Carousel sound recordings and films subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18310
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1990-1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 3 audio cassettes + 2 sound recordings (mp3) + 6 videocassettes + 8 video recordings (mp4)
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of audio recordings and video recordings documenting the history, restoration, installation and opening of the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel. Recordings include the sod turning event and construction of the Don Wrigley Carousel Pavillion; restoration work of the C.W. Parker no. 11…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 3 audio cassettes + 2 sound recordings (mp3) + 6 videocassettes + 8 video recordings (mp4)
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of audio recordings and video recordings documenting the history, restoration, installation and opening of the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel. Recordings include the sod turning event and construction of the Don Wrigley Carousel Pavillion; restoration work of the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel by The Lower Mainland Association of Friends of the Vancouver Carousel; an interview with Bill Dentzel III, carver and restorer of carousel horses in Port Townsend, Washington; installation of the restored carousel and Wurlitzer band organ at Burnaby Village Museum; interviews with family members of F.K. Leggett, the carousel's first owner and restoration project coordinator Keith Jamieson as well as the opening ceremonies of the 1912 Burnaby Centennial Parker Carousel (C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel) and Don Wrigley Pavillion in 1993.
- Accession Code
- BV020.5
- BV020.12
- Date
- 1990-1993
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- Contact Burnaby Village Museum to access recordings
Friends of the Carousel subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58783
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1989-2003
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of records pertaining to the Lower Mainland Association of Friends of the Carousel, including scrapbooks, receipts, statements, publications and information on the restoration of the Parker Carousel by the Association.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1989-2003
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Friends of the Carousel subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS1999-06
- BHS2006-02
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of records pertaining to the Lower Mainland Association of Friends of the Carousel, including scrapbooks, receipts, statements, publications and information on the restoration of the Parker Carousel by the Association.
- History
- The No. 119 “Carry-Us-All” Carousel was built in 1912 by C.W. Parker, an amusement ride manufacturer in Leavenworth, Kansas. Fred Leggett bought No.119 for “Lone Star” Amusement Co. in Houston Texas, but it was returned to the Parker Factory in 1915 for reasons unknown. Back at the factory it was upgraded from Standard style to Superior and electrified. The carousel was used in the San Francisco area until 1936 when it was shipped to “Happyland” in Vancouver’s Hastings Park (home of the Pacific National Exhibition) then passed to “Playland” at Hastings Park in 1957. In 1988 the Carousel was scheduled to be broken up and sold at auction. Concerned citizens formed the Lower Mainland Association of the Friends of the Vancouver Carousel to save it. Through fundraising the Friends of the Carousel were able to acquire the carousel. Between 1990 and 1993 Friends of the Carousel were able to completely restore, repaint and rebuild the carousel. The City of Burnaby, Province of British Columbia and Friends of the Carousel contributed to the construction of a new building at Burnaby Village Museum to house it. Enterprising volunteers salvaged the maple hardwood gymnasium floor at the Oakalla penitentiary just before it was demolished and used it to rebuild the carousel platform. The association also acquired and restored a Wurlitzer 146B organ. On March 27, 1993, No. 119 moved to the Don Wrigley Pavilion at the Burnaby Village Museum, the Pavilion having been named after the president of the Friends of the Carousel for his coordination of the restoration project. Mrs. Norvie Frame, daughter original owner Fred Leggett, came with her family from Texas to attend the official opening. The Association created the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “The Story of Parker #119”, the video “Labour of Love: The Saving of Number 119”, and their accompanying publications.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- Friends of the Carousel
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- MSS087, MSS121
Burnaby Clef Society subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription17
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1940-2002]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of the records of the Burnaby Clef Society, including programs, posters, newsletters, membership lists, correspondence, financial records, scrapbooks, and photographs.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1940-2002]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Burnaby Clef Society subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Access Restriction
- In Archives only
- Accession Number
- BHS1985-12
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of the records of the Burnaby Clef Society, including programs, posters, newsletters, membership lists, correspondence, financial records, scrapbooks, and photographs.
- History
- The Clef Society of Burnaby was incorporated on February 8, 1949, with original subscribers Elizabeth Dawson, Lilian Haste, Mona Weeks, Emily Scott, and Eleanor Cailes. As a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering music appreciation and music advancement in Burnaby, and to promoting musical instruction and education and encouraging outstanding musical talent, the Society created musical evenings in homes, public recitals and concerts, children's plays, light operas, and scholarship competitions.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- Burnaby Clef Society
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- PC142 and MSS020
Chevron Green Belt / Buffer Zone Advisory Committee subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96374
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1974-1999
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 5 folders of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of committee records for the Chevron Green Belt / Buffer Zone Advisory Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, committee reports, and terms of reference.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1974-1999
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Series
- Council Committee series
- Physical Description
- 5 folders of textual records
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of committee records for the Chevron Green Belt / Buffer Zone Advisory Committee including agendas, minutes, correspondence, committee reports, and terms of reference.
- History
- The Chevron Green Belt / Buffer Zone Advisory Committee was established in 1997. This committee was created in order review the Chevron Green Belt area prepared in 1975. The Committee was responsible for organizing public and staff input regarding the boundaries of the buffer zone, road patterns, and trail routing, landscaping, and ensuring a positive relationship with the adjoining neighbourhood. The Chevron Green Belt / Buffer Zone Advisory Committee disbanded at the end of 1999.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Gladys Killip subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58418
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1904-1998
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and graphic material
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of papers pertaining to the Killip family, primarily Gladys Killip's personal activism in the municipality of Burnaby and the causes she supported. Subseries also includes photographs of the Burnaby Council of Women taken during Gladys Killip's time as Publicity Co-Chairwoman du…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1904-1998
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Gladys Killip subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and graphic material
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS1996-12
- BHS1998-11
- BHS2000-02
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of papers pertaining to the Killip family, primarily Gladys Killip's personal activism in the municipality of Burnaby and the causes she supported. Subseries also includes photographs of the Burnaby Council of Women taken during Gladys Killip's time as Publicity Co-Chairwoman during the 1967 Centennial Celebration festivity "100 Years of Progress in Women's Activities, Arts and Crafts" .
- History
- Gladys M. Yeomans married Alfred Charles “Charlie” Killip in St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church in Vancouver on August 16, 1947. They spent their honeymoon together at the Sunset Inn at Qualicum Beach. The Killips lived in the same house in South Burnaby for the greater part of their married lives. Their address began as 729 Marshall, changed to 729 Hazelmere Street in 1951 (due to bylaw 3133) and again to 7763 Hazelmere Street (due to 1958/1959 street re-numbering). The Killips were activists within Burnaby, writing letters to their member of Council when they felt that the citizens of Burnaby were not being treated fairly. An example of this is when they led the protest against Pacific Stage Lines for reducing its service on the Grandview Highway by making fewer stops and by changing its route. Gladys led their delegation to Council in June of 1964. Gladys was also involved in the activities of the Valley View Players and in Burnaby Little Theatre activities. She was part of the cast of “Crime at Blossoms” in 1951 and held a membership card from 1952 to 1959 for the Valley View Players Club. Among other roles, she was one of the principle actors in “You Can’t Take it With You” and “In the Shadow of the Glen” both performed in 1957. Gladys was the Burnaby Council of Women Publicity Co-Chairwoman. In this capacity she helped to organize such events as the "100 Years of Progress in Women's Activities, Arts and Crafts" for the Centennial Celebration in 1967 (the Burnaby Diamond Jubilee). She was also a founding member of the Century Park Museum Association, which created under the auspices of the Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee, to administer Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative Project, Heritage Village. Both Gladys and Charles Killip were active members of the Monarchist League of Canada. Gladys’ hobby started with a small silver spoon commemorating King George VI taking the throne in 1936. Her collection includes items commemorating every Royal from Prince Edward, Queen Victoria's father, to a cup commemorating one of Prince Williams recent birthdays. Gladys opened the Silver Spoon collectors shop in Burnaby in 1974 and operated it until 1980 when she and her husband Charlie retired to Qualicum Beach and opened Chilham Village Antiques and Collectables in 1984. The Killips earned a Silver Badge of Service from the Monarchist League of Canada in 1992 for their significant contribution to the League’s work. As of November 2010, Ms. Gladys Yeomans’ collection of British Royal family memorabilia has grown so large, that she has countless of mugs, spoons, plates, t-shirts and pieces of poetry, filling a room in her basement and upstairs in her home in Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- PC497, MSS125, MSS081, MSS085
Jesse Love farmhouse series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9782
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1893-1970] (date of originals), copied 1988-1998, predominant 1988-2000
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- approx. 84 cm of textual records + approx. 1,910 photographs + approx. 100 architectural drawings + 3 audio cassettes + 1 videocassette
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records involved in the purchase, moving, restoration, research, conservation and exhibiting of the Love family farmhouse by Burnaby Village Museum. Records have been arranged into the following subseries: 1) Love farmhouse conservation work files subseries 2) Love farmhouse re…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Jesse Love farmhouse series
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- approx. 84 cm of textual records + approx. 1,910 photographs + approx. 100 architectural drawings + 3 audio cassettes + 1 videocassette
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records involved in the purchase, moving, restoration, research, conservation and exhibiting of the Love family farmhouse by Burnaby Village Museum. Records have been arranged into the following subseries: 1) Love farmhouse conservation work files subseries 2) Love farmhouse restoration photographs subseries 3) Love farmhouse curatorial files subseries 4) Love farmouse research files subseries 5) Love family photographs 6) Love farmhouse Oral History subseries 7) Love farmhouse architectural drawings subseries
- History
- Jesse Love was born in Swindon, England in 1847 and left England to work on a dairy farm in the Toronto area. While working on the farm in Toronto, he met Martha Leonard who he married in 1879. Martha was born on February 3, 1858 in Bedfordshire, England and had come to Canada with her parents George and Ann Leonard. While living in Toronto, Jesse and Martha had two children, George born March 22, 1880 and Annie Elizabeth on August 24, 1881. About one year after Annie was born, the Love family moved to North Dakota to grow wheat. While living there, they had two more children, Henry who was born August 24, 1883 and Edith Minnie born October 9, 1885. The family decided to move further west after hearing about the fairer weather conditions from Martha’s father, George Leonard, who had settled in Vancouver in 1885. On May 23, 1887, Jesse, Martha and their four children arrived in Vancouver after travelling across Canada from Winnipeg on the first transcontinental train. The Loves made their home in Vancouver while Jesse helped clear land on Granville Street. Their fifth child, Thomas Robert was born on September 17, 1887 and soon after, the family moved to Lulu Island in Richmond where they lived growing vegetables and selling them to Vancouver hotels. While living and farming on Lulu island, the couple had two more girls, Martha (Dot or Dorothy) born on December 17, 1889 and Sarah Marie, born February 8, 1892. On October 6, 1893 an agreement was signed by Jesse Love to purchase 14.52 acres of land from Joseph C. Armstrong. The acreage covered the north east section of District Lot 25 within the newly incorporated District of the Municipality of Burnaby. It was here where the original Love house was built (between October 1893 and April 15, 1894) by Jesse Love with the help of local builder George Salt and father in law, George Leonard. The house consisted of an entrance hall, dining room, lean to kitchen, master bedroom and three bedrooms upstairs. A road was constructed and named Cumberland in 1905 and ran from District Lot 25 through to District Lot 11. The address for the Love home was 1390 Cumberland Road and in the early 1960’s the address was renumbered 7651 Cumberland Street. On the land surrounding the house, Jesse Love planted an orchard along with strawberries and raspberries which he sold at the Fraser Valley Market, T.S. Anandale’s Grocery Store in New Westminster and to hotels around Vancouver. Jesse Love served on the Burnaby School Board and also as a District Councillor in 1901 and from 1904-1907. While living in the house, Jesse and Martha had four more children, Phoebe Leonard, born April 15, 1894, Esther, born August 28, 1896, John Leonard, born June 7, 1899 and Hannah Victoria (also known as Girlie) who was born May 12, 1902. As the family grew to eleven children, additions along with some substantial remodelling in the craftsman style took place. In about 1898, a north wing addition was added to include a parlour with two windows, the construction of two more bedrooms and the relocation of the stair case to the North West wall. In 1903 the front door moved to the north elevation, a front porch was extended along the east wall and a summer lean to kitchen was added to the west elevation. Between 1905 and 1910, a tin embossed ceiling was installed along with an addition of the main kitchen which included a pantry, bathtub and a back porch. In about 1912, five craftsman style windows replaced the original pioneer tent style, the front verandah was enlarged to wrap around the south and east elevations, a back door was installed in the kitchen to access the verandah and wood shingle siding and brackets were added to the exterior. In 1918, at the age of 31 years, Robert Love fell ill due to an influenza epidemic and died on November 23, 1918. Following their son’s death, Martha Love became weak and on August 24, 1920, she passed away. By this time, Jesse had sold off a large percentage of his land and his youngest daughter, Girlie decided to stay on to live and care for him. Since the house was too large for just the two of them, Jesse invited any other children to return and share the residence. For a while his son, George and his wife joined them until 1925, followed by his daughter Sarah Parker (nee Love), her husband William and their three children, Albert, Bill and Elsie. The house remained pretty unchanged until 1928 after Jesse Love died of pneumonia (March 10, 1928) and the house was purchased by Sarah and her husband William Parker who continued to live there with their children. The master bedroom wall on the main floor opened up to the dining room, the kitchen pantry and bathtub converted to an alcove with a marble counter and enlarged window and sink while the bathroom was moved to the upstairs and the furnace and coolers were installed in the crawl space under the kitchen. A hot water tank was installed in the house in 1966. Sarah continued to live in the house until a little while after her husband William died in 1961. She sold the house to her daughter Elsie and husband John Hughes in 1966, who lived in the house along with their son Brent, until August 23, 1971. Mahbir Molchan Papan and his wife Geraldine Papan bought the house August 23, 1971 and by 1982, the house was sold to Nirmal Singh Singha and Narinder Singha. The Papans continued to rent the house from Nirmal Singh Singha and Narinder Singha until the late 1980s. In 1988, the house was scheduled for demolition with the remaining property to be subdivided. Fortunately, a neighbour, Mr. Harvey Elder recognized the farmhouse's historical significance and contacted the Burnaby Historical Society. Following this event, the owners agreed to donate the building to the Burnaby Village Museum (under the Century Park Museum Association) who financed the move of the house from Cumberland Street to the museum site. Heritage planner and architect, Robert Lemon provided guidance for the project. Prior to the move, the two porches were removed and demolished while the kitchen and roof were both separated from the main house. The kitchen and roof of the house were transported to Burnaby Village Museum on May 20, 1988 by Nickel Bros. House Moving company, while the main frame of the house completed its transportation to the museum near the end of May 1988 (due to low overhead wires). The house was moved down Cumberland Street to 10th Avenue, up Canada Way to Sperling and set on temporary footings near Hart House. Robert Lemon oversaw structural improvements such as, upgrading floor joists and creating new foundations to replace the original timber foundation of the farmhouse. The restoration went through several phases of work between 1988 until it opened in November 1998. Restoration began on both the interior and exterior features to be interpreted from the period of 1925. On November 23, 1992, the building was designated a heritage building under Heritage Designation Bylaw 1992, Bylaw Number 9807. In 1993, the architecture firm of Brian G. Hart Associates was appointed for the design and construction supervision of the restoration project. Plans were created for a foundation on the museum site in 1989 and the farmhouse was eventually settled on a permanent foundation behind the Burnaby Village Museum administration building in 1993 along with the reattachment of the roof. The kitchen section was reattached to the main house in 1994 along with skirting around the foundation and the reshingling of the exterior. In 1996, the tin ceiling was removed to make way for the installation of the internal electrical system along with sprinklers, ceiling heating and fire break gyprock. The dining room ceiling joists were consolidated, a pantry and bathroom were added to the kitchen, the downstairs bedroom wall was opened and filled, the dining and kitchen doorways were widened. In 1997, a wheelchair ramp was installed along with a concrete sidewalk, stair rails, cement pads at the base of the stairs and a gravel sink for any excess water. Interior work included painting of the kitchen, restoration and furnishing of the kitchen pantry, insulation of the house floor to protect from rodents along with the reconstruction of the kitchen and house chimneys. The registrar worked together with the curator and conservator and was tasked with a large research project on the house including the family contacts and family history, property information, plans, photographs, artifacts, furnishings, stories etc. all organized in files for easy retrieval. A great deal of research and conservation was undertaken in order to make the interior of the house authentic to the time period as possible. One of the biggest projects was selecting and obtaining wall coverings since much of the original wallpaper was incomplete and poor condition. The conservator and registrar were lucky enough to locate a few samples of the original paper and engage the Bradbury and Bradbury Art Wallpaper Company of Benica, California to reproduce replica designs for free. The City of Burnaby now has its own series “Burnaby Village Papers” produced by this company which are titled “Burnaby Wall”; “Burnaby Border” and “Burnaby Ceiling”. All three of these wallpaper designs have been used in the Love farm house and are also commercially available through the Bradbury and Bradbury Art Wallpaper Company. In 1997, restoration of the kitchen was completed and opened to the public. After the completion of the dining room, main floor bedroom and parlour, the Love farmhouse exhibit opened on November 29, 1998 with an open invitation to the public and extended members of the Love family. Officials including the Mayor, Doug Drummond and Love family members were all present to cut the ribbon for the special event.
- Accession Code
- BV018.41; BV020.5
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Date
- [1893-1970] (date of originals), copied 1988-1998, predominant 1988-2000
- Arrangement
- The majority of the records within series and subseries were arranged by a staff members of Burnaby Village Museum who worked on the historical research and restoration of the house. Other photographs documenting the move and further restoration work were added later and included in the arrangment by format and subject.
- Notes
- Title based on content of series
- Jesse Love farmhouse is described as an Artifact under BV988.33.1
- Some records within this collection have restricted access and are subject to FIPPA
- Accessions BV018.41 and BV020.5 form this fonds
Pixie McGeachie subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription101
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910 (date of original)-2004
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of papers and photographs collected by Pixie McGeachie during her tenure as archivist for the Burnaby Historical Society Community Archives. Also included are newspaper articles and essays penned by Pixie, a series of research files collected and organized for her own personal u…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910 (date of original)-2004
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pixie McGeachie subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS1989-28
- BHS1991-07
- BHS1992-39
- BHS1992-56
- BHS1992-58
- BHS1996-06
- BHS1996-16
- BHS1997-01
- BHS2004-02
- BHS1991-16
- BHS1999-13
- BHS1996-08
- BHS1996-07
- BHS2000-03
- BHS2003-01
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of papers and photographs collected by Pixie McGeachie during her tenure as archivist for the Burnaby Historical Society Community Archives. Also included are newspaper articles and essays penned by Pixie, a series of research files collected and organized for her own personal use and a selection of ephemera.
- History
- Doreen "Pixie" McGeachie was a resident of Burnaby for over 60 years. She served as the editor for the Burnaby Examiner newspaper and wrote a column entitled "Burnaby History" for The News. In 1974 she authored her first book titled "Bygones of Burnaby" which was one of the first to develop anecdotal stories about pioneer life in Burnaby. She authored "Burnaby - A Proud Century" in 1992 and in 2002 she wrote a biography of the city's namesake in the book "Land of Promise: Robert Burnaby's letters from Colonial B.C." Pixie also contributed many hours of volunteering; helping to establish Burnaby's first museum Heritage Village in 1971, serving as President of the Burnaby Historical Society from 1991-1993. She served a six year term on Burnaby's Heritage Commission, leading the charge to preserve many historic sites throughout the city, and during her twenty years as the Community Archives volunteer archivist for the Historical Society, she succeeded in gathering thousands of rare and valuable historic photographs and documents which now forms the core of the photograph collection on the Heritage Burnaby website. The City of Burnaby awarded Pixie McGeachie the Kushiro Cup as Citizen of the Year in 2002. In 2006 she received a Heritage BC project award for leading the Friends of Interurban 1223 project, and in 2008 Heritage BC recognised her again by presenting her with the Ruby Nobb Award. Pixie McGeachie passed away in August of 2010. On 24 September, 2011, the City of Burnaby dedicated the reading room at the City Archives in her honour and formally named it the Pixie McGeachie Reading Room in recognition of her years of service to the community.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
- Notes
- Title based on creator of subseries
- PC299, PC237, PC332, PC460, MSS054, MSS065, and MSS081
Robert Prittie subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription113
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1950-2002
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consist of records created and collected by Robert Prittie during his teaching and political careers and following his retirement from public office. Records include Burnaby Teachers Association and other school organization records, election papers, and copies of various City reports an…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1950-2002
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Robert Prittie subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS1999-01
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consist of records created and collected by Robert Prittie during his teaching and political careers and following his retirement from public office. Records include Burnaby Teachers Association and other school organization records, election papers, and copies of various City reports and meeting minutes. Also included are photographic postcards of Burnaby, photographs of Robert Prittie attending official City functions, and aerial photographs of industrial and business sites in Burnaby.
- History
- Born in North Vancouver on December 5, 1919, Robert “Bob” William Prittie was the first of four sons born to Wilmot Prittie and Mary Adair. As a child, his health was weaker than younger brothers Bill, Eric and Halford, as he suffered from Polio and asthma. Bob was an industrious youth who left school early to work in a department store warehouse. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Bob enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force and spent the duration of the war serving on the ground in Canada at the Patricia Bay Air Force Base and the No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School in Manitoba, completing his high school education through correspondence courses. While at the Patricia Bay Air Force Base, he met pre-school teacher Grace King of Sidney, Vancouver Island. By 1940 they were married and soon after, had their first son, Robert King. In 1945, Bob was discharged from the air force with the rank of sergeant and entered the University of British Columbia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in history. After the war, Bob spent a few years working in Ottawa as a foreign-service officer, but he returned to UBC in 1949, receiving a diploma in education. He later undertook post-graduate studies at Laval University and Western Washington State College. Bob returned to Burnaby in 1950 following the tragic death of their son. He immediately began teaching. Over the next thirteen years, he taught at Sperling Avenue School, McPherson Park Junior High School, Burnaby South High School and Burnaby North High School. He and Grace went on to have three more children: Heather in 1951, Bruce in 1953, and Ian in 1955. In 1959 he was elected to serve as a member of the municipal Council, re-elected and serving until the end of his term in 1962 when he left to serve as Member of Parliament for the Burnaby-Richmond riding. He held that office until 1968. In January 1969, Bob first took office as Mayor of Burnaby and in that capacity served on the GVRD as a Director for a number of years. In May of 1973, he decided to resign as Mayor of Burnaby in order to take up a position as Assistant Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and in 1975 he was appointed as the Minister of Municipal Affairs, a post he held for a short time. After his tenure as Minister, Bob retired from public life and he and his second wife Isobel Pothecary moved to Victoria. Isobel had three children from a previous marriage: Alan, Deirdre and Fiona. Bob left an enduring legacy for the citizens of Burnaby as a champion of schools, libraries and parks and recreation programs. In 1978 he was awarded the title of "Freeman of the Municipality" and in 1991 a new branch of the Burnaby Public Library was opened and named after him. His status as Freeman and the naming of the library in his honour are testament to his record of service and dedication to the community and its citizens. Robert Prittie died on January 14, 2002.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
- Notes
- PC368, PC369, PC498, MSS086, MSS127
- Title based on contents and creator of subseries