Narrow Results By
Subject
- Animals - Dogs 1
- Buildings - Civic 2
- Buildings - Civic - Archives 1
- Buildings - Civic - City Halls 1
- Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls 3
- Buildings - Civic - Museums 1
- Buildings - Commercial 1
- Buildings - Schools 1
- Clothing - Uniforms 3
- Documentary Artifacts - Photographs 1
- Emergency Measures 1
- Events - Openings 3
Costumed man and Fire Department band at opening of Heritage Village
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13591
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- November 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 8.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man in costume standing with the Fire Department Band who are performing outside of the "Cap Bicycle and Buggy Shop" during the opening weekend of Heritage Village Museum (November 19-21, 1971).
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Series
- Copan album series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 8.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man in costume standing with the Fire Department Band who are performing outside of the "Cap Bicycle and Buggy Shop" during the opening weekend of Heritage Village Museum (November 19-21, 1971).
- Accession Code
- BV005.54.483
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- November 1971
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- August 11, 2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
District Chief Bill Banks
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1471
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1935 and 1937]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bill Banks, Officer in Charge of Fire Area no. 1 in South Burnaby, sitting behind the steering wheel of Burnaby Fire Department fire truck no. 2. Bill Banks was the owner of Burnaby Garage where he built and serviced fire trucks for the municipality.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bill Banks, Officer in Charge of Fire Area no. 1 in South Burnaby, sitting behind the steering wheel of Burnaby Fire Department fire truck no. 2. Bill Banks was the owner of Burnaby Garage where he built and serviced fire trucks for the municipality.
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 7282 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.20
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [between 1935 and 1937]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 08-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "fire chief Banks"
Images
Fire at Maywood Elementary School
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45307
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- June 1, 1979, published June 16, 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 24 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of three firemen in the mist of extinguishing a fire at Maywood Elementary School. The fire gutted four classrooms as well as the school library before it was brought under control.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- June 1, 1979, published June 16, 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 24 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 480-203
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2003-02
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of three firemen in the mist of extinguishing a fire at Maywood Elementary School. The fire gutted four classrooms as well as the school library before it was brought under control.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- King, Basil
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "SCHOOL BURNS... Burnaby firefighters douse the charred timbers of a classroom at Maywood Elementary School, 4567 Imperial, Burnaby, after an early morning fire gutted four classrooms and the school library. Cause of the two-alarm blaze is under investigation, but the fire is believed to have started in one of the classrooms. The fire was brought under control about an hour after being reported at 5:12 a.m."
- Geographic Access
- Imperial Street
- Street Address
- 4567 Imperial Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
Fire Department at Fire Hall No. 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35199
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1934 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby fire department trucks and firefighters, in front of fire hall No. 2. Note the old Burnaby Municipal Hall on the left.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1934 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pioneer Tales subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 204-056
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby fire department trucks and firefighters, in front of fire hall No. 2. Note the old Burnaby Municipal Hall on the left.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Civic - City Halls
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 7252 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
Images
Fire Department band performing at Heritage Village
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13589
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- November 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Fire Department Band performing outside of the "Cap Bicycle and Buggy Shop" during the opening weekend of Heritage Village Museum (November 19-21, 1971).
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Series
- Copan album series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Fire Department Band performing outside of the "Cap Bicycle and Buggy Shop" during the opening weekend of Heritage Village Museum (November 19-21, 1971).
- Accession Code
- BV005.54.481
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- November 1971
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- August 11, 2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Firefighter Fred Blake beside fire truck no. 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1295
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighter Fred Blake leaning on the side of Burnaby Fire Department's twelve cylinder Packard combination hose and chemical fire truck. This was the third fire truck in the fleet. Fred was hired as a Burnaby firefighter in April 1939.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighter Fred Blake leaning on the side of Burnaby Fire Department's twelve cylinder Packard combination hose and chemical fire truck. This was the third fire truck in the fleet. Fred was hired as a Burnaby firefighter in April 1939.
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 02-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Fred Blake with 12 cyl./ PACKARD combination hose/ and chemical truck. 1939"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"
Images
Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1294
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake lying down on their beds and reading (in the dormitory during the night shift) at No. 1 Burnaby Fire Hall at Carleton Avenue and Eton Street. Fire boots (with fire resistant pants gathered over them) are visible at the side of Fred Blake's bed.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 15 cm print
- Material Details
- .
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake lying down on their beds and reading (in the dormitory during the night shift) at No. 1 Burnaby Fire Hall at Carleton Avenue and Eton Street. Fire boots (with fire resistant pants gathered over them) are visible at the side of Fred Blake's bed.
- Geographic Access
- Carleton Avenue
- Eton Street
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 02-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Night shift at No.1 Hall/ Carleton Ave. and Eton St. (L) Albert Killer (R) Fred Blake 1939"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"
Images
Fireman Lewis Auvache and Captain Ernie Ledger
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35332
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1937] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Fireman Lewis Auvache (left) and Ernie Ledger, Burnaby Fire Department Captain. This photograph was taken in front of No. 2 fire hall on Kingsway in South Burnaby. Lewis Auvache would later go on to marry Sylvia Murley and would become Fire Chief in Burnaby between 1964 and 1972.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1937] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pioneer Tales subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 204-189
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Fireman Lewis Auvache (left) and Ernie Ledger, Burnaby Fire Department Captain. This photograph was taken in front of No. 2 fire hall on Kingsway in South Burnaby. Lewis Auvache would later go on to marry Sylvia Murley and would become Fire Chief in Burnaby between 1964 and 1972.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 7282 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
Images
Four Burnaby firemen
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1605
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [after 1976]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 24 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of four unidentified Burnaby firemen in Burnaby Fire Department jackets, standing in front of the cab of what looks to be Burnaby Fire Department's Rescue 1 truck (1976 Ford C 600 Rescue unit). One fireman appears to be holding a rope that is also attached to the truck, while another fir…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 24 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of four unidentified Burnaby firemen in Burnaby Fire Department jackets, standing in front of the cab of what looks to be Burnaby Fire Department's Rescue 1 truck (1976 Ford C 600 Rescue unit). One fireman appears to be holding a rope that is also attached to the truck, while another fireman holds a loop of rope.
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV002.10.3
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [after 1976]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Six Burnaby firemen
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1604
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [197-?]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 24.5 x 19 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of six unidentified Burnaby firemen wearing Burnaby Fire Department helmets, standing in a hallway. Four of the firemen (in matching sweatshirts) are standing around a hose apparatus at the back, holding up an axe, hose nozzle, and a clock. The other two (one in a matching sweatshirt, th…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 24.5 x 19 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of six unidentified Burnaby firemen wearing Burnaby Fire Department helmets, standing in a hallway. Four of the firemen (in matching sweatshirts) are standing around a hose apparatus at the back, holding up an axe, hose nozzle, and a clock. The other two (one in a matching sweatshirt, the other in unifrom) are in front, holding a trophy towards the camera.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV002.10.2
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [197-?]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Fire Department fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription47
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1920-2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direct…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1920-2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FOIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direction, coordination, training services, and planning, including daily record books, emergency preparedness pamphlets, a departmental practice manual, procedural directives, scrapbooks, and an orthophoto map (in 63 pieces) of the City of Burnaby.
- History
- Serving the City since 1911, the Burnaby Fire Department is committed to providing timely, professional, and effective fire-related emergency services to save lives, property and the environment. Their dedicated staff serves the City via seven fire stations located strategically across Burnaby. Each of our stations is equipped with up-to-date vehicles and equipment. Their highly skilled and trained team of men and women provide many services, including fire suppression and prevention, investigation, inspection, training, medical, vehicle extrication, technical and other speciality rescues, hazardous materials response and public education services. The following information pertains to the publication "Follow That Fire": Communities have always lived with the threat of fire. Early Burnaby residents banded together to extinguish out-of-control brush fires. In the 1920s, the Municipal Police were responsible for fire-related matters, earning three dollars for attending a fire. Donations to the Vancouver and New Westminster Fire Departments' Benevolent Funds brought the first fire engines to Burnaby's rescue. As the population increased, by-laws were enacted to develop a full-time fire service. Several members saw the value in jotting down recollections of their experiences as Burnaby firemen, which sparked an interest in completing the History of the Burnaby Fire Department. While researching this project, the author was fortunate in being able to draw from the resources of retired chiefs Fred Blake and Lewis Auvache, who were original members of the Department. The Department's progression includes heated and sometimes humorous debates regarding who should be responsible for fire protection, deciding if there was a need for a fire services, and how taxes would be levied to support the service. Photographs throughout the text represent stages of development which include a pictorial record of Burnaby fire trucks from 1923 to the present platform ladder trucks. From its humble beginning as two separate fire departments operating from a converted police horse stable and a water pumping station, the Burnaby Fire Department has developed into a professional organization serving its citizens from six fire stations.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Cartographic Material
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds.
Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory464
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1911-1990
- Length
- 00:05:22
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Dep…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Department in 1911.
- Date Range
- 1911-1990
- Length
- 00:05:22
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon 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 the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- 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 computerization in business 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
- 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.
Audio Tracks
Track one of interview with Al Nixon
Track one of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_1.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory465
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:08
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the location of the North Burnaby Fire Department fire hall and the location of the six fire halls subsequently built for the combined north and south department. He also talks about Fred Blake, Lewis Auvache and Henry Chapman, early member…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the location of the North Burnaby Fire Department fire hall and the location of the six fire halls subsequently built for the combined north and south department. He also talks about Fred Blake, Lewis Auvache and Henry Chapman, early members of the department who were also interested in the department's history.
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:08
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon 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 the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- 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 computerization in business 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
- 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.
Audio Tracks
Track two of interview with Al Nixon
Track two of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_2.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory466
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1927-1990
- Length
- 00:04:05
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.
- Date Range
- 1927-1990
- Length
- 00:04:05
- Names
- Waddell, Gordon
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon 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 the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- 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 computerization in business 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
- 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.
Audio Tracks
Track three of interview with Al Nixon
Track three of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_3.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory467
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1945-1990
- Length
- 00:06:11
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the inhalator equipment used by the department starting in 1945. Al Nixon describes 50% of the calls received by the department as "pre-hospital care", and that the department is an emergency service rather than just a fire department. He also describes the 19…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the inhalator equipment used by the department starting in 1945. Al Nixon describes 50% of the calls received by the department as "pre-hospital care", and that the department is an emergency service rather than just a fire department. He also describes the 1990 department staffing and equipment level.
- Date Range
- 1945-1990
- Length
- 00:06:11
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon 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 the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- 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 computerization in business 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
- 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.
Audio Tracks
Track four of interview with Al Nixon
Track four of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_4.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 7
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory470
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:34
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:34
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon 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 the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- 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 computerization in business 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
- 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.
Audio Tracks
Track seven of interview with Al Nixon
Track seven of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_7.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 8
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory471
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1928-1990
- Length
- 00:07:51
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the heritage home "Seven Gables" on Sullivan Street. He relates some childhood events, including the train wreck on Burnette Creek in 1936.
- Date Range
- 1928-1990
- Length
- 00:07:51
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lyndhurst Area
- Cameron Area
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon 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 the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- 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 computerization in business 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
- 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.
Audio Tracks
Track eight of interview with Al Nixon
Track eight of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_8.mp3Annual Reports
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58704
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Annual Reports from the Burnaby Health Department, the Burnaby Fire Department, and the Burnaby Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Robert Prittie subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS127-008
- Accession Number
- BHS1999-01
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Annual Reports from the Burnaby Health Department, the Burnaby Fire Department, and the Burnaby Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Sticker on verso of the Burnaby Fire Department's Annual Report reads: "Mayor R.W. Prittie"
Burnaby Municipal Arena
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58732
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1970
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Mayor Robert Prittie (standing in center) and two participants at the benefit hockey game between the Burnaby Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Burnaby Fire Department.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1970
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Robert Prittie subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 368-003
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1999-01
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Mayor Robert Prittie (standing in center) and two participants at the benefit hockey game between the Burnaby Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Burnaby Fire Department.
- Names
- Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
- Media Type
- Photograph
Images
Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall - 1927-1930
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2256
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1927-1930
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1927-1930.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1927-1930
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 4151
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1927-1930.
- Media Type
- Textual Record