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Interview with Sev Morin by Rod Fowler April 4, 1990 - Track 6
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory542
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1947-1976
- Length
- 00:09:36
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the functions at the “Gai Paree”, including its popularity as a wedding reception venue; how customers circumvented the 1950’s restrictive liquor laws; and the kinds of clubs in Burnaby in the 1950’s
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the functions at the “Gai Paree”, including its popularity as a wedding reception venue; how customers circumvented the 1950’s restrictive liquor laws; and the kinds of clubs in Burnaby in the 1950’s
- Date Range
- 1947-1976
- 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
- 00:09:36
- 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 six of interview with Sev Morin
Track six of interview with Sev Morin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-021/MSS187-021_Track%206.mp3![Seventh Annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival, [2002] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2342-2.jpg?width=280)
Seventh Annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96743
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2002]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of the seventh annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival, held at the Michael J. Fox Theatre. Photographs depict a performance of a traditional dance by several young performers, and Katy Wheelhouse dressing in preparation for a performance with her mother, Sonja.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2002]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-2342
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of the seventh annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival, held at the Michael J. Fox Theatre. Photographs depict a performance of a traditional dance by several young performers, and Katy Wheelhouse dressing in preparation for a performance with her mother, Sonja.
- Names
- Michael J. Fox Theatre
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a May 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-2342-1: "A Ukrainian dance troupe performs at the 7th Annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival at Micheal J. Fox Theatre on Saturday. Dancers from around British Columbia and Alberta competed in various styles of Ukrainian dance and celebrated their heritage with Ukrainian music and craft displays."
- Caption from metadata for 535-2342-2: "Katy Wheelhouse gets a little with her headdress from her mom, Sonja, before competing with the Kvitka Ukrainian Dance Group at the 7th Annual Ukrainian Cultural at Burnaby's Micheal J. Fox Theatre. Dancers from around British Columbia and Alberta competed in various styles of Ukrainian dance and celebrated their heritage with Ukrainian music and craft displays."
- Geographic Access
- MacPherson Avenue
- Street Address
- 7373 MacPherson Avenue
- Planning Study Area
- Clinton-Glenwood Area
Images
![Seventh Annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival, [2002] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2342-2.jpg)
![Sixth Annual Ukrainian Festival, [2001] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2269-1.jpg?width=280)
Sixth Annual Ukrainian Festival
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96647
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2001]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of dancers at the sixth annual Ukrainian Festival at the Michael J. Fox Theatre. Photographs depict dancers from the Promenia dance troupe performing the "Vantuuchs Kozachok" and Laurie Wozniak and Kim Payne, of the Yaltran Dance Troupe, adjusting their traditional costume…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2001]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-2269
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of dancers at the sixth annual Ukrainian Festival at the Michael J. Fox Theatre. Photographs depict dancers from the Promenia dance troupe performing the "Vantuuchs Kozachok" and Laurie Wozniak and Kim Payne, of the Yaltran Dance Troupe, adjusting their traditional costumes before a performance.
- Names
- Michael J. Fox Theatre
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a May 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-2269-1: "Members of the Promenia dance troupe, from Langley, dance the "Vantuuchs Kozachok," at the Sixth Annual Ukrainian Festival at Michael J. Fox Theatre. Hundreds of dancers from as far away as Edmonton and Prince George to compete and celebrate their Ukrainian heritage with traditional cuisine and arts and crafts."
- Caption from metadata for 535-2269-2: "Laurie Wozniak, of the Yaltran Dance Troupe, from Edmonton, gets some last-minute adjustments to her headdress from Kim Payne, as they get ready to perform at the Sixth Annual Ukrainian Festival at Michael J. Fox Theatre. Hundreds of dancers from as far away as Edmonton and Prince George to compete and celebrate their Ukrainian heritage with traditional cuisine and arts and crafts."
- Geographic Access
- MacPherson Avenue
- Street Address
- 7373 MacPherson Avenue
- Planning Study Area
- Clinton-Glenwood Area
Images
![Sixth Annual Ukrainian Festival, [2001] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2269-1.jpg)