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Interview with Harman Pandher
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19609
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1968- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jan. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (105 min., 23 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (101 min., 39 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harman Pandher conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. 00:00 - 37:38 Interview opens with Harman Pandher sharing information on his oldest living relative, Kirpal Singh Pandher who immigrated to Canada arou…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (105 min., 23 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (101 min., 39 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Harman Pandher Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: January 5, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks:1:45:23 min Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 format for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harman Pandher conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. 00:00 - 37:38 Interview opens with Harman Pandher sharing information on his oldest living relative, Kirpal Singh Pandher who immigrated to Canada around 1968. The interview continues with Harman Pandher providing details about his childhood in Burnaby while occasionally sharing photographs with the interviewer. He provides detailed descriptions of the homes and neighbourhoods while living on Second Street and 15th Avenue and shares his experiences as a South Asian Sikh attending Second Street elementary school, Cariboo Hill Secondary School and Kahlsa School. Pandher recalls some of his family and childhood experiences including, family events and gatherings; participation in school clubs and sports; playing basketball, ball hockey and street hockey with his Punjabi friends and other Burnaby kids; racism that he faced as a Sikh wearing a turban and delivering newspapers for the Vancouver Sun. 37:39 – 52:54 Pandher talks about family and cultural celebrations and traditions within the Sikh community including Vaisakhi, Diwali and celebrations of the birth of Guru Ravidas and Guru Nanak. Pandher conveys that while he was growing up many of these events took place in Vancouver but now they are also celebrated in Burnaby. He recalls events that took place in school while growing up in Burnaby including; his sister wearing a Sari to a fashion show; a visit to a Sikh temple; celebrating the birthday of Guru Nanak and outreach to teachers to learn about South Asian culture, games, food and traditions. Pandher also shares his experiences working as a student teacher at Capital Hill Elementary in North Burnaby where he took his class on a tour of the Sikh temple in 2001 and reflects on learning that it is his responsibility to be proactive in educating the public in his own culture while also learning about other communities. 52:55 - 1:19:56 Pandher shares personal experiences of racism and his experiences as a teacher and author. He recalls and reflects on a traumatic experience where he was physically assaulted while shopping at Lougheed Mall and recollects his father carrying around his field hockey stick in his car to defend himself. Pandher reflects on the lack of representation of racialized people like himself within the school curriculum while he was growing up which lead him to become a teacher and an author of children’s literature. Pander provides detailed information on his education and training in becoming a teacher, his love of poetry and literature and how he became an author. Pandher describes some of the works of poetry and literature that he’s written about the Sikh religion, history and culture, growing up as a Sikh Canadian and a non-fiction work about the history of Paldi titled "Welcome to Paldi: A Place for Everyone". Pandher also talks about beginning to record some of his own family stories from relatives. 1:19:57 - 1:29:58 Pandher talks about raising his own family in Burnaby, living as an extended family with his parents, his son’s education and Pandher's experience on the Burnaby School Board (2011-2018) . Pandher shares locations of residences that he and his family have lived before living at their current home on 17th Avenue. Pandher explains that since he was a teacher in Surrey, his son attended Khalsa School as well as public elementary and high school in Surrey but did his extracurricular activities in Burnaby where the family lived. 1:29:56 – 1:41:39 In closing, Harman Pandher reflects and shares what he hopes for younger generations of South Asian Canadians and future generations. Pandher articulates “be who you are, stay true to who you are, maintain your family’s traditions, learn their stories, learn their story and how they got to Burnaby”. He conveys that even though there’s more work to be done eliminating racism completely he sees the importance in volunteering, teaching others about yourself and making an effort to learn all parts of Burnaby and other cultures represented here. Pandher speaks about his concerns of youths falling victim to a lifestyle of drugs and gangs and how it’s important to remove the stigma around mental health issues.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Harman Pandher was born in Vancouver in 1976 to parents, Rajinder and Raj Pandher who immigrated to Canada in 1973. A few weeks later after Harman was born, the family moved to Burnaby. While living in Burnaby, Harman Pandher and his sister attended Second Street Elementary School and Cariboo Hill Secondary School. Pandher obtained a master's degree in education from the University of British Columbia and has worked as an elementary school teacher for over 20 years. Pandher has been recognized for his efforts in building bridges across communities as the recipient of the 2021 B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Award. Pandher has served on the Board of the Burnaby Multicultural Society and is co-founder of two noon-profit organizations; “Through SONG” (Seeking Oneness for the Next Generation) “About bringing youth together form diverse backgrounds and using their talent in the community for good causes” and "SACH" (South Asian Community Hub) providing one-stop services for those impacted by alchohol and substance use and mental health issues. Harman Pandher is also the author of two children's books titled, "Gurpreet Goes to Gurdwara: Understanding the Sikh Place of Worship" and "Once Upon the Golden Temple: A Journey to Sri Harmandir Sahib". Interviewer biography: 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.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Occupations - Teachers
- Occupations - Writers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Religions
- Religions - Sikhism
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Sports - Basketball
- Sports
- Responsibility
- Petrusa, Kate
- Geographic Access
- 2nd Street
- 15th Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV023.1.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1968- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jan. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Second Street Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcript available upon request
Audio Tracks
Interview with Harman Pandher, [1968- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jan. 2023
Interview with Harman Pandher, [1968- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jan. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0001_0001_003.mp3
Seaforth School Class
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37340
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1949
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-nine students and their teacher seated and standing in rows in front of the school building. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School. Identified are the following, back row (l to r): Calvert Broomfield, Billy Beaton, Rod Cardin, …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1949
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Seaforth School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.7 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 355-004
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1997-14
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-nine students and their teacher seated and standing in rows in front of the school building. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School. Identified are the following, back row (l to r): Calvert Broomfield, Billy Beaton, Rod Cardin, Brian Smith, Connor Werts, Charlie Sunderland, David Werts, John Short, Edward Green, Brude Johnson and Mrs. Mary Johnson (nee Mary MacDonald). Middle row (l to r): Judy Haddon, Sharon Milne, Barbara Smith, Wilma Heather, Betty Hadfield, Merle Beaton, Marcia Noel, Beverly Clarke, Janet Hadfield, Beverly Gamble, Lillian Savage and Joan Dachiuk. Front row (l to r): Billy Smith, Jerry Green, Leigh Tucker, David Park, Eldon Clarke, Joe Haddon and Sammy Savage.
- Names
- Seaforth School
- Johnson, Mary MacDonald
- Broomfield, Calvert
- Beaton, Billy
- Cardin, Rod
- Smith, Brian
- Werts, Connor
- Sunderland, Charlie
- Werts, David
- Short, John
- Green, Edward
- Johnson, Bruce
- Haddon, Judy
- Milne, Sharon
- Smith, Barbara
- Heather, Wilma
- Hadfield, Betty
- Beaton, Merle
- Noel, Marcia
- Clarke, Beverly
- Hadfield, Janet
- Gamble, Beverly
- Savage, Lillian
- Dachiuk, Joan
- Smith, Billy
- Green, Gerry
- Tucker, Leigh
- Park, David
- Clarke, Eldon
- Haddon, Joe
- Savage, Sammy
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on label on verso of photograph
- Photographer identified as "Layton"
- Geographic Access
- Government Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 7881 Government Road
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Images
Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37337
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1946
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-four children sitting and standing in rows outside with their teacher. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. The students are identified as follows: Back row (l to r), Miss MacDonald (teacher), Betty Cook, Kenny …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1946
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Seaforth School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.7 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 355-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1997-14
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-four children sitting and standing in rows outside with their teacher. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. The students are identified as follows: Back row (l to r), Miss MacDonald (teacher), Betty Cook, Kenny Good (?), Loretta Beaton, Billy Clarke, Harvey Harding, Gordon Heather and Arthur Savage. Middle row (l to r): Albert Drappier, Clara Clarke, Betty Savage, Barbara Jean Piper, Nevella Bird, Frances Westin, Kenny Beaton, Gordon (?), and Graeme Smith. First row (l to r): Dennis Clarke, Brian Sherry, Lillian Savage, Beverly Gamble, David Werts, Charlie Sunderland, Billy Beaton.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Seaforth School
- MacDonald, Mary
- Cook, Betty
- Good, Kenny
- Beaton, Loretta
- Clarke, Billy
- Harding, Harvey
- Heather, Gordon
- Savage, Arthur
- Drappier, Albert
- Clarke, Clara
- Savage, Betty
- Piper, Barbara Jean
- Bird, Nevella
- Westin, Frances
- Beaton, Kenny
- Smith, Graeme
- Clarke, Dennis
- Sherry, Brian
- Savage, Lillian
- Gamble, Beverly
- Werts, David
- Sunderland, Charlie
- Beaton, Billy
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on label on verso of photograph
- Photographer identified as "Layton"
- Geographic Access
- Government Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 7881 Government Road
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Images
Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37338
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1947
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of nineteen students and their teacher sitting and standing in rows in a field. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. The students are identified as follows: Back row (l to r), Miss Mary MacDonald (teacher), Graeme Smith…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1947
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Seaforth School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.7 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 355-002
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1997-14
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of nineteen students and their teacher sitting and standing in rows in a field. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. The students are identified as follows: Back row (l to r), Miss Mary MacDonald (teacher), Graeme Smith, Kenny Good, David Werts, Charlie Sunderland, and Brian Sherry. Middle row (l to r): Barbara Jean Piper, Betty Savage, Lillian Savage, ?, Beverly Clarke, Beverly Gamble, and Nevella Bird. Front row (l to r): Connor Werts, Dennis Clark, ? , Calvert Broomfield, Billy Beaton, David Stewart and Terry Brewer.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Seaforth School
- MacDonald, Mary
- Smith, Graeme
- Good, Kenny
- Werts, David
- Sunderland, Charlie
- Sherry, Brian
- Piper, Barbara Jean
- Savage, Betty
- Savage, Lillian
- Clarke, Beverly
- Gamble, Beverly
- Bird, Nevella
- Werts, Connor
- Clarke, Dennis
- Broomfield, Calvert
- Beaton, Billy
- Stewart, David
- Brewer, Terry
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on label on verso of photograph
- Photographer identified as "Layton"
- Geographic Access
- Government Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 7881 Government Road
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Images
Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37339
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1948
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-six students and their teacher sitting and standing in rows in a field. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. Identified are: Back row (l to r), David Werts, Graeme Smith, Kenny Good, Gordon Uoogla, John Short, …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1948
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Seaforth School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 355-003
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1997-14
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-six students and their teacher sitting and standing in rows in a field. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. Identified are: Back row (l to r), David Werts, Graeme Smith, Kenny Good, Gordon Uoogla, John Short, Charlie Sunderland and Miss Mary MacDonald (teacher). Middle row (l to r): Terry Brewer (standing), Merle Beaton, Nevella Bird, Beverly Gamble, Betty Savage, Lillian Savage, Beverly Clarke, Wilma Heather, Barbara Jean Piper, Clara Clarke, Joe Haddon (standing). All in the front row are unidentified.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Seaforth School
- MacDonald, Mary
- Brewer, Terry
- Werts, David
- Smith, Graeme
- Good, Kenny
- Uoogla, Gordon
- Short, John
- Sunderland, Charlie
- Beaton, Merle
- Bird, Nevella
- Gamble, Beverly
- Savage, Betty
- Savage, Lillian
- Clarke, Beverly
- Heather, Wilma
- Piper, Barbara Jean
- Clarke, Clara
- Haddon, Joe
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on label on verso of photograph
- Photographer identified as "Layton"
- Geographic Access
- Government Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 7881 Government Road
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Images
