"Burnaby Fire Department" found 96 records

Vital Information Program

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95957

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2003]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of John McQuade, of the Burnaby Fire Department, holding up a yellow vial labelled "Vital Information Program" toward the camera.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2003]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-1727

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of John McQuade, of the Burnaby Fire Department, holding up a yellow vial labelled "Vital Information Program" toward the camera.

Subjects: Protective Services

Names: Burnaby Fire Department

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a September 2003 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "John McQuade, of the Burnaby Fire Department, shows off one of the Vital Information Program (VIP) vials the department is distributing. The vials contain an information sheet on which people can record their medical information and then store in their refrigerator, to help fire and medical personnel when they respond to an emergency."

Images

Vital Information Program, [2003] thumbnail

Westcoast Harmony Chorus Valentine's singing telegrams at Fire Station No. 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96032

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2004]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of fire fighter Randy Delmonico cleaning a fire truck at Burnaby Fire Station No. 1 while four members of the Westcoast Harmony Chorus sing behind him.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2004]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-1781

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of fire fighter Randy Delmonico cleaning a fire truck at Burnaby Fire Station No. 1 while four members of the Westcoast Harmony Chorus sing behind him.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Transportation - Fire Trucks; Organizations - Choirs; Holidays

Names: Burnaby Fire Department

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a February 2004 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Randy Delmonico carries on with his duties around Burnaby Firehall #1, even as he's serenaded by members of the Westcoast Harmony Chorus, Julie Terpenning, Barb Goodman, Julie Terpenning and Irene Ingraham. The Chorus is, once again, offering Valentines singing telegrams as a fundraiser."

Geographic Access: Sperling Avenue

Street Address: 4867 Sperling Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Westcoast Harmony Chorus Valentine's singing telegrams at Fire Station No. 1, [2004] thumbnail

Westcoast Harmony Chorus with fire fighter

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96329

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2003]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Westcoast Harmony Chorus members Trudy Zonneveld, Sherryl Swan, Lisa DiFonzo, and Jane Lythgo. They pose in their chorus uniforms in front of a Burnaby Fire Department fire truck and fire fighter Evan Myers as a promotion for their fundraising Valentine's singing telegram service.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2003]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2010

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Westcoast Harmony Chorus members Trudy Zonneveld, Sherryl Swan, Lisa DiFonzo, and Jane Lythgo. They pose in their chorus uniforms in front of a Burnaby Fire Department fire truck and fire fighter Evan Myers as a promotion for their fundraising Valentine's singing telegram service.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Transportation - Fire Trucks; Organizations - Choirs; Holidays

Names: Burnaby Fire Department

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a February 2003 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "The Westcoast Harmony Chorus, Trudy Zonneveld, Sherryl Swan, Lisa DiFonzo and Jane Lythgo, serenades Evan Myers, a firefighter for the Burnaby Fire Department. The Chorus is offering a Valentine's singing telegram service, with proceeds going to the Marguerite Dixon House and to support chorus programs."

Images

Westcoast Harmony Chorus with fire fighter, [2003] thumbnail

Fire Department fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription47

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920-2019

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direct…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920-2019

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Physical Description: 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material

Description Level: Fonds

Access Restriction: Subject to FOIPPA

Reproduction Restriction: Reproductions subject to FOIPPA

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direction, coordination, training services, and planning, including daily record books, emergency preparedness pamphlets, a departmental practice manual, procedural directives, scrapbooks, and an orthophoto map (in 63 pieces) of the City of Burnaby.

History: Serving the City since 1911, the Burnaby Fire Department is committed to providing timely, professional, and effective fire-related emergency services to save lives, property and the environment. Their dedicated staff serves the City via seven fire stations located strategically across Burnaby. Each of our stations is equipped with up-to-date vehicles and equipment. Their highly skilled and trained team of men and women provide many services, including fire suppression and prevention, investigation, inspection, training, medical, vehicle extrication, technical and other speciality rescues, hazardous materials response and public education services. The following information pertains to the publication "Follow That Fire": Communities have always lived with the threat of fire. Early Burnaby residents banded together to extinguish out-of-control brush fires. In the 1920s, the Municipal Police were responsible for fire-related matters, earning three dollars for attending a fire. Donations to the Vancouver and New Westminster Fire Departments' Benevolent Funds brought the first fire engines to Burnaby's rescue. As the population increased, by-laws were enacted to develop a full-time fire service. Several members saw the value in jotting down recollections of their experiences as Burnaby firemen, which sparked an interest in completing the History of the Burnaby Fire Department. While researching this project, the author was fortunate in being able to draw from the resources of retired chiefs Fred Blake and Lewis Auvache, who were original members of the Department. The Department's progression includes heated and sometimes humorous debates regarding who should be responsible for fire protection, deciding if there was a need for a fire services, and how taxes would be levied to support the service. Photographs throughout the text represent stages of development which include a pictorial record of Burnaby fire trucks from 1923 to the present platform ladder trucks. From its humble beginning as two separate fire departments operating from a converted police horse stable and a water pumping station, the Burnaby Fire Department has developed into a professional organization serving its citizens from six fire stations.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph; Cartographic Material

Creator: City of Burnaby

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds.

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory464

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1911-1990

Length: 00:05:22

Summary: This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Dep…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Department in 1911.

Date Range: 1911-1990

Length: 00:05:22

Subjects: Public Services - Fire Protection; Documentary Artifacts - Photographs

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 21, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 0:43:35

Interviewee Name: Nixon, Al

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Audio Tracks

Track one of interview with Al Nixon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_1.mp3

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory465

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1936-1990

Length: 00:04:08

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the location of the North Burnaby Fire Department fire hall and the location of the six fire halls subsequently built for the combined north and south department. He also talks about Fred Blake, Lewis Auvache and Henry Chapman, early member…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the location of the North Burnaby Fire Department fire hall and the location of the six fire halls subsequently built for the combined north and south department. He also talks about Fred Blake, Lewis Auvache and Henry Chapman, early members of the department who were also interested in the department's history.

Date Range: 1936-1990

Length: 00:04:08

Names: Blake, Fred; Auvache, Lewis; Chapman, Henry H.

Subjects: Public Services - Fire Protection; Buildings - Civic

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 21, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 0:43:35

Interviewee Name: Nixon, Al

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Audio Tracks

Track two of interview with Al Nixon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_2.mp3

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory466

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1927-1990

Length: 00:04:05

Summary: This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.

Date Range: 1927-1990

Length: 00:04:05

Names: Waddell, Gordon

Subjects: Public Services - Fire Protection; Buildings - Civic; Transportation - Fire Trucks

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 21, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 0:43:35

Interviewee Name: Nixon, Al

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Audio Tracks

Track three of interview with Al Nixon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_3.mp3

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 7

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory470

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1936-1990

Length: 00:04:34

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.

Date Range: 1936-1990

Length: 00:04:34

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - Archives; Buildings - Civic - Museums

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 21, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 0:43:35

Interviewee Name: Nixon, Al

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Audio Tracks

Track seven of interview with Al Nixon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_7.mp3

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 8

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory471

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1928-1990

Length: 00:07:51

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the heritage home "Seven Gables" on Sullivan Street. He relates some childhood events, including the train wreck on Burnette Creek in 1936.

Date Range: 1928-1990

Length: 00:07:51

Historic Neighbourhood: Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lyndhurst Area; Cameron Area

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 21, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 0:43:35

Interviewee Name: Nixon, Al

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Audio Tracks

Track eight of interview with Al Nixon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_8.mp3

In the shadow by the sea : recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5173

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: c2004

Call Number: 971.133 PRI Copy 2

1 digital book

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Digital Reference Collection; Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 0969282885

Call Number: 971.133 PRI Copy 2

Contributor: Wolf, Jim; Pride, Harry, 1925-

Place of Publication: Burnaby, B.C.

Publisher: City of Burnaby

Publication Date: c2004

Physical Description: 246 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 28 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History; Industries--British Columbia--Burnaby--History; Barnet Marine Park--Burnaby, B.C.

Geographic Access: Barnet Road; Burrard Inlet

Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 246) and index.; "edited by Harry Pride and Jim Wolf"; Copy 2 of 2

Digital Books

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall - 1927-1930

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2256

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927-1930

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: Textual record

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1927-1930.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927-1930

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Series: Fire General and Administration series

Physical Description: Textual record

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 4151

Accession Number: 2001-02

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1927-1930.

Media Type: Textual Record

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall 1931-1936

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2263

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1930-1936

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: Textual record

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about the calls of the [#2?] Fire Hall of the Burnaby Fire Department was recorded for the years 1930-1936.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1930-1936

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Series: Fire General and Administration series

Physical Description: Textual record

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 4158

Accession Number: 2001-02

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about the calls of the [#2?] Fire Hall of the Burnaby Fire Department was recorded for the years 1930-1936.

Media Type: Textual Record

David Drive house fire

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97370

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 4 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of Burnaby Fire Department fire fighters attending a fire at a home at 9980 David Drive and an unidentified person at the fire.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 4 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-2746

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of Burnaby Fire Department fire fighters attending a fire at a home at 9980 David Drive and an unidentified person at the fire.

Subjects: Natural Phenomena - Fires; Occupations - Fire Fighters

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a September 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata for 535-2746-1: "A Burnaby firefighter takes a water break while fighting a smokey blaze that destroyed a house at 9980 David Ave. on Wednesday."; Caption from metadata for 535-2746-2: "A Burnaby firefighter battles a stubborn, smokey blaze that destroyed a home at 9980 David Ave. on Wednesday afternoon."; Caption from metadata for 535-2746-3: "A Burnaby firefighter prepares to enter a burning house at 9980 David Ave., Wednesday afternoon."

Geographic Access: David Drive

Street Address: 9980 David Drive

Historic Neighbourhood: Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lyndhurst Area

Images

David Drive house fire, [2001] thumbnail

Massey residence

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88827

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015

Collection/Fonds: James Massey family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 600 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Massey family residence in Robert Burnaby Park. The house is surrounded by trees and has a fish pond in the front yard. After the Massey family moved out, the house was rented by Jack and Daphne Shaw (Burnaby clerk), followed by Roy and Grace McKay. In the late 1950s or early 1960…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015

Collection/Fonds: James Massey family fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 600 dpi

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 581-015

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2014-34

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Massey family residence in Robert Burnaby Park. The house is surrounded by trees and has a fish pond in the front yard. After the Massey family moved out, the house was rented by Jack and Daphne Shaw (Burnaby clerk), followed by Roy and Grace McKay. In the late 1950s or early 1960s, the house was burned down by the Burnaby Fire Department during a fire practice.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lakeview-Mayfield Area

Images

Massey residence, [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015 thumbnail

My life on The Heights : Burnaby B.C. 1932 -1938, 1946 - 1977

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6744

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Penn, Edna

Publication Date: 2016

Call Number: 921 PEN

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: BV016.45.1

Call Number: 921 PEN

Author: Penn, Edna

Place of Publication: [Burnaby]

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 2016

Physical Description: 55 p. : ill.(some col.) ; 28 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History--Anecdotes; Burnaby (B.C.)--Social Life and Customs; Burnaby (B.C.); British Columbia--Social life and customs; British Columbia--History; Biography

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Names: Gilmore Avenue School

Object History: This is the second family history book that Edna has published.

Notes: Edna Penn is the mother of Douglas Penn who wrote the history of the Burnaby Fire Department "Follow That Fire"

North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription124

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]-[1958]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and photographs

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of documents related to the North Burnaby Board of Trade (previously Burnaby Board of Trade), including its certificate of formation, reports and bylaws pertaining to both the Burnaby Fire Department and Barnet Park, correspondence, District of Burnaby financial reports, annual r…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]-[1958]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and photographs

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS2005-08

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of documents related to the North Burnaby Board of Trade (previously Burnaby Board of Trade), including its certificate of formation, reports and bylaws pertaining to both the Burnaby Fire Department and Barnet Park, correspondence, District of Burnaby financial reports, annual reports, a map, and photographs of Burnaby parks, schools and neighbourhoods.

History: The Burnaby Board of Trade formed on September 4, 1926 and registered with the province December 14, 1926. George Conway Brown was elected as Secretary. On May 30, 1927, The Governor General officially granted the Board to change its name to the North Burnaby Board of Trade. The Board's boundaries, under Secretary Thomas B. Blake, were changed from "the Municipality of Burnaby" to "that portion of the Municipality of Burnaby which lies north of Still Creek, Burnaby Lake and Brunette River" British Columbia. On April 26, 1932, the North Burnaby Board of Trade Constitution and Bylaws were adopted with A.G. Kidd as Secretary. Membership was open to all persons directly or indirectly engaged or interested in the trade and commerce or the economic welfare of the district of North Burnaby. The Secretary was the executive officer of the Board, ordered to keep the books, conduct the correspondence, preserve official documents, take minutes at all meetings, have custody of the seal and be in charge of all funds and accounts held by the Board. The North Burnaby Board of Trade was involved in many historic municipal decisions including the development of Barnet Park and establishing a unified Fire Department under one Fire Chief.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: North Burnaby Board of Trade

Notes: PC476, MSS118; Title based on contents of subseries

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Vital Information Program

Images

Westcoast Harmony Chorus Valentine's singing telegrams at Fire Station No. 1

Images

Westcoast Harmony Chorus with fire fighter

Images

Fire Department fonds

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1

Audio Tracks

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 2

Audio Tracks

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 3

Audio Tracks

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 7

Audio Tracks

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 8

Audio Tracks

In the shadow by the sea : recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village

Digital Books

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall - 1927-1930

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall 1931-1936

David Drive house fire

Images

Massey residence

Images

My life on The Heights : Burnaby B.C. 1932 -1938, 1946 - 1977

North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries