Narrow Results By
Subject
- Agriculture - Fruit and Berries 2
- Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores 1
- Documentary Artifacts - Identification Tags 3
- Documentary Artifacts - Invitations 1
- Documentary Artifacts - Leaflets 1
- Exchange Medium - Coupons 1
- Exchange Medium - Tickets 1
- Foods 2
- Personal Symbols - Ribbons 3
- Persons - Chinese Canadians 4
Address of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14806
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Oct. 1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a segment of a post marked envelope with the address of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a segment of a post marked envelope with the address of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver.
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.36
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 5 Oct. 1979
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 13-Oct-2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on content of item
- Item is part of a scrapbook album created by Cecil Lee
Images
China Month Contest
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14875
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 7 Nov. 1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a one page flyer from Kelly Douglas and Company Limited titled "China Month Contest (includes handwritten Chinese characters above the english title) to "All Super Valu Stores" with the subject: "Chinese Mandarin Oranges Promotion".
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a one page flyer from Kelly Douglas and Company Limited titled "China Month Contest (includes handwritten Chinese characters above the english title) to "All Super Valu Stores" with the subject: "Chinese Mandarin Oranges Promotion".
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Fruit and Berries
- Foods
- Documentary Artifacts - Leaflets
- Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.104
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 7 Nov. 1979
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 3-Nov-2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on content of item
- Item is part of a scrapbook album created by Cecil Lee
Images
China National Cereals Oils & Foodstuffs Import & Export Corporation - Shanghai Foodstuffs Branch
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14802
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [197-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a one page document with the letterhead "China National Cereals Oils & Foodstuffs Import & Export Corporation / Shanghai Foodstuffs Branch". (contents of body of page appear to be missing or redacted).
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Material Details
- Text in Chinese and English
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a one page document with the letterhead "China National Cereals Oils & Foodstuffs Import & Export Corporation / Shanghai Foodstuffs Branch". (contents of body of page appear to be missing or redacted).
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.32
- Date
- [197-]
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- January 20, 2021
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on content of item
- Item is part of a scrapbook album created by Cecil Lee
Images
China Travel Service coupon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14787
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 22 Apr. 1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p. (ticket)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of one "China Travel Service (H.K.) Ltd. Service Coupon" made out to Mr. K.C. Lee. Verso of ticket reads: "A. "Service ticket coupons cover railway tickets and baggage transfer (2 pices) and service charges from Kowloon railway station to Lowu, Shumchun to Kwangchow and taxi fares bet…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p. (ticket)
- Material Details
- Text on ticket in both English and Chinese
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of one "China Travel Service (H.K.) Ltd. Service Coupon" made out to Mr. K.C. Lee. Verso of ticket reads: "A. "Service ticket coupons cover railway tickets and baggage transfer (2 pices) and service charges from Kowloon railway station to Lowu, Shumchun to Kwangchow and taxi fares between railway station and hotel at Kwangchhow on arrival and departure. / B. These coupons are valid within five months from date of issue..."
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.137
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 22 Apr. 1977
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 22-Oct-2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on content of item
- Item is part of a scrapbook album created by Cecil Lee
Images
Sister Cities series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription160
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1964-2015
- Collection/Fonds
- Mayor's Office fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records created during the establishment and maintenance of Sister-City relationships between Burnaby and the cities of Kushiro (Japan), Loughborough (England), El Zapotal (El Salvador), Mesa (Arizona), Gatineau (Quebec), Hwaseong (Korea), Zhongshan City (P.R. China). Records in…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1964-2015
- Collection/Fonds
- Mayor's Office fonds
- Series
- Sister Cities series
- Description Level
- Series
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records created during the establishment and maintenance of Sister-City relationships between Burnaby and the cities of Kushiro (Japan), Loughborough (England), El Zapotal (El Salvador), Mesa (Arizona), Gatineau (Quebec), Hwaseong (Korea), Zhongshan City (P.R. China). Records include: reports, correspondence, photographs and photograph albums, memoranda, newspaper clippings, speeches, certificates, itineraries, presentation material, invitations, agendas, and minutes. The sister city movement gained momentum in North America after the Second World War with a goal to encourage cooperation between international communities. Burnaby became a part of that movement in the hopes that sister city relationships would create meaningful industrial, economic, educational, and cultural ties between Burnaby citizens and those of other countries. Burnaby’s first sister city was Kushiro, Japan. The formal agreement for the establishment of a sister city relationship between the two communities was signed on September 9, 1965. Following this twinning, the two cities have enjoyed numerous exchanges and visits, the records of which are contained within this series. While the sister city status between Burnaby and Kushiro has endured for over three decades, Burnaby has also maintained shorter-lived relationships with Loughborough, England and El Zapotal, El Salvador. The 1986 twinning with Loughborough was undertaken to recognize the importance of that city to the history of Burnaby in that Loughborough was the ancestral home of Burnaby’s namesake, Robert Burnaby. The twinning between Burnaby and El Zapotal came after Mayor Copeland visited El Salvador in the early 1990s and returned with a desire to see the citizens of Burnaby assist in the rebuilding of that community after a 12-year civil war was brought to an end in 1992. In 1998, Burnaby entered into two North American Sister City relationships with Mesa, Arizona and Gatineau, Quebec, and in 2010, it formulated a sister city agreement with Hwaseong, Korea. In 2011, a further agreement was signed with Zhongshan, China which expanded a previous “friendship” agreement into a Sister City relationship. Series also consists of records related to Friendship Agreements with Taichung (Taiwan), Dongcheng District (formerly Chongwen District) of Beijing (P.R. China), Dongli District of Tianjin, Changshu (P.R. China), and Kunming, Yunnan Province (P.R. China); as well as Memorandums of Understanding with a number of other cities. The records in this series reflect both the actions that led up to the creation of these relationships as well as the numerous cultural, economic and educational exchanges that have been undertaken between the communities over the years.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19150
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1950-2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) + 65 photographs + 26 photographs (jpg) + 1 portfolio (15 col. photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and his wife, Donna Polos; photographs of Jimmy Chow and his family soon after they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s as well as a sampling of photographs and records documenting Jimmy Chow's career in the film industry. Fonds is arranged…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) + 65 photographs + 26 photographs (jpg) + 1 portfolio (15 col. photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and his wife, Donna Polos; photographs of Jimmy Chow and his family soon after they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s as well as a sampling of photographs and records documenting Jimmy Chow's career in the film industry. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos interviews series 2) Jimmy Chow family photographs series 3) Property master photographs series 4) Property master records series
- History
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow was born in Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China in 1948. In 1950, Jimmy Chow and his mother, Gim Gee Chow (1913-1991) fled China to escape the Communist Revolution and to be reunited with his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow (1906-1990) who’d immigrated to Canada many years earlier. Jimmy’s elder sister Shao-Lin Chow stayed behind in China. Jimmy’s father, Robin Chung Dip Chow immigrated to Canada in 1921 at 14 years of age and was forced to pay the Chinese head tax of $500. In 1950, Jimmy and his mother first fled to Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada and arriving in Vancouver. Jimmy Chow’s birth name is Hipman Chow but when he arrived in Canada, his father indicated that he needed an English name and he was given the name “Jimmy” but retained his birth name “Hipman Chow”. Over the years, Jimmy has also used the name “James H. Chow” and is often credited by this name in the film industry. For the first four years after immigrating, Jimmy and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec where his father had work in hotels and restaurants. While living in Asquith, Saskatchewan Jimmy attended school and began to learn English. In 1954, Jimmy and his parents returned to Vancouver, first living in the area of Strathcona before settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant where they purchased a house located on 15th Avenue east of Main Street. While living in Mount Pleasant, Jimmy attended both elementary and high school. While attending high school, Jimmy began working at the local grocery store where he worked for many years living at home and saving his money. In 1970 while attending Vancouver City College, Jimmy met his future wife Donna Polos. Two years later, they moved in together, married in 1981 and started a family. Jimmy and Donna first lived in North Burnaby before purchasing a house on Victory Street in Burnaby where they raised their three children. Growing up in a traditional Chinese Canadian family, Jimmy was always one who went against the grain. Although his father wanted him to get a business degree, Jimmy had aspirations for a different career path. Through the referral of a friend, he entered the film industry in 1973 working for CBC Vancouver. While working at the CBC, Jimmy gained valuable experience working on the set of the television series The Beachcombers, which launched his career in the film industry. Over a 45 year career, Jimmy worked on over 50 blockbuster movies, historical period films, science fiction films and fantasy films, where he honed in on his expertise as a set decorator, art director and property master. He built an international reputation through working with production companies, prop makers and antique sellers across the globe. As a property master in the film industry, Jimmy Chow has been responsible for designing, managing, and sourcing props for films such as: The BFG, Warcraft: The Beginning, X-Men 2, Fantastic Four, Watchman, Tron: Legacy, Little Women, Seven Years in Tibet, Shanghai Noon, The Shipping News, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Changeling, Man of Steel (Superman), Snow Falling on Cedars, Legends of the Fall, And the Sea Will Tell, Once a Thief and many more. With Jimmy's many years of professional experience in the film industry, he has been a union member of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians...) from July 1979, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science from 2018 and has worked as a guest lecturer in film production at Capilano University and Langara University. He was also a key contributor to the Burnaby Village Museum’s 2014 temporary exhibition Burnaby Makes Movies. Donna Polos was born in Vancouver in 1949 to parents Mayme "May" Helen Tillikana Polos (1931-1977) and Donald James Polos (1926-2017). Donna’s maternal grandparents, Elvi Tienhara and Toiva Tillikana immigrated to Canada from Helsinki, Finland. Donna’s paternal grandmother, Pauline Chimiki Polos emigrated from Ukraine to Argentina and then to Winnipeg. Donna’s paternal grandfather, James "Jimmy" Kostopolus emigrated as an orphan from Sparta Greece at the age of 12 years. In 1908, he first immigrated to the United States where he was denied entry so immigrated to Canada, entering through Halifax at Pier 17. When immigrating, James changed his last name to "Polos". Jimmy Polos arrived in Halifax with only five dollars in his pocket. He lived in Halifax for many years before making his way to Vancouver where he established three restaurants and raised his family. James was the proprietor of three restaurants in Burnaby including; the Home Apple Pie Café (1941-1944) located on East Hastings near Princess Avenue; Jimmy’s Café (1945-1955) located on East Hastings near Hawks Avenue and another restaurant located near 10th Avenue and Alma Street. Donna grew up with her family in Vancouver, first living in the downtown eastside before moving to a home near Joyce Station. Donna attended elementary school and high school while growing up in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station. Donna moved out of her family home at 21 years of age and lived with roommates before moving in with Jimmy Chow in 1972. Donna attended Vancouver City College and the University of British Columbia where she obtained her teaching degree in 1974. Donna first taught at Gilmore Elementary School before being hired to teach at Clinton Elementary School where she taught for nine years. While raising their three children, Donna worked part time teaching in schools in Burnaby. In 1991, after a near death experience, Donna became interested in fine art and took drawing and watercolour painting classes. This experience led her to experimenting with different painting techniques on paper and fabric. In 2008, Donna retired from teaching but continued her art career often working as an Artist in Residence at various schools and exhibiting her work. While living in Burnaby Donna has been politically active with a particular passion for heritage, housing and preserving the natural environment. Donna was instrumental in advocating and petitioning for the establishment of a tree bylaw in Burnaby which was eventually adopted by the City.
- Creator
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Polos, Donna
- Accession Code
- BV022.21
- BV023.11
- Date
- 1950-2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Graphic Material
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow's name in Cantonese is Chow Hipman and in Mandarin is Zhou Xiamin.
Quon Lip Lee fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16725
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1921-1988 (date of originals), copied 2021
- Collection/Fonds
- Quon Lip Lee fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 8 photograph (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs pertaining to personal records of Quon Lip Lee including his immigration and citizenship documents, his family, business and involvement as a member with Lee's Benevolent Associaton of Canada.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Quon Lip Lee fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 8 photograph (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs pertaining to personal records of Quon Lip Lee including his immigration and citizenship documents, his family, business and involvement as a member with Lee's Benevolent Associaton of Canada.
- History
- Quon Lip Lee immigrated to Canada in 1921 from Sun Woy county, Guangdong at the age of 12 and found work as a housekeeper. In his adult years, Lee travelled back to China several times and fathered two sons and two daughters in China, including Tim Lee who was born in 1949. Quon Lip Lee purchased two acres of farmland in Richmond and operated a poultry farm in the No.3 Road and Williams Road area. He brought his wife and most of his children from China to Canada in 1952, with the exception of one daughter who was already married. When the poultry industry began to decline, Lee purchased a grocery store business in Burnaby and the Lee family moved to Burnaby in 1962. The shop was named C&L Grocery, which stood for Cheng (his son-in-law’s surname) and Lee. The property was located at 6912 Kingsway on the corner of Kingsway and Griffiths and had three store fronts and a house in the back where the family lived. The family grocery store sold groceries and canned goods and was in operation for approximately fifteen years. Quon Lip Lee was a member of Lee's Benevolent Association of Canada. In 1988, Quon Lip, received a service award for his many contributions as an advisory board member and board secretary of Lee's Benevolent Association magazine. As a child, Tim Lee attended Stride Avenue School, Edmonds School and Burnaby South Secondary School. Tim co-owned an architectural mill work company named New Image Millwork Ltd. in Surrey for 30 years before his retirement. The company renovated locations including the Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby’s Winners store, and other businesses. Tim sold the business and retired in 2019.
- Creator
- Lee, Quon Lip
- Accession Code
- BV021.18
- Date
- 1921-1988 (date of originals), copied 2021
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Cecil Lee business records series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15033
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1970-1980, predominant 1970-1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 12 cm of textual records + 1 photograph : b&w + 6 photographs : col.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of business records collected and created by Cecil Lee while he was employed as a Produce Buyer for Kelly Douglas Limited and Western Commodities Limited and responsible for the import of Chinese mandarin oranges. Records include correspondence, photographs, documentation regarding …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 12 cm of textual records + 1 photograph : b&w + 6 photographs : col.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of business records collected and created by Cecil Lee while he was employed as a Produce Buyer for Kelly Douglas Limited and Western Commodities Limited and responsible for the import of Chinese mandarin oranges. Records include correspondence, photographs, documentation regarding travel within China along with export and import information, contracts, financial reports, credit applications, Chinese trade fair information and ephemera.
- History
- Kelly Douglas and Company Limited was founded in 1896 as a wholesale grocery business. In 1946, its headquarters moved from Vancouver to Burnaby and a manufacturing plant and warehouse were built on the site at 4700 Kingsway. During the nineteen seventies, Kelly Douglas and Company Limited and the Produce Department of Western Commodities Limited were located on this site. In 1986, the building was demolished and the produce department of Kelly Douglas was relocated to 6451 Telford Burnaby and the head office to 808 Nelson Street, Vancouver. In the nineteen seventies, Cecil Lee worked as a produce buyer for Kelly Douglas & Company Ltd.and Western Commodities. In the mid-1970s, Lee was asked to oversee the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into Canada. Until that time, mandarin oranges had come from Japan and were sold in the winter, especially at Christmas. When the Japanese market could no longer keep up with demand, Kelly Douglas & Company looked to China. The company relied on Lee’s cultural knowledge to build this very profitable part of their business. Cecil Lee designed the cardboard Chinese mandarin orange box to replace wooden container
- Subjects
- Foods
- Agriculture - Fruit and Berries
- Accession Code
- BV019.6
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FIPPA
- Date
- 1970-1980, predominant 1970-1979
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of series
- A large portion of these records are subject to FIPPA, contact Burnaby Village Museum for access
Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14764
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1920-2006, predominant 1920-1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 photographs : col. + 1 photograph : b&w + 1 photograph : sepia + 41 photographs (tiffs) + 4 photographs (jpgs) + 12 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of family photographs of the Jung, Chan and Lee families as well as business records collected and created by Cecil Lee in the nineteen seventies, while he was employed as a Produce Buyer for Kelly Douglas Limited and Western Commodities Limited and responsible for the import of Chin…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 photographs : col. + 1 photograph : b&w + 1 photograph : sepia + 41 photographs (tiffs) + 4 photographs (jpgs) + 12 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of family photographs of the Jung, Chan and Lee families as well as business records collected and created by Cecil Lee in the nineteen seventies, while he was employed as a Produce Buyer for Kelly Douglas Limited and Western Commodities Limited and responsible for the import of Chinese mandarin oranges. Fonds is arranged into the following series: 1) Lee family photographs series 3) Cecil Lee business records series
- History
- Julie Cho Chan Lee is the daughter of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) (1912-2006) and Puy Yuen Chan (1903-1978). Suey Ying "Laura" and Puy Yuen Chan were married in New Westminster in November 1942 followed by a fourteen year residency in the “minority town site” of Fraser Mills where their daughters Julie and June were born. Julie's mother Suey Ying "Laura" Jung was born in Burnaby in 1912 to Chung Chong Jung (1875-1956) and Gee Shee Jung (1879-1952). The family had six children (five of which lived to adulthood); Suey Fong "Maida" (1909-1997) (married Quinn Wong) ; Suey Kin "Annie" (1911-1962) (married George Jong); Suey Ying "Laura"; Suey Cheung "Harry" (1916-1991) and "; Suey Yook "Gordon" (1919-1998). The family owned and operated a five acre market garden and piggery at 5460 Douglas Road near Still Creek (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958). This was conveniently located directly across the street from Douglas Road Interurban Station. The children attended Edmonds Elementary School and while the girls only completed their elementary school years, the boys continued their education at the Vancouver Technical School. Chung Chong and Gee Shee Jung sold the farm on Douglas Road around 1949 and moved to East Vancouver. Julie's mother, Suey Ying "Laura" Jung continued to live and work on the Jung family farm until she was married in 1942 when she moved to live with her husband, Puy Yuen at Fraser Mills. Suey Ying "Laura"'s sister Maida and her husband Quinn Wong also lived at Fraser Mills with their nine children. Julie's father, Puy Yuen Chan joined his father, Chin Yip Hong in Canada at the tender age of 12, worked as a shingle packer and plywood plant handler at Fraser Mills for forty years and retired without ever learning to speak English. In 1972, Julie Cho Chan married Cecil Lee and lived in Surrey where their two boys, Rodney and Darin were born. Just prior to the start of school for Rodney, the family relocated to Coquitlam where Julie had lived since 1956. Julie worked as a teacher and later as a teacher-librarian in the Coquitlam School District. Cecil Chue Kan Lee was born in Queensborough to Sui Seo Ngen and Ding Quai Lee. Cecil is the youngest of eight children; Chue Ngan "Gladys"; Chue Fay "Walter"; Chue Quon "Charlie"; Chue Jan "Pearl"; Chue Moi "Rose"; Chue Duck "Dick" and Chue Kwong "Ken". Cecil’s father, Ding Quai Lee was a jack of all trades including a labour contractor as a well as a millwright for G.W. Beach’s three mills, Keystone, Sapperton and Harrison Mills.In 1931, with the arrival of the Depression, the family made the difficult decision to return to their homeland of Guangzhou province, eventually returning to Canada in 1939. With this decision, Ding Quai wrestled with the burden of the repayment of the loans for two way steamship fares to and from China. Upon their return to Canada, the family lived a short time on Union Street in Vancouver before relocating to Queensborough (New Westminster). Cecil and his siblings were schooled at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School followed by varying stints at FW Howay and Duke of Connaught High Schools. In 1951, Cecil Lee joined Kelly Douglas & Company Ltd., a subsidiary of the George Weston Empire, as a produce warehouseman, followed by several years as a foreman and then in the early seventies until his 1991 retirement after forty years of service, he served as one of the KD produce buyers. In this capacity, he worked closely with local farmers along Marine Drive and in the Fraser Valley. Kelly Douglas and Company Limited was founded in 1896 as a wholesale grocery business and became one of the largest food distributors in Canada. In 1946, its headquarters moved from Vancouver to Burnaby and a manufacturing plant and warehouse were built on the site at 4700 Kingsway. In the mid-1970s, Lee along with the associates at Western Commodities, the head office for produce imports, was asked to oversee the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into western Canada. Until that time, mandarin oranges had come only from Japan and were sold in the winter, especially at Christmas. When the Japanese market could no longer keep up with the popular demand, Kelly Douglas and Company Limited looked to China. The company relied on Lee’s cultural knowledge to build this very profitable part of their business. Moreover, Cecil Lee designed, though not patented, the cardboard Chinese mandarin orange box to replace wooden containers. The iconic design required no glue or staples, making it possible for farmers to assemble and pack the boxes as they picked the oranges. In 1986, the Kelly Douglas and Company building was demolished and the produce department of Kelly Douglas was relocated to 6451 Telford Burnaby and the head office to 808 Nelson Street, Vancouver.
- Accession Code
- BV017.24; BV019.6; BV019.33; BV020.38; BV021.19
- Date
- 1920-2006, predominant 1920-1979
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Arrangement
- Records within fonds are composed of business records and family photographs arranged by the Lee family.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- See also: Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020. -- [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020 BV020.6.2
- See also artifact descriptions under accession BV019.6 including BV019.6.1 - for description of original box to ship and sell mandarin oranges; BV019.6.15 and BV019.6.16 for Chinese mandarin orange wrappers "Snow Mountain Mandarin Orange"
- Many of the "Business records" are closed and subject to FIPPA, contact Burnaby Village Museum regarding access
Chinese Export Commodities Fair identification tag
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14794
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 identification tag
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a circular cardboard "CECF" tag that was used by "Western Commodities Ltd." as part of an identification tag to attend the Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978, jointly sponsored by The National Foreign Trade Corporations of China, to be held April 15 to May 15, 1978.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 identification tag
- Material Details
- Text in both English and Chinese
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a circular cardboard "CECF" tag that was used by "Western Commodities Ltd." as part of an identification tag to attend the Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978, jointly sponsored by The National Foreign Trade Corporations of China, to be held April 15 to May 15, 1978.
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Documentary Artifacts - Identification Tags
- Personal Symbols - Ribbons
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.8
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1978
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 29-Sept-2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on content of item
- Badge includes a silk ribbon (BV019.6.7) that was pinned to the top of the tag as an identifier for the Chinese Export Commodities Fair
- Item is part of a scrapbook album created by Cecil Lee
Images
Chinese Export Commodities Fair ribbon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14793
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 ribbon
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a pink silk ribbon that was used by "Western Commodities Ltd." as part of an identification tag to attend the Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978, jointly sponsored by The National Foreign Trade Corporations of China, to be held April 15 to May 15, 1978.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 ribbon
- Material Details
- Text in both English and Chinese
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a pink silk ribbon that was used by "Western Commodities Ltd." as part of an identification tag to attend the Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978, jointly sponsored by The National Foreign Trade Corporations of China, to be held April 15 to May 15, 1978.
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Documentary Artifacts - Identification Tags
- Personal Symbols - Ribbons
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.7
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1978
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 29-Sept-2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on content of item
- Ribbon includes a "CECF" tag (BV019.6.8) that was pinned to the top of the ribbon as an identifier for the Chinese Export Commodities Fair
- Item is part of a scrapbook album created by Cecil Lee
Images
Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14792
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p. (folded)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an invitation for "Western Commodities Ltd." to attend the Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978, jointly sponsored by The National Foreign Trade Corporations of China, to be held April 15 to May 15, 1978.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p. (folded)
- Material Details
- Text in both English and Chinese
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an invitation for "Western Commodities Ltd." to attend the Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978, jointly sponsored by The National Foreign Trade Corporations of China, to be held April 15 to May 15, 1978.
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.6
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1978
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 29-Sept-2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on content of item
- Item is part of a scrapbook album created by Cecil Lee
Images
Correspondence - Way Sang Yuen
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9555
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1949-1970
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of various documents including letters of correspondence from Hong Kong addressed to "Way Sang Yuen" / "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co" with the content of the letter written in Cantonese as well as a three page document with letterhead which reads: "HEATLEY TRADING COMPANY LTD. / WHOLESA…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of various documents including letters of correspondence from Hong Kong addressed to "Way Sang Yuen" / "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co" with the content of the letter written in Cantonese as well as a three page document with letterhead which reads: "HEATLEY TRADING COMPANY LTD. / WHOLESALE TOBACCONISTS & CONFECTIONERS / 77 PENDER STREET / VANCOUVER, B.C." and the body of the documents written in both Cantonese and English and an invoice/receipt from "CHINA DAILY NEWS".
- Accession Code
- BV017.7.389
- Date
- 1949-1970
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Harry Toy fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20339
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [197-]-2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Harry Toy fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- .5 cm of textual records + 6 photographs + 2 photographs (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of business records and photographs relating to Harry Toy's store the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants' Association and his family.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Harry Toy fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- .5 cm of textual records + 6 photographs + 2 photographs (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of business records and photographs relating to Harry Toy's store the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants' Association and his family.
- History
- Harry Wee Koon Toy was born in February 9, 1936 in Taikong, Toisan county, Guangdong, China. Harry's father William Toy came to Canada in the early 1920s when he was ten years old. Harry arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 9, 1950. After staying in Vancouver for one night, he joined his father in Neepawa, Manitoba where the family operated a cafe business (Royal Cafe). Harry grew up in Neepawa and graduated from the University of Manitoba and teacher's college. He became a high school teacher and worked at schools in Minnedosa and Gladstone, Manitoba teaching various subjects including, science, business, geography, history and physical education. Harry and his wife, had three daughters, Melinda, Beverley and Christina who were all born in Neepawa. When the family decided to move to the west coast, Harry was introduced to the grocery store business through an uncle who was a store operator. Around 1970, Harry purchased a grocery store at 4694 Canada Way in Burnaby which he named "Canada Way Food Market" and Harry and his daughters made their home at the back of the store. Harry owned and operated the store for approximately 40 years between 1970 and 2010. Around 1986, Harry purchased the butcher shop next door (4692 Canada Way) which was no longer in operation, expanding his store and adding a second storey to use as a residence. Harry's children helped him operate the store throughout their childhood. In the early 1970s, corner stores were threatened by the spread of small chain-operated convenience stories from Eastern Canada to Vancouver. Formed in April 1972, the Fraser Merchants’ Association was established to protect the rights of corner store operators. With no paid legal help, the association was incorporated in Victoria, BC for the cost of 56 cents. The benefits of being a member of the association included warehouse and group purchasing, common advertising and other advantages of being part of an association. Founded by Gary Lee Ling and five others, Fraser Merchants’ Association’s first member was Graham Grocery. By 1978, the association represented over 200 corner stores in the Lower Mainland (Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, and New Westminster) and Fraser Valley. The association remained active into the 1980s and 1990s. Harry has served as President of the Fraser Merchants' Association from 1992 to present.
- Creator
- Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"
- Accession Code
- BV023.25
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [197-]-2023
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Related Material
- See also BV023.16.19 - Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy
- For associated artifacts from Canada Way Food Market see Accession BV023.17
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Registration form for visitors to the fair
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14795
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a blank registration form for visitors to the Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978, jointly sponsored by The National Foreign Trade Corporations of China, to be held April 15 to May 15, 1978.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 p.
- Material Details
- Text in both English and Chinese
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a blank registration form for visitors to the Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Spring) 1978, jointly sponsored by The National Foreign Trade Corporations of China, to be held April 15 to May 15, 1978.
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Documentary Artifacts - Identification Tags
- Personal Symbols - Ribbons
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.9
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1978
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 29-Sept-2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on content of item
- Item is part of a scrapbook album created by Cecil Lee