Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Helen 'The Swinging Girl' Neon Sign

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark591

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Description: Commercial building.

Associated Dates: 1956

Formal Recognition: Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register

Other Names: Helen's Childrens Wear Sign

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

3 images

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Other Names: Helen's Childrens Wear Sign

Geographic Access: Hastings Street

Associated Dates: 1956

Formal Recognition: Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register

Enactment Type: Bylaw No. 12771

Enactment Date: 19/04/2010

Description: Commercial building.

Heritage Value: While the building here is of some importance as the former North Burnaby municipal office, its primary importance is its delightful neon sign that has become a North Burnaby landmark. Helen Arnold opened Helen’s Childrens Wear shop in the building next door to the old Municipal offices in 1948. In 1955, when North Burnaby moved out, she moved into the vacated building. As part of the renovations, Helen enlisted the assistance of her good friend Jimmy Wallace, owner of Vancouver’s Wallace Neon Company, to create a new sign for her expanded business. One of the company’s designers, Reeve Lehman, created the swinging neon girl that was installed in 1956. Designed in two parts, one section of the sign is cloud shaped and reads ‘Helen’s’ while the other section is a moving representation of a little girl on a swing. The sign is nine feet six inches high and nine feet wide, and the lower section is animated with an internal motor and gears. It immediately became a landmark on Hastings Street, and recently the sign’s design fame has spread far and wide as one of the best surviving examples of kinetic neon art in North America.

Locality: Vancouver Heights

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Willingdon Heights Area

Community: Burnaby

Names: Helen's Childrens Wear

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Stores; Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards

Street Address: 4142 Hastings Street

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

Images

View of 'The Swinging Girl' Neon Sign at night, 2010 (View from the west. Other). Copyright: City of Burnaby.. . thumbnail

View of 'The Swinging Girl' Neon Sign from the east, 2013. thumbnail

BBY-4142-Hastings-c1975-502-1441 thumbnail

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

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

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1936-1990

Length: 00:04:34

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

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

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

Date Range: 1936-1990

Length: 00:04:34

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

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 21, 1990

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

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

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 0:43:35

Interviewee Name: Nixon, Al

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

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

Audio Tracks

Track seven of interview with Al Nixon

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

Interview with Reidun Seim by Kathy Bossort January 13, 2016 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory654

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1930-1950

Length: 0:09:51

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Reidun Seim talking about the families and the vineyard and apple orchard on Aubrey Street. She tells stories about picking wild blackberries near Aubrey and raspberries grown on her parent’s farm, and about her mother’s large garden and kale grown for chicken…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Reidun Seim talking about the families and the vineyard and apple orchard on Aubrey Street. She tells stories about picking wild blackberries near Aubrey and raspberries grown on her parent’s farm, and about her mother’s large garden and kale grown for chicken feed.

Date Range: 1930-1950

Length: 0:09:51

Subjects: Geographic Features - Neighbourhoods; Geographic Features - Gardens; Agriculture - Fruit and Berries

Geographic Access: Aubrey Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lochdale Area

Interviewer: Bossort, Kathy

Interview Date: January 13, 2016

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Reidun Seim conducted by Kathy Bossort. Reidun Seim was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about Reidun Seim’s memories about her parent’s farm on Curtis Street, events in her childhood, and the people who lived in or visited her neighborhood. She takes us on a tour of her neighborhood in the 1940s, telling us stories about families who lived on Curtis Street on and east of 7300 block, including people who lived on Burnaby Mountain in the old Hastings Grove subdivision above the end of municipal water service at Philips Avenue. She describes changes to Curtis Street, particularly after it provided access to Simon Fraser University in 1965. She also talks about her teaching career, and about how she values the green space and conservation area on Burnaby Mountain.

Biographical Notes: Reidun Seim was born in 1931 in Vancouver B.C. to Sjur and Martine Seim. Sjur and Martine Seim emigrated to Canada from Norway in 1930, and after settling in Vancouver, moved to an acre of land and a new home at the base of Burnaby Mountain in 1932. Sjur attended UBC to learn about poultry farming and began his own chicken and egg business in 1935. The farm animals and large garden also contributed to the family’s livelihood and self-sufficiency. The Curtis Street neighborhood was a lively place and extended well up Curtis Street on the west slope of Burnaby Mountain, where Reidun would babysit for families. Reidun attended Sperling Avenue Elementary School (Gr. 1-8), Burnaby North High School, and Vancouver Normal School for teacher training in 1950-1951. She began teaching primary grades in Port Coquitlam at James Park School. Most of her career was spent in North Delta, teaching at Kennedy and Annieville schools from 1954-1958, appointed Primary Consultant (1958-1960) and Primary Supervisor (1960-1985), before retiring in 1986. Reidun lived at home with her parents on Curtis Street, commuting to Delta, and continues to live in the original farmhouse.

Total Tracks: 14

Total Length: 2:35:58

Interviewee Name: Seim, Reidun

Interview Location: Burnaby City Hall in the Law Library

Interviewer Bio: Kathy Bossort is a retired archivist living in Ladner, BC. She worked at the Delta Museum and Archives after graduating from SLAIS (UBC) in 2001 with Masters degrees in library science and archival studies. Kathy grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and, prior to this career change, she lived in the West Kootenays, earning her living as a cook for BC tourist lodges and work camps. She continues to be interested in oral histories as a way to fill the gaps in the written record and bring richer meaning to history.

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Track five of interview with Reidun Seim

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-017/MSS196-017_Track_5.mp3

Blythe Eagles outside his home

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51540

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1955 and 1960] (date of original), copied 1996

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w copy negative ; 4 x 5.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Blythe Eagles standing in front of the Eagles' estate at Deer Lake.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1955 and 1960] (date of original), copied 1996

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Eagles family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w copy negative ; 4 x 5.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 245-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1990-11

Scope and Content: Photograph of Blythe Eagles standing in front of the Eagles' estate at Deer Lake.

Subjects: Buildings - Heritage; Buildings - Residential - Houses; Geographic Features - Gardens

Names: Eagles, Dr. Blythe

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w ; 12.7 x 17.7 cm print accompanying

Geographic Access: Sperling Avenue

Street Address: 5655 Sperling Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Blythe Eagles outside his home, [between 1955 and 1960] (date of original), copied 1996 thumbnail

Building fatigue

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36566

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 12.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of "BUILDING FATIGUE" inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Archie Miller subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 12.5 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 296-009

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1992-36

Scope and Content: Photograph of "BUILDING FATIGUE" inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - City Halls; Occupations - Civic Workers

Names: Burnaby City Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Dibble, Bob

Notes: Title taken from caption given to photograph in original pamphlet; Photographs copies of originals used in "UNITE BURNABY" pamphlet which asked citizens to "VOTE YES" to the construction of a new Municipal Hall in Burnaby

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Interior of the Burnaby Municipal Hall

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36568

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of secretaries working inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Archie Miller subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 296-011

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1992-36

Scope and Content: Photograph of secretaries working inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - City Halls; Occupations - Civic Workers

Names: Burnaby City Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Dibble, Bob

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Interior of the Burnaby Municipal Hall, 1952 thumbnail

Municipal Council

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55631

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1956

Collection/Fonds: Charles MacSorley fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the 1956 Burnaby Municipal Council in Council Chambers at Burnaby Municipal Hall. Identified in the photograph are (starting at centre, forefront and moving clockwise): Gerald Charlton, Fred Philps, Wesley Morrison, Arnold Hean, Ted Ward (Deputy Municipal Clerk), John Shaw (Municipal…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1956

Collection/Fonds: Charles MacSorley fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 486-025

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2005-14

Scope and Content: Photograph of the 1956 Burnaby Municipal Council in Council Chambers at Burnaby Municipal Hall. Identified in the photograph are (starting at centre, forefront and moving clockwise): Gerald Charlton, Fred Philps, Wesley Morrison, Arnold Hean, Ted Ward (Deputy Municipal Clerk), John Shaw (Municipal Clerk), Reeve Charles MacSorley (in the back), two unkown members of staff, Samuel Hughes, William Philps and Doug Drummond.

Subjects: Officials - Alderman and Councillors; Officials - Mayors and Reeves; Buildings - Civic - City Halls; Occupations - City Clerks; Occupations - Civic Workers

Names: Charlton, Gerald; Philps, Fred; Morrison, Wesley; Hean, Arnold F.C.; Ward, Ted; Shaw, John Horace "Jack"; MacSorley, Charles W.; Hughes, Samuel E.; Philps, William P.; Drummond, John D. "Doug"

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Cunningham, W.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's stamp on verso; Notes on verso identify the people in the photograph

Geographic Access: Canada Way

Street Address: 4949 Canada Way

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Over-crowded general office

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36565

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the "OVER-CROWDED GENERAL OFFICE" inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Archie Miller subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 296-008

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1992-36

Scope and Content: Photograph of the "OVER-CROWDED GENERAL OFFICE" inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - City Halls; Occupations - Civic Workers

Names: Burnaby City Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Dibble, Bob

Notes: Title taken from caption given to photograph in original pamphlet; Photographs copies of originals used in "UNITE BURNABY" pamphlet which asked citizens to "VOTE YES" to the construction of a new Municipal Hall in Burnaby

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Over-crowded general office, 1952 thumbnail

Over-crowded police quarters

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36567

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the "OVER-CROWDED POLICE QUARTERS" inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Archie Miller subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 296-010

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1992-36

Scope and Content: Photograph of the "OVER-CROWDED POLICE QUARTERS" inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - City Halls; Occupations - Civic Workers

Names: Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Burnaby City Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Dibble, Bob

Notes: Title taken from caption given to photograph in original pamphlet; Photographs copies of originals used in "UNITE BURNABY" pamphlet which asked citizens to "VOTE YES" to the construction of a new Municipal Hall in Burnaby

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Over-crowded police quarters, 1952 thumbnail

Plan filing room. Fire hazard???

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36570

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 12.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the "PLAN FILING ROOM [believed to be a] FIRE HAZZARD [sic]???" inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Archie Miller subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 12.5 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 296-013

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1992-36

Scope and Content: Photograph of the "PLAN FILING ROOM [believed to be a] FIRE HAZZARD [sic]???" inside the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - City Halls; Occupations - Civic Workers

Names: Burnaby City Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Dibble, Bob

Notes: Title taken from caption given to photograph in original pamphlet; Photographs copies of originals used in "UNITE BURNABY" pamphlet which asked citizens to "VOTE YES" to the construction of a new Municipal Hall in Burnaby

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Plan filing room. Fire hazard???, 1952 thumbnail

Staff using Council Chamber

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36564

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of "STAFF USING COUNCIL CHAMBER" at the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1952

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Archie Miller subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 296-007

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1992-36

Scope and Content: Photograph of "STAFF USING COUNCIL CHAMBER" at the second Burnaby Municipal Hall.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - City Halls; Occupations - Civic Workers

Names: Burnaby City Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Dibble, Bob

Notes: Title taken from caption given to photograph in original pamphlet; Photographs copies of originals used in "UNITE BURNABY" pamphlet which asked citizens to "VOTE YES" to the construction of a new Municipal Hall in Burnaby

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Staff using Council Chamber, 1952 thumbnail

Interview with Sev Morin by Rod Fowler April 4, 1990 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory538

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1950-1990

Length: 00:06:16

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s description of Burnaby’s growth and business development along Kingsway and Hastings, the Lake City Industrial Park, and the purchase of property in 1958 for the Heritage Park and Art Gallery.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s description of Burnaby’s growth and business development along Kingsway and Hastings, the Lake City Industrial Park, and the purchase of property in 1958 for the Heritage Park and Art Gallery.

Date Range: 1950-1990

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: 00:06:16

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial; Buildings - Civic; Buildings - Industrial; Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood); Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood); Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood); Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area; Lake City Area; Burnaby Mountain Area; Kingsway-Beresford Area; Douglas-Gilpin Area

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

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.