom Synagogue in Vancouver, while remaining in Burnaby. Beginning in 2009, Ted started an informal hiking group for retired Simon Fraser University staff. This group has been open to others, so now has a wide variety of members. Shirley has also helped lead hikes in the region. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Recreational Activities - Hiking
- Organizations
- Organizations - Societies and Clubs
- Migration
- Persons - Jewish Canadians
- Religions - Judaism
- Social Issues - Racism
- Social Issues
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Cohn, Dr. Daniel E.
- Cohn, Shirley
- Cohn, Theodore H. "Ted"
- Burquest
- Hillel Jewish Students Association
- Simon Fraser University
- SFURA walking and hiking group
- Simon Fraser University Retirees Association "SFURA"
- Temple Shalom
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Summary, recording and transcript of second interview available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
![Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023 thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_001.JPG)
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_003.mp3
Mayor's address re COVID-19
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15398
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 23 Mar. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (3 min., 14 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley delivering an online address to the citizens of Burnaby. The Mayor is seated at his desk at Burnaby City Hall. The Mayor provides his comments and concerns regarding the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the City of Burnaby and it's citizens. He speaks…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (3 min., 14 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley delivering an online address to the citizens of Burnaby. The Mayor is seated at his desk at Burnaby City Hall. The Mayor provides his comments and concerns regarding the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the City of Burnaby and it's citizens. He speaks about facility and community event closures as well as the financial concerns for home and business owners, renters and the unemployed.
- 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
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4949 Canada Way
- Accession Code
- BV021.2.11
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 23 Mar. 2020
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
Images
Video
Mayor's address re COVID-19, 23 Mar. 2020
Mayor's address re COVID-19, 23 Mar. 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0002_0011_001.mp4Metrotown Event Centre Project (MEC) - Phase One Feasibility Study
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport82987
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 93593
- Meeting Date
- 2021-Feb-22
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Item No.
- 11
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 93593
- Meeting Date
- 2021-Feb-22
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Item No.
- 11
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
MINTARA EVENT CENTER – OUTDOOR SEATING EXPANSION
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport84240
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94725
- Meeting Date
- 11-Mar-2024
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94725
- Meeting Date
- 11-Mar-2024
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 2
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION EVENT - FUNDING CONTRIBUTION
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport84036
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94539
- Meeting Date
- 24-Jul-2023
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Item No.
- 11
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94539
- Meeting Date
- 24-Jul-2023
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Item No.
- 11
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner July / August 1973 - Track 5
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory82
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1688-1919
- Length
- 0:08:51
- Summary
- This portion of the meeting pertains to William Pritchard's thoughts on Socialism and Revolution in their various incantations. He also discusses the political leanings of the arrested Winnipeg Strikers.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the meeting pertains to William Pritchard's thoughts on Socialism and Revolution in their various incantations. He also discusses the political leanings of the arrested Winnipeg Strikers.
- Date Range
- 1688-1919
- Photo Info
- William A. Pritchard, Burnaby Reeve 1930-1932 and council member 1928-1930. Item no. 459-016
- Length
- 0:08:51
- Names
- Woodsworth, James Shaver
- Subjects
- Political Theories
- Interview Date
- July / August 1973
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of a open meeting with William Pritchard and writer Norman Penner. Norman Penner is the editor of the book "Winnipeg 1919" about the strike from the striker's perspective. William Pritchard wrote the speech that was included in the book. Audience members were invited to ask Pritchard questions. Major theme discussed is: The Winnipeg General Strike. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".
- Biographical Notes
- William "Bill" Arthur Pritchard was born on April 3, 1888 in Salford, England, the son of a miner and factory worker. In May 1911, Bill moved to British Columbia and within a week of arriving became an active member of the Socialist Party of Canada. From 1914 to 1917, he served as editor of the Western Clarion – the SPC newspaper. He became such a well-known socialist figure that when he travelled to Winnipeg to participate in the General Strike in 1919, he was one of only seven people arrested and imprisoned for his participation in the event despite the fact that he was in no way directly involved in its planning nor development. In 1922, Bill and his family settled in North Burnaby in the Capitol Hill District. Almost immediately after his arrival, Bill began to advocate for change and a planned development scheme for the municipality. Pritchard ran successfully for the position of Reeve and held the post until the end of 1932. One of Reeve Pritchard’s highest priorities while in office was to attempt to provide work for as many unemployed as possible all the while trying to elicit more support from the provincial and federal governments. Bill was a strong advocate of the belief that relief work should be focused on projects that would see a comprehensive development scheme for Burnaby – including planned sewers, roads and water supply. Despite Bill's best efforts, however, Burnaby was forced into receivership and at the end of 1932, a Provincial Commission stepped in to take over the governance of the city. Reeve Pritchard, having done all he could as a champion of the unemployed, stepped down as Reeve but left behind an undeniable legacy of courage and determination. He was rewarded for his enormous contributions to the city in 1975 when he was chosen to be made a Freeman of Burnaby. William Pritchard died on October 23, 1981. Norman Penner was born in Winnipeg in 1921 to Rose and Jacob Penner and brother to Roland, Ruth and Walter. Their father Jacob was a leading member of the Communist Party and popular Winnipeg Alderman. Norman graduated from high school in 1937 but did not begin university until much later, preferring to begin his adult life from 1938 to 1941 as a full-time officer of the Winnipeg branch of the Communist Party of Canada. From 1941 to 1946 he served with the Canadian Army which included two-and-a-half years of overseas combat duty. On his return to Canada in 1947 he again returned to his duties as a full-time officer with the communist Labour-Progressive Party (formed in 1941 after the Canadian Communist Party was officially banned). After the abortive Hungarian revolution in 1956, Norman Penner resigned from the party and instead worked as a self-employed manufacturer’s sales representative until 1971. In 1964 he decided to go back to school part time and graduated with a BA from the University of Toronto in 1969. He took an MA in 1971 and a PhD in 1975 from the same institution. Penner was hired as a lecturer at York University's Glendon College in 1972 and soon became a professor, continuing to teach until 1995. He wrote extensively on the Canadian left. Penner edited and introduced "Winnipeg 1919: The Strikers' Own History of the Winnipeg General Strike" in 1973, published "The Canadian Left: A Critical Analysis" in 1977 and contributed three chapters to as well as editing "Keeping Canada Together Means Changing Our Thinking" in 1978. He published "Canadian Communism: The Stalin Years and Beyond" in 1988 and "From Protest to Power: Social Democracy in Canada 1900 to Present" in 1992 as well as numerous articles, reviews and book chapters. Norman Penner was married to Norma Lipes for sixty-seven years. The couple had four children: Steve (Mary Ellen Marus); Joyce (Herman Parsons); Gary (Marlene Kadar); and Bob (Shaena Lambert). Norman Penner died April 16, 2009 at the age of eighty-eight.
- Total Tracks
- 7
- Total Length
- 1:03:00
- Interviewee Name
- Pritchard, William A.
- Penner, Norman
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Oral history subseries
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track five of open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner
Track five of open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-02-2/100-13-02-2_Track_5.mp3ROAD CLOSURE REQUEST — 2023 CANADA DAY STREETFEST ON CENTRAL EVENT
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport83934
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94459
- Meeting Date
- 08-May-2023
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 9
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94459
- Meeting Date
- 08-May-2023
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 9
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Road Closure Request - Annual South Burnaby Neighbourhood House Summer Barbeque Event
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport83621
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94158
- Meeting Date
- June-20-2022
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 4
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94158
- Meeting Date
- June-20-2022
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 4
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE REQUEST – GIROLINA BIKE & RUN EVENT
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport84000
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94506
- Meeting Date
- 19-Jun-2023
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 18
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- Legislative Services
- Report ID
- 94506
- Meeting Date
- 19-Jun-2023
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Item No.
- 18
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Timeless Spaces: Japanese Gardens of the West Coast
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17537
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 14 Oct. 2021
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (75 min., 44 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar. The webinar was presented on the Zoom webinar platform and also presented live on the Burnaby Village Museum Facebook page on October 12, 2021. The webinar was hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Community Engagement Coordinator, Christina Fr…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (75 min., 44 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
- Material Details
- Presenter: Tim Nishibata, member of the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association
- Host: Christina Froschauer
- Date of Presentation: October 14, 2021
- Total Number of tracks: 1
- Total Length of all tracks: 75 min., 44 sec.
- Recording Device: Zoom video communication and Facebook platforms
- Recording Note: Film was edited from it's original recorded version (83 min., 52 sec. ) to edited version (75 min., 44 sec.) for public viewing on Heritage Burnaby.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar. The webinar was presented on the Zoom webinar platform and also presented live on the Burnaby Village Museum Facebook page on October 12, 2021. The webinar was hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Community Engagement Coordinator, Christina Froschauer and presented by Tim Nishibata, member of the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association. The webinar is titled "Timeless Spaces: Japanese Gardens of the West Coast". In this webinar, Tim Nishibata explores the history and tradition of Japanese gardening in Western Canada. Tim shares background information regarding the; Nikkei Centre garden located at the Nikkei Museum and Cultural Centre; Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association; Nitobe Garden at University of British Columbia; Momiji Garden located at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver; Sakura Days - Cherry Blossom Festival projects at Van Dusen Gardens; YVR Japanese Garden Project in progress at Vancouver International Airport and The Kohan Reflection Garden in New Denver. Tim also shares information on the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association's future visions including a park size project similar to the Portland Japanese Garden. Tim supports his presentation with photographs and various resources related to traditional Japanese gardens and projects that the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association is involved in. During breaks in the presentation, Christina and Tim take questions from webinar participants on zoom as well as viewers from the live recording on Burnaby Village Museum's Facebook page. Near the end of the presentation, host Christina Froschuer mentions, the Kushiro garden located near Burnaby's municipal hall which is undergoing an expansion project to be completed in 2022. The Kushiro garden was dedicated in June 1976 in commemoration of Burnaby's sister city, Kushiro, Japan Resource links that were shared during the presentation include: Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association: https://www.vanjapangardeners.com Email: vancouvervjga@gmail.com Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre: https://centre.nikkeiplace.org Nitobe garden: (UBC) https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/visit/nitobe-memorial-garden Mimoji gardens: (PNE) http://hastingspark1942.ca/history/momiji-gardens Kohan Reflection Garden: (New Denver, BC) https://kohanreflectiongarden.ca/2020 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival https://vcbf.ca/community-event/sakura-days-japan-fair Heiwa Teien https://newdenver.ca/nikkei Roy Sumi CBC documentary "Borrowed from Nature" https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/aboslutely-canadian-borrowed-from-nature-roy-tomomichi-sumi-japanese-gardening-1.5801058 Portland Japanese Garden http://japanesegarden.org
- History
- Tim Nishibata is a member of the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association. The Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association is an independent non-profit organization established in 1959. The association consists of professional gardeners and landscapers, aiming to promote Japanese Gardens through construction, maintenance, and education techniques. Members of the association have built many beautiful Japanese gardens throughout the Lower Mainland and work with other organizations in order to increase their knowledge of and expertise in Japanese gardens. The Association provides educational workshops to its members to improve professional knowledge and skills. In 1987, the Association started the Sumi Award, which is granted annually and recognizes outstanding work in the field.
- Names
- Nishibata, Tim
- Froschauer , Christina
- Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association
- Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
- Accession Code
- BV021.31.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 14 Oct. 2021
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Notes
- Title based on contents of video recording
Images
Video
Timeless Spaces: Japanese Gardens of the West Coast, 14 Oct. 2021
Timeless Spaces: Japanese Gardens of the West Coast, 14 Oct. 2021
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0031_0003_002.mp4