"Foods" found 76 records | Heritage Burnaby

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) 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

New Year at T&T Supermarket

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96001

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2004]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of two managers at the Metrotown T&T Supermarket displaying foods and customs before Chinese New Year.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2004]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-1752

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of two managers at the Metrotown T&T Supermarket displaying foods and customs before Chinese New Year.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores; Holidays - Chinese New Year

Names: Metrotown

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a January 2004 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata for 535-1752-1: "Yanting Chen, the seafood manager at T&T Supermarket, at Metrotown, with a red snapper. Fish is a traditional meal for Chinese New Year's Eve, and a whole fish symbolizes abundance and completeness."; Caption from metadata for 535-1752-2: "Melina Hung, the marketing manager for T&T Supermarket, at Metrotown, makes sure she'll have prosperity for the coming new year by picking an even number of oranges. Serving food in even numbers during Chinese New Year is seen as a harbinger of good fortune and abundance."

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 4700 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

New Year at T&T Supermarket, [2004] thumbnail

Pamphlets and magazines

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58206

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1969-1990

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 1 file of textual records + 2 badges

Scope and Content: File consists of pamphlets, magazines, reports and newspapers on a wide variety of topics such as a pamphlet written in French entitled "Paris"; a tourist guide to Campbell River and district entitled "'Kla-How-Ya' Welcome to Campbell River"; and a paper on nutrition which lists vitamin rich foods.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1969-1990

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Evelyn Salisbury subseries

Physical Description: 1 file of textual records + 2 badges

Description Level: File

Record No.: MSS061-047

Access Restriction: In Archives only

Accession Number: BHS1991-24

Scope and Content: File consists of pamphlets, magazines, reports and newspapers on a wide variety of topics such as a pamphlet written in French entitled "Paris"; a tourist guide to Campbell River and district entitled "'Kla-How-Ya' Welcome to Campbell River"; and a paper on nutrition which lists vitamin rich foods.

Media Type: Textual Record

Notes: Title based on contents of file

Station Square shuttle

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96031

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2004]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Daryl Simpson an Mickey Gill posing in the doorways of a red van outside of Middlegate Mall. The van is part of a shuttle to a grocery store at Station Square.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2004]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-1780

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Daryl Simpson an Mickey Gill posing in the doorways of a red van outside of Middlegate Mall. The van is part of a shuttle to a grocery store at Station Square.

Subjects: Transportation - Automobiles; Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a February 2004 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Daryl Simpson, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Bosa Properties and Mickey Gill, of Metro Shuttle Service, help launch a new van shuttle to the Save-On Foods store at Burnaby's Station Square for shoppers who've been displaced by the closure of the grocery store at Middlegate Mall."

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Station Square shuttle, [2004] thumbnail

Alpha Secondary's "March For Food"

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96579

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Alpha Secondary School students Lucille Hsu and Beth Borrill packing boxes of donations for the food bank that were collected during the student-organized "March For Food" drive.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2201

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Alpha Secondary School students Lucille Hsu and Beth Borrill packing boxes of donations for the food bank that were collected during the student-organized "March For Food" drive.

Subjects: Persons - Students; Events - Fundraising

Names: Alpha Secondary School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a March 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Lucille Hsu and Beth Borrill, Grade 12 leadership students at Alpha Secondary, pack up some of the 3,186 items the school collected for the food bank in their second annual "March For Food." The students say they organized the drive to raise awareness that the food bank operates year-round, and is in constant need of donations."

Geographic Access: Parker Street

Street Address: 4600 Parker Street

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Burnaby North students donating food

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96264

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2005]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Michelle Leong and Marica Rizzo, two Burnaby North Secondary School students, packing donated food into boxes for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. The donations are part of Leong and Rizzo's charity, Karing 4 Kids.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2005]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-1947

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Michelle Leong and Marica Rizzo, two Burnaby North Secondary School students, packing donated food into boxes for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. The donations are part of Leong and Rizzo's charity, Karing 4 Kids.

Subjects: Persons - Students; Events - Fundraising

Names: Burnaby North High School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Medig, Kari

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a February 2005 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Burnaby North Secondary School students Michelle Leong and Marica Rizzo pack donated food into boxes in their classroom Wednesday afternoon. Their charity, Karing 4 Kids hopes to donate ten-thousand food items collected from students to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank."

Geographic Access: Hammarskjold Drive

Street Address: 751 Hammarskjold Drive

Planning Study Area: Parkcrest-Aubrey Area

Images

Burnaby North students donating food, [2005] thumbnail

Greater Vancouver Food Bank donation drive

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97005

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Heather Steiner, of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, standing outside a home with a box of non-perishable food items in her arms, as promotion for the organization's "Christmas in July" donation drive.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2537

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Heather Steiner, of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, standing outside a home with a box of non-perishable food items in her arms, as promotion for the organization's "Christmas in July" donation drive.

Subjects: Events - Fundraising; Organizations - Charities

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a July 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Heather Steiner, of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, hopes donors will be as generous to keep her arms full of food, as the Food Bank kicks off its annual Christmas in July donation drive."

Images

Greater Vancouver Food Bank donation drive, [2000] thumbnail

Greater Vancouver Food Bank promotion at Playdium

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97096

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Heather Steiner, of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and Kim Nonis, marketing manager for Playdium, posing in a driving video game at the Playdium in Metrotown with a box of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank as a promotion for a fundraising collaboration.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2623

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Heather Steiner, of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and Kim Nonis, marketing manager for Playdium, posing in a driving video game at the Playdium in Metrotown with a box of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank as a promotion for a fundraising collaboration.

Subjects: Organizations - Charities; Recreational Activities; Events - Fundraising

Names: Metrotown

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a July 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Heather Streiner, of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, takes the wheel, while Kim Nonis, marketing manager for Playdium, hangs onto the canned goods, as they try their hand at the Pro-Trucker 18-Wheeler game. Players of the game who donated canned goods to the Food Bank were rewarded with extra credits of play. "

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 4700 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Greater Vancouver Food Bank promotion at Playdium, [2000] thumbnail

Food Bank donation in Burnaby Heights

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95742

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of an employee from the Greater Vancouver Food Bank receiving a donation. The employee carries a Food Bank cardboard box while three other women stand in the background on Hastings Street, showing an open box of food donations.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-1600

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of an employee from the Greater Vancouver Food Bank receiving a donation. The employee carries a Food Bank cardboard box while three other women stand in the background on Hastings Street, showing an open box of food donations.

Subjects: Organizations - Charities

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a December 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Heather Streiner, of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, receives a donation from Mary Jane Moore, of the Burnaby NewsLeader, Susan Rouse of The Heights Merchants Association, and Joanne Jamieson, of Chevron. The canned goods were collected by merchants in the Heights business district."

Geographic Access: Hastings Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Images

Food Bank donation in Burnaby Heights, [2000] thumbnail

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20285

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser M…

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: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewees: Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy Location of Interview: Residence of Harry Toy Interview Date: September 25, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 02:01:13 Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants’ Association and Harry's daughters, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy's memories of growing up in Burnaby. 00:00:00 – 00:23:53 Harry Toy shares biographical information about himself and his ancestors. Harry provides information about his migration to Canada and his life in Manitoba, attending school, working at the family restaurant and teaching high school. 00:23:53 – 00:41:16 Harry talks about moving his family to Burnaby and his experiences owning and operating the Canada Way Food Market. 00:41:17 – 00:54:19 Harry talks about his involvement with the Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) and provides some history about the organization. 00:54:20 – 1:22:44 Harry talks about running the Canada Way Food Market and the alterations that he made to the store over the years. Harry and his daughters comment as they look through photographs of Harry and his store and the Fraser Merchants Association. 1:22:45 – 2:01:14 Beverley and Christina talk about their early childhood in Manitoba and growing up in Burnaby. They recall what it was like growing up and working in the family owned store.

History: Interviewee biography: Harry Wee Koon Toy was born in February 9, 1936 in Taikong, Toisan county, Guangdong, China. Harry's father William Toy came to Canada in the early 1920s when he was ten years old. Harry arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 9, 1950. After staying in Vancouver for one night, he joined his father in Neepawa, Manitoba where the family operated a cafe business (Royal Cafe). Harry grew up in Neepawa and graduated from the University of Manitoba and teacher's college. He became a high school teacher and worked at schools in Minnedosa and Gladstone, Manitoba teaching various subjects including, science, business, geography, history and physical education. Harry and his wife, had three daughters, Melinda, Beverley and Christina who were all born in Neepawa. When the family decided to move to the west coast, Harry was introduced to the grocery store business through an uncle who was a store operator. Around 1970, Harry purchased a grocery store at 4694 Canada Way in Burnaby which he named "Canada Way Food Market" and Harry and his daughters made their home at the back of the store. Harry owned and operated the store for approximately 40 years between 1970 and 2010. Around 1986, Harry purchased the butcher shop next door (4692 Canada Way) which was no longer in operation, expanding his store and adding a second storey to use a residence. Harry's children helped him operate the store throughout their childhood. In the early 1970s, corner stores were threatened by the spread of small chain-operated convenience stories from Eastern Canada to Vancouver. Formed in April 1972, the Fraser Merchants’ Association was established to protect the rights of corner store operators. With no paid legal help, the association was incorporated in Victoria, BC for the cost of 56 cents. The benefits of being a member of the association included warehouse and group purchasing, common advertising and other advantages of being part of an association. Founded by Gary Lee Ling and five others, Fraser Merchants’ Association’s first member was Graham Grocery. By 1978, the association represented over 200 corner stores in the Lower Mainland (Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, and New Westminster) and Fraser Valley. The association remained active into the 1980s and 1990s. Harry has served as President of the Fraser Merchants' Association from 1992 to present. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Education; Migration; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Grocers; Organizations; Organizations - Business Associations; Persons - Chinese Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores

Names: Toy, Christina; Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"; Babey, Beverley; Canada Way Food Market; Fraser Merchants' Association

Responsibility: Fong, Denise

Geographic Access: Canada Way

Street Address: 4694 Canada Way

Accession Code: BV023.16.19

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Related Material: See also: BV023.25 - Harry Toy fonds

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available

Documents

2023_0016_0019_003

Audio Tracks

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0019_002.mp3

Pacific Sun Company Tanning Studios fundraiser

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97677

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Nellie Neugebauer posing on a tanning bed in the Pacific Sun Company Tanning Studios next to a stack of boxes that read: "The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society Food Donation."

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2960

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Nellie Neugebauer posing on a tanning bed in the Pacific Sun Company Tanning Studios next to a stack of boxes that read: "The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society Food Donation."

Subjects: Events - Fundraising; Buildings - Commercial - Beauty Shops

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a November 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Nellie Neugebauer, of The Pacific Sun Company Tanning Studios, settles in to work on her tan and help the Food Bank. The Tanning Studios, on Kingsway, will be hosting their third annual "Tan for Cans" event Nov. 30 - Dec. 2; customers donating a minimum of three non-perishable food items will receive a free tanning session."

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Pacific Sun Company Tanning Studios fundraiser, [2001] thumbnail

Canstruction event

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96360

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2003]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Creo Inc. employees Steven Liu, Stephanie Merrick, and Xara Gobhai constructing a sculpture of a bobsleigh out of cans of food, as part of "Canstruction," a corporate fundraising event for the Food Bank.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2003]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2041

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Creo Inc. employees Steven Liu, Stephanie Merrick, and Xara Gobhai constructing a sculpture of a bobsleigh out of cans of food, as part of "Canstruction," a corporate fundraising event for the Food Bank.

Subjects: Construction; Events - Fundraising

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a March 2003 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Steven Liu and Stephanie Merrick appear ready to push off, as Xara Gobhai puts the finishing touches on a bobsleigh built entirely of cans. The tin bobsleigh is one of three sculptures, reflecting the theme, "Dreams of 2010," being built by employees at Creo Inc. for Canstruction, a corporate competition to raise donations for the Food Bank."

Images

Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12337

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)

Scope and Content: Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. …

1 image 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewee: Josephine Chow Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: February 7, 2020 Total Number of Tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 00:43:19

Scope and Content: Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. The farm is situated in the Big Bend area along Marine Drive and is still in operation today. 0:00-08:45 Josephine Chow provides some historical background on the history of “Hop On Farm” and her family in British Columbia. She tells of how her grandfather Gay Tim Hong and three partners pooled money together to purchase twelve acres on Marine Drive in 1951. Prior to this, most of them farmed on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation Reserve for 20-30 years. It all began when her great grandfather Sui Wing Hong, first came to Canada from China and slowly brought over her grandfather, father and other members of the family. Her grandfather, Gay Tim Hong went back and forth between Canada and China at least four times since he and her grandmother had four children including her father, who was born in 1931. Her father came to Canada at 10 years of age to live with his father. Josephine’s great grandfather came to Vancouver from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). 8:46- 14:20 Josephine provides the names of her siblings from the eldest to the youngest; Pauline, Josephine (herself), Catherine, Noreen, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. She describes what life was like on the farm with her parents working from sunrise to sunset. The family farmed vegetable produce taking orders from local stores in the lower mainland. Often the children helped their parents with the orders starting at eight or nine years of age. Other workers on the farm travelled by bus from Vancouver’s Chinatown. She also tells of how her father was an animal lover and raised chickens, pigeons, geese, koy, goldfish and dogs. 14: 21 – 16:56 Josephine describes what Burnaby was like during the time that she grew up in the late 1950s. She explains that Burnaby was very quiet with nothing being open on Sundays. On the farm, she and her siblings would entertain themselves by playing games like soccer, baseball and kick ball or also by catching frogs, snails, caterpillars and ladybugs. There were neighbours living on Marine Drive and almost every house had someone who we went to the same elementary school. The neighbourhood children would often come to play with them on their farm. 16:56- 26:47 Josephine describes how when they were young there were farms all around them and how on Sunday drives with her father, they would go to feed horses or look at the cows. Josephine shares that her elder sister Pauline was the only one born in China and how when she first arrived that she lived on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations Reserve with their parents before they moved to Burnaby. Josephine recollects that most of her friends were farmer’s kids from the neighbourhood but while in school, she had more Caucasian friends. Josephine and her siblings attended Glenwood Elementary on Marine Drive and later Junior Secondary at McPherson Park (grades 8-10) and Burnaby South Senior Secondary (grades 11-12. ). She shares some of her experiences while attending school. She said that there were about a dozen Asians in school with her, mostly from farming families in the “Flats”. 26:48- 30:45 Josephine describes what life was like for her and her siblings after school. They often helped on the farm when they got home, usually taking care of orders for green onions. Her mother made dinner and did all of the cooking for family and workers on the farm as well as working in the fields. Her father did all of the grocery shopping in Vancouver’s Chinatown two or three times per week where he purchased meat and fish. She says that her grandfather, often travelled by bus every Saturday or Sunday to meet up with friends in Chinatown. Extracurricular activities for her and her siblings included volley ball and soccer as long as it didn’t interfere with their work schedule on the farm. 30:46- 37:03 Josephine describes what occurred while living at home, the food they ate, shopping and attending Chinese school. Her mother cooked only Chinese food, she didn’t know how to cook “Western food”. For school lunches, the kids made their own sandwiches. She tells of a Chinese language school arranged by Mrs. Joe [sic] who lived on Gilley Road and was Canadian born Chinese. Mrs. Joe [sic] also arranged an English class for farmer’s wives on Tuesday nights in which her mother attended. Josephine recollects learning Mandarin from Mrs. Joe [sic] a few days a week after her regular school. Chinese school took place at Riverway School on Meadow Avenue in Burnaby. Mrs. Joe also taught them a lot about Chinese culture including Kung Fu, Chinese Dance and Chinese brush painting. 37:04- 39:39 Josephine describes Medical Care for her and her family in the 1950s and 1960s. She tells of a female Chinese doctor in Vancouver, Dr. Madeline Chung. Dr. Chung was responsible for delivering a lot of Chinese babies including Josephine. The family also visited herbalists in Vancouver Chinatown. They would often buy herbs for colds etc. Josephine also tells of how her parents stayed in touch with family in China by writing letters. Her mother’s family, including her parents and siblings were still in China while most of her father’s family were here in Canada. 39:40- 43:19 – In closing, Josephine shares how life is much busier now and of how she misses the quietness of her days growing up. She briefly describes her life on the family farm now and how different it is from when her parents worked the farm. She explains how farming methods have changed and how they don’t have to work as hard as her parents did.

History: Interviewee biography: Josephine Chow (nee Hong) is the second eldest child of Chan Kow Hong and Sui Ha Hong. In 1925, Josephine's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong immigrated to Canada from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). In 1952, her father, Chan Kow Hong joined his father, Gay Tim Hong and by 1953, he established "Hop On Farms" in the Big Bend area of Burnaby near Marine Drive. Josephine grew up on the farm with her parents and six siblings; Pauline, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. In 1969, Josephine's elder sister Pauline and her husband Jack Chan took over the family farm and in 1972 their father and grandfather moved to Kamloops to open a restaurant. As an adult, Josephine worked in several different areas including owning and running her own Aesthetics business. Josephine eventually retired and returned to the farm to assist her siblings. The farm is still in operation. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Agriculture - Farms; Education; Buildings - Schools; First Nations reserves - British Columbia

Names: Chow, Josephine; Glenwood Elementary School; McPherson Park Junior Secondary School; ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)

Responsibility: Fong, Denise

Geographic Access: Byrne Road

Accession Code: BV020.6.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

Media Type: Sound Recording

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Related Material: See also BV017.36*

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 12/3/2017

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of interview; Photograph info: Gary Hong and Chan Kow Hong harvesting celery at Hop-On Farms [1969]. BV017.36.4

Images

Audio Tracks

Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2020_0006_0001_001.mp3

Men preparing food under wooden shelter

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19683

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [191-]

Collection/Fonds: Esther Love Stanley fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of three men preparing food under a wooden shelter in the woods. Thomas Robert Love (right) is standing at wood plank table with an array of food layed out in front. Unidentified man (left) appears to be cooking over a fire and another man is standing at the back of the shelter.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Esther Love Stanley fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of three men preparing food under a wooden shelter in the woods. Thomas Robert Love (right) is standing at wood plank table with an array of food layed out in front. Unidentified man (left) appears to be cooking over a fire and another man is standing at the back of the shelter.

Subjects: Recreational Activities - Camping

Names: Love, Thomas "Bob" Robert

Accession Code: BV022.32.105

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [191-]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-04-04

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photograph is part of Esther Love Stanley photograph album 1 (BV022.32.1)

Images

Men preparing food under wooden shelter, [191-] thumbnail

Artist Graeme Shaw

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96820

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of artist Graeme Shaw working on a painting of a landscape in the lobby of the Metrotown Office Complex, as part of an exhibition of local artists' works to benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. The curved glass windows of the lobby and the neighbouring tower are also visible in the p…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2378

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of artist Graeme Shaw working on a painting of a landscape in the lobby of the Metrotown Office Complex, as part of an exhibition of local artists' works to benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. The curved glass windows of the lobby and the neighbouring tower are also visible in the photograph.

Subjects: Occupations - Artists; Buildings - Commercial - Offices; Events - Fundraising

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in an April 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Graeme Shaw works on a landscape in the towering lobby of the Metrotown Office Complex, to add to an exhibit of works by local artists to benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank."

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Burnaby Heights "panhandling meter"

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97994

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of Mark, a panhandler, on Hastings Street by a "panhandling meter" installed by the City of Burnaby. The meter reads: "This is not a parking meter / Spare change for social change."

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-3098

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of Mark, a panhandler, on Hastings Street by a "panhandling meter" installed by the City of Burnaby. The meter reads: "This is not a parking meter / Spare change for social change."

Subjects: Public Services - Municipal Services; Planning - City Planning

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a February 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata for 535-3098-1: "Mark says he panhandles along Hastings St. when he's hungry and can't afford food. He says the new meters haven't affected his take."; Caption from metadata for 535-3098-2: "The new spare change meters haven't disuaded panhandlers, like Mark, from setting up shop along Hastings St. He says he panhandles when he needs money for food."

Geographic Access: Hastings Street; Carleton Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Images

Food and garden pamphlets

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88388

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1950 and 1970]

Collection/Fonds: Stiglish family fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 5 p. of textual records

Scope and Content: File consists of a pamphlet titled "Aids to Better Gardening--#7-- House Plants" from the Blue Mountain Flower and Garden Shop on North Road in Burnaby and two BC Food Information guides from the Department of Agriculture located at 4259 Canada Way, Burnaby.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1950 and 1970]

Collection/Fonds: Stiglish family fonds

Physical Description: 5 p. of textual records

Description Level: File

Record No.: MSS190-001

Access Restriction: Open access

Accession Number: 2013-07

Scope and Content: File consists of a pamphlet titled "Aids to Better Gardening--#7-- House Plants" from the Blue Mountain Flower and Garden Shop on North Road in Burnaby and two BC Food Information guides from the Department of Agriculture located at 4259 Canada Way, Burnaby.

Media Type: Textual Record

Notes: Title based on contents of file; Original spelling of surname was "Stiglich"

Food bank

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97934

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : b&w and col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of unidentified people working in a food bank.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : b&w and col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-3060

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of unidentified people working in a food bank.

Subjects: Organizations - Charities

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on original file name; Collected by editorial for use in a January 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader

Images

Hats Off Day

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98381

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 10 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of the 2001 Hats Off Day parade and event in the Burnaby Heights neighbourhood. Photographs depict performers (including clowns, a town crier, a fire juggler, and tap dancers) in the parade; children and adults enjoying the parade and events; and business owners and volunt…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 10 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-3391

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of the 2001 Hats Off Day parade and event in the Burnaby Heights neighbourhood. Photographs depict performers (including clowns, a town crier, a fire juggler, and tap dancers) in the parade; children and adults enjoying the parade and events; and business owners and volunteers prepping food and dealing with the rainy weather.

Subjects: Events; Events - Parades; Geographic Features - Neighbourhoods; Performances; Persons - Children; Persons - Crowds

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a June 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-1: "Kelvin Yee drains the rainwater from the awning in front of the New Rainbow Cafe."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-2: "It's hard to stay a happy clown when you're trying to pedal your decorated bike in a rainstorm, as Corey Barker, 8, discovered at Saturday's Hats Off Day parade."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-3: "Even the town crier struggled to stay dry during one of the many downpours that rained on Saturday's Hats Off Day parade."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-4: "A member of the Confederation Tap Dancers tries to dance up some sunshine at Saturday's Hats Off Day parade."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-5: "Devin Schellenberg amazes and delights spectators with his fire juggling at Saturday's Hats Off Day festival."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-6: "Ashley Boston, 4, plays in the soap bubbles that appeared at the Heights Fountain Square during Saturday's Hats Off Day festival on Hastings St."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-7: "The Hats Off Day parade is all about hats."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-8: "Stuart Wells enjoys a salmon kabob outside the Pear Tree Restaurant, some of diverse food being offered by restaurants and delis along Hastings St. as part of Hats Off Day."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-9: "George Kopf and Cynthia Chow, of the Footlight Theatre Company, fuel up at the Lions Club pancake breakfast before marching in Saturday's Hats Off Day parade. Kirk Dickson is flipping the pancakes."; Caption from metadata for 535-3391-10: "Yusef Sulayman, 5, and his sister, Sevda, 6, try to stay dry as they watch Saturday's Hats Off Day parade."

Geographic Access: Hastings Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Images

Interview with Bill Gruenthal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19636

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (74 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (74 min., 37 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on July 31 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:27:01 Bill Gruenthal provides details on his family background, his early life experiences, how he got into the insurance business,…

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: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (74 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (74 min., 37 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Bill Gruenthal Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 31, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:14:37 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two 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 Bill Gruenthal conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on July 31 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:27:01 Bill Gruenthal provides details on his family background, his early life experiences, how he got into the insurance business, his knowledge and interest in Judaism, places that he and his wife lived before moving to Burnaby, family life in Burnaby and his political involvement in running for the Burnaby school board. 00:27:02 – 00:42:50 Bill Gruenthal talks about the Burquest Jewish Community Association, it’s background and his involvement, experiences of discrimination in his career, a brief history of the Jewish people and some cultural traditions. 00:42:51 – 00:56:04 Bill Gruenthal mentions some of the charities that he supports including Burnaby Hospital, his volunteer work within the community and community organizations including the Nikkei Place Foundation and shares more details on his insurance career. 00:56:05 – 01:14:37 Bill Gruenthal shares information about his Burnaby neighbourhood and Jewish funeral customs and provides his impressions of new development at Brentwood, Burnaby Council and other development projects in Burnaby.

History: Interviewee biography: Bill Gruenthal was born in the British Mandate of Palestine, now Israel, in 1935 after his parents had fled Germany in advance of the then worsening political situation. Bill’s father died in 1942; some years later his mother remarried to an Irish-born senior civil servant in that government. He had a difficult and somewhat dangerous job. Soon after marriage, the family, including Bill’s older brother, Martin, immigrated to Canada in January 1947 on the strength of his step-father’s British Passport. They traveled via New York, where Bill’s uncle and his family resided and who put up the family. Later that month, the parents travelled by CP rail from Montreal to Vancouver, followed by Bill and his brother in March 1947 who travelled from New York to White Rock on an American railroad. While passing through the Fraser Valley Bill’s parents took an interest in Silverdale, a small hamlet west of Mission where the four eventually settled. Bill finished High School in Mission and soon joined the insurance industry. Bill connected with the Jewish Community in Vancouver where he met his soon-to-be wife. Upon marriage they were transferred to Calgary; after five years suffering its cold weather they were transferred back to Vancouver. They settled in Burnaby in 1966 as an affordable neighbourhood with easy access to his office downtown Vancouver. Outside work, Bill helped raise his family of three daughters who all graduated Burnaby High School (Alpha). They joined Temple Sholom in Vancouver, and he volunteered and still volunteers for a number of non-profits, including The Jewish Museum and Archives and Nikkei Place Foundation (Burnaby). He was an early long-term supporter and a past president of Burquest Jewish Community Association, mostly involving persons from Burnaby, New Westminster, and the Tri-Cities area (hence the name). He ran for political office in Burnaby in 1976 but was not elected. He delivers food in Burnaby for the Food Bank and is a donor to many worthy causes including Burnaby General Hospital. 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: Migration; Persons - Jewish Canadians; Transportation; Transportation - Rail; Religions - Judaism; Cemeteries; Organizations; Elections

Names: Gruenthal, Bill; Gruenthal, Noemi Yadlow; O'Connor, Herta Ingrid Gruenthal; O'Connor, John; Burquest; Jacobson, Max Alec; Temple Shalom; Brentwood Shopping Centre; Brentwood Park School; Alpha Secondary School; Burnaby School Board

Responsibility: Damer, Eric

Accession Code: BV023.16.14

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available

Documents

2023_0016_0014_004

Audio Tracks

Interview with Bill Gruenthal, [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0014_003.mp3

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Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020

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Men preparing food under wooden shelter

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Artist Graeme Shaw

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Burnaby Heights "panhandling meter"

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Food and garden pamphlets

Food bank

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Hats Off Day

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Interview with Bill Gruenthal

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