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Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37337
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1946
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-four children sitting and standing in rows outside with their teacher. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. The students are identified as follows: Back row (l to r), Miss MacDonald (teacher), Betty Cook, Kenny …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1946
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Seaforth School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.7 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 355-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1997-14
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-four children sitting and standing in rows outside with their teacher. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. The students are identified as follows: Back row (l to r), Miss MacDonald (teacher), Betty Cook, Kenny Good (?), Loretta Beaton, Billy Clarke, Harvey Harding, Gordon Heather and Arthur Savage. Middle row (l to r): Albert Drappier, Clara Clarke, Betty Savage, Barbara Jean Piper, Nevella Bird, Frances Westin, Kenny Beaton, Gordon (?), and Graeme Smith. First row (l to r): Dennis Clarke, Brian Sherry, Lillian Savage, Beverly Gamble, David Werts, Charlie Sunderland, Billy Beaton.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Seaforth School
- MacDonald, Mary
- Cook, Betty
- Good, Kenny
- Beaton, Loretta
- Clarke, Billy
- Harding, Harvey
- Heather, Gordon
- Savage, Arthur
- Drappier, Albert
- Clarke, Clara
- Savage, Betty
- Piper, Barbara Jean
- Bird, Nevella
- Westin, Frances
- Beaton, Kenny
- Smith, Graeme
- Clarke, Dennis
- Sherry, Brian
- Savage, Lillian
- Gamble, Beverly
- Werts, David
- Sunderland, Charlie
- Beaton, Billy
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on label on verso of photograph
- Photographer identified as "Layton"
- Geographic Access
- Government Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 7881 Government Road
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Images
Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37338
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1947
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of nineteen students and their teacher sitting and standing in rows in a field. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. The students are identified as follows: Back row (l to r), Miss Mary MacDonald (teacher), Graeme Smith…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1947
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Seaforth School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.7 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 355-002
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1997-14
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of nineteen students and their teacher sitting and standing in rows in a field. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. The students are identified as follows: Back row (l to r), Miss Mary MacDonald (teacher), Graeme Smith, Kenny Good, David Werts, Charlie Sunderland, and Brian Sherry. Middle row (l to r): Barbara Jean Piper, Betty Savage, Lillian Savage, ?, Beverly Clarke, Beverly Gamble, and Nevella Bird. Front row (l to r): Connor Werts, Dennis Clark, ? , Calvert Broomfield, Billy Beaton, David Stewart and Terry Brewer.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Seaforth School
- MacDonald, Mary
- Smith, Graeme
- Good, Kenny
- Werts, David
- Sunderland, Charlie
- Sherry, Brian
- Piper, Barbara Jean
- Savage, Betty
- Savage, Lillian
- Clarke, Beverly
- Gamble, Beverly
- Bird, Nevella
- Werts, Connor
- Clarke, Dennis
- Broomfield, Calvert
- Beaton, Billy
- Stewart, David
- Brewer, Terry
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on label on verso of photograph
- Photographer identified as "Layton"
- Geographic Access
- Government Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 7881 Government Road
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Images
Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37339
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1948
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-six students and their teacher sitting and standing in rows in a field. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. Identified are: Back row (l to r), David Werts, Graeme Smith, Kenny Good, Gordon Uoogla, John Short, …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1948
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Seaforth School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 355-003
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1997-14
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twenty-six students and their teacher sitting and standing in rows in a field. A label on the back of the photograph states that the students are from Seaforth School, Grades 1 - IV. Identified are: Back row (l to r), David Werts, Graeme Smith, Kenny Good, Gordon Uoogla, John Short, Charlie Sunderland and Miss Mary MacDonald (teacher). Middle row (l to r): Terry Brewer (standing), Merle Beaton, Nevella Bird, Beverly Gamble, Betty Savage, Lillian Savage, Beverly Clarke, Wilma Heather, Barbara Jean Piper, Clara Clarke, Joe Haddon (standing). All in the front row are unidentified.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Seaforth School
- MacDonald, Mary
- Brewer, Terry
- Werts, David
- Smith, Graeme
- Good, Kenny
- Uoogla, Gordon
- Short, John
- Sunderland, Charlie
- Beaton, Merle
- Bird, Nevella
- Gamble, Beverly
- Savage, Betty
- Savage, Lillian
- Clarke, Beverly
- Heather, Wilma
- Piper, Barbara Jean
- Clarke, Clara
- Haddon, Joe
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on label on verso of photograph
- Photographer identified as "Layton"
- Geographic Access
- Government Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 7881 Government Road
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Images
Speech given by Jack Davy November 8, 1972 - Track 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory236
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1920-1966
- Length
- 0:10:18
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Jack Davy's description of teachers of Edmonds School, including stories from the Second Street annex. He finishes his speech.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Jack Davy's description of teachers of Edmonds School, including stories from the Second Street annex. He finishes his speech.
- Date Range
- 1920-1966
- Length
- 0:10:18
- Names
- Edmonds Street School
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Interview Date
- November 8, 1972
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of a speech given by John "Jack" Davy on November 8, 1972 to the Burnaby Historical Society on the subject of Edmonds School. Jack Davy is introduced by Dr. Blythe Eagles.
- Biographical Notes
- John “Jack” Davy was raised in New Westminster and his family and the Eagles' family were close friends, with the grandparents and parents getting together regularly to play cards. As a child, Jack delivered the Columbian newspaper. Jack Davy worked for Burnaby schools for over fifty years; twenty-five of those years as principal at Edmonds Street School. During the depression, he worked as a principal of Kitchener Street School.
- Total Tracks
- 3
- Total Length
- 0:29:41
- Interviewee Name
- Davy, Jack
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- 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 three of recording of speech given by Jack Davy
Track three of recording of speech given by Jack Davy
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS137-017-1/MSS137-017-1_Track_3.mp3
Teacher on a bicycle
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35980
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1940
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 6 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a teacher on bicycle near the back staircase at Edmonds Street School.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1940
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Edmonds School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 6 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 207-029
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-07
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a teacher on bicycle near the back staircase at Edmonds Street School.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Edmonds Community School
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Edmonds Street
- Street Address
- 7641 Edmonds Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Edmonds Area
Images
![Teachers next to a woodpile, [between 1930 and 1949] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/205/207-017.jpg?width=280)
Teachers next to a woodpile
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35968
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1930 and 1949]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of four teachers in suits, from the Edmonds Street School, next to a woodpile. Three are seated on the ground, while the fourth is standing with his hands in his pockets.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1930 and 1949]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Edmonds School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 207-017
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-07
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of four teachers in suits, from the Edmonds Street School, next to a woodpile. Three are seated on the ground, while the fourth is standing with his hands in his pockets.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Edmonds Community School
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- 18th Avenue
- Street Address
- 7651 18th Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Edmonds Area
Images
![Teachers next to a woodpile, [between 1930 and 1949] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/205/207-017.jpg)
![Windsor Street School students, [1939 or 1940] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2005/2005_0035_0010_001.jpg?width=280)
Windsor Street School students
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1923
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1939 or 1940]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 9.5 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of students from grades five and six at Windsor Street School sitting and standing in five rows in front of the school building with their teacher, Miss Padgett. Sitting in the front row (from left) are; Clifford Jones, Ole Stanley (grade five), Teddy Galbraith, David Penzer (grade five)…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 9.5 x 15 cm
- Material Details
- Photograph has scalloped edges
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of students from grades five and six at Windsor Street School sitting and standing in five rows in front of the school building with their teacher, Miss Padgett. Sitting in the front row (from left) are; Clifford Jones, Ole Stanley (grade five), Teddy Galbraith, David Penzer (grade five), John Adams (grade five), Gordon Thornhill, Neil McKinnon and Gene Lawrence. Sitting in the second row are; Dagney Bjorvick, Dora Ciccone, Peggy Harrington, Rosanne Fraser, Verna Irvine, Mollie Johnson, Dorothy Russle (grade five), Elsie Williamson and Sandra MacCarthy. Standing in the third row are; Jeanette Cruikshank, Betty Perdue, Leona Milne, Elleanor Thompson, Thelma Butler, Margaret (last name unknown), Phyllis (last name unknown), Daphne Northly, Flora Lawrie, Sheila Stockley (grade five) and Sandra McKenzie (grade five). Standing in the fourth row are; Miss Padgett (teacher), Ella Beatty, Bessie McMurray, May Tilke, Howard Kid, Walter Lee (grade five), Raymond Westley, Ian Dunbar and Wendell Boyce (grade five). Standing in the back row are; Stanley Pilkington, Donald McDonald (grade five), Donald Hockin (grade five), Bob Underhill, Alex Decker, Mike Kozak, Charles Farren (grade five), George Baker and Douglas (last name unknown) (grade five).
- Subjects
- Occupations - Teachers
- Names
- Windsor Street School
- Jones, Clifford
- Stanley, Ole
- Galbraith, Teddy
- Penzer, David
- Adams, John
- Thornhill, Gordon
- McKinnon, Neil
- Lawrence, Gene
- Bjorvick, Dagney
- Ciccone, Dora
- Harrington, Peggy
- Fraser, Rosanne
- Irvine, Verna
- Johnson, Mollie
- Russle, Dorothy
- Williamson, Elsie
- MacCarthy, Sandra
- Cruickshank, Jeanette
- Perdue, Betty
- Milne, Leona
- Thompson, Elleanor
- Butler, Thelma
- Northly, Daphne
- Lawrie, Flora
- Stockley, Sheila
- McKenzie, Sandra
- Padgett, Miss
- Beatty, Ella
- McMurray, Bessie
- Tilke, May
- Kid, Howard
- Lee, Walter
- Westley, Raymond
- Dunbar, Ian
- Boyce, Wendell
- Pilkington, Stanley
- McDonald, Donald
- Hockin, Donald
- Underhill, Bob
- Decker, Alex
- Kozak, Mike
- Farren, Charles
- Baker, George
- Geographic Access
- Imperial Street
- Street Address
- 6166 Imperial Street
- Accession Code
- BV005.35.10
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [1939 or 1940]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Windsor Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 11-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Note in black ink on recto of photograph reads: "WINDSOR ST. SCHOOL Gr. 6 1939-40?"
- Numbers written in black ink on recto identify the students
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "1. Clifford Jones 2 Ole Stanley* 3 Teddy Galbraith 4 David Penzer* 5 John Adams* 6 Gordon Thornhill 7 Neil McKinnon 8 Gene Lawrence 9 Dagney Bjorvick 10 Dora Ciccone 11 Peggy Harrington 12 Rosanne Fraser 13 Verna Irvine 14 Mollie Johnson 15 Dorothy Russle / 16 Elsie Williamson 17 Sandra McCarthy 18 Janette [sic] Cruikshank /19 Betty Perdue 20 Leone Milne 21 Elleanor Thompson 22 Thelma Butler 23 Margaret [illegible] 24 Phyllis [illegible] 25 Daphne Northly/ 26 Flora Lawrie 27 * Sheila Stockley 28 * Sandra McKenzie 29 Miss Padgett 30 Ella Beatty 31 Bessie McMurray 32 May Tilke / 33 Howard Kid 34 Walter Lee * 35 Raymond Westley 36 Ian Dunbar 37 Wendell Boyce * 38 Stanley Pilkington 39 Donald * McDonald 40 Donald Hockin * 41 Bob Underhill 42 Alex Decker 43 Mike Kozak 44 Charles Farren* 45 George Baker 46 Douglas [illegible]* / [written sideways] This picture was taken in grade 6 - Some are grade 5 Gr. 5 marked with * "
Images
![Windsor Street School students, [1939 or 1940] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2005/2005_0035_0010_001.jpg)
Interview with Georgia and Alex Chronakis
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20395
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1934-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Nov. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recordings (wav) (41 min., 57 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (41 min., 57 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Georgia Chronakis and her son Alex Chronakis conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher James Binks on November 8, 2023. 00:00:00 - 00:08:39 Georgia and her son share biographical details about Georgia and her husband Louis Chronak…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recordings (wav) (41 min., 57 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (41 min., 57 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: James Binks Interviewees: Alex Chronakis and Georgia Chronakis Location of Interview: Fraser Wilson Room, Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 8, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 41:57 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 Georgia Chronakis and her son Alex Chronakis conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher James Binks on November 8, 2023. 00:00:00 - 00:08:39 Georgia and her son share biographical details about Georgia and her husband Louis Chronakis, including their Greek background, migration to Canada, marriage, children, Louis’ career as a mechanic and gas station owner and owning restaurants in White Rock and Burnaby. 00:08:40 - 00:13:59 Georgia and her son Alex recall the great memories of owning and operating their restaurant Mionas Taverna and share details of their family life in Burnaby and White Rock. 00:14:00 - 00:19:15 Alex and Georgia talk about Louis Chronakis' work experience and how he became involved in the restaurant business. They share their experiences of operating Minoas Taverna including their opening in 1986. 00:19:16 - 00:36:59 Alex and Georgia describe some of the foods that were on the menu of Minoas Taverna, the design of the restaurant, the Minoan history that it’s based on, memories of running the restaurant and why they decided to close. 00:37:00 – 00:41:52 Alex talks about his involvement with Greek festivals in Vancouver and Alex and Georgia reflect on their life in the future now that the restaurant has closed.
- History
- Interviewees biographies: Georgia Giannias Chronakis was born in Selassia, Sparta, Greece in 1941 and when she was sixteen years of age she moved to Athens. In 1964 Georgia immigrated to Canada and lived in Montreal before moving to Vancouver a few years later. In 1966, while living in Vancouver, she met and married Ilias "Louis" Chronakis who was born in Crete, Greece. Soon after marrying, Georgia and Louis Chronakis bought a house located at 3823 Kingsway and welcomed their first child, Anna. Four years later, Georgia and Louis moved to White Rock but continued to own their house on Kingsway and rented it out. While living in White Rock, they had three more children named Virginia, Alex and Ellie. Louis was a trained mechanic working independently and for various companies including CP Air, BC Ferries and Esso before deciding to get into the restaurant business. He partnered with another businessman to open a Mr. Mike's franchise and later a cafe and Greek restaurant in White Rock. In 1986, Georgia, Louis and family moved back to Burnaby and moved into a house on Sandall Street and began converting their former home on Kingsway into a restaurant which they named Minoas Greek Taverna (Minoas Taverna). They opened the restaurant on May 1, 1986, just one day before Expo '86 was opened. In 2023, after 37 years of running their restaurant they sold their business but continued to own the land and building on Kingsway. Alex Chronakis is the son of Georgia and Louis Chronakis and was born in 1972. Alex has spent time working with his family running their restaurant and has been involved in the Greek Day Festival in Vancouver. 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
- Foods
- Occupations
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Occupations - Mechanics
- Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
- Buildings - Commercial - Service Stations
- Migration
- Persons - Greek Canadians
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Smith Avenue
- Street Address
- 3823 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.21
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1934-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Nov. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Georgia and Alex Chronakis, [1934-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Nov. 2023
Interview with Georgia and Alex Chronakis, [1934-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Nov. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0021_002.mp3Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19611
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby sin…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewers: Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik Interviewees: Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta Location of Interview: Spice Radio, Norland Avenue, Burnaby Interview Date: January 20, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:30:21 Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby since immigrating in 1972 and her arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada. Datt provides detailed information about her family background in Kenya and her parent’s decision to move their family from Kenya to India in the 1960s and then to England in the 1965. Datt describes her family’s experiences living in Kenya and India in the 1960s and provides some context on the political unrest that happened in Kenya which lead her family to leave. 12:48 - 28:07 Datt talks about her time living in England and shares information on her family life and her employment experiences. Datt conveys an experience from her childhood that inspired her to become a broadcaster and shares her experiences working for the BBC oversees service in England (1965-1972). Datt describes some of the articles that she's written for various publications and the people that she's interviewed. Datt highlights a particular experience about writing a critical review about the controversial design on Jimi Hendrix’s album “Axis: Bold as Love” that depicted Hindu religious iconography. 28:09 – 34:47 Datt and Datta provide further details about Datt's arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada in 1972 and to work as a broadcaster in Canada. Datt recalls her experiences working as a radio station operator for CHQM, a radio broadcaster for CJVB and starting her own South Asian radio station Rim Jhim in 1987. 34:48 – 40:01 Datt and Datta share information on where they’ve lived in Vancouver and Burnaby. Datt and Datta recall pivotal family life events that impacted their lives in 1974. 40:02 – 45:53 Datt recalls the travel trunks and contents that she and her family brought with them when they left Nairobi. Datt describes the letters that her parents wrote. Datt and Datta describe photos of their family and convey the impacts to their family after two of Datt’s brothers died at 24 years of age. 45:54 – 50:56 Interview continues chronologically from 1974, after Datt’s son, Sudhir Datta was born. Datt describes how she had to work hard to help pay her bills and support her family. Datta describes his childhood growing up as a South Asian child living and attending school in Burnaby (1979-1992). Datt and Datta recall Datt’s graduation ceremony and Datta’s Order of British Columbia awards ceremony. 50:57 – 58:03 Datt and Datta talk about food and cooking and where they’ve shopped for traditional food supplies. Datta explains her family lineage as Hindus who eat meat and how she’s been a vegetarian for over 30 years. Datt and Datta share stories about Datt’s mother Leela Datta. 58:04 – 1:05:38 Both Datt and Datta reflect on what’s it’s been like living as South Asians in Burnaby. Datt conveys the message that she got from her mom, Leela Datta "not to assimilate but to integrate". They both reflect on how the ethnic and cultural diversity of neighbourhoods has changed over time and Datt describes his experiences as a student in Burnaby. 1:05:39 – 1:16:51 Datt and Datta talk about the role of religion in their lives, describe the purpose of Radio Rim Jhim and reflect on how the South Asian community has grown in Metro Vancouver and the disparities created within. They both recall how their lives were threatened and impacted in 1984 following an interview that Datt did with Indira Ghandhi. Datt talks about the origins of her and her son’s surnames. 1:16:52 – 1:26:11 Datt and Datta talk about and reflect on their own experiences of racism and discrimination. Datt talks about Spice Radio’s annual campaign “Raise your hands against Racism”. Datt and Datta provide background on the radio stations Rim Jhim and Spice Radio including; how they got started, their unbiased approach to broadcast content and their experiences in the complex realm of broadcasting a multi-cultural radio station. 1:26:12 – 1:30:04 In closing, Datt and Datta convey what they think that younger generations of South Asian Canadians should understand about the South Asian Community in British Columbia.
- History
- Interviewees biographies: Shushma Datt was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1946 and is the second eldest of six children. In the 1960s during the unrest in Kenya, her family moved to India. After about nine months of living in India, Datt's family decided to return to Kenya, leaving Datt and her brother to complete their education in India. While living in India, Datt studied at Delhi University and worked at the Indian newspaper. In 1965, Datt, her parents and five siblings decided to leave Kenya and immigrated to England. While living in England, Datt got work as a broadcaster with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) overseas service, producing her first program in 1969. During her time with the BBC, Datt has interviewed many influential artists including Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles as well as the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. In 1972, Datt immigrated to Canada and settled in Burnaby. In late 1973, Datt sponsored her mother who joined her in Burnaby. Datt joined the CJVB radio station in Vancouver working as the Punjabi and Hindi language broadcaster. Datt worked here until 1978 when she started her own radio station, Radio Rim Jhim. In 2005, Datt obtained her own AM radio band license for a multicultural radio station RJ1200 which was later rebranded "Spice Radio". In 2015, Datt launched Spice Radio's annual "Hands Against Racism" campaign which has won awards from the Government of British Columbia and the B.C. Association of Broadcasters. Datt has also been a producer for Omni TV and Shaw TV and was the first woman to obtain a broadcasting license from the Canadian Radio- Television Telecommunications Commission. In 1992, Shushma Datt was awarded the Order of British Columbia and is also the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. Datt has been listed by the Vancouver Sun newspaper as among the 100 "most influential Indo-Canadians" and has been recognized by the Royal British Columbia Museum as one of the 150 "most influential British Columbians". Sudhir Datta is the only child of Sushma Datt and was born in Burnaby. Datta graduated with a computer science degree from Capilano University in 1995. Datta is the Vice President of Media Broadcasting (founded in 1984) creating television and radio programming for Canada's South Asian Community and has been the General Manager and Program Director of Spice Radio since 2006. Datta is also the author of many articles highlighting the South Asian community in Vancouver. Interviewers biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Jane Lemke has worked in various museums in the Lower Mainland and has been the Curator at Burnaby Village Museum since 2019. Her educational background includes a Master of Arts degree in History and a Master of Museum Studies degree. Her research focus has been on trauma and memory and its role in shaping Canadian identity. She loves sharing memories and stories of Burnaby with the public. Jane sits on the Council of the BC Museums Association and is the Chair of the BC Museums Association Professional Development and Education Committee.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Migration
- Occupations - Broadcasters
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Occupations - Journalists
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Radio Stations
- Religions
- Religions - Hinduism
- Religions - Sikhism
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Responsibility
- Malik, Anushay
- Lemke, Jane
- Accession Code
- BV023.1.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcript available upon request
Audio Tracks
Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0001_0003_003.mp3![Ernie Winch, [194-] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/204/204-506.jpg?width=280)
Ernie Winch
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35648
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Ernie Winch (left) and an unidentified helper working as stone masons building a brick chimney.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pioneer Tales subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 204-506
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Ernie Winch (left) and an unidentified helper working as stone masons building a brick chimney.
- Names
- Winch, Ernest "Ernie"
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Ernie Winch, [194-] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/204/204-506.jpg)
![Farrington brothers, [194-] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/204/204-088.jpg?width=280)
Farrington brothers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35231
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Farrington brothers; Richard and Thomas. Thomas and Richard Farrington founded Wheat Sheaf Poultry Ranch in 1919. It was located at 3907 Chesham Avenue (later renumbered 5384 Chesham Avenue).
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pioneer Tales subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 204-088
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Farrington brothers; Richard and Thomas. Thomas and Richard Farrington founded Wheat Sheaf Poultry Ranch in 1919. It was located at 3907 Chesham Avenue (later renumbered 5384 Chesham Avenue).
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Farrington brothers, [194-] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/204/204-088.jpg)
Interview with Sev Morin by Rod Fowler April 4, 1990 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory540
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1938-1990
- Length
- 00:04:02
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s friendship and business partnership with CKNW broadcaster Jack Cullen; the entertainment people Sev Morin met; and a brief description of his early education at the Jesuit College in Edmonton
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s friendship and business partnership with CKNW broadcaster Jack Cullen; the entertainment people Sev Morin met; and a brief description of his early education at the Jesuit College in Edmonton
- Date Range
- 1938-1990
- Photo Info
- Sev Morin (left) of Severin's in Burnaby (formerly the Gai Paree) hosting a gala New Year's celebration, 1979. Item no. 480-712
- Length
- 00:04:02
- Names
- Gai Paree Supper Club
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- April 4, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Severin "Sev" Morin, conducted by Rod Fowler. Sev Morin 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 Sev Morin’s banquet hall, restaurant and night club business on Kingsway, originally named the “Gai Paree Supper Club” (1947-1976) and later “Severin’s” (1976-1985) and “Diego’s” (1985-1994), its function as a Burnaby landmark, and the entertainment and political people he met through his business. He also describes his many volunteer activities in Burnaby, including member of the SFU Senate, Rotary Club, Variety Club and Telethon, fund raising for Burnaby Hospital, and tourism related groups, and his political work for the federal Liberal party. He talks about his parents’ origins, the lives of his brothers Rudy and Rene, and the family’s involvement in establishing the “Gai Paree”. He also shares his views about the business and cultural development of Burnaby. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Severin “Sev” Rene Morin was born September 21, 1927, in Bonneville, Alberta, to Rene Pierre Morin (1878-1963) and Anne Marie (nee Lachiver) Morin (1886-1956). Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Morin and their son Rene Francois (1905-1954) immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, from France in 1913, where Rene Pierre Morin worked for the C.N.R. and a second son Adolphe “Rudy” Ferdinand (1922-1969) was born, followed by their third son Severin. In 1943, after R.P. Morin retired, the family moved to Burnaby to a house on Sperling Avenue. Sometime earlier the two older Morin brothers found work in Trail at the smelter and developed musical careers. In 1946/47 the Morin family purchased property on Kingsway and built a banquet hall, the “Gai Paree Supper Club”. Sev and Rudy Morin managed the club and Rene F. Morin moved to Burnaby to join them with his band. The supper club, with its live music and dance floor, became a popular meeting place and wedding venue, eventually expanding into a restaurant and nightclub in the 1970s. The “Gai Paree” was renamed “Severin’s” in 1976 and “Diego’s” in 1985, closing finally in 1994. Sev Morin’s business life included three record stores which he owned with his friend Jack Cullen. Through these businesses Sev Morin was well known in the entertainment and hospitality industry. He and his restaurant also hosted political and social events that made the restaurant a community landmark. Sev Morin contributed many volunteer hours to community and charitable organizations, including an appointment to the SFU Senate, fundraising for the Burnaby Hospital, Director of the Variety Club and Rotary Club, and consultant for a variety of tourism related ventures. He also was active in the federal Liberal Party. Sev Morin and his wife Pauline married in 1950 and had three children. Sev Morin died at age 86 on March 28, 2014.
- Total Tracks
- 10
- Total Length
- 00:56:44
- Interviewee Name
- Morin, Severin "Sev"
- 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
- 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.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track four of interview with Sev Morin
Track four of interview with Sev Morin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-021/MSS187-021_Track%204.mp3Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
- Clothing
- Crafts
- Employment
- Migration
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Occupations - Labourers
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Names
- Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
- Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
- Manhas, Ghania Singh
- Singh, Mayo
- Manhas, Kashmir Singh
- Manhas, Sher Singh
- Manhas, Budhan Kaur
- Manhas, Lashman Singh
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep
- Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby
- Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3
John and Lois Shaw
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55572
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- November 25, 1942
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of John Shaw and Lois Shaw (nee Gilbert) on their wedding day. At the time of the wedding, John was working as a non-commissioned officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force but both John and Lois worked for the Municipality of Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- November 25, 1942
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 485-047
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of John Shaw and Lois Shaw (nee Gilbert) on their wedding day. At the time of the wedding, John was working as a non-commissioned officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force but both John and Lois worked for the Municipality of Burnaby.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Military Personnel
- Clothing - Military Uniforms
- Occupations - Civic Workers
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Air force cadets, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-035.jpg?width=280)
Air force cadets
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55560
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.5 x 4.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of six air force cadets standing together in two rows outside their barracks in Vernon. Each of the three cadets in the front row have cigarettes in their hands. Written on the back of the photograph is: "Some of the boys on the porch." John Shaw is the third from the left; the rest are …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.5 x 4.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 485-035
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of six air force cadets standing together in two rows outside their barracks in Vernon. Each of the three cadets in the front row have cigarettes in their hands. Written on the back of the photograph is: "Some of the boys on the porch." John Shaw is the third from the left; the rest are unidentified.
- Names
- Shaw, John Horace "Jack"
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Air force cadets, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-035.jpg)
![Air force cadet singing group, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-028.jpg?width=280)
Air force cadet singing group
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55553
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of fifteen air force cadets performing on stage at a show in Calgary, Alberta. John Shaw was a part of this musical group and he has written on the back of the picture: "The Captain looks a little nervous in this one, he's biting his lip. Sgt. Moody, leaning on the piano, takes the scrip…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 485-028
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of fifteen air force cadets performing on stage at a show in Calgary, Alberta. John Shaw was a part of this musical group and he has written on the back of the picture: "The Captain looks a little nervous in this one, he's biting his lip. Sgt. Moody, leaning on the piano, takes the script. Syd Bending is violinist, darn good too."
- Subjects
- Clothing - Military Uniforms
- Occupations - Military Personnel
- Musical Instruments
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Bending, Syd
- Moody, Sgt.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Tigerstedt Studio
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photographer's stamp on verso
Images
![Air force cadet singing group, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-028.jpg)
![Air force office, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-036.jpg?width=280)
Air force office
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55561
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the interior of an air force office. John Shaw has written on the back of the picture: "The Orderly Room. Corporal Honey in the foreground leaning on the counter which holds all our forms in those pigeon holes you can see."
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 485-036
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the interior of an air force office. John Shaw has written on the back of the picture: "The Orderly Room. Corporal Honey in the foreground leaning on the counter which holds all our forms in those pigeon holes you can see."
- Subjects
- Occupations - Military Personnel
- Clothing - Military Uniforms
- Buildings - Military
- Furniture
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Honey, Corporal
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Air force office, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-036.jpg)
![Air Force personnel, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-006.jpg?width=280)
Air Force personnel
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55531
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 6.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twelve men in Royal Canadian Air Force uniforms outside their barracks in Vernon, BC. John Shaw is in the middle row, second from left.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 6.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 485-006
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twelve men in Royal Canadian Air Force uniforms outside their barracks in Vernon, BC. John Shaw is in the middle row, second from left.
- Subjects
- Clothing - Uniforms
- Occupations - Military Personnel
- Buildings - Military
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Note on verso of photograph reads: "All the gang from 220. Joe on my left and then Bill Hatton on his left, another fine lad. He was posted to Prince Edward Island, 60 miles from home. Will you please keep this for me?"
Images
![Air Force personnel, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-006.jpg)
![Air force personnel, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-022.jpg?width=280)
Air force personnel
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55547
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 6.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of five men, all in air force uniforms, standing outside. The man on the far left is John Shaw and he has written on the back of the photograph: "Another candid shot. My stand would be complete with a halo."
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 6.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 485-022
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of five men, all in air force uniforms, standing outside. The man on the far left is John Shaw and he has written on the back of the photograph: "Another candid shot. My stand would be complete with a halo."
- Names
- Shaw, John Horace "Jack"
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Air force personnel, [1941] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/485/485-022.jpg)
Air force personnel
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55574
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- January 1941
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of fifty-three men sitting and standing in front of a building in their air force uniforms. The photograph is captioned "PL # 2 - No. 3 Co. / T.C. # 110 January 1941 / Vernon BC." This is the group of air force cadets that went through training with John Shaw at Vernon during the winter …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- January 1941
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 485-049
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of fifty-three men sitting and standing in front of a building in their air force uniforms. The photograph is captioned "PL # 2 - No. 3 Co. / T.C. # 110 January 1941 / Vernon BC." This is the group of air force cadets that went through training with John Shaw at Vernon during the winter of 1941. John can be seen third from the left in the second row (standing, with eyes closed).
- Subjects
- Occupations - Military Personnel
- Clothing - Military Uniforms
- Buildings - Military
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Shaw, John Horace "Jack"
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Kermode, Douglas
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
