Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Ten pin bowling at the Rose Bowl

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1898

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [196-]

Collection/Fonds: Harry Royle fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified man ten pin bowling at the Rose Bowl bowling alley.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Harry Royle fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified man ten pin bowling at the Rose Bowl bowling alley.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial; Sports - Team Sports; Sports; Sports - Bowling

Names: Rose Bowl

Accession Code: BV005.20.25

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [196-]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 1/12/2010

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Ten pin bowling at the Rose Bowl

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1899

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [196-]

Collection/Fonds: Harry Royle fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified man standing in a lane and rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand at the Rose Bowl bowling alley.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Harry Royle fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified man standing in a lane and rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand at the Rose Bowl bowling alley.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial; Sports - Team Sports; Sports; Sports - Bowling

Names: Rose Bowl

Accession Code: BV005.20.26

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [196-]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 1/12/2010

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Ten pin bowling at the Rose Bowl

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1900

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [196-]

Collection/Fonds: Harry Royle fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified woman ten pin bowling at the Rose Bowl bowling alley. Fellow bowlers are visible in the foreground with their backs to the camera, watching her.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Harry Royle fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified woman ten pin bowling at the Rose Bowl bowling alley. Fellow bowlers are visible in the foreground with their backs to the camera, watching her.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial; Sports - Team Sports; Sports; Sports - Bowling

Names: Rose Bowl

Accession Code: BV005.20.27

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [196-]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 1/12/2010

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Texaco Station

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51471

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1968

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Description Level: Item

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

Scope and Content: Photograph shows a panoramic view of a Texaco gasoline station

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1968

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

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

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 483-072

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2008-08

Scope and Content: Photograph shows a panoramic view of a Texaco gasoline station

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Service Stations

Names: Texaco Canada Incorporated

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Johnston, Harold H.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

United Motors

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97614

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [196-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w negative

Scope and Content: Photograph of United Motors and Chevron located at 3995 East Hastings Street in North Burnaby. Photograph is taken from across the street, looking towards the dealership.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [196-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Municipal record subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w negative

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 366-029

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1998-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of United Motors and Chevron located at 3995 East Hastings Street in North Burnaby. Photograph is taken from across the street, looking towards the dealership.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Automobile Dealerships

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on content of photograph

Geographic Access: Hastings Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Images

Blacksmith shops

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1947

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [194-?] (date of originals), copied [1971]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w composite ; 26 x 30.5 cm, mounted on cardboard 32 x 39 cm

Scope and Content: Composite photograph of various aspects of unidentified blacksmith shops including interiors, equipment and exteriors.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w composite ; 26 x 30.5 cm, mounted on cardboard 32 x 39 cm

Material Details: Composite is comprised of ten photographs

Scope and Content: Composite photograph of various aspects of unidentified blacksmith shops including interiors, equipment and exteriors.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial; Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Blacksmiths

Names: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV000.18.8

Access Restriction: Restricted access

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [194-?] (date of originals), copied [1971]

Media Type: Photograph

Arrangement: Record appears to be a part of the Burnaby Centennial Committee or the Century Park Museum Associaton. Jon Newby was a board member of either of these committees.

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 1/8/2010

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Blacksmith shops, [194-?] (date of originals), copied [1971] thumbnail

Children playing in a classroom

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription52966

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1957 and 1968]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a classroom full of kindergartners all making paper hats with the help of their teacher at the Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1957 and 1968]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Tinkerbell Kindergarten subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 246-006

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1990-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of a classroom full of kindergartners all making paper hats with the help of their teacher at the Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Crafts; Occupations - Teachers

Names: Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Ellesmere Avenue; Hastings Street

Street Address: 300 Ellesmere Avenue North

Historic Neighbourhood: Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Capitol Hill Area

Images

Children playing in a classroom, [between 1957 and 1968] thumbnail

Douglas Road School gymnasium

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38648

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two workmen (unidentified) standing next to a truckload of lumber outside the new Douglas Road School gymnasium.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Douglas Road School subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 471-009

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS2005-3

Scope and Content: Photograph of two workmen (unidentified) standing next to a truckload of lumber outside the new Douglas Road School gymnasium.

Subjects: Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Labourers; Buildings - Schools

Names: Douglas Road School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Gordon, Ethel

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph.

Geographic Access: Douglas Road; Canada Way

Street Address: 4861 Canada Way

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Douglas Road School gymnasium, 1960 thumbnail

Douglas Road School gymnasium construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38646

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crew of workmen working on the construction of the new Douglas Road School gymnasium. None of the men are identified.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Douglas Road School subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 471-007

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS2005-3

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crew of workmen working on the construction of the new Douglas Road School gymnasium. None of the men are identified.

Subjects: Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Labourers; Buildings - Schools

Names: Douglas Road School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Gordon, Ethel

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph.

Geographic Access: Canada Way

Street Address: 4861 Canada Way

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Douglas Road School gymnasium construction, 1960 thumbnail

Interview with Lee Rankin by Kathy Bossort December 2, 2015 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory642

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1963-2015

Length: 0:14:20

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Lee Rankin’s experience attending Simon Fraser University 1973-78, why he liked its physical environment and its treatment of mature students, and why its isolation is a drawback. He describes reasons why the site was chosen by Gordon Shrum and talks about the…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Lee Rankin’s experience attending Simon Fraser University 1973-78, why he liked its physical environment and its treatment of mature students, and why its isolation is a drawback. He describes reasons why the site was chosen by Gordon Shrum and talks about the lack of documentation for the land transfer from City of Burnaby to the university and the results for their relationship. He also talks about why he went into law as a career.

Date Range: 1963-2015

Length: 0:14:20

Names: Simon Fraser University

Subjects: Education; Occupations; Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Bossort, Kathy

Interview Date: December 2, 2015

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Lee Rankin conducted by Kathy Bossort. Lee Rankin was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about Lee Rankin’s involvement in finding a resolution to the dispute between the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University over land ownership and control on Burnaby Mountain. He talks about the origin of the dispute, the positions taken by the two sides, the key people who brought about a resolution, and the main features of the agreement between the City, SFU and the province of BC. He talks about how the agreement met SFU’s goals, fostered trust between the City and university, and removed uncertainty from protecting parkland on Burnaby Mountain.

Biographical Notes: Lee Rankin was born in 1953 in Vancouver. He attended SFU 1973-78, completing his BA degree in 1985. He earned his law degree at UBC in 1988, was called to the Bar in 1989, and practiced in immigration and refugee law. Lee has lived in Burnaby since 1976 and was a member of Burnaby Council for 22 years, from 1983-1999 and 2002-2008. His particular interests as a Councillor were in community planning, housing and environment. Among other duties and accomplishments as Councillor, Lee served as chair of the Simon Fraser Liaison Committee and was involved in the negotiations with the province and SFU that resulted in the university returning more than 800 acres of land to the City, which was dedicated as part of the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. He has also served on the GVRD, volunteers as a coach for team sports in Burnaby, and has served on numerous community and business associations and committees. Lee is married to Ragini Venkat Rankin and has one son Henry.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 1:50:35

Interviewee Name: Rankin, Lee A.

Interview Location: Lee Rankin's home in Burnaby

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 one of interview with Lee Rankin

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-014/MSS196-014_Track_1.mp3

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19347

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share the…

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: 1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Interviewees: Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill Location of Interview: Gill family residence on Warwick Avenue in Burnaby Interview Date: November 11, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:58:39) Digital master recording (m4a) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share their ancestral background, their personal experiences immigrating to Canada, living in Burnaby and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants. 00:00 – 27:34 Santokh “Gurmail” Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill share their migration stories and experiences living and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants and their eldest child, Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences as a child of South Asian immigrants and growing up in British Columbia as a South Asian Canadian. Gurmail Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar and Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in Hoshiapur of the Indian state of Punjab. Gurmail describes how he moved from India to England with his family in 1957, immigrated to Canada from England in 1966, married his wife Mohinder in England in 1968 and brought his family (parents and two siblings) to Canada from England in 1970 and other relatives including his wife’s family in the 1970s and 1980s. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill recollect their arranged marriage in England in 1968, their immigration process and explain how they arrived in Burnaby residing with a cousin at 4649 Georgia Street until they were able to purchase their own home after a few years. Gurmail shares names and connections to the relatives that came to British Columbia before him. Gurmail and Mohinder tell how they lived in the basement of the house and rented out the upper floor to save money. The couple recall what they brought with them when they immigrated to Canada and Mohinder Kaur Gill tells of how before leaving India, she and her mother made a special rajai for her to take with her. Mohinder describes the process of making a rajai (a quilted blanket that was made by hand). Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about the challenges that they’ve experienced as new immigrants including not being fluent in English, the cold weather and not having very many family or friends nearby to provide support. They attended the Gurdwara on Ross Street or Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara on Skeena in Vancouver. They explain how there was limited access to grocery stores that supplied Punjabi and Indian spices and other cooking supplies. They talk about how they used a food mill and mortar and pestle to grind their own spices and flour and how Mohinder often made traditional sweets like barfi and laddo and pakoras using pea flour when they couldn’t get Besan flour. 27:35 – 36:11 Gurmail provides more details on his family’s immigration story, including names of relatives, how his six siblings and parents all immigrated to British Columbia in 1970 and how in the early 1970s and mid 1980’s Gurmail and his family sponsored approximately 70 friends and relations from India (including Mohinder’s family) to immigrate to Canada. When Mohinder’s family arrived they lived with them in their house until they were able to purchase property next door and build their own home. Children in the families all attended elementary and high school in Burnaby which now amounts to three generations. 36:12 – 59:28 Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about their experiences of racial discrimination. Gurmail recalls members of the South Asian community, Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma, Harinder Mahil and Charan Gill starting the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism. Gurmail tells of how he got involved contributing some of his union dues as a member of CAIMAW (Canadian Association of Industrial Mechanical and Allied Workers Union- Local 15) and as a friend of Charan Gill and Raj Chouhan of the Canadian Farm Workers Union. Gurmail Gill explains how he was a founding member of CAIMAW and treasurer until the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (in 1991). Mohinder and Gurmail tell of how people from the South Asian community were discouraged from wearing Punjabi dresses or head coverings for fear of being yelled at with racial slurs and how it was often scary to go outside. Many from their community often avoided attending the Akali Singh Gurdwara since a head covering was required and people were afraid of being a target. Gurmail provides details about his work with A1 Steel, how different unions were formed pertaining to various skillsets and jobs per company and how he became a member of CAIMAW Local 15 (foundry workers). Mohinder recollects her experiences as a mother, the daily tasks involved and friends that she made who’d also emigrated from Punjab. Mohinder describes how she designed and sewed many Punjabi dresses using her electric sewing machine and how she learned English by attending adult classes at a church on Commercial Drive. Mohinder and her mother attended the classes for two hours per day for six years at a cost of twelve dollars for ten weeks. Once Mohinder could speak a little English, she started working and was able to practice more. 59:29 – 1:06:08 Mohinder, Gurmail and Prem talk about some of their favourite traditional foods including corn roti and spinach curry and how they grow many of their own vegetables including peppers, eggplant, saag (spinach), onions, garlic, cilantro, zucchini, squash and fenugreek. Mohinder reflects on how access to Punjabi clothing and fabric stores in Vancouver has changed and that ready made food is now more available. Traditional foods were previously made from scratch with women gathering together and cooking for hours and now it’s gotten easier but more expensive and less of a community feel. 1:06:09- 1:55:20 Mohinder and Gurmail Gill discuss and share their perspectives and experiences on raising a family in the past versus today. Gurmail imparts that all of his siblings became educated and secured professional careers while he continued to work in the trades. Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences growing up and attending school in Burnaby. Gurmail and Mohinder Gill recall the type of suitcase that they brought with them when they immigrated and how they recently they got rid of it. Gurmail and the group reflect and discuss the confusion with racial identity terms that have been used in this country. They comment that South Asians were referred to as “Hindu” and “East Indian” and Indigenous peoples were referred to as “Indian” and the controversy and racism behind some of these terms. The group discusses the impact of the caste system and other discriminatory experiences and compare their experiences of living in England to living in Canada. Prem comments on how it’s just recently that South Asian customs, celebrations and practices have been recognized and celebrated here in Canada, like Diwali and yoga. They comment on how much of the language, culture and customs have been retained in Surrey where many can still communicate in Punjabi and don’t need to be fluent in English. The group discusses how many South Asians immigrants first lived and worked in Vancouver but with rising property prices many moved to Surrey expanding and establishing a much larger South Asian community with resources. The group discusses and compares the differing travel routes that many of them and their relatives took when immigrating and travelling between India and Canada. The group talks about Rajdeep’s ancestral village in India which is near the Gill village of Firozpur. Gurmail explains the origins and details behind his family name that was changed from “Shergill” to “Gill” and the name “Santokh” from his maternal side.

History: Interviewees' biographies: Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar in Punjab, India. Gurmail moved to England with his family in 1957 and immigrated to British Columbia in 1966. Gurmail married his wife, Mohinder Kaur Gill in England in 1968 and she immigrated to British Columbia from England soon after. Gurmail first lived with a cousin in Burnaby before purchasing a home of his own in Burnaby where he raised his family. Gurmail worked in the steel industry and was a member and treasurer of the CAIMAW before the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in the Hoshiapur in Punjab, India. She married her husband Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill in England in 1968 and immigrated to Burnaby, British Columbia to join her husband. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill have four children, all born in Burnaby. Prem Kaur Gill was born in Burnaby in 1969 and is the eldest child of Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill. Prem grew up and attended school in Burnaby. Interviewers' biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Clothing; Foods; Indigenous peoples; Buildings - Religious - Temples; Food Processing Tools and Equipment; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Migration; Occupations; Organizations - Unions

Names: Gill, Prem Kaur; Gill, Mohinder Kaur; Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh

Responsibility: Rajdeep; Malik, Anushay

Accession Code: BV022.29.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcript available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum; Indian Family System Reference notes: Baba = informal way to say grandfather; old man Bibi = informal way to say grandmother; old woman Dada= paternal grandfather Dadi= paternal grandmother Dadke= paternal family members; paternal side (Various spellings might exist for the following terms) Thaiyya= father’s elder brother (uncle) Thaiyyi= father’s elder brother’s wife (aunt) Chacha= father’s younger brother (uncle) Chachi= father’s younger brother’s wife (aunt) Bua= father’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Phuphar= father’s sister’s husband (uncle) Nana= maternal grandfather Nani= maternal grandmother Nanke/nanka= maternal family members; maternal side Mama= mom’s brother (older or younger) (uncle) Mami= mom’s brother’s wife (aunt) Maasi= mom’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Maasard= mom’s sister’s husband (uncle)

Audio Tracks

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0002_002.mp3

Interview with Shanaz Khan

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20284

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1956-2023] (interview content), interviewed 24 Sep. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (wav) (65 min., 54 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (63 min., 54 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shanaz Khan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum registrar Rajdeep on September 24, 2023. 00:00:00- 00:09:59 Shanaz Khan shares information about herself, her family and life in Fiji before she immigrated to Vancouver in 1972 and her fi…

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (wav) (65 min., 54 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (63 min., 54 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Rajdeep Interviewee: Shanaz Khan Location of Interview: Love farmhouse at Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: September 24, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:05:54 Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shanaz Khan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum registrar Rajdeep on September 24, 2023. 00:00:00- 00:09:59 Shanaz Khan shares information about herself, her family and life in Fiji before she immigrated to Vancouver in 1972 and her first experiences after immigrating to Vancouver including where her family lived, her work as an accountant for major banks in Vancouver, training and working as a chef and living in Surrey and Vancouver. 00:10:00 - 00:14:59 Shanaz shares experiences in her career as an accountant working in Vancouver and Tumbler Ridge and her experiences of racism that she faced in her workplace. Shanaz talks about her life after retirement and her volunteer work. 00:015:00 - 00:22:53 Shanaz talks about her life in Burnaby for the last 19 years and what she likes about living here. Shanaz recollects locations of stores in Vancouver where her family shopped to find traditional foods and where her family lived after immigrating. Shanaz shares some of her favourite traditional foods. 00:22:54 - 00:37:41 Shanaz recollects some of her childhood experiences growing up in Fiji and her experiences of swimming in Fiji, Hawaii and in Vancouver. Shanaz talks about her fitness regime and places that she likes to exercise in Burnaby including trails and green spaces and reflects on the changes to Burnaby with increased development, the cost of housing and the crime rate. 00:37:42 - 00:52:41 Shanaz talks about the traditional clothing and western clothing that she’s worn and accessed while living in Burnaby and Vancouver. Shanaz describes some traditional Islamic religious practices including the nikah (marriage), funerals, prayers, Eid, Hajj and her own personal practices as well as locations of mosques and cemeteries available to Muslims in the lower mainland. 00:52:42 - 01:05:54 Shanaz talks about her parent’s religious and ancestral background, her religious upbringing and the demographics of Fiji.

History: Interviewee biography: Shanaz Khan was born and raised in Suva, Fiji in the 1950's. In the early 1970's, Shanaz immigrated to Vancouver with her parents and younger brother. Shanaz attended John Oliver High School and took one year of accounting courses at Langara College. Over the years Shanaz worked as an accountant in major banks and for a mining company in Tumbler Ridge. Shanaz also worked as a chef at various restaurants and bakeries after completing training at a Vancouver Culinary School. Shanaz has made her home in Burnaby for the past 19 years. Following her retirement, Shanaz has volunteered for different organizations including the YWCA. Interviewer biography: Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Buildings - Religious - Mosques; Cemeteries; Ceremonies - Funerals; Ceremonies - Weddings; Education; Housing; Migration; Occupations; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Religions - Islam; Religions - Christianity; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Sports - Swimming

Names: Khan, Shanaz

Responsibility: Rajdeep

Accession Code: BV023.16.18

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1956-2023] (interview content), interviewed 24 Sep. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available

Documents

2023_0016_0018_003

Audio Tracks

Interview with Shanaz Khan, [1956-2023] (interview content), interviewed 24 Sep. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0018_002.mp3

Kindergartners blowing soap bubbles

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription52967

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of kindergartners from the Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten blowing soap bubbles with the help of one of their teachers. They are standing in a field outside in small groups, watching each other blow soap bubbles.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Tinkerbell Kindergarten subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 246-007

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1990-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of kindergartners from the Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten blowing soap bubbles with the help of one of their teachers. They are standing in a field outside in small groups, watching each other blow soap bubbles.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Recreational Activities; Occupations - Teachers

Names: Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Stamp on recto of photograph reads: "MAY 60"; Note on verso of photograph reads: "blowing soap bubbles"

Images

Kindergartners blowing soap bubbles, May 1960 thumbnail

MacPherson Junior High School fire

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37473

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1969] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.0 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of firemen fighting a fire at MacPherson Junior High School, Rumble Street and MacPherson Avenue. A fence is in the foreground. According the Burnaby Examiner, February 13, 1969, a juvenile was suspected of settting the fire.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1969] (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 ; 4.0 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-061

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of firemen fighting a fire at MacPherson Junior High School, Rumble Street and MacPherson Avenue. A fence is in the foreground. According the Burnaby Examiner, February 13, 1969, a juvenile was suspected of settting the fire.

Subjects: Natural Phenomena - Fires; Buildings - Schools; Occupations - Fire Fighters

Names: MacPherson Junior High School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bellinger, Bernard

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Date based on Burnaby Examiner article Feb. 13, 1969

Geographic Access: Rumble Street; MacPherson Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Clinton-Glenwood Area

Images

MacPherson Junior High School Fire

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37474

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1969] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.8 x 3.8 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a fire at MacPherson Junior High School, Rumble Street and MacPherson Avenue. There is a crowd gathered and a lot of smoke. According the Burnaby Examiner, February 13, 1969, a juvenile was suspected of settting the fire.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1969] (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 ; 3.8 x 3.8 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-062

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of a fire at MacPherson Junior High School, Rumble Street and MacPherson Avenue. There is a crowd gathered and a lot of smoke. According the Burnaby Examiner, February 13, 1969, a juvenile was suspected of settting the fire.

Subjects: Natural Phenomena - Fires; Buildings - Schools; Occupations - Fire Fighters

Names: MacPherson Junior High School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bellinger, Bernard

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Date based on Burnaby Examiner article Feb. 13, 1969

Geographic Access: Rumble Street; MacPherson Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Clinton-Glenwood Area

Images

Sidney Roofing and Paper Company

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34678

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of construction and construction workers at Sidney Roofing and Paper Company, South Burnaby.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 091-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of construction and construction workers at Sidney Roofing and Paper Company, South Burnaby.

Subjects: Construction; Occupations - Labourers; Buildings - Industrial - Mills

Names: Sidney Roofing and Paper Company Limited

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Graphic Industries Limited

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Bottom of photo has the "Sidney Products" logo and reads, "Sidney Roofing & Paper Co. Ltd."; Stamped on back of photograph: "Photo by: Graphic Industries Ltd. / File No. 3205-1 / Vancouver, Canada / PAcific 4174"

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Images

Sidney Roofing and Paper Company, [1960] thumbnail

Working at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45613

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: April 1966, published April 18, 1966

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 24 x 18.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of workmen at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant. They are feeding a flat steel plate, more than three inches think inot a pyramind roll for fabrication in the making of a sulfinol vessel for the petroleum industry in Alberta. The workmen are wearing asbestos aluminum suits to withs…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: April 1966, published April 18, 1966

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 24 x 18.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-507

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of workmen at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant. They are feeding a flat steel plate, more than three inches think inot a pyramind roll for fabrication in the making of a sulfinol vessel for the petroleum industry in Alberta. The workmen are wearing asbestos aluminum suits to withstand the intense heat reflected from the heated plate (the plate was heated in a furnace before being fed into the pyramid roll).

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Factories; Occupations - Labourers

Names: Dominion Bridge Company

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Henry Tregillas Photography Ltd.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Boundary Road

Street Address: 2400 Boundary Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: West Central Valley Area

Images

Working at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant, April 1966, published April 18, 1966 thumbnail

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19602

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pe…

1 image 1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewees: Ellen and Bill Schwartz Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: May 15, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:08:52 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph information: Bill and Ellen Schwartz.

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pennsylvania the 1970s. Bill and Ellen explain how in the 1970s, they were discouraged about the current politics in the United States under the Nixon administration and how they were inspired by the “back to the land” ideals, rejecting materialism and wanting an alternative lifestyle. With these ideals in mind, they recall how in 1972 they and a few other friends decided to leave the United States, move to British Columbia with the goal of buying land in the Okanagan or Kootenay region and starting a new lifestyle for themselves. Bill and Ellen recollect how they purchased 20 acres of land in Galena Bay in the Kootenays and how they lived in the area off and on until the early 1980s. They describe how they cleared three acres of land, built a cabin, put in a garden, chicken coop and honey bees. With the challenges of the isolated location and no access to electricity they explain how they decided that they had to live elsewhere in order to make a living. Ellen talks about working as a special education teacher in Revelstoke and Slocan and how Bill obtained his teaching certificate while they lived in Nelson. Bill and Ellen describe themselves as environmentalists and of how they both became active Provincial environmentalists during the construction of the Revelstoke Dam. Bill talks about getting work with the “Energy Van” program talking about energy conservation, renewable energy and recycling. They explain how after their first child was born in 1980, they returned to Galena Bay for about a year and a half until Bill was offered a job with the Department of Energy Conservation which lead them to move to Vancouver. 16:48 – 22:46 Bill and Ellen describe their first few years of living in Vancouver and at University of British Columbia while Ellen completed her master’s degree in creative writing. During this time, they had their second child. They recall how in 1988 how they purchased a house in Burnaby, selecting to live in the Deer Lake neighbourhood. They talk about the benefits of the neighbourhood including; a French immersion school for their children, proximity to the trails around Deer Lake and having transit close by. 22:47 – 33:55 Bill and Ellen talk about their consulting business “Polestar Communications”. A Burnaby based communications consulting firm composed of three people, Ellen and Bill and colleague Richard Banner. They describe how their business got started and some of the projects that they’ve worked on including; BC Hydro’s Power Smart Program, financial literacy curriculum that was introduced in B.C. schools and reports for the Province of British Columbia. Ellen and Bill convey how Bill has been a very active member with the City of Burnaby Environment Committee, the Steering Committee to develop a sustainable environmental strategy for Burnaby, how he’s been awarded for his contributions in coaching youth sports and other areas in which they have both volunteered. 33:56 – 43:07 Ellen describes how she got started in writing educational resources about the environment and how since she completed grad school in 1984, she’s published nineteen books. Ellen conveys how her first book was published and sold to the Province of British Columbia as part of the B.C. educational curriculum on the environment. Ellen talks about some of the children’s books that she’s written and published with themes including; social justice, the labour movement and racism in sports. Ellen describes some of her books and the research that she’s done. 43:08 – 51:04 Ellen and Bill Schwartz reflect on what they like about living in Burnaby. They talk about the benefits of their neighbourhood including; performances at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival, the Burnaby Art Gallery and Deer Lake as well as having access to parks and community centres in Burnaby. 51:05-56:36 Bill and Ellen reflect on their involvement in the Jewish community, considering themselves non-secular Jews. Ellen talks about how they were involved with “Burquest” a Jewish Community Association and how they often observe some of the Jewish holidays including Hanukah and traditions including the Jewish coming of age ritual, bar mitzvah (masc.) and bat mistvah (fem.). Ellen mentions her involvement with the “Jone Betty Stuchner Oy Vey! Funniest Children’s book Award” where she acts a judge and her involvement with the Jewish Book festival and that she is a recipient of the Jewish Book award. 56:37 – 1:08:53 Bill and Ellen reflect on their 35 years living in Burnaby and how they’ve seen it change. They talk about the increased development and density in the city, how they are troubled by a lack of low income housing, the benefits and importance of public transportation and preservation of green space including Burnaby parks.

History: Interviewees' biographies: Ellen Schwartz was born in Washington, DC, (1950) but grew up in New Jersey. She attended the Universities of Chicago and Wisconsin before moving to a farm in Pennsylvania, where she met her future husband Bill Schwartz. Bill Schwartz grew up in and around Philadelphia (b. 1947), and attended Pennsylvania State University. After travelling, and discouraged with life in eastern America, he and Ellen decided that British Columbia held better prospects. Bill and Ellen quit their jobs in 1972 and moved to the Kootenay region where they adopted a “back to the land” lifestyle, a very new experience for both of them. After eight years of modest success, and occasional work in nearby towns, they opted to return to Vancouver where Bill had work and where they could raise a family more easily. They rented in Vancouver for a few years before moving to family housing at UBC, while Ellen studied creative writing. Bill founded a communications and writing company, and in 1988 they purchased a home in Burnaby. Ellen launched a new career as a writer, mainly for children young adults. Both were active in their careers, raising a family, and participating in local social and political activities. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Education; Environmental Issues; Environmental Issues - Environmental Protection; Geographic Features; Geographic Features - Parks; Housing; Occupations; Occupations - Entrepreneurs; Occupations - Writers; Persons - Volunteers; Persons - Jewish Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Religions; Religions - Judaism

Names: Schwartz, William "Bill"; Schwartz, Ellen; City of Burnaby; Polestar Communications; British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Responsibility: Damer, Eric

Accession Code: BV023.16.6

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Lake Area

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby

Images

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023 thumbnail

Documents

2023_0016_0006_004

Audio Tracks

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_003.mp3

Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19611

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby sin…

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) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewers: Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik Interviewees: Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta Location of Interview: Spice Radio, Norland Avenue, Burnaby Interview Date: January 20, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:30:21 Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby since immigrating in 1972 and her arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada. Datt provides detailed information about her family background in Kenya and her parent’s decision to move their family from Kenya to India in the 1960s and then to England in the 1965. Datt describes her family’s experiences living in Kenya and India in the 1960s and provides some context on the political unrest that happened in Kenya which lead her family to leave. 12:48 - 28:07 Datt talks about her time living in England and shares information on her family life and her employment experiences. Datt conveys an experience from her childhood that inspired her to become a broadcaster and shares her experiences working for the BBC oversees service in England (1965-1972). Datt describes some of the articles that she's written for various publications and the people that she's interviewed. Datt highlights a particular experience about writing a critical review about the controversial design on Jimi Hendrix’s album “Axis: Bold as Love” that depicted Hindu religious iconography. 28:09 – 34:47 Datt and Datta provide further details about Datt's arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada in 1972 and to work as a broadcaster in Canada. Datt recalls her experiences working as a radio station operator for CHQM, a radio broadcaster for CJVB and starting her own South Asian radio station Rim Jhim in 1987. 34:48 – 40:01 Datt and Datta share information on where they’ve lived in Vancouver and Burnaby. Datt and Datta recall pivotal family life events that impacted their lives in 1974. 40:02 – 45:53 Datt recalls the travel trunks and contents that she and her family brought with them when they left Nairobi. Datt describes the letters that her parents wrote. Datt and Datta describe photos of their family and convey the impacts to their family after two of Datt’s brothers died at 24 years of age. 45:54 – 50:56 Interview continues chronologically from 1974, after Datt’s son, Sudhir Datta was born. Datt describes how she had to work hard to help pay her bills and support her family. Datta describes his childhood growing up as a South Asian child living and attending school in Burnaby (1979-1992). Datt and Datta recall Datt’s graduation ceremony and Datta’s Order of British Columbia awards ceremony. 50:57 – 58:03 Datt and Datta talk about food and cooking and where they’ve shopped for traditional food supplies. Datta explains her family lineage as Hindus who eat meat and how she’s been a vegetarian for over 30 years. Datt and Datta share stories about Datt’s mother Leela Datta. 58:04 – 1:05:38 Both Datt and Datta reflect on what’s it’s been like living as South Asians in Burnaby. Datt conveys the message that she got from her mom, Leela Datta "not to assimilate but to integrate". They both reflect on how the ethnic and cultural diversity of neighbourhoods has changed over time and Datt describes his experiences as a student in Burnaby. 1:05:39 – 1:16:51 Datt and Datta talk about the role of religion in their lives, describe the purpose of Radio Rim Jhim and reflect on how the South Asian community has grown in Metro Vancouver and the disparities created within. They both recall how their lives were threatened and impacted in 1984 following an interview that Datt did with Indira Ghandhi. Datt talks about the origins of her and her son’s surnames. 1:16:52 – 1:26:11 Datt and Datta talk about and reflect on their own experiences of racism and discrimination. Datt talks about Spice Radio’s annual campaign “Raise your hands against Racism”. Datt and Datta provide background on the radio stations Rim Jhim and Spice Radio including; how they got started, their unbiased approach to broadcast content and their experiences in the complex realm of broadcasting a multi-cultural radio station. 1:26:12 – 1:30:04 In closing, Datt and Datta convey what they think that younger generations of South Asian Canadians should understand about the South Asian Community in British Columbia.

History: Interviewees biographies: Shushma Datt was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1946 and is the second eldest of six children. In the 1960s during the unrest in Kenya, her family moved to India. After about nine months of living in India, Datt's family decided to return to Kenya, leaving Datt and her brother to complete their education in India. While living in India, Datt studied at Delhi University and worked at the Indian newspaper. In 1965, Datt, her parents and five siblings decided to leave Kenya and immigrated to England. While living in England, Datt got work as a broadcaster with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) overseas service, producing her first program in 1969. During her time with the BBC, Datt has interviewed many influential artists including Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles as well as the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. In 1972, Datt immigrated to Canada and settled in Burnaby. In late 1973, Datt sponsored her mother who joined her in Burnaby. Datt joined the CJVB radio station in Vancouver working as the Punjabi and Hindi language broadcaster. Datt worked here until 1978 when she started her own radio station, Radio Rim Jhim. In 2005, Datt obtained her own AM radio band license for a multicultural radio station RJ1200 which was later rebranded "Spice Radio". In 2015, Datt launched Spice Radio's annual "Hands Against Racism" campaign which has won awards from the Government of British Columbia and the B.C. Association of Broadcasters. Datt has also been a producer for Omni TV and Shaw TV and was the first woman to obtain a broadcasting license from the Canadian Radio- Television Telecommunications Commission. In 1992, Shushma Datt was awarded the Order of British Columbia and is also the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. Datt has been listed by the Vancouver Sun newspaper as among the 100 "most influential Indo-Canadians" and has been recognized by the Royal British Columbia Museum as one of the 150 "most influential British Columbians". Sudhir Datta is the only child of Sushma Datt and was born in Burnaby. Datta graduated with a computer science degree from Capilano University in 1995. Datta is the Vice President of Media Broadcasting (founded in 1984) creating television and radio programming for Canada's South Asian Community and has been the General Manager and Program Director of Spice Radio since 2006. Datta is also the author of many articles highlighting the South Asian community in Vancouver. Interviewers biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Jane Lemke has worked in various museums in the Lower Mainland and has been the Curator at Burnaby Village Museum since 2019. Her educational background includes a Master of Arts degree in History and a Master of Museum Studies degree. Her research focus has been on trauma and memory and its role in shaping Canadian identity. She loves sharing memories and stories of Burnaby with the public. Jane sits on the Council of the BC Museums Association and is the Chair of the BC Museums Association Professional Development and Education Committee.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Migration; Occupations - Broadcasters; Occupations - Entrepreneurs; Occupations - Journalists; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Radio Stations; Religions; Religions - Hinduism; Religions - Sikhism; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism

Names: Datt, Shushma; Datta, Sudhir; Datta, Lila Vati "Leela"; Spice Radio; Rim Jhim

Responsibility: Malik, Anushay; Lemke, Jane

Accession Code: BV023.1.3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcript available upon request

Audio Tracks

Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0001_0003_003.mp3

Gilmore School staff

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription170

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1964 or 1965]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.6 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1964-1965. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Miss Lynne Atchison, Mrs. Ann Herbert, Mrs. Nannaly Lawson, Mrs. Miriam Benson, Mrs. Alice Wade, and Miss Olive Shuttleworth. Row 2: Mrs. Lydia Derks…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.6 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Gilmore School staff from the year 1964-1965. The people are identified as follows (front row to back row, left to right). Row 1: Miss Lynne Atchison, Mrs. Ann Herbert, Mrs. Nannaly Lawson, Mrs. Miriam Benson, Mrs. Alice Wade, and Miss Olive Shuttleworth. Row 2: Mrs. Lydia Derkson, Miss Gloria Allen, Miss Eileen Brennan (nurse), Mrs. Muriel Fletcher, Miss Iris Willis, Miss Margaret Brown, and Mrs. Ruth Calder. Row 3: Miss Mary MacDonald, Mrs. Myra Maloney (School Secretary), Mrs Doreen Metzker (nee Nickle), Miss Clare Clemo, Mrs. Mae Curtis (Reading Centre), and Mrs. Bunny Gaskill. Row 4: Mr. Keith Stainton (Vice Principal ?), Mr. Robert Thomson (Principal / donor), Mr. Hudson Shannon, Mr. Charlie Johnson (Custodian), and Mr. Harry Seddon. Annotation in pencil on the back of the photograph reads: "Kieth [sic] Stainton back row / left #1 / (principal ?)" and "64-65."

Subjects: Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Nurses

Names: Allen, Gloria; Atchison, Lynne; Brennan, Eileen; Benson, Miriam; Brown, Margaret; Calder, Ruth; Clemo, Clare; Curtis, Mae; Derkson, Lydia; Fletcher, Muriel; Gaskill, Bunny; Gilmore Avenue School; Herbert, Ann; Johnson, Charlie; Lawson, Nannaly; MacDonald, Mary; Maloney, Myra; Metzker, Doreen; Seddon, Harry; Shannon, Hudson; Shuttleworth, Olive; Stainton, Keith; Thomson, Robert; Wade, Alice; Willis, Iris

Geographic Access: Gilmore Avenue

Street Address: 50 Gilmore Avenue

Accession Code: BV985.87.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1964 or 1965]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-12-19

Photographer: Croton Studio Limited

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

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Ten pin bowling at the Rose Bowl

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Texaco Station

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United Motors

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Blacksmith shops

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Children playing in a classroom

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Douglas Road School gymnasium

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Douglas Road School gymnasium construction

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Interview with Lee Rankin by Kathy Bossort December 2, 2015 - Track 1

Audio Tracks

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill

Audio Tracks

Interview with Shanaz Khan

Documents

Audio Tracks

Kindergartners blowing soap bubbles

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MacPherson Junior High School fire

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MacPherson Junior High School Fire

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Sidney Roofing and Paper Company

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Working at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant

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Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz

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Documents

Audio Tracks

Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta

Audio Tracks

Gilmore School staff

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