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Proposed Used Cooking Oil Recycling Pilot Project
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport52976
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 69058
- Meeting Date
- 15-Sep-2008
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 69058
- Meeting Date
- 15-Sep-2008
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
The book of household management : comprising information for the mistress, housekeeper, cook, kitchen-maid, butler, footman, coachman, valet, upper and under house-maids, lady's-maid, maid-of-all-work, laundry-maid, nurse and nurse-maid, monthly, wet, and sick nurses, etc. etc. : also, sanitary, medical, & legal memoranda ; with a history of the origin, properties, and uses of all things connected with home life and comfort
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1697
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- HV984.9.1
- Call Number
- 648 BEE
- Place of Publication
- London
- Publisher
- Ward, Lock & Co.
- Publication Date
- 1901
- Physical Description
- xxxix, 1112 p. : ill (some col) some fold out.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Home economics
- Great Britain--Social conditions--19th century
- Cooking
- Cooking, English
- Cookbooks--1900-1909
- Notes
- Beeton, Mrs. (Isabella Mary), 1836-1865.
- Includes index.
The handy reliable cook book : practical and comprehensive manual of commonsense cookery
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary2784
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- HV973.26.104
- Call Number
- 641.59 WAR
- Author
- Warren, Jane
- Place of Publication
- [Vancouver, BC]
- Publisher
- Thomson Bros' Bookstore
- Publication Date
- 1892
- Physical Description
- 100 p. , [6p.] : ill. ; 16 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cookbooks--1890-1899
- Candy
- Cake
- Pastry
- Ice cream
- Cooking
- Cookbooks--British Columbia
- Cooking, American
- Fruit--Preservation
- Vegetables--Preservation
- Object History
- Thomson Bros. booksellers, stationers and printers did business in Vancouver at 46 Cordova circa. 1888 and at 108 Cordova when this book was published.
- Notes
- "How to buy, dress, cook, serve and carve every kind of meat, game, fish, fowl and vegetables. Also giving plain directions for preserving, pickling, canning and drying all kinds of berries, fruits, meats, game, etc. and also instruction for making in the best style all varieties of candies, ice creams, cakes and pastry. -- title page
Pioneer tales of Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5860
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 096928280x
- Call Number
- 971.133 SON COPY 4
- Contributor
- Sone, Michael
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- Corporation of the District of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- c1987
- Physical Description
- 495 p. : ill. ; 31 cm.
- Inscription
- "TR687 - Bryburgh" / handprinted in pencil on frontend page
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Pioneers--British Columbia--Burnaby
- Frontier and pioneer life
- Biography
- Object History
- Early Burnaby as recalled by the settlers themselves who arrived from every corner of the world between 1888 and 1930, some witnessing incorporation of the district in 1892, all seeking a better life for themselves and especially for their children, all helping transform the wilderness into the modern municipality of today.
- Notes
- "Editor Michael Sone".
- Includes index.
- 4 copies held: copy 4
Images
Digital Books
In the shadow by the sea : recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5173
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 0969282885
- Call Number
- 971.133 PRI Copy 2
- Contributor
- Wolf, Jim
- Pride, Harry, 1925-
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- c2004
- Physical Description
- 246 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby (B.C.)--History
- Industries--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
- Barnet Marine Park--Burnaby, B.C.
- Geographic Access
- Barnet Road
- Burrard Inlet
- Notes
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 246) and index.
- "edited by Harry Pride and Jim Wolf"
- Copy 2 of 2
Digital Books
Land of promise : Robert Burnaby's letters from colonial British Columbia, 1858-1863
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5465
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 0969282850
- 9780969282853
- Call Number
- 971.1 BUR COPY 3
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- c2002
- Physical Description
- 199 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby, Robert--Correspondence
- Merchants--British Columbia--Correspondence
- British Columbia--History--1849-1871
- Burnaby (B.C.)
- Biography
- Notes
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 190) and index.
- 3 copies held: copy 3.
Digital Books
Life with the Moores of Hart House : pioneer days on Burnaby's Deer Lake
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1179
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 0969282877
- Call Number
- 971.1 PRI COPY 1
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby, Community Heritage Commission
- Publication Date
- 2002
- Physical Description
- iv, 92 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.
- Inscription
- "To Burnaby Village Museum / Harry Pride", handwritten in ink on title page.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Moore family
- Hart House (Burnaby, B.C.)--History
- Frontier and pioneer life
- Pioneers
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Burnaby
- Biography
- Notes
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 87) and index.
- Signed by the author.
- 2 copies held : copy 1.
Digital Books
Advanced lessons in cookery : book III
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary2307
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Author
- Ferguson, Kathleen
- Publication Date
- 1908
- Call Number
- 641.5941 FER
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Accession Code
- HV977.37.145
- Call Number
- 641.5941 FER
- Author
- Ferguson, Kathleen
- Place of Publication
- Dublin, [Ireland]
- Publisher
- James Duffy and Co., Ltd.
- Publication Date
- 1908
- Physical Description
- 31 p. ; 19 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cookbooks--1900-1909
- Cookbooks--Ireland
- Cooking for the sick
- Desserts
- Bread
- Soups
- Object History
- From the family home of Thomas Seaborn McNair and Mary Vida (nee McMillan) McNair who lived on West 33rd Avenue in Vancouver. Thomas McNair ran Edwards, McNair and Russell, an established estate agent business.
- Notes
- "by Kathleen Ferguson, First Class Diplomée, Dublin School of Cookery." -- title page
- " Price one penny." -- title page
Images
Blue ribbon cookbook : for everyday use in Canadian homes
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary461
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Author
- Blue Ribbon
- Edition
- Rev. ed.
- Publication Date
- 1905
- Call Number
- 641 BLU
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- BV987.16.1
- Call Number
- 641 BLU
- Edition
- Rev. ed.
- Author
- Blue Ribbon
- Place of Publication
- Winnipeg, Canada
- Publisher
- Blue Ribbon Manufacturing
- Publication Date
- 1905
- Physical Description
- 144 p., [30] p. : ill (some col.)
- Inscription
- [Extensive handwritten recipes on 10 p. including inside covers, back and front leaves and end papers, in blue and green ink as well as pencil]
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cooking, Canadian
- Cookbooks--1900-1909
- Notes
- "G.F. 7 J. GALT LIMITED Manufacturers and Packers of Blue Ribbon Tea, Coffee, Baking Powder, Extracts, Spices, etc" -- Subtitle page
- Includes index
Blue ribbon cookbook : prepared especially for everyday use in Western homes
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary417
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Author
- Blue Ribbon
- Edition
- Rev. ed.
- Publication Date
- 1905
- Call Number
- 641.5 BLU
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- BV988.44.6
- Call Number
- 641.5 BLU
- Edition
- Rev. ed.
- Author
- Blue Ribbon
- Place of Publication
- Winnipeg, Canada
- Publisher
- Blue Ribbon Manufacturing
- Publication Date
- 1905
- Physical Description
- 157 p. : ill. (some col) ; 17 cm.
- Inscription
- "C.J. Caunt Jan 27/25 Vancouver, B.C." [Handwritten, black ink on front leaf, centre.]
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cooking, Canadian
- Cookbooks--1900-1909
- Notes
- "BLUE RIBBON LIMITED Manufacturers and Packers of Blue Ribbon Tea, Coffee, Baking Powder, Extracts, Spices, etc" -- Subtitle page
- Includes index
Burnaby's best
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6349
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- BV014.32.1
- ISBN
- 0889256152
- Call Number
- 641.5 BUR
- Place of Publication
- [Burnaby, B.C.]
- Publisher
- Burnaby Voters' Association
- Publication Date
- 1980
- Printer
- Friesen Printers
- Physical Description
- iii, 85 p. ; 22 cm
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cookbooks--1980-1989
- Cookbooks--British Columbia--Burnaby
- Cooking, Canadian
Corn products cookbook
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary2300
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- HV977.37.135
- Call Number
- 641 HEW
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Publisher
- Corn Products Refining Company
- Publication Date
- 1909
- Physical Description
- 46p. : ill. (some col) ; 16 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cooking
- Corn syrup
- Corn products
- Cookbooks--1900-1909
- Notes
- Includes index.
The designer, vol. xxiii, no. 5
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6574
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Accession Code
- HV973.133.1
- Call Number
- 746 STA
- Contributor
- Rice, Lilian Dynevor
- Place of Publication
- New York City
- Publisher
- Standard Fashion Company
- Publication Date
- 1906
- Physical Description
- 136 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Fashion
- Dressmaking
- Millinery
- Needlework
- Cooking
- Periodicals
- Notes
- "Conducted by Lilian Dynevor Rice." -- front cover
- Recipes for fruit desserts and soup p. 98-101
The household companion : comprising a complete cookbook, practical household recipes, aids and hints for household decorations, the care of domestic plants and animals and a treatise on domestic medicine
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary204
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- HV971.136.94
- Call Number
- 640 FLI
- Place of Publication
- [S.I]
- Publisher
- [s.n.]
- Publication Date
- c1909
- Physical Description
- 370 pages : ill., (some col)
- Inscription
- "W26a" [top left corner of inside cover, black ink] "W26" [top left corner front leaf, black ink] [children's pencilled drawings throughout]
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cooking, American
- Etiquette
- Medicine, Popular
- Notes
- Edited by Alice A Johnson; Janet McKenzie Hill; Henry Hartshorne;
- Flick, Lawrence F. (Lawrence Francis), 1856-1938
- Including a chapter on tuberculosis, the great white plague, a curable and preventable disease.
How to make dainty "rosette" wafers and patties
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary2906
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Author
- Western Importing
- Publication Date
- c1905
- Call Number
- 641 HOW
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- HV972.1.4
- Call Number
- 641 HOW
- Author
- Western Importing
- Place of Publication
- Minneapolis, Minn
- Publisher
- Western Importing
- Publication Date
- c1905
- Physical Description
- [22] p., : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 10 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Pastry
- Cooking, American
- Cookery, Scandinavian-American
- Kitchen utensils
- Cookbooks--1900-1909
- Catalogs
Making your own traditions
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1315
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 0969186908
- 9780969186908
- Call Number
- 745.5941 HUN
- Place of Publication
- Newmarket, Ont.
- Publisher
- Traditions Press
- Publication Date
- c1984
- Physical Description
- 100 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Christmas decorations
- Christmas cooking
The new Galt cookbook : a book of tried and tested recipes
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5245
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Edition
- Rev. ed. entirely re-set
- Publication Date
- 1898
- Call Number
- 641.5 TAY
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- BV009.22.2
- Call Number
- 641.5 TAY
- Edition
- Rev. ed. entirely re-set
- Place of Publication
- Toronto
- Publisher
- George J. McLeod Ltd.
- Publication Date
- 1898
- Physical Description
- 286 p., [4] p
- Inscription
- "____ Mrs. Harry Kolot" [Handwritten in cursive in black ink on verso of front cover] "Jelly roll cake 3 eggs well beaten 3 tablespoon milk 1 1/2 baking powder 1 cup flour (quick oven)" "Anna's Jelly Roll 5 eggs 1 2/3 cups sugar 1 tablespoon water for each egg. 1 2/3 cup flour. 3 level to B.P. 2 tablespoons melted butter added last. (moderate oven) [Handwritten in cursive in pencil on first page of back section called "Recipes: My friends & my own"] "Corn salad 18 ears sweet corn boil on cob. cut off. 4 large onions 1 head cabbage fine and boil 15 min then add corn with 2 cups brown sugar 2 tablespoons salt mix 1 small cup flour 1 tea turmeric mix 2 tablespoons mustard in cold water add + cook for awhile" [Handwritten in cursive in pencil on second page of back section called "Recipes: My friends & my own"] "Sauce for pickles 1 cup vinegar (strong) 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1/2 cup mixed spices boil for any kind of pickle" [Handwritten in cursive in pencil on third page of back section called "Recipes: My friends & my own"] "Anna's Chili Sauce 2 ripe tomatoes large / 6 3 onions chopped fine / 6 3 peppers chopped fine Cook together until soft and thru colander. then add 3 tablespoons salt 1 cup sugar 3 teaspoonful ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons ground gigner 1 teaspoonful ground cloves 2 cups good vinegar Cook until as thick as desired then bottle and seal (Excellent)" [Handwritten in cursive in pencil on fourth page of back section called "Recipes: My friends & my own"] "Danish Icing Boil 3 heaping tablespoons flour mixed well with 1 cup milk. While still warm add 1 cup butter, 1 cup icing sugar, broken walnuts, + flavoring, Enough for 3 cakes." [Handwritten in cursive in pencil on verso of back cover]
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cooking, Canadian
- Formulas, recipes, etc.
- Notes
- Includes index.
- "Compiled by Margaret Taylor and Frances McNaught"
Smiley's cookbook and universal household guide : a comprehensive collection of recipes and useful information pertaining to every department of housekeeping
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary2783
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- HV973.26.103
- Call Number
- 641.5 SMI Copy 1
- Place of Publication
- Chicago
- Publisher
- Smiley Publishing Company
- Publication Date
- c1901
- Physical Description
- 990 p. : ill., col. plates ; 24 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Cooking, American
- Notes
- Copy 1 of 2
Tram memories : in celebration of the restoration of Interurban 1223
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5863
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Author
- McGeachie, Pixie, 1921-
- Publication Date
- c2007
- Call Number
- 388.460971 TRA
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Call Number
- 388.460971 TRA
- Author
- McGeachie, Pixie, 1921-
- Contributor
- Friends of Interurban 1223
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- c2007
- Printer
- City of Burnaby Printshop
- Physical Description
- 91 p. : ill., map ;,20 cm
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Electric railroads
- Local transit
- Street-railroads
- Transportation
- Geographic Access
- Vancouver
- Name Access
- British Columbia Electric Railway Company
- Notes
- Editor : Pixie McGeachie
Images
Digital Books
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19348
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Dr. Sadhu Binning Location of Interview: Love farmhouse at Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 25, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 3 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:15:57) Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto three separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future exhibits and for researchers to learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby. During the interview, Dr. Binning shares his ancestral background along with his relatives' and his own personal experiences as a South Asian immigrant living and working in British Columbia and Burnaby. Dr. Binning conveys that he’s a Burnaby resident who’s lived in Burnaby since 1973 and that his children were born here. Binning shares his ancestral heritage beginning with his uncle Dhana Singh who emigrated from Punjab to British Columbia in 1931 and began working in the forest industry. He explains how Dhana Singh and another partner owned, operated and worked in small sawmills in the vicinity of Kamloops, Williams Lake and also on Vancouver Island. Binning conveys that in the beginning Dhana Singh and many other South Asian immigrants were not legal residents until 1938. In 1938, about 350 South Asian immigrants (mainly Punjabi) gathered resources to hire a lawyer to obtain permanent residency. Binning mentions that one of the notable South Asians in the group who was also a close friend of his uncle, was Darshan Singh Sangha, a trade unionist who was a founding member of the International Woodworkers of America (IWA) union and an active member of the Communist Party of Canada. Binning conveys how Darshan Singh Sangha returned to India in 1947 to be a part of the revolution, how he was very active in the communist movement in India. While in India, Darshan Singh Sangha, was known as Canadian and thereby adopted “Canadian” as his surname, becoming “Darshan Singh Canadian”. Binning further explains that his uncle Dhana Singh Sangha returned to India in 1951, married and came back to B.C. in 1957 bringing with him, his wife and children. In 1960, with the support of his uncle, Binning’s father, Jit Singh Binning immigrated to British Columbia and began working in sawmills in the lower mainland, Kamloops, Quesnel and on Vancouver Island. Binning clarifies that his uncle, Dhana Singh was able to immigrate to Canada with the support of his cousins from the Tarker Singh Bains family. Binning further describes Darshan Singh Sangha’s involvement with the Communist party and the IWA and how the majority of the members were from the forest industry. As an active and prominent member of the labour movement, Darshan Singh Sangha fought for the rights of South Asians and Chinese who working in the industry and facing racism, unfair wages and discriminatory practices. Binning describes how Darshan Singh Sangha wrote a book in English in 1943, titled “Rise of the New Asia”. Binning conveys how immigrants of Chinese and South Asian decent didn’t have the right to vote in British Columbia and how Darshan Singh Sangha was instrumental in obtaining the right to vote in British Columbia, although he was never given the credit. Binning describes his uncle Dhana Singh as a likeable guy with many friends, first living in Kamloops before moving to Vancouver. Binning imparts how the sport of wrestling is a popular Punjabi sport along with Punjabi kabaddi. He conveys that his uncle became involved in wrestling while working in sawmills. South Asian immigrants had to do physical labour working in sawmills, the work could be tough and could often lead to physical fights. A number of South Asian immigrants working in the mills already had experience as wrestlers from back home. Dhana Singh later left the lumber industry to work in the agriculture sector. Binning explains how immigration rules changed in the 1960s which lead to larger numbers of South Asians immigrating to Canada. Many of these new immigrants were educated and politically conscious. All of these new immigrants faced racism but being politically conscious from an independent India and with the ability to speak English they organized themselves to fight for their rights. Binning imagines the items that his uncle and his father may have brought with them in their suitcase when immigrating to Canada. Binning describes three items, including a rajai (a blanket with cotton inside that is sewn together), a bistra (small attaché case or trunk) and a piece of cloth to lie on. Binning further describes the roles in Indian society as caste divisions and that it was usually women’s work in making the rajais. Binning recollects the locations that his father and his family lived after coming to Vancouver. Binning explains that a few years after living together in Vancouver, he and his family moved to Burnaby in 1973 to be closer to his Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish Binning’s family. Dr. Binning and family lived in a house in Burnaby located on Irmin Street near Royal Oak between 1973 and 1987. While living at this house their children attended McPherson Park Junior High School and later Burnaby South Secondary School. Binning reflects on some of the racism that he and his family have faced while living in Burnaby which led him to write a poem that he published in 1994 titled “No More Watno Dur”. Binning explains the meaning of the title “Watan” meaning “country and everybody” “a country far way from the motherland”. Binning explains the origins of the magazine “Watan” that was started by a friend in 1973. The magazine got its roots in Vancouver in 1973 from an organization called the “Punjabi Literary Association”. Binning became the editor of the magazine in 1976 and his friend joined him as assistant editor in 1978. Binning continued to work as editor until 1983 or 1984 when he returned to school to complete his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. Binning describes the origins of the “Vancouver Sath” that was formed by a small group of South Asians around 1982. Binning was a founding member of the organization and held meetings and rehearsals at his house in Burnaby. Vancouver Sath first started out as an informal discussion forum by a group of politically conscious Punjabi writers and activists. Binning talks about issues and problems that Vancouver Sath addressed including; racism as well as domestic violence in the South Asian community. Binning explains how he and Sukhwant Hundal wrote articles on these issues and others that were happening in the South Asian community in Canada. Binning talks about how in 1983, the group was inspired to begin performing theatrical works after consulting with Gursharan Singh who was from a well known theatrical group from Punjab who were performing in Vancouver. In the beginning the Vancouver Sath’s plays were focused on the problems in Punjab but they soon decided to address social issues in their own South Asian community here in Canada. Binning summarizes and draws attention to, some of the plays that Vancouver Sath has written and performed including; “Picket Line”, about Punjabi women farmworkers’ rights; “Lattan de Bhoot”, about domestic abuse; “A Crop of Poison”; “Kihda Viah” (English translation- “Whose Marriage”) about arranged marriage and others about social issues in the South Asian community. The plays were performed in public schools and community centres in Vancouver and Richmond, Simon Fraser University and some were also performed in Toronto, Calgary and Williams Lake. Binning mentions some of the traditional foods that he likes to eat and where he and his family have shopped to find ingredients. He recalls how his mother, Gurmaje Kaur Binning did all of the cooking and was often cooking all day long. In the sixties, the Binning family address on 13th Avenue in Vancouver was also used as a postal address for many friends and family who’d recently immigrated. When these friends dropped by to pick up their mail, his mother often provided them with tea and food. After Binning and his wife, Jagdish moved to their own home in 1973, he shared in some of the shopping and cooking but his wife did the majority of the work due to his busy schedule. The interview closes with Binning providing an explanation of how “Watno Dur” magazine changed it’s name to “Watan” magazine. Binning reflects on how this came to be, when he made the decision to get an education in Canada and to stay here, not just as a “Canadian” but as a “Punjabi Canadian.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Dr. Sadhu Binning was born on May 10, 1947 to mother Gurmej Kaur and father Jeet Singh Binning. Due to lack of proper records management in India at the time of his birth, it is believed that he was actually born sometime in December of 1947. He grew up alongside two brothers and one sister in a village located in Kapurthala, Punjab. Dr. Binning attended secondary school in the nearby city of Phagwara, Punjab although he did not complete his education here. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed reading both Punjabi and Hindi novels and learned how to read Urdu as well. Dr. Binning’s uncle, Dhana Singh immigrated to Canada in 1933 and returned to India in 1953. When Dhana Singh returned to Canada in 1957, he sponsored Dr. Binning’s father, Jeet Singh Binning to immigrate. Dhana Singh co-owned a few saw mills in British Columbia and also worked in the truck driving industry. Dr. Binning remembers that some people who had lived in Canada would visit their village and that they appeared to be strong and healthy and looked happy. He also noticed that they would eat meat, so whenever they would visit there would be meat available. In 1967, when he was nineteen and a half years old, Dr. Binning immigrated Canada to join his father. He recalls his father and uncle and a friend arriving at the airport to pick him up. During his first few days, Dr. Binning made the decision to remove his turban and beard upon receiving advice from his uncle. Dr. Binning first obtained work on a farm in Abbotsford, working alongside his mother. While working, Dr. Binning also attended English classes in Vancouver. Dr. Binning’s Uncle Dhana Singh worked in a Vancouver saw mill and tried to help find work for his nephew but was unsuccessful. Dr. Binning soon found work at a saw mill in Avola and worked there until the end of the summer until a friend helped find him work in a saw mill in North Vancouver. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with friends. In 1970, Dr. Binning left the saw mill after obtaining a job at the post office. The post office offered lower wages than working at the mill but Dr. Binning believed that he would become more educated working here. While working as a postman, Dr. Binning recalls facing a lot of discrimination and racism and was often referred to as a ‘Paki’ multiple times a day. In 1973, Dr. Binning married Jagish Sihota. Sadhu and Jagdish originated from nearby villages in India and met each other in Canada. Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish worked at the Royal Bank of Canada for thirty years until her retirement. While working, she also looked after the household and their son and daughter. Jagdish also handwrote a magazine, “Watno Dur’ (English translation: ‘away from homeland’) which was distributed in the community. In 1976, Dr. Binning became the editor of the magazine and the name was later changed to “Watan’ as they had accepted their new homeland of Canada. While working at the post office, Dr. Binning also attended night school starting in eighth grade. After receiving his high school diploma, he was accepted to Simon Fraser University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology and in 1986 he obtained a Masters degree from Simon Fraser University. While attending university, Dr. Binning was very active within the community and wanted to work to improve society. He first thought that he would return to India to contribute and improve rights in his homeland but upon seeing the prevalence of the movements in Canada, he realized that work needed to be done here too. In 1983, Dr. Binning became a founding member and contributor to a theatrical collective known as “Vancouver Sath”. The theatrical group produced plays that represented societal issues and were invited to perform at multiple conferences throughout British Columbia and Canada. The group focused and acknowledged the many issues in Punjab and in Canada. One of the plays that the group produced focused on the exploitation of Punjabi women who worked on farms in Canada. Dr. Binning continued to be involved as an integral member of Vancouver Sath until 1995. Over the years, Dr. Binning has strongly lobbied for Punjabi language education and between 1988 and 2008 he worked as Punjabi instructor at the University of British Columbia. He first worked as a teaching assistant at UBC under Dr. Harjot Oberoi and due to low wages, he simultaneously worked at the Post Office. In 2019, Dr. Binning received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UBC in recognition of his work. Since 1973, Dr. Binning has lived in Burnaby and has resided in the same home that he and his wife Jagdish purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips. 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
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Industries - Forestry
- Foods
- Migration
- Organizations - Societies and Clubs
- Organizations - Unions
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Performances
- Performances - Dramatic Performances
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Names
- Binning, Dr. Sadhu
- Binning, Gurmaje Kaur
- Binning, Jit Singh
- Binning, Jagdish
- Sangha, Darshan Singh
- Canadian Farmworkers Union
- Hundal, Sukhwant
- Sangra, Harjinder
- Singh, Dhana
- Vancouver Sath
- Responsibility
- Petrusa, Kate
- Malik, Anushay
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0003_004.mp3