Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on verso of photograph reads: "Tommy Irvine on left / Sam Hughes on right / 1958"; Red stamp on verso of photograph reads: "The Burnaby Courier / 205-4795 Kingsway / Burnaby 1 B.C."; Black stamp on verso of photograph reads: "Victor E. Price / 3125 Royal Oak Ave. / South Burnaby BC"; Photographs in this collection were taken and compiled by Norah Code, former editor of the "Burnaby Courier" newspaper during the course of her work for the newspaper

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area; Centennial Way

Street Address: 100 Centennial Way

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Tom Irvine

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65555

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1958

Collection/Fonds: Norah Code collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 8.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Tom Irvine and Sam Hughes taken at the opening of Burnaby Mountain Pavilion.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1958

Collection/Fonds: Norah Code collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 8.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 345-025

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2010-09

Scope and Content: Photograph of Tom Irvine and Sam Hughes taken at the opening of Burnaby Mountain Pavilion.

Subjects: Events - Openings

Names: Irvine, Tom; Hughes, Samuel E.

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Price, Victor E.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "Tommy Irvine with / the late Sam Hughes / who was chairman of / the 1958 BC / Centennial Celebrations. / This pic [sic] was taken / at opening of Burnaby / Mountain Pavilion - / Burnaby's Centennial / Project. Tommy was / an honoured guest / submitted / Norah Code, former Burnaby Courier / publisher"; Black stamp on verso of photograph reads: "Victor E. Price / 3125 Royal Oak Ave. / South Burnaby BC"; Photographs in this collection were taken and compiled by Norah Code, former editor of the "Burnaby Courier" newspaper during the course of her work for the newspaper

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area; Centennial Way

Street Address: 100 Centennial Way

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Deer Lake Park

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34714

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1958

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 15.2 x 19.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crowd of men, women and children at a beach at Deer Lake Park.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1958

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 15.2 x 19.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 117-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crowd of men, women and children at a beach at Deer Lake Park.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Beaches; Persons - Crowds

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Stamp on back of photo reads, "Basil King Photo"

Geographic Access: Deer Lake Park; Deer Lake Avenue; Deer Lake

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Oakalla Area; Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Deer Lake Park

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34715

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1958

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 19.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crowd on a beach and in the water at Deer Lake Park. Cars are parked in the foreground.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1958

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 19.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 117-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crowd on a beach and in the water at Deer Lake Park. Cars are parked in the foreground.

Subjects: Transportation - Automobiles; Persons - Crowds; Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Deer Lake Park; Deer Lake Avenue; Deer Lake

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Oakalla Area; Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Exhibition Park

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51368

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1958

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crowd of people gathered near the entrance to the exhibition park at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, BC. A banner at the top of the entrance reads "B.C. Centennial Year 1858-1958" and the marquis below the "Exhibition Park" sign reads "Water Follies of 58 / Shri…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1958

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 483-004

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2008-08

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crowd of people gathered near the entrance to the exhibition park at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, BC. A banner at the top of the entrance reads "B.C. Centennial Year 1858-1958" and the marquis below the "Exhibition Park" sign reads "Water Follies of 58 / Shrine PNE Circus / Horse Racing." None of the people in the photograph are identified.

Subjects: Exhibitions; Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Persons - Crowds

Names: Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Johnston, Harold H.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Gordon Presbyterian Church

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35113

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [195-] (date of original), copied 1987

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.2 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the sod for a new Gordon Presbyterian Church being turned. A crowd of men, women and children are standing outside with their heads bowed. A priest, woman and child are standing at the centre of the group near a patch of turned earth. There is snow on the ground.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [195-] (date of original), copied 1987

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Gordon Presbyterian Church subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.2 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 193-014

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1987-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of the sod for a new Gordon Presbyterian Church being turned. A crowd of men, women and children are standing outside with their heads bowed. A priest, woman and child are standing at the centre of the group near a patch of turned earth. There is snow on the ground.

Subjects: Persons - Crowds; Occupations - Clergy

Names: Gordon Presbyterian Church

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Edmonds Street

Street Address: 7457 Edmonds Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Richmond Park Area

Images

Gordon Presbyterian Church, [195-] (date of original), copied 1987 thumbnail

Oakalla Clydesdale team

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38144

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1958] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.6 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Clydesdale horse team from Oakalla Prison Farm pulling a wagon inside the Pacific National Exhibition Agridome. A crowd is watching.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1958] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.6 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.8 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-731

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Clydesdale horse team from Oakalla Prison Farm pulling a wagon inside the Pacific National Exhibition Agridome. A crowd is watching.

Subjects: Persons - Crowds; Transportation - Horses; Transportation - Wagons

Names: Oakalla Prison Farm; Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Negative has a pink cast

Images

Oakalla Clydesdale team

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38145

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1958] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.6 cm print on contact sheet 19.8 x 26.2 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Pete Connelly and the Clydesdale horse team from Oakalla Prison Farm (2nd team from right) with other teams inside the Pacific National Exhibition Agridome in Vancouver, BC.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1958] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.6 cm print on contact sheet 19.8 x 26.2 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-732

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Pete Connelly and the Clydesdale horse team from Oakalla Prison Farm (2nd team from right) with other teams inside the Pacific National Exhibition Agridome in Vancouver, BC.

Subjects: Persons - Crowds; Transportation - Horses; Transportation - Wagons

Names: Connelly, Pete; Oakalla Prison Farm; Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Negative has a pink cast

Images

Interview 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…

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

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

2022_0029_0005_004

Audio Tracks

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

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.

Images

Sev Morin (left) of Severin's in Burnaby (formerly the Gai Paree) hosting a gala New Year's celebration, 1979. Item no. 480-712 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track two of interview with Sev Morin

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-021/MSS187-021_Track%202.mp3

Flags for Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip Visit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55620

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1951

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 a group of 24 men and women wearing various uniforms standing on the steps of Burnaby Municipal Hall holding Union Jacks. The photograph was taken on the occasion of the 1951 Royal Visit. None of the people in the photograph are identified.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1951

Collection/Fonds: Charles MacSorley fonds

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

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 486-014

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2005-14

Scope and Content: Photograph of a group of 24 men and women wearing various uniforms standing on the steps of Burnaby Municipal Hall holding Union Jacks. The photograph was taken on the occasion of the 1951 Royal Visit. None of the people in the photograph are identified.

Subjects: Events - Royal Visits; Symbols - Flags; Clothing - Uniforms

Names: Burnaby City Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Allan Studios

Notes: Title based on caption; Caption on recto reads: "Flags for Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip / Burnaby 1951"; Photographer's stamp on verso

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Flags for Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip Visit, 1951 thumbnail

Flag waving at the March of the Clans

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36311

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1951

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 24.5 x 18.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the March of the Clans in Edinburgh organised by Lord MacPherson of Drumochter at the government's behest. This is taken at the side of the road, looking into the crowd of men waving flags. George A. and Alice Grant of Burnaby attended this event.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1951

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: George Grant subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 24.5 x 18.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 243-031

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1990-06

Scope and Content: Photograph of the March of the Clans in Edinburgh organised by Lord MacPherson of Drumochter at the government's behest. This is taken at the side of the road, looking into the crowd of men waving flags. George A. and Alice Grant of Burnaby attended this event.

Subjects: Events - Parades; Symbols - Flags; Clothing

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Outram, George

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Stamp on verso of print reads: "GEORGE OUTRAM & CO. LTD. 65 BUCHANAN STREET GLASGOW, C.1."; Photographer identifies photograph as no. B156Y-A

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