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Subject
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards 1
- Aerial Photographs 3
- Animals - Horses 1
- Buildings - Civic
- Buildings - Commercial 1
- Buildings - Commercial - Banks 1
- Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores 1
- Buildings - Commercial - Hardware Stores 1
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
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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
- 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
- Street Address
- 4142 Hastings Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Images
Interview with Eddy Wood by Eric Damer September 24, 2012 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory423
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1937-1975
- Length
- 0:09:15
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Eddy Wood's memories of the Regent Fish Market. Eddy describes how his family came to own Regent Fish Market and what it was like to grow up with a family-owned business in Vancouver Heights.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Eddy Wood's memories of the Regent Fish Market. Eddy describes how his family came to own Regent Fish Market and what it was like to grow up with a family-owned business in Vancouver Heights.
- Date Range
- 1937-1975
- Length
- 0:09:15
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- September 24, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Eddy Wood conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, September 24, 2012. Major themes discussed are: Regent Fish Market and the Vancouver Heights business district.
- Biographical Notes
- Eddy Wood was born in 1943 and grew up working in various shops in the Vancouver Heights area of Burnaby. Eddy's father, also Eddy Wood, bought the Regent Fish Market in 1947 or 1948. When the senior Eddy Wood died in 1960, his wife took over the fish market and ran it for the next fifteen years. Their son Eddy then stepped in and continued with the family business. Through this, the Wood family was able to run the Regent Fish Market for over fifty years. Eddy Wood recalls the busy nature of the business in the post-war period, the role of the streetcar in bringing customers to the area and the preferences of the local customers. Vancouver Heights merchants joined together to form the North Burnaby Merchants in 1954. During Eddy Wood's tenure, the North Burnaby Merchants created “Hats Off Day” and organized to fight the Provincial Department of Highways’ plan to remove street level parking along Hastings Street.
- Total Tracks
- 3
- Total Length
- 0:29:32
- Interviewee Name
- Wood, Eddy
- Interview Location
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track one of recording of interview with Eddy Wood
Track one of recording of interview with Eddy Wood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-029/MSS171-029_Track_1.mp3Interview with Eddy Wood by Eric Damer September 24, 2012 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory424
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1951-1989
- Length
- 0:10:28
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Eddy Wood's memories of the Regent Fish Market. Eddy describes the customers that came in to the family store and the Heights shopping district in general. He describes a number of the merchants in more detail as well.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Eddy Wood's memories of the Regent Fish Market. Eddy describes the customers that came in to the family store and the Heights shopping district in general. He describes a number of the merchants in more detail as well.
- Date Range
- 1951-1989
- Length
- 0:10:28
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- September 24, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Eddy Wood conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, September 24, 2012. Major themes discussed are: Regent Fish Market and the Vancouver Heights business district.
- Biographical Notes
- Eddy Wood was born in 1943 and grew up working in various shops in the Vancouver Heights area of Burnaby. Eddy's father, also Eddy Wood, bought the Regent Fish Market in 1947 or 1948. When the senior Eddy Wood died in 1960, his wife took over the fish market and ran it for the next fifteen years. Their son Eddy then stepped in and continued with the family business. Through this, the Wood family was able to run the Regent Fish Market for over fifty years. Eddy Wood recalls the busy nature of the business in the post-war period, the role of the streetcar in bringing customers to the area and the preferences of the local customers. Vancouver Heights merchants joined together to form the North Burnaby Merchants in 1954. During Eddy Wood's tenure, the North Burnaby Merchants created “Hats Off Day” and organized to fight the Provincial Department of Highways’ plan to remove street level parking along Hastings Street.
- Total Tracks
- 3
- Total Length
- 0:29:32
- Interviewee Name
- Wood, Eddy
- Interview Location
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track two of recording of interview with Eddy Wood
Track two of recording of interview with Eddy Wood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-029/MSS171-029_Track_2.mp3Interview with Eddy Wood by Eric Damer September 24, 2012 - Track 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory425
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1951-2001
- Length
- 0:09:48
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Eddy Wood's memories of the Regent Fish Market. Eddy describes the neon signs that used to be along Hastings Street and fellow entrepreneurs that were instrumental in keeping Hastings Street and the Heights going strong. This includes Hats Off Days and the …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Eddy Wood's memories of the Regent Fish Market. Eddy describes the neon signs that used to be along Hastings Street and fellow entrepreneurs that were instrumental in keeping Hastings Street and the Heights going strong. This includes Hats Off Days and the parking lots at the corners (developed with the City of Burnaby).
- Date Range
- 1951-2001
- Length
- 0:09:48
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- September 24, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Eddy Wood conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, September 24, 2012. Major themes discussed are: Regent Fish Market and the Vancouver Heights business district.
- Biographical Notes
- Eddy Wood was born in 1943 and grew up working in various shops in the Vancouver Heights area of Burnaby. Eddy's father, also Eddy Wood, bought the Regent Fish Market in 1947 or 1948. When the senior Eddy Wood died in 1960, his wife took over the fish market and ran it for the next fifteen years. Their son Eddy then stepped in and continued with the family business. Through this, the Wood family was able to run the Regent Fish Market for over fifty years. Eddy Wood recalls the busy nature of the business in the post-war period, the role of the streetcar in bringing customers to the area and the preferences of the local customers. Vancouver Heights merchants joined together to form the North Burnaby Merchants in 1954. During Eddy Wood's tenure, the North Burnaby Merchants created “Hats Off Day” and organized to fight the Provincial Department of Highways’ plan to remove street level parking along Hastings Street.
- Total Tracks
- 3
- Total Length
- 0:29:32
- Interviewee Name
- Wood, Eddy
- Interview Location
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track three of recording of interview with Eddy Wood
Track three of recording of interview with Eddy Wood
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-029/MSS171-029_Track_3.mp3Interview 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.
- 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
- 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 two of interview with Sev Morin
Track two of interview with Sev Morin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-021/MSS187-021_Track%202.mp3Two women
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36796
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [195-?] (date of original), copied 1992
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.7 x 10.9 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of young women standing on Gilmore Avenue. In the background is a store called Oxmore Market. The women may be Patricia Allen and Marjorie Allen.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [195-?] (date of original), copied 1992
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Burnaby Centennial Anthology subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.7 x 10.9 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 315-253
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1994-04
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of young women standing on Gilmore Avenue. In the background is a store called Oxmore Market. The women may be Patricia Allen and Marjorie Allen.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Names
- Oxmore Market
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Gilmore Avenue
- Street Address
- 104 Gilmore Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area