More like 'Bill Banks in front of his garage'

100 records – page 5 of 5.

Interview with John Ferguson July 3, 1975 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory183
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1930-1975
Length
0:07:34
Summary
This portion of the interview pertains to John Ferguson's impressions on the lasting effects of the Depression. He also discusses the types of purchases his customers would make during the Depression.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the interview pertains to John Ferguson's impressions on the lasting effects of the Depression. He also discusses the types of purchases his customers would make during the Depression.
Date Range
1930-1975
Length
0:07:34
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Hardware Stores
Historic Neighbourhood
Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
Interviewer
McLeod, Ross S.
Interview Date
July 3, 1975
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with John Ferguson by history student Ross S. McLeod, July 3, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression.
Biographical Notes
John Ferguson was born in Glasgow in 1900. He came to Canada with his family in 1910, and settled on Vancouver Island. In 1931 John Ferguson purchased the hardware store on the 3900 block of Hastings Street.
Total Tracks
4
Total Length
0:32:21
Interviewee Name
Ferguson, John
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Oral history subseries
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.
Audio Tracks

Track four of interview with John Ferguson

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Interview with Kay Jackson by Eric Damer October 16, 2012 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory346
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1935-1956
Length
0:10:23
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Kay (O'Cook) Jackson's memories of growing up in Burnaby. She mentions her parents' Radio Repair Shop on Kingsway and talks about different activities she would take part in with her friends. Kay also speaks fondly of Burnaby South High School and of her fi…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Kay (O'Cook) Jackson's memories of growing up in Burnaby. She mentions her parents' Radio Repair Shop on Kingsway and talks about different activities she would take part in with her friends. Kay also speaks fondly of Burnaby South High School and of her first years in the work force.
Date Range
1935-1956
Photo Info
Burnaby South High School class, Kay O'Cook (later Jackson) is in the middle row, third from the right, [1952]. Item no. 549-038.
Length
0:10:23
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Stores
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
October 16, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Kay (O'Cook) Jackson conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 16, 2012. Major themes discussed are: growing up in Burnaby and volunteering at the Burnaby Hospital.
Biographical Notes
Fred O'Cook operated a radio repair shop on Kingsway near McKay Avenue in Burnaby. In 1935, his daughter, Kay O'Cook (later Jackson) was born. Kay attended Kingsway West Elementary School and then Burnaby South High School. After graduating, she worked at Sears for a few years; in Vancouver and then in Burnaby when the new Sears department store opened on Kingsway. Kay (O'Cook) Jackson met her husband, Michigan-born Don Jackson through mutual friends. After their marriage, Don Jackson emigrated to Canada, and he and Kay bought a new house in Cascade Heights near Burnaby Hospital where they raised their three daughters.
Total Tracks
3
Total Length
0:34:36
Interviewee Name
Jackson, Kay O'Cook
Interview Location
Interviewee's residence
Interviewer Bio
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
Collection/Fonds
Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
Series
Burna-Boom Oral History Project series
Transcript Available
None
Media Type
Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks

Track one of recording of interview with Kay Jackson

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Interview with Lizette Pappas

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20334
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 7 Nov. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
3 sound recordings (wav) (137 min., 12 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (137 min., 12 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Lizette Pappas conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher James Binks on November 7, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:41:04 Lizette provides details on her family background in Greece, recalls her early childhood in Naxos, her families’ migrati…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
3 sound recordings (wav) (137 min., 12 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (137 min., 12 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: James Binks Interviewees: Lizette Pappas Location of Interview: Fraser Wilson Room, Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 7, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 3 Total Length of all Tracks: 02:17:12 Digital master recordings (wav) were converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Lizette Pappas conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher James Binks on November 7, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:41:04 Lizette provides details on her family background in Greece, recalls her early childhood in Naxos, her families’ migration to Canada and their experiences as new immigrants living in Penticton. Lizette shares information about her husband including his Greek origins, his migration story, and how they met as well as information about their careers and raising their family in Burnaby. 41:05 – 01:10:52 Lizette talks about living in Penticton and helping out in the family restaurant business. Lizette describes some of the challenges that they faced and describes some of the foods that they served and reflects on what it means to be a Greek immigrant in British Columbia. 01:10:53– 01:36:32 Lizette talks about her life in Burnaby, her involvement with the Ladies Philoptochos Society, a back to your roots group, the Hellenic Community, the importance of sharing Greek culture, traditions and food with the younger generation and her experiences celebrating Greek culture while attending university. 01:36:33 – 01:54:39 Lizette talks more about her families’ life in Penticton as Greek immigrants, their experiences and accomplishments, her experiences visiting Greece after immigrating to Canada and her husbands’ experiences living in Greece. 01:54:40 – 02:03:59 Lizette reflects on the impacts of COVID in the restaurant industry, community building and urban development in Burnaby and makes comparisons to communities in Greece. 02:04:00 – 02:17:14 Talks about the origin of her name, shares the story of how her name evolved over time after she immigrated to Canada and shares examples of some of the traditional family names that have been passed down through generations.
History
Interviewee biography: Lizette Pappas was born in Apeiranthos on the island of Naxos in Greece in 1948 to parents Florio Vassilakakis and Paraskevi Vassilakis. In 1956, Lizette immigrated to Canada with her parents and her two older brothers. With the help of Lizette’s uncle, her family settled in Penticton and in 1958, Lizette’s younger sister was born. Lizette’s birth name was Elisa Vassilakakis but when she immigrated to Canada she was given the first name “Alice” on her immigration documents. Soon after, when she was enrolled in elementary school, her aunt suggested that she use the name “Lizette” instead of “Alice” and Lizette became the first name she’s continued to use since. While living in Penticton, Lizette’s parents first worked doing manual labour in the fruit industry before buying their own restaurant in 1968. Lizette obtained her teaching degree from the University of British Columbia. In 1972, Lizette met her future husband Basile Pappas and they were married in 1975. After marrying, Lizette and her husband settled in the Brentwood area of Burnaby and began raising their two children. Lizette, her husband and children moved back to Penticton in late 1979 to join her family running two restaurants and a nightclub. After a number of years, Lizette, her husband and two children returned to their home in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Lizette has worked as a teacher with the Vancouver School Board and has been involved with various organizations including “Back to our Roots” and “Philoptochos Ladies Society”. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Religions
Organizations - Women's Societies and Clubs
Persons - Greek Canadians
Migration
Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
Names
Pappas, Elisa Alice "Lizette" Vassilakakis
Vassilakakis, Florio
Vassilakis, Paraskevi
Love, John Agapitos
Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society
Hellenic Community of Vancouver
Responsibility
Binks, James
Accession Code
BV023.16.20
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 7 Nov. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcript available
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Lizette Pappas, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 7 Nov. 2023

Interview with Lizette Pappas, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 7 Nov. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0020_004.mp3
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Interview with Norm and Kathleen Henderson by Eric Damer October 25, 2012 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory339
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1936-1944
Length
0:08:54
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Norman "Norm" Henderson's memories of his early life in Saskatchewan and his family's move to Burnaby. He talks about Old Orchard Auto Park, where his father was owner and operator for three years.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Norman "Norm" Henderson's memories of his early life in Saskatchewan and his family's move to Burnaby. He talks about Old Orchard Auto Park, where his father was owner and operator for three years.
Date Range
1936-1944
Length
0:08:54
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Hotels and Motels
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
October 25, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Norm and Kathleen Henderson conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 25, 2012. Major themes discussed are: the making of the film "Investment in Youth" in 1945 and working as an educator system in British Columbia.
Biographical Notes
Norm Henderson came from Saskatchewan to Burnaby with his parents in December of 1940 to visit his grandmothers. Norm and his parents stayed on and bought the Old Orchard Auto Park on the corner of Kingsway and Willingdon Avenue, which they ran until 1944. Norm attended Burnaby South High School from 1941 to 1947, during which time he was involved in the production of the Burnaby School Board film; “Investment in Youth." In 1945 Norm got a part time job at Woodward’s Department Store in Vancouver where he worked until he went into teacher training at Vancouver Normal School in the early nineteen-fifties. Kathleen MacFarlane (later Henderson) was born in 1929 and grew up in Vancouver. Kathleen also went through teacher training at Vancouver Normal School. Norm and Kathleen (MacFarlane) Henderson were married in 1953 and moved to a small suite at Patterson Avenue and Kingsway. Norm was a teacher at Gilmore Avenue School and Kathleen taught at Nelson Avenue Elementary School. Norm was a member of West Burnaby United Church from 1941 until he and Kathleen moved to Richmond in 1959.
Total Tracks
5
Total Length
0:47:34
Interviewee Name
Henderson, Kathleen
Henderson, Norman "Norm"
Interview Location
Burnaby Village Museum
Interviewer Bio
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
Collection/Fonds
Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
Series
Burna-Boom Oral History Project series
Transcript Available
None
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Track one of recording of interview with Norm and Kathleen Henderson

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Johnstone Motor Co. Ltd.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66397
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1940 and 1946]
Collection/Fonds
Grieve family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff of Johnstone Motor Co. Ltd., standing outside the dealership. Only Archie Proctor, Herbert and Bill Johnstone and Bill Grieve have been identified.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1940 and 1946]
Collection/Fonds
Grieve family fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
523-011
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2011-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff of Johnstone Motor Co. Ltd., standing outside the dealership. Only Archie Proctor, Herbert and Bill Johnstone and Bill Grieve have been identified.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Automobile Dealerships
Names
Grieve, William Ewart "Bill"
Proctor, Archie
Johnstone, Bill
Johnstone, Herbert
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Bridgman's Studio Ltd.
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Photographer's stamp on verso reads: "From: Bridgeman's Studio 413 Granville St. Vancouver, B.C."
Note on photograph's border reads: "Archie Proctor / 1940's / Herbert + Bill Johnstone / Dad"
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Martin's Auto Villa

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15062
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
5 Oct. 1946
Collection/Fonds
Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 11.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Martin's Auto Villa on Hastings Street. Two cars are parked outside. A building in the foreground of the photograph appears to be under construction.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
Series
E.W. Martin photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 11.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Martin's Auto Villa on Hastings Street. Two cars are parked outside. A building in the foreground of the photograph appears to be under construction.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Hotels and Motels
Names
Martin, Elmer Wilson
Martin's Auto Villa
Geographic Access
Hastings Street
Street Address
6574 Hastings Street
Accession Code
BV019.37.37
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
5 Oct. 1946
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Lochdale Area
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
February 4, 2021
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "Oct. 5th 1946"
Stamp in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "992"
Images
Less detail

Matheson and Sons Market

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35041
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1949 (date of original), copied 1986
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 8.6 x 12.7 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of A. Matheson and Sons Market at 3576 Kingsway (later renumbered 4920 Kingsway) and Nelson Avenue. Signs on the building read, "A. Matheson & Sons Market," "Fresh Meats - Groceries," "Quality and Service," "Dexter 1372 1373," and "Free Delivery." Signs advertising pric…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1949 (date of original), copied 1986
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Chamberlain family subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 8.6 x 12.7 cm print
Description Level
Item
Record No.
179-012
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1986-27
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of A. Matheson and Sons Market at 3576 Kingsway (later renumbered 4920 Kingsway) and Nelson Avenue. Signs on the building read, "A. Matheson & Sons Market," "Fresh Meats - Groceries," "Quality and Service," "Dexter 1372 1373," and "Free Delivery." Signs advertising prices are outside the store. A sign by the street lights reads, "Signals set for 29 mph." Cars can be seen. This store was previously owned and operated by Alexander MacKenzie.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
Names
Matheson and Sons Market
A. MacKenzie and Company Jubilee Store
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Print made from col. slide
Geographic Access
Kingsway
Street Address
4920 Kingsway
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Marlborough Area
Images
Less detail

Matheson and Sons Market

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35042
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1949 (date of original), copied 1986
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 8.8 x 12.6 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of A. Matheson and Sons Market at 3576 Kingsway (later renumbered 4920 Kingsway) and Nelson Avenue. Signs on the building read, "A. Matheson & Sons Market," "Fresh Meats - Groceries," "Quality and Service," "Dexter 1372 1373," and "Free Delivery." Signs advertising pric…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1949 (date of original), copied 1986
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Chamberlain family subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 8.8 x 12.6 cm print
Description Level
Item
Record No.
179-013
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1986-27
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of A. Matheson and Sons Market at 3576 Kingsway (later renumbered 4920 Kingsway) and Nelson Avenue. Signs on the building read, "A. Matheson & Sons Market," "Fresh Meats - Groceries," "Quality and Service," "Dexter 1372 1373," and "Free Delivery." Signs advertising prices are outside the store. A sign by the street lights reads, "Signals set for 29 mph." This store was previously owned and operated by Alexander MacKenzie.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
Names
Matheson and Sons Market
A. MacKenzie and Company Jubilee Store
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Print made from col. slide
Geographic Access
Kingsway
Street Address
4920 Kingsway
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Marlborough Area
Images
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Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory245
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1904-1975
Length
0:09:45
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's opinion of shopping at a store in the present day. He mentions George Green's book "History of Burnaby", the Royal Oak Hotel and the development of Alta Vista. As well, Murdock mentions his father Robert William McMurray. Lillian (Wray) M…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's opinion of shopping at a store in the present day. He mentions George Green's book "History of Burnaby", the Royal Oak Hotel and the development of Alta Vista. As well, Murdock mentions his father Robert William McMurray. Lillian (Wray) McMurray is heard helping her husband with these descriptions.
Date Range
1904-1975
Photo Info
Emerson Doran (left) and Murdoch McMurray, 1917. Item no. 229-004
Length
0:09:45
Names
McMurray, R.W.
Royal Oak Hotel
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial
Historic Neighbourhood
Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
Interviewer
McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
Interview Date
November 17, 1975
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with Murdock McMurray and his wife Lillian (Wray) McMurray conducted by Pixie McGeachie on November 17, 1975. Major themes discussed are: Burnaby's development, the Wray Shoe store and Murdock McMurray's cordwood delivery business.
Biographical Notes
Murdock McMurray was born in Vancouver in 1892 to Wilhelmina May and Robert William McMurray. Other children in the family included older siblings John “Jack” and Margaret Lillian, younger siblings Minnie May born May 4, 1895 and Hampton born June 8, 1902. Murdock’s father Robert worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) but retired shortly after moving his family to Burnaby in 1906. He bought six acres of land of what had been previously the Gilley Ranch, the base of operations for Gilley Bros. Ltd. at 2519 Windsor Street (later renumbered and renamed to the 6400 block Imperial Street). Murdock McMurray quit school early to apprentice as a printer. By sixteen he had left the trade and gone into partnership with his older brother Jack. With a team of horses, harness and a wagon, the brothers helped to macadamize roads, haul building supplies for new homes, deliver cord wood for heating, clear land and excavate basements. When Jack McMurray set off to serve overseas during World War I as a driver in the engineer corps, Murdock bought his team of horses and continued working, mainly in the Deer Lake district. In 1916 Murdoch McMurray partnered with Emerson Doran, nephew of the owner of Doran's Mill to buy Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard. As everything was geared towards the war effort, Murdock and Emerson soon ran out of work and had to sell the business. Murdock sold off his horses and equipment and went to work at the ship yard on Pitt River. By 1919 Jack McMurray had returned home from overseas and was working as a fireman at the Shull Lumber and Shingle Mill on the Fraser River. In 1921, he and Murdock teamed up with Emerson Doran and repurchased the Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard which they ran together until 1947. Murdock McMurray married Lillian Wray on September 17, 1925. Lillian was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wray, who came to settle in the Jubilee area of Burnaby in 1919. The family lived on Dow Road and Edward Wray operated Jubilee Shoe Store and Post Office. He was known throughout the district as "Wray - The Shoe Man." Mrs. Wray died in 1957 at the age of eight-six and Edward Wray died January 14, 1967 at age of ninety-three. Murdock and Lillian lived at Inverness Street (now Arcola) and raised three children together, Bob, Jack and Bessie. Murdock McMurray died in New Westminster on April 28, 1985 at the age of ninety-two. Lillian Ethel (Wray) McMurray died in Burnaby on February 28, 1986 at the age of eighty-seven.
Total Tracks
7
Total Length
0:58:55
Interviewee Name
McMurray, Lillian Wray
McMurray, Murdoch
Interviewer Bio
Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie was a resident of Burnaby for over sixty years. Pixie married John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie and raised their children Kathi (Dunlop) and David McGeachie in the house the couple built themselves in 1947. Pixie served as the editor for the Burnaby Examiner newspaper and wrote a column entitled "Burnaby History" for The News. In 1974 she authored her first book titled "Bygones of Burnaby" which was one of the first to develop anecdotal stories about pioneer life in Burnaby. She authored "Burnaby - A Proud Century" in 1992 and in 2002 she wrote a biography of the city's namesake in the book "Land of Promise: Robert Burnaby's letters from Colonial B.C." She also contributed many hours of volunteering; helping to establish Burnaby's first museum Heritage Village in 1971, serving as President of the Burnaby Historical Society from 1991-1993. She served a six year term on Burnaby's Heritage Commission leading the charge to preserve many historic sites throughout the city, and during her twenty years as the Community Archives volunteer archivist for the historical society, she succeeded in gathering thousands of rare and valuable historic photographs and documents which now forms the core of the photograph collection on the Heritage Burnaby website (as these items were donated by the Society to the City Archives in 2007). The City of Burnaby awarded Pixie McGeachie the Kushiro Cup as Citizen of the year in 2002. In 2006 she received a Heritage BC project award for leading the Friends of Interurban 1223 project, and in 2008 Heritage BC recognised her again by presenting her with the Ruby Nobb Award. John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie died October 12, 1981 at the age of sixty-seven. Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie died August 14, 2010 at the age of eighty-nine. On 24 September, 2011, the City of Burnaby dedicated the reading at the City Archives in honour of Pixie and formally named it the Pixie McGeachie Reading Room in recognition of her years of service to the community.
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Oral history subseries
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.
Images
Audio Tracks

Track three of recording of interview with Lillian and Murdock McMurray

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Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory246
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1916-1975
Length
0:09:05
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock and Lillian McMurray's trip back to Murdock's mother's hometown in in Northern Scotland. The discussion starts up again on the topic of Lillian (Wray) McMurray's father, Edward Wray's business, the Jubilee Shoe Store and Post Office, then again with…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock and Lillian McMurray's trip back to Murdock's mother's hometown in in Northern Scotland. The discussion starts up again on the topic of Lillian (Wray) McMurray's father, Edward Wray's business, the Jubilee Shoe Store and Post Office, then again with a description of the cordwood business Murdock had with Emerson Doran.
Date Range
1916-1975
Photo Info
Emerson Doran (left) and Murdoch McMurray, 1917. Item no. 229-004
Length
0:09:05
Names
Wray, Edward
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial
Interviewer
McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
Interview Date
November 17, 1975
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with Murdock McMurray and his wife Lillian (Wray) McMurray conducted by Pixie McGeachie on November 17, 1975. Major themes discussed are: Burnaby's development, the Wray Shoe store and Murdock McMurray's cordwood delivery business.
Biographical Notes
Murdock McMurray was born in Vancouver in 1892 to Wilhelmina May and Robert William McMurray. Other children in the family included older siblings John “Jack” and Margaret Lillian, younger siblings Minnie May born May 4, 1895 and Hampton born June 8, 1902. Murdock’s father Robert worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) but retired shortly after moving his family to Burnaby in 1906. He bought six acres of land of what had been previously the Gilley Ranch, the base of operations for Gilley Bros. Ltd. at 2519 Windsor Street (later renumbered and renamed to the 6400 block Imperial Street). Murdock McMurray quit school early to apprentice as a printer. By sixteen he had left the trade and gone into partnership with his older brother Jack. With a team of horses, harness and a wagon, the brothers helped to macadamize roads, haul building supplies for new homes, deliver cord wood for heating, clear land and excavate basements. When Jack McMurray set off to serve overseas during World War I as a driver in the engineer corps, Murdock bought his team of horses and continued working, mainly in the Deer Lake district. In 1916 Murdoch McMurray partnered with Emerson Doran, nephew of the owner of Doran's Mill to buy Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard. As everything was geared towards the war effort, Murdock and Emerson soon ran out of work and had to sell the business. Murdock sold off his horses and equipment and went to work at the ship yard on Pitt River. By 1919 Jack McMurray had returned home from overseas and was working as a fireman at the Shull Lumber and Shingle Mill on the Fraser River. In 1921, he and Murdock teamed up with Emerson Doran and repurchased the Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard which they ran together until 1947. Murdock McMurray married Lillian Wray on September 17, 1925. Lillian was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wray, who came to settle in the Jubilee area of Burnaby in 1919. The family lived on Dow Road and Edward Wray operated Jubilee Shoe Store and Post Office. He was known throughout the district as "Wray - The Shoe Man." Mrs. Wray died in 1957 at the age of eight-six and Edward Wray died January 14, 1967 at age of ninety-three. Murdock and Lillian lived at Inverness Street (now Arcola) and raised three children together, Bob, Jack and Bessie. Murdock McMurray died in New Westminster on April 28, 1985 at the age of ninety-two. Lillian Ethel (Wray) McMurray died in Burnaby on February 28, 1986 at the age of eighty-seven.
Total Tracks
7
Total Length
0:58:55
Interviewee Name
McMurray, Lillian Wray
McMurray, Murdoch
Interviewer Bio
Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie was a resident of Burnaby for over sixty years. Pixie married John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie and raised their children Kathi (Dunlop) and David McGeachie in the house the couple built themselves in 1947. Pixie served as the editor for the Burnaby Examiner newspaper and wrote a column entitled "Burnaby History" for The News. In 1974 she authored her first book titled "Bygones of Burnaby" which was one of the first to develop anecdotal stories about pioneer life in Burnaby. She authored "Burnaby - A Proud Century" in 1992 and in 2002 she wrote a biography of the city's namesake in the book "Land of Promise: Robert Burnaby's letters from Colonial B.C." She also contributed many hours of volunteering; helping to establish Burnaby's first museum Heritage Village in 1971, serving as President of the Burnaby Historical Society from 1991-1993. She served a six year term on Burnaby's Heritage Commission leading the charge to preserve many historic sites throughout the city, and during her twenty years as the Community Archives volunteer archivist for the historical society, she succeeded in gathering thousands of rare and valuable historic photographs and documents which now forms the core of the photograph collection on the Heritage Burnaby website (as these items were donated by the Society to the City Archives in 2007). The City of Burnaby awarded Pixie McGeachie the Kushiro Cup as Citizen of the year in 2002. In 2006 she received a Heritage BC project award for leading the Friends of Interurban 1223 project, and in 2008 Heritage BC recognised her again by presenting her with the Ruby Nobb Award. John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie died October 12, 1981 at the age of sixty-seven. Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie died August 14, 2010 at the age of eighty-nine. On 24 September, 2011, the City of Burnaby dedicated the reading at the City Archives in honour of Pixie and formally named it the Pixie McGeachie Reading Room in recognition of her years of service to the community.
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Oral history subseries
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.
Images
Audio Tracks

Track four of recording of interview with Lillian and Murdock McMurray

Less detail

Safeway construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38680
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1941
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 17 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the construction of the Safeway building at Hastings and Gilmore.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1941
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 17 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
476-023
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2005-8
Scope and Content
Photograph of the construction of the Safeway building at Hastings and Gilmore.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Construction
Names
Safeway
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Pinkerton, Gordon
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Hastings Street
Gilmore Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Burnaby Heights Area
Images
Less detail

Sears construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36953
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1948 and 1950] (date of original), copied 1992
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 9.6 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of the beginning of the construction of Simpson Sears.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1948 and 1950] (date of original), copied 1992
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Centennial Anthology subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 9.6 cm print
Description Level
Item
Record No.
315-411
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1994-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of the beginning of the construction of Simpson Sears.
Subjects
Construction
Buildings - Commercial - Stores
Names
Simpsons-Sears Limited
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Kingsway
Sussex Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Images
Less detail

Sears construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36954
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1948 and 1950] (date of original), copied 1992
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7.3 x 9.6 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of the beginning of the construction of Simpson Sears.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1948 and 1950] (date of original), copied 1992
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Centennial Anthology subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7.3 x 9.6 cm print
Description Level
Item
Record No.
315-412
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1994-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of the beginning of the construction of Simpson Sears.
Subjects
Construction
Buildings - Commercial - Stores
Names
Simpsons-Sears Limited
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Kingsway
Sussex Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Images
Less detail

Sperling Avenue and Douglas Road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37947
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1938 and 1940] (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.8 x 3.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.1 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Sperling Avenue and Douglas Road. World Bros. Hardware can be seen on the north side of Douglas Road, with the General Store across the street.There are four people on horseback. The photograph was taken from Sperling Avenue.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1938 and 1940] (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Image Bank subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.8 x 3.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.1 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-534
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of Sperling Avenue and Douglas Road. World Bros. Hardware can be seen on the north side of Douglas Road, with the General Store across the street.There are four people on horseback. The photograph was taken from Sperling Avenue.
Subjects
Animals - Horses
Buildings - Commercial - Stores
Names
World Brothers Hardware
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w copy negative accompanying
Geographic Access
Sperling Avenue
Douglas Road
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
Less detail

Whitechurch Hardware building

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1250
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1940 and 1945]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 5.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Maurice (Maury) Whitechurch standing at the door of Whitechurch Hardware Store with his mother in-law's springer spaniel, Peggy. Whitechurch Hardware was located at 1316 Sixth Street (later, 7685 Sixth Street) and in operation between 1937 and 1973. The building formerly housed Bell's…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 5.5 cm
Material Details
Border of photograph has scalloped edges
Scope and Content
Photograph of Maurice (Maury) Whitechurch standing at the door of Whitechurch Hardware Store with his mother in-law's springer spaniel, Peggy. Whitechurch Hardware was located at 1316 Sixth Street (later, 7685 Sixth Street) and in operation between 1937 and 1973. The building formerly housed Bell's Dry Goods store until 1937 (with address 1314 Sixth Street) when it was moved slightly north to make room for a two storey building that was built on the corner, maintaining the address of 1314 Sixth Street. In 1974, this building was relocated to Burnaby Village Museum and restored to the former Bell's Dry Goods store.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Hardware Stores
Names
Whitechurch Hardware
Geographic Access
6th Street
Street Address
7685 6th Street
7695 6th Street
Accession Code
BV995.29.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[between 1940 and 1945]
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Second Street Area
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2024-05-22
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Note on verso of photograph reads: "early 1940's"
Images
Less detail

The Woman's Bakery

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36330
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1948]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 9.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Woman's Bakery on Hastings Street.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1948]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Hazel L'Estrange subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 9.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
248-002
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1991-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Woman's Bakery on Hastings Street.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Stores
Names
The Woman's Bakery
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Hastings Street
Images
Less detail

Burnaby Fire Department fire truck no. 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1466
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[after 1942]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 5.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a 1942 Ford V-8, two ton fire truck with "B.F.D. / No. 1" written on the door. A hose has been mounted at the back of the cab and a ladder has been mounted along the side of the cargo bed. This was the Burnaby Fire Department's first closed cab truck.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 5.5 cm
Material Details
Photograph was likely taken out of an album as there is black paper residue on its recto
Scope and Content
Photograph of a 1942 Ford V-8, two ton fire truck with "B.F.D. / No. 1" written on the door. A hose has been mounted at the back of the cab and a ladder has been mounted along the side of the cargo bed. This was the Burnaby Fire Department's first closed cab truck.
Subjects
Transportation - Fire Trucks
Names
Burnaby Fire Department
Accession Code
BV999.55.15
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Date
[after 1942]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
08-Jun-09
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Burnaby Fire Department truck no. 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1459
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[after 1942]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a 1942 Ford V-8, two ton fire truck with "B.F.D. / No. 1" written on the door, parked near the No. 2 firehall on Kingsway. This was the Burnaby Fire Department's first closed cab truck.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm
Material Details
Photograph was likely taken out of an album as there is black paper residue on its recto
Scope and Content
Photograph of a 1942 Ford V-8, two ton fire truck with "B.F.D. / No. 1" written on the door, parked near the No. 2 firehall on Kingsway. This was the Burnaby Fire Department's first closed cab truck.
Subjects
Transportation - Fire Trucks
Names
Burnaby Fire Department
Geographic Access
Kingsway
Accession Code
BV999.55.8
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Date
[after 1942]
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Stride Avenue Area
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
08-Jun-09
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
"Velox" is lightly printed on the back of the photographic paper (made in early 1900s for amateur photography)
Images
Less detail

Fire truck in a park

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1484
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[194-?]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a group of people gathered around a fire truck in a park. A round brick structure with a conical metal top is in the foreground, obstructing a clear view of the crowd. The location has not been identified.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 10.5 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a group of people gathered around a fire truck in a park. A round brick structure with a conical metal top is in the foreground, obstructing a clear view of the crowd. The location has not been identified.
Subjects
Transportation - Fire Trucks
Geographic Features - Parks
Accession Code
BV999.55.33
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Date
[194-?]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
09-Jun-09
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

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…
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
Less detail

100 records – page 5 of 5.