"Plants - Trees" found 52 records

Looking west from Douglas Road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription91834

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: April 2015

Collection/Fonds: Small family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. copy print ; 10 cm x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the houses located on the corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street, with a large oak tree in the front of the yard. The house on the left is 3131 Douglas Road; the house behind is 5536 Dominion Street. The photograph was taken from Douglas Road, looking west.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: April 2015

Collection/Fonds: Small family fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. copy print ; 10 cm x 15 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 620-015

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2017-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of the houses located on the corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street, with a large oak tree in the front of the yard. The house on the left is 3131 Douglas Road; the house behind is 5536 Dominion Street. The photograph was taken from Douglas Road, looking west.

Subjects: Buildings - Residential - Houses; Plants - Trees

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from donor's notes; Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "April 2015 / 3131 Douglas Rd. / with Oak Tree"; Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "P.15"; 5118 Douglas Road renumbered to 3131 Douglas Road in 1958 and to 5538 Dominion Street in 1970 or 1971; The oak tree (centre) is the same tree as in photographs 620-007 and 620-014

Street Address: 3131 Douglas Road; 5118 Douglas Road; 5538 Dominion Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Ardingley-Sprott Area

Images

Looking west from Douglas Road, April 2015 thumbnail

Mr. Tough and G.L. Lawson beside a tree stump

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38544

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1921

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two men standing next to a large tree stump. A note written on the back of the photograph reads: " Stump blasted out by William Tough, street sup't [sic] in 1921. It stood on the boulevard on the south side of Hastings Street a few feet East of Ingleton. At left Councillor G. L. La…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1921

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: New Westminster Public Library subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.8 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 459-004

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2003-19

Scope and Content: Photograph of two men standing next to a large tree stump. A note written on the back of the photograph reads: " Stump blasted out by William Tough, street sup't [sic] in 1921. It stood on the boulevard on the south side of Hastings Street a few feet East of Ingleton. At left Councillor G. L. Lawson. Right, Mr. Tough." Councillor Lawson served on council from 1919-1920 and again from 1922-1923.

Subjects: Officials - Alderman and Councillors; Plants - Trees

Names: Lawson, Guthrie L.; Tough, William

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption

Geographic Access: Hastings Street; Ingleton Avenue

Street Address: 3900 Hastings Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Willingdon Heights Area

Images

Mr. Tough and G.L. Lawson beside a tree stump, 1921 thumbnail

Murdock McMurray and Amy Leigh

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription11935

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1920] (date of original), copied 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 25.3 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Murdock McMurray and Amy Leigh in front of the hollow tree in Stanley Park, Vancouver.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 25.3 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Murdock McMurray and Amy Leigh in front of the hollow tree in Stanley Park, Vancouver.

Subjects: Plants - Trees

Names: McMurray, Murdoch; Leigh, Amy

Geographic Access: Vancouver

Accession Code: HV976.41.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [1920] (date of original), copied 1976

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-06-20

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Murdock McMurray and Amy Leigh, [1920] (date of original), copied 1976 thumbnail

My Father's Garden

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9676

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 2016

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Film and Video collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (9 min., 26 sec.) : digital, 25 fps, col., sd., stereo

Scope and Content: The film tells the story of Janice Bobic’s parents, John and Frances Wuzinski, including the couple’s move from Manitoba to Burnaby in 1944, where they purchased an acre of land on the corner of Hastings Street and Cliff Avenue. They grew berries, fruit and vegetables for home and for sale, and rai…

1 image 1 video

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Film and Video collection

Series: Elders Digital Storytelling project series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (9 min., 26 sec.) : digital, 25 fps, col., sd., stereo

Scope and Content: The film tells the story of Janice Bobic’s parents, John and Frances Wuzinski, including the couple’s move from Manitoba to Burnaby in 1944, where they purchased an acre of land on the corner of Hastings Street and Cliff Avenue. They grew berries, fruit and vegetables for home and for sale, and raised bees. People came from miles around to purchase strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes and honey. The film includes Janice’s memories of growing up in the family garden, along with her sister Mary Louise.Janice describes her decision to continue working the family property, and her sense of connection with her parents and the land.

History: Janice Bobic is the daughter of John and Frances Wuzinski, longtime Burnaby residents who moved from Manitoba to Burnaby in 1944. In 1962 the Wuzinski property was expropriated by the Municipality of Burnaby, and the family purchased another property nearby. They started a new garden, brought the bees, and transplanted several trees to the new property. John passed away in 1998, and Frances in 2000.

Creator: Bobic, Janice

Other Title Information: title supplied by film maker

Subjects: Plants - Trees; Geographic Features - Gardens

Names: Bobic, Janice; Wuzinski, Frances; Wuzinski, John

Accession Code: BV016.37.7

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 2016

Media Type: Moving Images

Notes: Transcribed title

Images

Video

My Father's Garden, 2016

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2016_0037_0007_001.mp4

Royal Anne cherry tree

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35559

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920 (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 a Royal Anne cherry tree in the backyard of the Cram orchard at 6515 Denbigh Avenue, on the northwest corner of Kingsway and Denbigh. The garage can be seen on the left. William Cram (father) would pick the cherries, and Mary Cram and Viola Cram (sisters) would load them in a wagon …

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920 (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.: 204-417

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of a Royal Anne cherry tree in the backyard of the Cram orchard at 6515 Denbigh Avenue, on the northwest corner of Kingsway and Denbigh. The garage can be seen on the left. William Cram (father) would pick the cherries, and Mary Cram and Viola Cram (sisters) would load them in a wagon and sell them, a chore which they did not like.

Subjects: Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Plants - Trees

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Denbigh Avenue

Street Address: 6515 Denbigh Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Windsor Area

Images

Royal Anne cherry tree, 1920 (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

The Slope in Front of the Camp at Yellow Point

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39398

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1923

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 9.5 cm on page 24.5 x 32.5 cm (pasted in album)

Scope and Content: Photograph of a line of trees looking down towards the water. Beach chairs can be seen to the left.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1923

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Series: Kitty Hill Peers family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 9.5 cm on page 24.5 x 32.5 cm (pasted in album)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 477-717

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of a line of trees looking down towards the water. Beach chairs can be seen to the left.

Subjects: Plants - Trees

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

The Slope in Front of the Camp at Yellow Point, 1923 thumbnail

Stride family house

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34027

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.2 x 10.8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Stride family house located at Kingsway and 18th Avenue. It is obscured by trees in blossom.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Stride family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.2 x 10.8 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 001-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Stride family house located at Kingsway and 18th Avenue. It is obscured by trees in blossom.

Subjects: Buildings - Residential - Houses; Plants - Trees

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Kingsway; 18th Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Images

Toothpick stump at Gilmore Ave and Parker St

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription737

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1924]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 6.9 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man sitting near the top of a giant tree stump at Willingdon Heights. According to an accompanying note prepared by Burnaby Village Museum and supported by the inscription on the photograph, the stump was at the southeast corner of Parker Street and Gilmore Avenue in the Willingdon…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 6.9 cm

Material Details: Annotations on the front of the photograph read: "Gilmour & Parker. South. 1924" and "Toothpick Stump." An annotation on the back of the photograph reads, "Wide - 98 inch at TOB [sic - top] / Ground level 25 feet / SE corner of Parker & Gilmour / March 11 1971 / A Bingham."

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man sitting near the top of a giant tree stump at Willingdon Heights. According to an accompanying note prepared by Burnaby Village Museum and supported by the inscription on the photograph, the stump was at the southeast corner of Parker Street and Gilmore Avenue in the Willingdon Heights district.

Subjects: Plants - Trees

Names: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Geographic Access: Parker Street; Gilmore Avenue

Accession Code: HV976.46.3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1924]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Willingdon Heights Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-06-20

Photographer: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Notes: Title based on caption of photograph

Images

Toothpick stump at Gilmore Ave and Parker St, [1924] thumbnail

Tree at Choate Station

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34410

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1925]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.8 x 11.1 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a young person seated on a rock in front of a tree. A cabin can be seen in the background and a caption accompanying the photograph reads "tree at Choate Stn." This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1925]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.8 x 11.1 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-117

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of a young person seated on a rock in front of a tree. A cabin can be seen in the background and a caption accompanying the photograph reads "tree at Choate Stn." 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: Plants - Trees

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Peers, Arthur Francis "Mike"

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

Tree at Choate Station, [1925] thumbnail

Trees and in the snow

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39308

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1922

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.4 cm on page 24.5 x 32.5 cm (pasted in album)

Scope and Content: Photograph of a field and trees covered in snow. This photograph was probably taken at Broadview, the home of Claude Hill and his family in the Burnaby Lake area.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1922

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Series: Kitty Hill Peers family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.4 cm on page 24.5 x 32.5 cm (pasted in album)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 477-627

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of a field and trees covered in snow. This photograph was probably taken at Broadview, the home of Claude Hill and his family in the Burnaby Lake area.

Subjects: Natural Phenomena - Snow; Plants - Trees

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Buckingham Avenue

Street Address: 5730 Buckingham Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Tree stump at Willingdon Heights

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription736

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1924]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6.9 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a woman standing by a giant tree stump in Willingdon Heights. According to an accompanying note prepared by BVM and supported by the inscription on the photograph, the stump was at the southeast corner of Parker Street and Gilmore Avenue in the Willingdon Heights district. It is likel…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6.9 x 11.5 cm

Material Details: Annotations on the front of the photograph read: "Gilmour & Parker St South 1924" and "Willingdon Heights." An annotation on the back of the photograph reads, "25 feet at ground level / (A Bingham) March 11 1971." Stamped on the back of the photo: "457."

Scope and Content: Photograph of a woman standing by a giant tree stump in Willingdon Heights. According to an accompanying note prepared by BVM and supported by the inscription on the photograph, the stump was at the southeast corner of Parker Street and Gilmore Avenue in the Willingdon Heights district. It is likely that the woman in the picture is Ada Bingham, wife of Alfred Bingham who took the picture.

Subjects: Plants - Trees

Names: Bingham, Mary Ada "Ada"

Geographic Access: Parker Street; Gilmore Avenue

Accession Code: HV976.46.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1924]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Willingdon Heights Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-06-20

Photographer: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Tree stump at Willingdon Heights, [1924] thumbnail

Weaving and Learning through Art

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15668

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 11 May 2021

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (76 min., 47 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps

Scope and Content: Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The webinar is titled "Weaving and Learning through Art" and is presented by Nicole Preissl, Explorative Designer of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Stó:lō decent. The Zoom webinar is the f…

1 image 1 video

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series

Subseries: Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Spring 2021 subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (76 min., 47 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps

Material Details: Presenter: Nicole Preissl; Host: Kate Petrusa; Date of Presentation: Tuesday, May 11, 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm; Total Number of tracks: 1; Total Length of all tracks: min., sec.; Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform; Recording Note: Film was edited from it's original recorded version (90 min., 05 sec.) to edited version (76 min., 47 sec.) for public viewing on Heritage Burnaby.

Scope and Content: Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The webinar is titled "Weaving and Learning through Art" and is presented by Nicole Preissl, Explorative Designer of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Stó:lō decent. The Zoom webinar is the fifth in a series of six "Neighbourhood Speaker series" webinars exploring a range of topics shared by Indigenous speakers and knowledge keepers that were presented and made available to the public between April 27 and May 12, 2021. The live webinar was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. Community members were invited to participate by bringing questions during the interactive online session. Nicole supports her presentation with slides and provides a hands on demonstration on weaving. Prior to the webinar, participants were offered materials that were prepared and made available from Burnaby Village Museum. In this interactive webinar, Nicole Preissl, explores the importance of plants within Coast Salish culture and demonstrates the traditional technique of rope-making. In the first part of her presentation, Nicole provides examples of indigenous plants and trees that grow in British Columbia and shares information on thier historical and cultural significance, medicinal and edible properties and how to identify them. Nicole also shares her own experiences and appreciation for natural materials and provides examples of her artwork. In the second half of Nicole's presentation participants are invited to join her demonstration in learning basic weaving techniques. Nicole provides two hands-on demonstrations to follow, one with yarn and one with iris leaves. During and follwing the presentation, Nicole Preissl takes questions from the audience that are moderated by the host, Kate Petrusa.

History: Nicole Preissl is an explorative designer who uses natural materials to influence her work. From both Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Stó:lō decent, she began introducing traditional artistic customs into her practice as a means of connecting to her culture. In her art practice she uses natural fibres and materials to create textile based designs. Her areas of interest are natural plant dyes, weaving Coast Salish style garments and using raw hide to create thought provoking design pieces.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Social life and customs; Indigenous peoples - British Columbia; Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Art; Plants; Plants - Flowers; Plants - Trees; Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Baskets; Indigenous peoples - Implements; Indigenous peoples - Clothing

Names: Preissl, Nicole; Tsleil-Waututh Nation; Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation; Burnaby Village Museum

Responsibility: Petrusa, Kate

Accession Code: BV021.17.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 11 May 2021

Media Type: Moving Images

Notes: Title based on content of video recording

Images

Video

Weaving and Learning through Art, 11 May 2021

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0017_0005_002.mp4

Inkwells to Internet: A History of Burnaby Schools

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7551

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Carter, David; Cooke, Rosemary; Pride, Harry, 1925-; White, Janet; Yip, Gail

Publication Date: 2020

Call Number: 371 CAR

1 image 1 digital book

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection; Digital Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 978-0-9781979-2-6

Call Number: 371 CAR

Author: Carter, David; Cooke, Rosemary; Pride, Harry, 1925-; White, Janet; Yip, Gail

Place of Publication: Burnaby

Publisher: City of Burnaby

Publication Date: 2020

Physical Description: vii, 35 p. : ill. ; 29 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History; Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby

Subjects: Education

Notes: "Includes index"; A history of the Burnaby school district and individual school buildings in Burnaby, BC, between 1893 and 2013.; The “First Nations cemetery” described on page 109 in Mary Johnson’s recollections was originally written as “Indian” and may refer to the Khalsa Diwan Society’s Sikh cremations at the Vancouver Cemetery.

Images

Digital Books

Interview with W.H. O'Brien July / August 1975 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory18

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1914-1932

Length: 0:08:44

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's early childhood including the reasons why his family first moved to Burnaby, his first experiences of unemployment and what initially drew him to the Working Organization in Burnaby and their protest against evictions.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's early childhood including the reasons why his family first moved to Burnaby, his first experiences of unemployment and what initially drew him to the Working Organization in Burnaby and their protest against evictions.

Date Range: 1914-1932

Photo Info: Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005

Length: 0:08:44

Subjects: Organizations; Protests and Demonstrations

Geographic Access: Inman Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: July / August 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with W.H. "Harry" O'Brien by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury. Major themes discussed are: the Army of the Common Good, the Union of the Unemployed and the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union). To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: W.H. “Harry” O’Brien was born in the coal mining town of Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 20, 1914. He came to Burnaby with his parents and five siblings in 1927. Harry’s mother, a school teacher, wanted her children to live closer to school in order to obtain a better education, so the O’Brien family settled at Inman Avenue, Burnaby. Harry's mother, Mary Anne Crossan, was Gilmore Avenue School's first teacher. Harry left school in June of 1929. Harry’s father worked as the caretaker at Central Park around this time and Harry helped him to clear brush, plant trees and enforce the land clearing and wood cutting permit regulations held by men who were on script. Although too young to vote by just over a week, Harry O'Brien worked as a scrutineer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) during the 1935 Federal Election. On October 12, 1940 Harry O'Brien married Gertrude Sutherland at St. John the Divine in Burnaby. The Sutherland family came to Burnaby from Winnipeg in 1933 and settled at Nelson Avenue. Harry began his involvement with the Unemployment Organization in Burnaby by participating in an organised protest against the municipality for homeowner evictions brought on by unpaid taxes. The South Burnaby Union of the Unemployed organised in order to protest rules around receiving Relief. Harry became involved, eventually becoming one of the spearheads of the organization, taking over as secretary by 1936. Harry was an original member of the Army of the Common Good, helping to produce over one hundred and twenty-five tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed Burnaby citizens suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The members of the Army of the Common Good who cut wood for consumption or worked in the gardens were given credit for their work through LU (Labour Units) which they could then use to buy groceries and that at the Army's Cooperative stores, one of which was at McKay Avenue, where Harry began working as Manager of Groceries in 1937. The Credit Union movement of British Columbia was also organized by Harry O'Brien and his fellow Army of the Common Good members. W.H. "Harry" O'Brien died July 1, 1992.

Total Tracks: 9

Total Length: 1:17:56

Interviewee Name: O'Brien, Harry

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.