Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

"The Weed Man"

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58936

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 14 x 20.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man posing with his pick-up truck containing lawn and landscaping equipment. His truck, hat, and shirt all read "The Weed Man."

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 14 x 20.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1385

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man posing with his pick-up truck containing lawn and landscaping equipment. His truck, hat, and shirt all read "The Weed Man."

Subjects: Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Gardening Equipment; Maintenance Tools and Equipment; Occupations; Transportation - Trucks

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "Burnaby Today / A-8 / 47% PMT"

Images

Central Park Pharmacy

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35026

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: July 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 8.8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Central Park Pharmacy and Post Office, 3967 Kingsway at Jersey Avenue, with Mr. Chan, the pharmacist, standing outside. Some of the signs on the store read, "Central Park Pharmacy," "Post Office," "Drugs," "Visa," and "On Sale Here." A view east down Kingsway can be seen on the …

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: July 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Evelyn Salisbury subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 8.8 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 177-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1986-25

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Central Park Pharmacy and Post Office, 3967 Kingsway at Jersey Avenue, with Mr. Chan, the pharmacist, standing outside. Some of the signs on the store read, "Central Park Pharmacy," "Post Office," "Drugs," "Visa," and "On Sale Here." A view east down Kingsway can be seen on the right side of the photograph. Cars are visible on the street. A sign further down Kingsway reads, "TV: Tele-Peter." The street sign reads, "Jersey Ave 5600."

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Drugstores; Occupations - Pharmacists

Names: Central Park Pharmacy

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Kingsway; Jersey Avenue

Street Address: 3967 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Garden Village Area

Images

Central Park Pharmacy, July 1986 thumbnail

Interior of surveyor's office

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13495

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [198_]

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. negative ; 5.5 x 5.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the interior of the Land Surveyor's office "Hill & Burnett" inside of Burnaby Village Museum. The exhibit includes a roll top desk, a pendulum wall clock as well as land surveying equipment.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Series: Heritage Village Museum exhibits and artifacts series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. negative ; 5.5 x 5.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the interior of the Land Surveyor's office "Hill & Burnett" inside of Burnaby Village Museum. The exhibit includes a roll top desk, a pendulum wall clock as well as land surveying equipment.

Subjects: Occupations - Land Surveyors; Surveying and Navigational Tools and Equipment; Timekeeping Tools and Equipment

Names: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV020.5.838

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [198_]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 1200

Scan Date: 25-Aug-2020

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 col. print; 8.5 x 9 cm accompanying negative (negative no.4)

Images

Interior of surveyor's office, [198_] thumbnail

Three men near audio equipment

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription59065

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of three unidentified men in suits standing by audiovisual equipment and servers. A TV screen is in the foreground.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1471

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of three unidentified men in suits standing by audiovisual equipment and servers. A TV screen is in the foreground.

Subjects: Telecommunication Tools and Equipment; Telecommunication Tools and Equipment - Televisions; Sound Communication Tools and Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Battistoni, Peter

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "page 5 / Burnaby / Today / PMT 100%"

Images

Three men near audio equipment, ca.1983 thumbnail

Arthur Francis Peers

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34464

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1927]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 11.8 cm on page 17.5 x 26.2 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Arthur Francis Peers standing near railway tracks at an unknown location. Snow can be seen covering the ground and Arthur is pictured wearing winter jacket, boots, hat and mittens. In his right hand he is holding a box camera and he is smoking a pipe. Throughout the late 1920s, Arthu…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1927]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 11.8 cm on page 17.5 x 26.2 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-171

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of Arthur Francis Peers standing near railway tracks at an unknown location. Snow can be seen covering the ground and Arthur is pictured wearing winter jacket, boots, hat and mittens. In his right hand he is holding a box camera and he is smoking a pipe. Throughout the late 1920s, Arthur Peers travelled throughout the Fraser Valley, British Columbia during the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway and documented a lot of the work through his photographs. A caption to this picture reads: "Breaking camp."

Subjects: Photographic Tools and Equipment - Cameras; Occupations - Photographers

Names: Peers, Arthur Francis "Mike"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Bill Speirs

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35318

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1929 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Speirs operating a steam shovel for the municipality of Burnaby. Here he is working on the roads around Gilley Avenue and Imperial Street (formerly Windsor Street).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1929 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-175

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Speirs operating a steam shovel for the municipality of Burnaby. Here he is working on the roads around Gilley Avenue and Imperial Street (formerly Windsor Street).

Subjects: Occupations - Labourers; Construction - Road Construction; Construction Tools and Equipment

Names: Speirs, Bill

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Gilley Avenue; Imperial Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Images

Bill Speirs

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35319

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1929 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Speirs operating a steam shovel. Bill and his wife, Dell Speirs, moved to Burnaby from Edmonton in 1929.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1929 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-176

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Speirs operating a steam shovel. Bill and his wife, Dell Speirs, moved to Burnaby from Edmonton in 1929.

Subjects: Occupations - Labourers; Construction - Road Construction; Construction Tools and Equipment

Names: Speirs, Bill

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Chip and Roy at Hart House

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38004

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1929 (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.6 x 2.6 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.4 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Chip and Roy, two Australian soldiers or sailors, at Hart House. They are in uniform, and one of them is holding a camera.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1929 (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 ; 4.6 x 2.6 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.4 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-591

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Chip and Roy, two Australian soldiers or sailors, at Hart House. They are in uniform, and one of them is holding a camera.

Subjects: Photographic Tools and Equipment - Cameras; Occupations - Military Personnel; Clothing - Military Uniforms

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying

Geographic Access: Deer Lake Avenue

Street Address: 6664 Deer Lake Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Chip and Roy at Hart House, 1929 (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

Construction of the St. Michael's Centre

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45354

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: January 1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 24 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Reverend George Morrison of the United Church, Reverend Donald Grayson of the Anglican Church, and Father Dennis Luterback of the Catholic Church with hard hats on and shovels in their hands. They were participating in the sod turning ceremony for the then new combined care facility f…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: January 1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 24 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-249

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Reverend George Morrison of the United Church, Reverend Donald Grayson of the Anglican Church, and Father Dennis Luterback of the Catholic Church with hard hats on and shovels in their hands. They were participating in the sod turning ceremony for the then new combined care facility for seniors being built by St. Michael's Centre Society in South Burnaby.

Subjects: Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Clergy

Names: St. Michael's Centre Extended Care and Hospice Facility; Morrison, Reverend George; Grayson, Reverend Donald; Luterback, Father Dennis

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "DIGGING IN ... Sod turning ceremony for new 80-bed combined care facility for seniors being built by St. Michael's Centre Society was held recently. Participating in ceremony were, from left to right, Rev. George Morrison of United Church, Rev. Donald Grayson of Anglican Church, and Father Dennis Luterback of Catholic Church."

Geographic Access: Sussex Avenue

Street Address: 7451 Sussex Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Sussex-Nelson Area

Images

Construction of the St. Michael's Centre, January 1980 thumbnail

Construction workers

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription59066

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of construction workers erecting steel frames next to railway tracks. Cranes and other construction vehicles are in the background.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1472

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of construction workers erecting steel frames next to railway tracks. Cranes and other construction vehicles are in the background.

Subjects: Occupations - Labourers; Construction; Construction Tools and Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "PMT 100% / Page 4 / Burnaby / Today"

Images

Cutting pile tops for Nicomen Slough Bridge

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34328

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.8 x 12.2 cm on page 17.5 x 23.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of workmen operating machinery to cut pile tops for the Nicomen Slough Bridge, near Deroche.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.8 x 12.2 cm on page 17.5 x 23.7 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-035

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of workmen operating machinery to cut pile tops for the Nicomen Slough Bridge, near Deroche.

Subjects: Construction - Bridge Construction; Structures - Bridges; Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Labourers

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

Cutting pile tops for Nicomen Slough Bridge, 1927 thumbnail

Digging In

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34387

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 7 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a steam shovel digging into a hill. A horse team pulling a dump wagon stand next to it. The location is unknown. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway dur…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 7 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-094

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of a steam shovel digging into a hill. A horse team pulling a dump wagon stand next to it. The location is unknown. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway during the later 1920s.

Subjects: Land Clearing; Occupations - Labourers; Transportation - Horses; Transportation - Wagons; Construction Tools and Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Peers, Arthur Francis "Mike"

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

Former site of the Kelly Douglas building

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35027

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: August 18, 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 8.8 x 12.6 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the site of Kelly Douglas and Co. at 4700 Kingsway after the building was demolished. A bulldozer and a large truck with two men standing on it are at the back left of the photograph.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: August 18, 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Evelyn Salisbury subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 8.8 x 12.6 cm

Material Details: Printed on verso of photograph: "This paper manufactured by Kodak"

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 178-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1986-26

Scope and Content: Photograph of the site of Kelly Douglas and Co. at 4700 Kingsway after the building was demolished. A bulldozer and a large truck with two men standing on it are at the back left of the photograph.

Subjects: Land Clearing; Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Labourers

Names: Kelly Douglas and Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 4700 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Former site of the Kelly Douglas building, August 18, 1986 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

Lillian Mann's former property

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46243

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: March 30, 1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 24.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of private demolition crew leveling Lillian Mann's home with a bulldozer as a teenager looks on.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: March 30, 1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 24.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1131

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of private demolition crew leveling Lillian Mann's home with a bulldozer as a teenager looks on.

Subjects: Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Labourers

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto of photograph reads: "The END of LILLIAN MANN"

Geographic Access: Cameron Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lyndhurst Area

Images

Lillian Mann's former property, March 30, 1983 thumbnail

Loading a dump wagon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34383

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.1 x 10.2 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man using a steam shovel to load a dump wagon which is being pulled by a team of horses. Another man can be seen sitting on the wagon. Both are unidentified. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the c…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.1 x 10.2 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-090

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man using a steam shovel to load a dump wagon which is being pulled by a team of horses. Another man can be seen sitting on the wagon. Both are unidentified. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway during the later 1920s.