Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

H.T. Ceperley Estate 'Fairacres' Garage & Stables

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark530

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Description: Designed in the British Arts and Crafts style, the ‘Fairacres’ Garage and Stables is a two-storey wood frame building located on the 'Fairacres' estate, situated to the north of the Chauffeur's Cottage; at the south end of the structure is a single vehicle garage and to the north are several stable…

Associated Dates: 1911

Formal Recognition: Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Geographic Access: Deer Lake Avenue

Associated Dates: 1911

Formal Recognition: Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register

Enactment Type: Bylaw No. 9807

Enactment Date: 23/11/1992

Description: Designed in the British Arts and Crafts style, the ‘Fairacres’ Garage and Stables is a two-storey wood frame building located on the 'Fairacres' estate, situated to the north of the Chauffeur's Cottage; at the south end of the structure is a single vehicle garage and to the north are several stables for carriage, riding, and draught horses, a coach house, and tack room; the upper floor was originally a hay loft.

Heritage Value: The outbuildings at 'Fairacres' are a rare surviving architecturally designed ensemble of agricultural structures that exist in complementary harmony with the main estate house. Architect Robert Mackay Fripp (1858-1917) was retained by the Ceperleys to design several original outbuildings on their estate at the same time as the main house was constructed. The Garage and Stables building is important as a record of its era when transportation modes were in transition and the horse-drawn carriage, while still in use, was giving way to the automobile. The relative spatial arrangements within the building are a valuable indication of the economy of space associated with the automobile, as compared to the horse. The extent of the stabling arrangements signifies not only the use of carriage horses but also the continued reliance on draught horses in farming activities in this era. As well, it is an indication of the fashionable nature of equestrianism for wealthy families during this time. The building is important as a demonstration of the aesthetics of the Ceperley family in having an architect-designed outbuilding and obtaining craftsmanship and materials of the highest quality for each structure on their estate.

Defining Elements: Key elements that define the heritage character of the 'Fairacres' Garage and Stables include its: - location within easy reach of the main house and in close proximity to the Chauffeur's Cottage - floor plan with the garage at one end, close to the Chauffeur's Cottage, and stables and equine facilities at the other - variety and complexity of the roofline, including gable wall dormers, gable-on-hip roof ends, and half-hip extensions - Arts and Crafts architectural features of the exterior such as the shingle wall cladding articulated with a chevron-patterned course of shingles at the first floor level; casement windows; and deep eaves with additional purlins to support the overhang - original stable doors with hand-made forged-iron door hardware - multi-paned wooden-sash windows, some retaining original wire glass

Locality: Deer Lake Park

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Architect: Robert Mackay Fripp

Function: Primary Historic--Outbuilding

Community: Burnaby

Cadastral Identifier: P.I.D. No. 004-493-311 Legal Description: Block 3 Except: Part subdivided by Plan 26865, District Lot 79, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan 536

Boundaries: ‘Fairacres’ is comprised of a single municipally-owned property located at 6344 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby.

Area: 17,065.00

Contributing Resource: Building; Landscape Feature

Ownership: Public (local)

Other Collection: Burnaby Historical Society, Community Archives: Ceperley Photograph Album

Documentation: Heritage Site Files: PC77000 20. City of Burnaby Planning and Building Department, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 1M2

Names: Ceperley, H.T.; Ceperley, Grace; Fripp, Robert Mackay

Subjects: Buildings - Agricultural - Stables; Buildings - Heritage

Street Address: 6344 Deer Lake Avenue

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

Images

East elevation of ‘Fairacres’ Garage and Stables, 2013.. Oblique view. thumbnail

View of ‘Fairacres’ Garage and Stables from the east, 1914 (View of east elevation. Historic Photo). Copyright: Ceperley Album, City of Burnaby. thumbnail

George Grant

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36903

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1918 (date of original), copied 1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.9 x 11.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of George Grant holding a rake for garden chores at 2540 Marlborough Avenue. The woman in the background may be his mother, Alice Grant.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1918 (date of original), copied 1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Centennial Anthology subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.9 x 11.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 315-361

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1994-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of George Grant holding a rake for garden chores at 2540 Marlborough Avenue. The woman in the background may be his mother, Alice Grant.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Gardens; Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Gardening Equipment

Names: Grant, Alice Taylor; Grant, George Jr.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Marlborough Avenue

Street Address: 6591 Marlborough Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Marlborough Area

Images

George Grant, 1918 (date of original), copied 1992 thumbnail

Patterson family

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37316

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1912 (date of original), copied [1997]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of eight members of the D.C. Patterson, standing in the garden outside the family home in the Edmonds district. The house was originally located at 7260 Edmonds Street (near Kingsway). It was relocated in 1955 to 7106 18th Avenue and is a city heritage site.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1912 (date of original), copied [1997]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Jim Wolf subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 350-010

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1997-09

Scope and Content: Photograph of eight members of the D.C. Patterson, standing in the garden outside the family home in the Edmonds district. The house was originally located at 7260 Edmonds Street (near Kingsway). It was relocated in 1955 to 7106 18th Avenue and is a city heritage site.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Gardens; Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Gardening Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph.

Geographic Access: Edmonds Street; 18th Avenue

Street Address: 7260 Edmonds Street; 7106 18th Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Patterson family, 1912 (date of original), copied [1997] thumbnail

Robert Dick's garden

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37137

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1911 and 1919]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of two men working in the garden at Robert A.C. Dick's house.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1911 and 1919]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Disney family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 325-009

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1996-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of two men working in the garden at Robert A.C. Dick's house.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Gardens; Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Gardening Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Disney, John Harold "Jack"

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Images

Robert Dick's garden, [between 1911 and 1919] thumbnail

Rob Mills of Blooming Deals Garden Centre

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97488

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2002]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Rob Mills, an employee at Blooming Deals Garden Centre on Hastings Street, posing with an assortment of garden tools, in front of dandelions gone to seed.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2002]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2827

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Rob Mills, an employee at Blooming Deals Garden Centre on Hastings Street, posing with an assortment of garden tools, in front of dandelions gone to seed.

Subjects: Gardens; Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Gardening Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in an October 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Rob Mills, of Blooming Deals Garden Centre, on Hastings St., shows some of the tools Burnaby gardeners will have to use to rid their gardens of weeds if city council bans the use of herbicides by homeowners."

Geographic Access: Hastings Street

Images

Rob Mills of Blooming Deals Garden Centre, [2002] thumbnail

D. Gillander's Threshing Outfit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1102

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1913

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 24.5 cm, mounted on card 30 x 35 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of D. Gillander's Threshing Outfit standing together in a field in Elva, Manitoba, with teams of horses and threshing machinery visible in the background.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 24.5 cm, mounted on card 30 x 35 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of D. Gillander's Threshing Outfit standing together in a field in Elva, Manitoba, with teams of horses and threshing machinery visible in the background.

Subjects: Occupations - Agricultural Labourers; Agricultural Tools and Equipment; Transportation - Horses

Accession Code: HV972.165.207

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: 1913

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 1/8/2010

Scale: 100

Photographer: Western Photo Company

Notes: Photographer's mark on recto of card mount reads: "Western Photo Co. Napinka, Man. and Oxbow, Sask."; Photographer's title (exposed) on recto reads: " -D. Gillander's Threshing Outfit - Elva 1913"

Images

D. Gillander's Threshing Outfit, 1913 thumbnail

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19347

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share the…

1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Interviewees: Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill Location of Interview: Gill family residence on Warwick Avenue in Burnaby Interview Date: November 11, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:58:39) Digital master recording (m4a) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share their ancestral background, their personal experiences immigrating to Canada, living in Burnaby and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants. 00:00 – 27:34 Santokh “Gurmail” Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill share their migration stories and experiences living and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants and their eldest child, Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences as a child of South Asian immigrants and growing up in British Columbia as a South Asian Canadian. Gurmail Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar and Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in Hoshiapur of the Indian state of Punjab. Gurmail describes how he moved from India to England with his family in 1957, immigrated to Canada from England in 1966, married his wife Mohinder in England in 1968 and brought his family (parents and two siblings) to Canada from England in 1970 and other relatives including his wife’s family in the 1970s and 1980s. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill recollect their arranged marriage in England in 1968, their immigration process and explain how they arrived in Burnaby residing with a cousin at 4649 Georgia Street until they were able to purchase their own home after a few years. Gurmail shares names and connections to the relatives that came to British Columbia before him. Gurmail and Mohinder tell how they lived in the basement of the house and rented out the upper floor to save money. The couple recall what they brought with them when they immigrated to Canada and Mohinder Kaur Gill tells of how before leaving India, she and her mother made a special rajai for her to take with her. Mohinder describes the process of making a rajai (a quilted blanket that was made by hand). Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about the challenges that they’ve experienced as new immigrants including not being fluent in English, the cold weather and not having very many family or friends nearby to provide support. They attended the Gurdwara on Ross Street or Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara on Skeena in Vancouver. They explain how there was limited access to grocery stores that supplied Punjabi and Indian spices and other cooking supplies. They talk about how they used a food mill and mortar and pestle to grind their own spices and flour and how Mohinder often made traditional sweets like barfi and laddo and pakoras using pea flour when they couldn’t get Besan flour. 27:35 – 36:11 Gurmail provides more details on his family’s immigration story, including names of relatives, how his six siblings and parents all immigrated to British Columbia in 1970 and how in the early 1970s and mid 1980’s Gurmail and his family sponsored approximately 70 friends and relations from India (including Mohinder’s family) to immigrate to Canada. When Mohinder’s family arrived they lived with them in their house until they were able to purchase property next door and build their own home. Children in the families all attended elementary and high school in Burnaby which now amounts to three generations. 36:12 – 59:28 Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about their experiences of racial discrimination. Gurmail recalls members of the South Asian community, Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma, Harinder Mahil and Charan Gill starting the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism. Gurmail tells of how he got involved contributing some of his union dues as a member of CAIMAW (Canadian Association of Industrial Mechanical and Allied Workers Union- Local 15) and as a friend of Charan Gill and Raj Chouhan of the Canadian Farm Workers Union. Gurmail Gill explains how he was a founding member of CAIMAW and treasurer until the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (in 1991). Mohinder and Gurmail tell of how people from the South Asian community were discouraged from wearing Punjabi dresses or head coverings for fear of being yelled at with racial slurs and how it was often scary to go outside. Many from their community often avoided attending the Akali Singh Gurdwara since a head covering was required and people were afraid of being a target. Gurmail provides details about his work with A1 Steel, how different unions were formed pertaining to various skillsets and jobs per company and how he became a member of CAIMAW Local 15 (foundry workers). Mohinder recollects her experiences as a mother, the daily tasks involved and friends that she made who’d also emigrated from Punjab. Mohinder describes how she designed and sewed many Punjabi dresses using her electric sewing machine and how she learned English by attending adult classes at a church on Commercial Drive. Mohinder and her mother attended the classes for two hours per day for six years at a cost of twelve dollars for ten weeks. Once Mohinder could speak a little English, she started working and was able to practice more. 59:29 – 1:06:08 Mohinder, Gurmail and Prem talk about some of their favourite traditional foods including corn roti and spinach curry and how they grow many of their own vegetables including peppers, eggplant, saag (spinach), onions, garlic, cilantro, zucchini, squash and fenugreek. Mohinder reflects on how access to Punjabi clothing and fabric stores in Vancouver has changed and that ready made food is now more available. Traditional foods were previously made from scratch with women gathering together and cooking for hours and now it’s gotten easier but more expensive and less of a community feel. 1:06:09- 1:55:20 Mohinder and Gurmail Gill discuss and share their perspectives and experiences on raising a family in the past versus today. Gurmail imparts that all of his siblings became educated and secured professional careers while he continued to work in the trades. Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences growing up and attending school in Burnaby. Gurmail and Mohinder Gill recall the type of suitcase that they brought with them when they immigrated and how they recently they got rid of it. Gurmail and the group reflect and discuss the confusion with racial identity terms that have been used in this country. They comment that South Asians were referred to as “Hindu” and “East Indian” and Indigenous peoples were referred to as “Indian” and the controversy and racism behind some of these terms. The group discusses the impact of the caste system and other discriminatory experiences and compare their experiences of living in England to living in Canada. Prem comments on how it’s just recently that South Asian customs, celebrations and practices have been recognized and celebrated here in Canada, like Diwali and yoga. They comment on how much of the language, culture and customs have been retained in Surrey where many can still communicate in Punjabi and don’t need to be fluent in English. The group discusses how many South Asians immigrants first lived and worked in Vancouver but with rising property prices many moved to Surrey expanding and establishing a much larger South Asian community with resources. The group discusses and compares the differing travel routes that many of them and their relatives took when immigrating and travelling between India and Canada. The group talks about Rajdeep’s ancestral village in India which is near the Gill village of Firozpur. Gurmail explains the origins and details behind his family name that was changed from “Shergill” to “Gill” and the name “Santokh” from his maternal side.

History: Interviewees' biographies: Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar in Punjab, India. Gurmail moved to England with his family in 1957 and immigrated to British Columbia in 1966. Gurmail married his wife, Mohinder Kaur Gill in England in 1968 and she immigrated to British Columbia from England soon after. Gurmail first lived with a cousin in Burnaby before purchasing a home of his own in Burnaby where he raised his family. Gurmail worked in the steel industry and was a member and treasurer of the CAIMAW before the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in the Hoshiapur in Punjab, India. She married her husband Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill in England in 1968 and immigrated to Burnaby, British Columbia to join her husband. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill have four children, all born in Burnaby. Prem Kaur Gill was born in Burnaby in 1969 and is the eldest child of Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill. Prem grew up and attended school in Burnaby. Interviewers' biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Clothing; Foods; Indigenous peoples; Buildings - Religious - Temples; Food Processing Tools and Equipment; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Migration; Occupations; Organizations - Unions

Names: Gill, Prem Kaur; Gill, Mohinder Kaur; Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh

Responsibility: Rajdeep; Malik, Anushay

Accession Code: BV022.29.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcript available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum; Indian Family System Reference notes: Baba = informal way to say grandfather; old man Bibi = informal way to say grandmother; old woman Dada= paternal grandfather Dadi= paternal grandmother Dadke= paternal family members; paternal side (Various spellings might exist for the following terms) Thaiyya= father’s elder brother (uncle) Thaiyyi= father’s elder brother’s wife (aunt) Chacha= father’s younger brother (uncle) Chachi= father’s younger brother’s wife (aunt) Bua= father’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Phuphar= father’s sister’s husband (uncle) Nana= maternal grandfather Nani= maternal grandmother Nanke/nanka= maternal family members; maternal side Mama= mom’s brother (older or younger) (uncle) Mami= mom’s brother’s wife (aunt) Maasi= mom’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Maasard= mom’s sister’s husband (uncle)

Audio Tracks

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0002_002.mp3

Grading at Oakalla

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38099

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1915] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.9 x 5.2 cm print on contact sheet 20.7 x 26.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of grading being done during construction at Oakalla Prison Farm. A team of Clydesdale horses is pulling a plough in front of a building with barred windows.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1915] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.9 x 5.2 cm print on contact sheet 20.7 x 26.7 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-686

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of grading being done during construction at Oakalla Prison Farm. A team of Clydesdale horses is pulling a plough in front of a building with barred windows.

Subjects: Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows; Transportation - Horses; Buildings - Public - Detention Facilities

Names: Oakalla Prison Farm

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Negative has a pink cast; Caption at bottom of photograph reads, "Grading at Oakalla"

Geographic Access: Oakmount Crescent

Street Address: 5220 Oakmount Crescent

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Oakalla Area

Images

Grading at Oakalla

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38100

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1915] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.9 x 5.2 cm print on contact sheet 20.7 x 26.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of grading being done during construction at Oakalla Prison Farm. A team of Clydesdale horses is pulling a plough in front of a building with barred windows.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1915] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.9 x 5.2 cm print on contact sheet 20.7 x 26.7 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-687

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of grading being done during construction at Oakalla Prison Farm. A team of Clydesdale horses is pulling a plough in front of a building with barred windows.

Subjects: Transportation - Horses; Buildings - Public - Detention Facilities; Occupations - Labourers; Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows

Names: Oakalla Prison Farm

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Negative has a pink cast; Caption at bottom of photograph reads, "Grading at Oakalla"

Geographic Access: Oakmount Crescent

Street Address: 5220 Oakmount Crescent

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Oakalla Area

Images

Grading at Oakalla

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38103

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1915] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.9 x 5.2 cm print on contact sheet 20.7 x 26.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of grading being done during construction at Oakalla Prison Farm. A team of horses is pulling a plough in front of a building.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1915] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.9 x 5.2 cm print on contact sheet 20.7 x 26.7 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-690

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of grading being done during construction at Oakalla Prison Farm. A team of horses is pulling a plough in front of a building.

Subjects: Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows; Transportation - Horses; Buildings - Public - Detention Facilities; Occupations - Labourers

Names: Oakalla Prison Farm

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Negative has a pink cast; Caption at top of photograph reads, "Grading at Oakalla"

Geographic Access: Oakmount Crescent

Street Address: 5220 Oakmount Crescent

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Oakalla Area

Images

Massey-Harris : circa 1914 catalog

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1342

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Massey-Harris Company

Publication Date: 2004

Call Number: 631.3 MAS

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 1897030045; 9781897030042

Call Number: 631.3 MAS

Author: Massey-Harris Company

Place of Publication: Almonte, Ont.

Publisher: Algrove Pub.

Publication Date: 2004

Series: Classic reprint series (Almonte, Ont.)

Physical Description: 105 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Agricultural machinery; Catalogs

Subjects: Agricultural Tools and Equipment

Notes: Reprint. Originally published: Toronto : Massey-Harris, 1913?

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19349

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant…

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Honourable Raj Chouhan Location of Interview: Residence of Honourable Raj Chouhan Interview Date: December 2, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (00:49:21) Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant and the organizations that he became involved with. Honourable Raj Chouhan recalls how he arrived in Burnaby with his family in 1973 and that his family worked in farming. Chouhan imparts his first hand experiences as a new immigrant working as a labourer in the farming industry and describes the unsafe and unfair working conditions that he and migrant workers faced. Chouhan conveys how this experience lead him to become an activist for better working conditions for migrant workers. This lead Chouhan and others to form the Canadian Farm Workers Union in 1980. Chouhan recollects his experiences flying from India to Canada with his wife, his first impressions after arriving in Vancouver and driving to Burnaby and what he brought with him. Chouhan explains his connections to Burnaby. Members of Chouhan's wife's family immgrated to Canada in 1957 and his wife and her three brothers joined them in 1970. Chouhan's father in law, Hardial Singh Grewal immigrated in 1957 and became president of the Sikh temple in New Westminster. Hardial Singh Grewal worked in a lumber mill in Vancouver and eventually bought a house in Burnaby. Chouhan married to his wife at the Sikh temple in New Westminster and lived in Burnaby for a period before moving to New Westminster where they could find more affordable housing. Chouhan shares that he first worked as a farm labourer in Abbotsford and then found a job in the sawmill which paid more. Chouhan describes the extreme racism and discrimination that he and other immigrants faced which lead to the formation of the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma. Chouhan describes this organization that he was a part of and the Canadian Farm Workers Union that were both formed in Burnaby. Chouhan shares that he moved to Victoria in 1988 to serve on the Hospital Employee's Union and moved back to the mainland in 1993 and returned to Burnaby in 2001. Chouhan reflects on the history of South Asian immigration in Canada, how many of the migrants settled in the lower mainland including Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver establishing temples in Vancouver and New Westminster which became the centre for the South Asian community. He conveys how earlier occupations were limited to farming and millwork and how over time employment opportunities and education have broadened but there is still work to do. He imparts how second generation Canadians’ experiences differ from first generations providing examples of his own daughters’ and the occupations that they are working in. Chouhan provides his insights into the South Asian Canadian experience imparting “We make history every day and that history needs to be recorded and learned from.."... “People from different communities, different backgrounds who lived in Burnaby have contributed so much and South Asians are just like another community and participated in all aspects of social life, cultural, religious, economy. I'm so proud of our community, our forefathers who had that vision to fight for our rights. I'm inspired by people who struggled so much to gain basic rights, like the right to vote". Chouhan refers to these first immigrants as “Gadri Babbas” “revolutionary old people” who were also the main motivation that lead to India becoming a free country in 1947 and for fighting for basic rights here in Canada and how they made their contributions for future generations. Chouhan expresses what he imparts to students “Do not forget your past... if you remember your past then you are much more knowledgeable. Then we know what we need for the future. If we don't know the past, we don't know what the future is going to be like. To make a better future, you have to learn from the past and improve".

History: Interviewee biography: Honourable Raj Chouhan was born in the city of Ludhiana in the Province of Punjab in India and immigrated to Canada in 1973. After arriving in Canada, Raj's family settled in Burnaby. Raj grew up in Burnaby and attended schoool. Honourable Raj Chouhan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020. He was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on December 7, 2020. Honourable Chouhan is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism and has served as a director of the Hospital Employees' Union, the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. Honourable Chouhan has also served as the Vice President of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003 and has taught courses in Human Rights, the B.C. Labour Code and Collective Bargaining since 1987. Interviewer biography: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Persons - South Asian Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Occupations - Agricultural Labourers; Migration; Organizations - Unions; Rights; Rights - Human Rights; Agriculture; Agriculture - Farms; Government - Provincial Government; Government

Names: Chouhan, Raj; British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism; Sharma, Dr. Hari Prakash; Grewal, Hardial Singh; Canadian Farmworkers Union; Hospital Employees Union; Khalsa Diwan Society

Responsibility: Petrusa, Kate

Accession Code: BV022.29.4

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby

Documents

2022_0029_0004_003

Audio Tracks

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0004_002.mp3

Interview with Ken Yip May 9, 2005 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4533

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:07 min)

Scope and Content: Track 3: This portion of the recording continues with Ken’s band activities, and then pertains to the games Ken played with his brother and friends. Ken discusses how the school band’s repertoire and performances were designed to complement the school’s events throughout the year. He describes the …

1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Growing Up in Burnaby subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:07 min)

Material Details: Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Ken Yip Date of interview: May 9, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 5 Total length of all Tracks: 0:62:00

Scope and Content: Track 3: This portion of the recording continues with Ken’s band activities, and then pertains to the games Ken played with his brother and friends. Ken discusses how the school band’s repertoire and performances were designed to complement the school’s events throughout the year. He describes the concert the band was invited to play on the lawn of Ceperley House on their return from Expo 67. Ken recalls the games he and his brother played, and the two neighbor boys they played with. He describes playing on the North American Peat property adjacent to theirs, in the peat trenches and in the bush. He talks of roaming as far as New Westminster and the Fraser River.

History: Recording of an interview with Ken Yip recording by Tom Gooden on May 9, 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1950s and 60s.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Persons - Children; Education; Organizations - Bands

Names: Yip, Ken

Accession Code: BV017.45.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Interview with Ken Yip May 9, 2005 - Track 3, 1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0005_003.mp3

Stacey Scott with software

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96439

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 Simon Fraser University science student Stacey Scott sitting next to a desktop computer with two mice. The monitor displays a graphic from a software program.

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.: 535-2100

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Simon Fraser University science student Stacey Scott sitting next to a desktop computer with two mice. The monitor displays a graphic from a software program.

Subjects: Persons - Students; Science and Technology Tools and Equipment; Telecommunication Tools and Equipment

Names: Simon Fraser University

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a March 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Stacey Scott, an SFU science student, is developing software that will allow kids to work together on the same program, on the same computer."

Images

Stacey Scott with software, [2000] thumbnail

Technology in Burnaby public schools

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97632

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2002]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 5 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of technology in use at Burnaby public schools. Photographs depict students and a teacher from Burnaby South Secondary, Burnaby North Secondary, and Stoney Creek Community schools with Personal Digital Assistants, computers, and projects designed and made with computer tec…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2002]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 5 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-2931

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of technology in use at Burnaby public schools. Photographs depict students and a teacher from Burnaby South Secondary, Burnaby North Secondary, and Stoney Creek Community schools with Personal Digital Assistants, computers, and projects designed and made with computer technology.

Subjects: Persons - Students; Occupations - Teachers; Telecommunication Tools and Equipment; Science and Technology Tools and Equipment

Names: Burnaby South High School; Burnaby North High School; Stoney Creek Elementary School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a January 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata for 535-2931-1: "Steve Fuerderer, a physics teacher at Burnaby South, uses a projector hooked up to a desktop computer to illustrate his lectures."; Caption from metadata for 535-2931-2: "David Carne, a Grade 11 student at Burnaby South Secondary, uses a Personal Digital Assistant to help him keep track of his class assignments."; Caption from metadata for 535-2931-3: "Chris Dickson adjusts a character while William Shand lines up the next shot as they work on a stop-animation project in their Grade 9 Media Arts class at Burnaby North Secondary."; Caption from metadata for 535-2931-4: "Wesley May, 12, a Grade 7 student at Stoney Creek Community School, helped design the school's website."; Caption from metadata for 535-2931-5: "Ilario Ghilarducci, a Grade 10 student at Burnaby North Secondary, used a computer to design the plans for a frame house he built for a class project."

Geographic Access: Hammarskjold Drive; Rumble Street; Beaverbrook Crescent

Street Address: 751 Hammarskjold Drive; 5455 Rumble Street; 2740 Beaverbrook Crescent

Historic Neighbourhood: Alta Vista (Historic Neighbourhood); Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Parkcrest-Aubrey Area; Clinton-Glenwood Area; Lyndhurst Area

Images

Technology in Burnaby public schools, [2002] thumbnail

Stride Gardens and Greenhouses

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34030

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1912]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.3 x 13.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Stride family gardens with greenhouses in the foreground.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1912]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Stride family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.3 x 13.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 001-006

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Stride family gardens with greenhouses in the foreground.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Gardens; Buildings - Agricultural - Greenhouses

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Images

Stride Gardens and Greenhouses, [1912] thumbnail

Cecil and Julie Lee family portrait

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4078

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 2000 and 2006]

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg) : col. ; 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of Cecil and Julie Lee's extended family posing for studio portait; top row (L-R): Cecil (Chue Kan) Lee, Julie Cho Chan Lee; middle row (L-R): Rodney Lee holding Ethan and Tyler Lee, Darin Lee, Sandra Lee holding baby Aiden Lee; bottom row: Suey Ying Jung (Laura).

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Series: Lee family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg) : col. ; 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of Cecil and Julie Lee's extended family posing for studio portait; top row (L-R): Cecil (Chue Kan) Lee, Julie Cho Chan Lee; middle row (L-R): Rodney Lee holding Ethan and Tyler Lee, Darin Lee, Sandra Lee holding baby Aiden Lee; bottom row: Suey Ying Jung (Laura).

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians

Names: Lee, Julie Cho Chan; Lee, Chue Kan "Cecil"; Lee, Rodney; Lee, Ethan; Lee, Tyler; Lee, Darin; Lee, Sandra; Lee, Aiden; Jung, Suey Ying "Laura"

Accession Code: BV017.24.31

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [between 2000 and 2006]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 300

Scan Date: 01-Oct-2017

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Cecil and Julie Lee family portrait, [between 2000 and 2006] thumbnail

Chinese man working in field

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19753

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [191-]

Collection/Fonds: Esther Love Stanley fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified Chinese man crouched down and working in a field. A gardening hoe is leaning on his shoulder and there are young trees growing behind him.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Esther Love Stanley fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified Chinese man crouched down and working in a field. A gardening hoe is leaning on his shoulder and there are young trees growing behind him.

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Agriculture; Agriculture - Farms

Accession Code: BV022.32.175

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

Chinese man working in field, [191-] thumbnail

Elementary school students

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1257

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1912 and 1928]

Collection/Fonds: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 21 x 27 cm, mounted on card 32.5 x 39 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of eighty-four boys dressed in uniform, seated and standing in formation in front of an elementary school with their ten teachers. Three Five Races Under One Union flags (national flag for the Republic of China) are prominently displayed.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds

Series: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 21 x 27 cm, mounted on card 32.5 x 39 cm

Material Details: Card mount has a decorative border

Scope and Content: Photograph of eighty-four boys dressed in uniform, seated and standing in formation in front of an elementary school with their ten teachers. Three Five Races Under One Union flags (national flag for the Republic of China) are prominently displayed.

Subjects: Clothing - Uniforms; Buildings - Schools; Symbols - Flags; Persons - Chinese Canadians

Names: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Company

Accession Code: BV985.5331.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [between 1912 and 1928]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 1/7/2010

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on verso of photograph is written in Chinese characters

Images

Elementary school students, [between 1912 and 1928] 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

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