Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with former Mayor William “Bill” Lewarne, conducted by Rod Fowler. Bill Lewarne was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about Bill Lewarne’s business and political careers, and memories of growing up in South Burnaby in the 1930s. Bill Lewarne talks about his parent’s origins, his family and community struggles during the Depression, the interurban, his education, war service, and joining his father's business. He describes the start, operation and expansion of the family ice cream business, and how business life compared to political life. The interview explores the role of politics in community affairs, his political activities, the history of the BVA, and his involvement in various community organizations. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track, expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: William Alfred “Bill” Lewarne was born in Burnaby in 1926 to Ethel Cecilia Leer (1899- ) and Alfred Lewarne (1893-1962). The family, Ethel, Alfred and their three children Patricia, Beverley and William, moved to a house on Nelson Avenue in Alta Vista in 1931. Ethel still lived in the family home in 1990. Bill Lewarne attended Nelson Avenue School and South Burnaby High School (1932-1944). His father Alfred worked at Colony Farms as a dairy inspector and then for the Port of Vancouver Dairy before being laid off early in the Depression. The family struggled until in 1936 Alfred started his own ice cream business. After graduation Bill was in the army for two years, taking a refrigeration course under the veteran’s training benefit, before joining his father’s business. Three generations of the family operated the successful company, expanding from wholesale, retail and distribution of ice cream products into refrigerated warehouses and the wholesale ice business, until the business was sold to its competitor Dairyland in 1989. Bill Lewarne entered politics in 1965, first with the Nonpartisan Association (NPA) and then as a founder of the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA). He served as an alderman on Burnaby Council 1973-1975 and 1977-1981 and as Mayor 1981-1987. In 1979 he ran for provincial office for the Social Credit Party against Rosemary Brown but lost. Bill Lewarne married June Lawrence and they had three children Robert, Leslie and Janice. He was active in many organizations: Burnaby/Willingdon Liberal Association, Seton Villa, Irish Fusileers of Canada, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, and the Burnaby Hospital Foundation, and continued to be active on the Board of the BCA. Bill Lewarne died in 1995.

Total Tracks: 14

Total Length: 1:34:40

Interviewee Name: Lewarne, William A. "Bill"

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and business computerization in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Images

Burnaby Alderman, Bill (William) Lewarne, [1973]. Item no. 231-012 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track two of interview with Bill Lewarne

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-019/MSS187-019_Track_2.mp3

Burnaby Historical Society Christmas

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98456

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1999 and 2010]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 24 photographs : col. ; 10 cm x 15 cm

Scope and Content: File contains photographs from a Burnaby Historical Society Christmas party held in the ice cream parlour at the Burnaby Village Museum. The party included a performance by a group of burlesque dancers in retro costumes and visit by Santa Claus.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1999 and 2010]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Administration series

Physical Description: 24 photographs : col. ; 10 cm x 15 cm

Description Level: File

Record No.: 633-011

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2020-06

Scope and Content: File contains photographs from a Burnaby Historical Society Christmas party held in the ice cream parlour at the Burnaby Village Museum. The party included a performance by a group of burlesque dancers in retro costumes and visit by Santa Claus.

Subjects: Holidays - Christmas; Recreational Activities - Dancing

Names: Burnaby Historical Society

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photographs; Photographs were originally contained in a photograph album and removed by Archives staff for preservation purposes. Original order of photographs within the album is maintained.

Street Address: 6501 Deer Lake Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Burnaby Historical Society Christmas, [between 1999 and 2010] thumbnail

Dance Me Home

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9680

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 2016

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Film and Video collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (6 min., 39 sec.) : digital, 25 fps, col., sd., stereo

Scope and Content: In "Dance Me Home", Barbara Karmazyn talks about the important role that dance has played in her life. Awakening as a dancer in her late twenties she created a career as an expressive arts facilitator, sharing her love of dance and the arts with people of all ages and abilities. After years of phys…

1 image 1 video

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Film and Video collection

Series: Elders Digital Storytelling project series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (6 min., 39 sec.) : digital, 25 fps, col., sd., stereo

Scope and Content: In "Dance Me Home", Barbara Karmazyn talks about the important role that dance has played in her life. Awakening as a dancer in her late twenties she created a career as an expressive arts facilitator, sharing her love of dance and the arts with people of all ages and abilities. After years of physical demands, her body began to break down, sending her into the quagmire of “trying to fix it”. Frustrated with traditional therapies Barbara went back to dance, enrolling in a Community Engaged Dance class for people over 55. Dancing and socializing with other women her age, she learned to re connect to her body and adjust to the physical limitations of aging.

Creator: Karmazyn, Barbara

Other Title Information: title supplied by film maker

Subjects: Recreational Activities - Dancing

Names: Karmazyn, Barbara

Accession Code: BV016.37.11

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 2016

Media Type: Moving Images

Notes: Transcribed title

Images

Video

Dance Me Home, 2016

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2016_0037_0011_001.mp4

Gerald F. Sanders at 100th birthday

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9886

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 2016

Collection/Fonds: Gerald F. Sanders and Alice Sparman Sanders fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. print ; 17.6 x 12.6 cm

Scope and Content: Studio portrait of Gerald Sanders, taken days after his 100th birthday

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Gerald F. Sanders and Alice Sparman Sanders fonds

Series: Sanders-Sparman photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. print ; 17.6 x 12.6 cm

Material Details: Printed on Kodack Professional paper

Scope and Content: Studio portrait of Gerald Sanders, taken days after his 100th birthday

Subjects: Celebrations - Birthdays

Names: Sanders, Gerald Frank

Accession Code: BV018.34.11

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 2016

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2022-07-12

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Gerald F. Sanders at 100th birthday, 2016 thumbnail

Interview with Maureen Olofson by Kathy Bossort October 14, 2015 - Track 7

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory575

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 2000-2015

Length: 0:05:09

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Maureen Olofson’s volunteer activities with the Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association and Dania Homes Society, which includes giving talks to seniors about Burnaby Mountain parks. She also talks about kinds of accessible activities that people can do on Burna…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Maureen Olofson’s volunteer activities with the Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association and Dania Homes Society, which includes giving talks to seniors about Burnaby Mountain parks. She also talks about kinds of accessible activities that people can do on Burnaby Mountain.

Date Range: 2000-2015

Length: 0:05:09

Names: Swedish Canadian Rest Home and Manor; Dania Home

Subjects: Recreational Activities; Geographic Features - Parks; Persons - Volunteers; Persons - Seniors

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Bossort, Kathy

Interview Date: October 14, 2015

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Maureen Olofson conducted by Kathy Bossort. Maureen Olofson was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about Maureen Olofson’s memories of growing up on her parent’s Burnaby Mountain mink ranch between 1942 and 1950 and about the operation of the farm. She also talks about her parents’ history, her teaching career, and her thoughts about the beauty and value of Burnaby Mountain’s natural area.

Biographical Notes: Maureen Olofson was born 1938 in Glote, Harjedalen, Sweden, to Axel (1906-1998) and Kerstin Margareta (1906-1980). Axel and Kerstin Olofson, who had separately immigrated to Canada in 1928 and 1913 respectively, married in Canada and then returned to Sweden where Maureen was born. They moved to Burnaby in 1942 with their daughters Maureen and Anita Lea, and bought land and a mink ranch on Burnaby Mountain with their partners Gus Skofteby and Karin Ericksson (Kerstin’s sister). The GAK Fur Farm, located in the old Hastings Grove subdivision on 4th Avenue near Curtis Street, was one of the largest mink ranches in BC, an award winning operation with over 1200 mink animals. In 1950 the partners sold the land and the Olofson family moved to rented homes on Sperling Avenue. In 1952 Axel sold the last of his minks and opened a sporting goods store on Hastings Street. In 1954 the family moved to North Vancouver where Axel Olofson reestablished his sports business. Maureen attended Sperling Avenue School from Gr. 1 to Gr. 8 and Burnaby North High School to Gr. 11, completing school in North Vancouver, before going to UBC where she trained as a teacher. She returned to Burnaby in 1977 to teach, retiring in 1997. She is a volunteer with the Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association and the Dania Homes Society. Maureen continues to enjoy activities on Burnaby Mountain and works toward preserving the natural beauty of the mountain.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 1:19:04

Interviewee Name: Olofson, B. Maureen

Interview Location: Maureen Olofson's home in Burnaby

Interviewer Bio: Kathy Bossort is a retired archivist living in Ladner, BC. She worked at the Delta Museum and Archives after graduating from SLAIS (UBC) in 2001 with Masters degrees in library science and archival studies. Kathy grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and, prior to this career change, she lived in the West Kootenays, earning her living as a cook for BC tourist lodges and work camps. She continues to be interested in oral histories as a way to fill the gaps in the written record and bring richer meaning to history.

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Track seven of interview with Maureen Olofson

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-004/MSS196-004_Track_7.mp3

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 …

1 image 1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: 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

Documents

2023_0016_0001_004

Audio Tracks

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

Interview with Rajinder and Raj Pandher

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19610

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1942- 2023] (interview content), interviewed Jan. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 4 sound recordings (wav) (186 min., 1 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (186 min., 2 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Rajinder and Raj Pandher conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa and Museum Registrar, James Binks. The interview was conducted on January 10, 2023 and January 24, 2023. 00:00 – 08:52 First part of interview…

1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 4 sound recordings (wav) (186 min., 1 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (186 min., 2 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewers: Kate Petrusa and James Binks Interviewees: Rajinder and Raj Pandher Location of Interview: Love farmhouse, Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: January 10, 2023 and January 24, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 4 Total Length of all Tracks: (3:06:01 min) Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto four separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Rajinder and Raj Pandher conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa and Museum Registrar, James Binks. The interview was conducted on January 10, 2023 and January 24, 2023. 00:00 – 08:52 First part of interview begins on January 10. Rajinder Pander provides information on where he was born and where he grew up and shares details regarding his family and his childhood including; his elementary and high school education and experiences and his involvement and interest in the sport of field hockey. 08:53 – 23:24 Raj Pander provides information on where she was born and shares details regarding her family and education. Raj recalls details of her family life in India including her family farm, her father’s service in the Indian National Army and other ancestor’s involvement in the military. Rajinder assists with the details regarding Raj’s father’s military service and explains how he was highly decelerated for his heroic actions. Rajinder conveys further information in reference to the Sikh Empire. 23:25 – 35:53 Rajinder and Raj share information on their formal education. Raj explains how she learned English and talks about the other spoken languages that her family used while she was growing up. Rajinder and Raj recall how they first met which lead them to marry in 1971. Rajinder provides information about his older brothers who left India before him. He explains how his elder brother, Kirpal Singh Pandher immigrated to Canada in 1970 and provides details on his other brother who lived in Malaysia and England before coming to Canada in 1975. Rajinder conveys how after his brother, Kirpal Singh Pandher arrived in Canada, he lived in Campbell River and worked at the saw mill there. 35:54 – 1:01:38 Rajinder and Raj share their immigration stories including details of; what lead them to immigrate, their immigration route, what they brought with them and where they lived and worked. Rajinder and Raj tell of how they both faced discrimination in finding work that they were qualified for and describe some of the jobs that they worked at before obtaining their Real Estate licences. 1:01:39 – 1:13:09 Rajinder and Raj share information on where they’ve purchase traditional food supplies in Burnaby and Rajinder provides further details on his employment and recalls how they were able to purchase their first home in Burnaby. 1:13:10 - 1:19:33 Rajinder describes how he began writing for the Sikh newsletter “The Western Sikh Samachar”. Rajinder shares how he first started printing small pamphlets of Sikh Cultural history in 1975 and how he’s been volunteering with the National Democratic Party (NDP) since 1973. 1:19:34 - 1:38:24 Second part of interview continues on January 24, 2023. Rajinder provides further information about the Sikh newsletter “The Western Sikh Samachar”, provides an historical summary of the Sikh Empire and the Sikh religion and describes a book that’s he’s written about his culture and the village he lived in India. 1:38:25 - 1:52:24 Raj describes some of the traditional textiles that she’s created including a dury, embroidered cloth (pakha and pakhi) and clothing. Raj shares a story of a train derailment in India in which her father survived. 1:52:25 - 2:14:53 Raj Pandher talks about her father’s letters and diaries, Rajinder talks about receiving a Diamond Jubilee Medal for his community service and they both talk about their daughter Amanjit’s education and career accomplishments. Raj describes her involvement in the community council of her children’s school and both Raj and Rajinder describe their involvement in multicultural education and events that they were involved with in Burnaby and New Westminster. Interviewer lists Rajinder Pandher’s many volunteer awards and accomplishments. 2:14:54 - 2:39:53 Raj and Rajinder describe some of their family photographs as well as personal items from India including decorative arts and textiles. They talk about celebrating their 30 year wedding anniversary and the origin of their Sikh names. Rajinder describes a visit to Paldi in 1977 when the whole family was baptized at the Sikh temple and provides informaton about Hardial Singh Atwal, the first Sikh child born in Canada. Rajinder discusses what he thinks a cookhouse looked like, his friendship with former Mayor William J. Copeland and wages of South Asians working in sawmills. 2:39:54 - 3:06:01 Raj and Rajinder talk about food including where they’ve purchased traditional South Asian foods and what they grow in their home garden. Rajinder provides details about the Burnaby Multicultural Society, talks about South Asian work ethics and housing and shares some of the cultural and religious traditions of Sikhs and celebrations that take place in Vancouver and Burnaby.

History: Interviewees biographies: Rajinder Pandher was born five years prior to the Partition of India in the Village of Jhamat, Ludhiana District, Punjab. Raj Pandher was born in 1948 in the Village of Chapar, Ludhiana District, Punjab. Rajinder played field hockey while living in India and is passionate about the sport. Both Rajinder and Raj Pahndher attended college in India and were married in India in 1971. Rajinder Pandher immigrated to Canada in 1972 and his wife, Raj Pandher joined him in 1973. After arriving in Canada, Rajinder Pandher started working at a sawmill in Campbell River but didn't like the work and moved to Vancouver to find better employment opportunties. In 1976, the couple moved to Burnaby and rented until they could buy a home a year later. They raised two children who attended Second Street Elementary School and Cariboo Hill Secondary School in Burnaby. Rajinder and Raj Pandher were both very involved with multicultural efforts at their childlren's schools including turban tying and sari demonstrations and Rajinder was a founding member of the Burnaby Multicultural Society. Interviewers biographies: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013. 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; Housing; Employment; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Persons - Volunteers; Religions - Sikhism; Migration; Organizations; Organizations - Societies and Clubs; Social Issues - Racism; Social Issues; Celebrations; Sports - Field Hockey

Names: Pandher, Raj; Pandher, Rajinder; Copeland, William J.; Pandher, Harman; Pandher, Amanjit; Burnaby Multicultural Society; The Western Sikh Samachar

Responsibility: Petrusa, Kate; Binks, James

Accession Code: BV023.1.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1942- 2023] (interview content), interviewed Jan. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcripts available upon request

Audio Tracks

Interview with Rajinder and Raj Pandher, [1942- 2023] (interview content), interviewed Jan. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0001_0002_003.mp3

A.C. Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1658

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [189-] (date of original), copied 1977

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.2 x 20.2 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a one year old, dressed in a sailor shirt and pleated skirt, with boots, taken in a photographic studio. The inscription on the original photograph suggests the child is A.C. Hill, or Claude Hill, the son of Bernard Hill.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.2 x 20.2 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a one year old, dressed in a sailor shirt and pleated skirt, with boots, taken in a photographic studio. The inscription on the original photograph suggests the child is A.C. Hill, or Claude Hill, the son of Bernard Hill.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Hill, Arthur Claude

Accession Code: HV977.123.41

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [189-] (date of original), copied 1977

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-07-25

Photographer: Atkinson, J.

Notes: Annotation on recto of the orginal photograph reads: "A.C. Hill," and printed on the card mount of the original is: "J. Atkinson" and "Jane St. / Workington."

Images

A.C. Hill, [189-] (date of original), copied 1977 thumbnail

Baby

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription384

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [189-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.35 x 10.16 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a baby wearing a lace trimmed dress. The baby is sitting on a sofa with cushions at her back. A person's hand is visible, holding up the baby. The inscription on the cardmount of the photograph identifies the baby as Berla or Bertha E. Beallie (sp?) at age 9 months. She was 23.5 lbs.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.35 x 10.16 cm

Material Details: printed on the card mount, recto, l.l. "HART'S,", l.r. "WATERTOWN, N. Y."; inscribed in pencil on the card mount, verso, t. "Berla [or Bertha] E. Beallie [sp?]/ 9months/ 23 1/2 lbs"; The photograph is mounted on a card supplied by the photo studio. The edges of the card are coloured gold

Scope and Content: Photograph of a baby wearing a lace trimmed dress. The baby is sitting on a sofa with cushions at her back. A person's hand is visible, holding up the baby. The inscription on the cardmount of the photograph identifies the baby as Berla or Bertha E. Beallie (sp?) at age 9 months. She was 23.5 lbs.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Beallie, Bertha

Accession Code: HV983.42.124

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [189-]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-11-21

Scale: 100

Photographer: Hart's Studio

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Blanche Wilkinson

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82374

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1896 and 1900]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10 x 6.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of Blanche Wilkinson.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1896 and 1900]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10 x 6.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-024

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of Blanche Wilkinson.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Wilkinson, Blanche

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "Blanche Wilkinson / 1890's"; Note in pencil on verso reads: "Blanche Wilkinson / b. late 1890's"; Photograph stamp on verso reads: "John Barron, / Photographer, / Sarnia."

Images

Blanche Wilkinson, [between 1896 and 1900] thumbnail

Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal Hill and Dorothy Kate Vidal Loomis

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82396

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1897

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of two girls identified from left to right as Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal Hill and Dorothy Kate Vidal Loomis.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1897

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 7 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-032

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of two girls identified from left to right as Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal Hill and Dorothy Kate Vidal Loomis.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Hill, Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal; Loomis, Dorothy Kate Vidal

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page photograph reads: "Charlotte Elizabeth 9 mos / Dorothy Kate - 2 yrs / Vidal 1897"; Note in blue pen on verso reads: "1897"; Note in black pen on verso reads: "[Char]lotte Elizabeth Vidal age: 9m"

Images

Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal Hill and Dorothy Kate Vidal Loomis, 1897 thumbnail

Hazel Peterson photographs

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription62794

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1880-2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: ca. 60 photographs : b&w and col. -- 2 prints : col. illustrations

Scope and Content: File consists of loose photographs of Hazel Peterson (nee Erickson), as well as photographs of her family and parents, Charles and Amanda Erickson, and her husband, Edwin Peterson. Photographs are from all stages of Hazel Peterson's life, including infancy and childhood and later years of her life,…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1880-2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Hazel Peterson subseries

Physical Description: ca. 60 photographs : b&w and col. -- 2 prints : col. illustrations

Material Details: Some photographs remain in frames or paper covers.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 504-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2000-08

Scope and Content: File consists of loose photographs of Hazel Peterson (nee Erickson), as well as photographs of her family and parents, Charles and Amanda Erickson, and her husband, Edwin Peterson. Photographs are from all stages of Hazel Peterson's life, including infancy and childhood and later years of her life, including a trip to Hawaii in 1982. File includes studio portraits, cartes de visites, postcards, and some illustrations.

Subjects: Travel; Persons - Children

Names: Peterson, Hazel; Peterson, Edwin

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on content of file; Note on verso of 504-022 reads: "This was taken several years ago / Your niece / Hazel Petersen (at left)"; Note on verso of 504-027 reads: "Hazel Erickson Peterson"; Note on verso of 504-028 reads: "all of us except Ethel" and identifies the siblings in the photo; Note on verso of 504-029 reads: "not such a bad picture considering" and identifies the people in the photo.; Note on verso of 504-030 reads: "Agnus McDonald" and "Touch up outline of deer"; Note on envelope for 504-039:504-041 reads: "Hazel Petersen resided at Dania Home, Burnaby, for 20 years before her death shortly before her 100th birthday."

Julia "Jue" Jones Owens, Charlotte Vidal and Dorothy Vidal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82413

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1898 and 1890]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph shows two girls identified as Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal Hill and Dorothy Kate Vidal Loomis and a woman, identified as Julia "Jue" Jones Owens feeding a dog.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1898 and 1890]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10 x 13 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-037

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph shows two girls identified as Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal Hill and Dorothy Kate Vidal Loomis and a woman, identified as Julia "Jue" Jones Owens feeding a dog.

Subjects: Animals - Dogs; Persons - Children

Names: Hill, Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal; Loomis, Dorothy Kate Vidal

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph and contents of photograph; Note in pencil on album page photograph reads: "Aunt Julia / Charlotte (L) / Dorothy Vidal (R)"; Note in blue pen on verso reads: "Aunt Julia / Mom / Aunt Dor / Chicago"

Images

M. G. Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82537

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1899 and 1910]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 16.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of one man and five rows of boys. Identified fourth from the right in the back row is Minard G. Hill.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1899 and 1910]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 16.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-111

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of one man and five rows of boys. Identified fourth from the right in the back row is Minard G. Hill.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Buildings - Schools

Names: Hill, Minard Gerald "Gerry"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "M.G. Hill / (4th from right back row)"

Images

M. G. Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82538

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1899 and 1910]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 16.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of one man and five rows of boys. Identified fourth from the right in the back row is Minard G. Hill.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1899 and 1910]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 16.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-112

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of one man and five rows of boys. Identified fourth from the right in the back row is Minard G. Hill.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Buildings - Schools

Names: Hill, Minard Gerald "Gerry"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "M.G. Hill / (4th from right back row)"

Images

Pictures of Hazel, throughout her life

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription93393

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1897-2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 album (19 photographs ; b&w and col.) + 1 accompanying letter

Scope and Content: Photograph album containing photographs of Hazel Peterson throughout her life, from her childhood in San Francisco to her later years. The album also held a letter attesting to Hazel Peterson's vaccination in 1902; there is a lock of hair and a photographic button pinned to the letter.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1897-2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Hazel Peterson subseries

Physical Description: 1 album (19 photographs ; b&w and col.) + 1 accompanying letter

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 504-045

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2000-08

Scope and Content: Photograph album containing photographs of Hazel Peterson throughout her life, from her childhood in San Francisco to her later years. The album also held a letter attesting to Hazel Peterson's vaccination in 1902; there is a lock of hair and a photographic button pinned to the letter.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Peterson, Hazel; Peterson, Edwin

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title taken from handwritten note inside the original album; Note on verso of 504-045-1 reads: "hair light blond / eyes violet blue / Mrs Erickson / [?]"; Note on verso of 504-045-10 reads: "Hazel Peterson, Dennis & Irene / Aug 18 1994"; Photographer's stamp on verso of 504-045-18 reads: "Souvenir Snaps / 401 W. Hastings St. / Vancouver, B.C. / Extra copies by number"

Two unidentified girls

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82356

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1860-1900]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 4 x 6 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of two unidentified girls, one perhaps being Blanche Wilkinson.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1860-1900]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 4 x 6 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-018

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of two unidentified girls, one perhaps being Blanche Wilkinson.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "? and Blanche W.?"; Photograph stamp on verso reads: "Barron & Walker / Artist and Photographer / B & W"

Images

Unidentified girl

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82353

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1860-1900]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of an unidentified girl.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1860-1900]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-015

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of an unidentified girl.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Hill, Alice Maude Huggett "Maude"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "Maude?"

Images

Unidentified girl, [1860-1900] thumbnail

Annual Picnic

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription402

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [189-?]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8.89 x 12.07 cm

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of 7 unidentified women in white dresses of the turn of the century period. They are all wearing hats, some lavishly decorated with feathers and silk flowers. The five women seated in the front are wearing award ribbons on their chests that say "ANNUAL PICNIC". The rest of the…

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8.89 x 12.07 cm

Material Details: The photograph is printed on a postcard paper. The postcard is copyrighted by the Chicago Ferrotype Company, 1911. The photo postcard is likely a reproduction of a ferrotype or a tintype photograph because the image tone is darker than B&W photographs printed on paper. The postcard is enclosed in a green folder with a lion face embossing on the cover.

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of 7 unidentified women in white dresses of the turn of the century period. They are all wearing hats, some lavishly decorated with feathers and silk flowers. The five women seated in the front are wearing award ribbons on their chests that say "ANNUAL PICNIC". The rest of the writing on the ribbon is not decipherable. Two women are standing in the back. There appears to be a buliding and landscaped woods in the background.

Subjects: Recreational Activities - Picnics

Accession Code: HV983.42.142

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [189-?]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-12-05

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

B.C. Sugar Refinery Picnic

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription667

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1897]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 38 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a large group picnic. Banners tied between two trees behind the group read "B.C.S.[last letter obscured by an individual] 6th ANNUAL PICNIC" and "ROGERS' GOLDEN SYRUP." It is speculated that this photograph is of the British Columbia Sugar Refining Company's (sixth annual) picnic.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 38 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a large group picnic. Banners tied between two trees behind the group read "B.C.S.[last letter obscured by an individual] 6th ANNUAL PICNIC" and "ROGERS' GOLDEN SYRUP." It is speculated that this photograph is of the British Columbia Sugar Refining Company's (sixth annual) picnic.

Subjects: Recreational Activities - Picnics

Accession Code: HV976.36.29

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1897]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 300

Scan Date: 17/8/2006

Scale: 100

Photographer: Dominion Photo Studio

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

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