Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Interview with Toki Miyashita by Rod Fowler February 27, 1990 - Track 10

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory525

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1989-1990

Length: 00:06:41

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Toki Miyashita’s description of how Toko Nuburi and his son [Shusei] worked to create the pole carvings in 1989. She also relates that seeing Toko, a man of the north of Japan, explains her own physical characteristics

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Toki Miyashita’s description of how Toko Nuburi and his son [Shusei] worked to create the pole carvings in 1989. She also relates that seeing Toko, a man of the north of Japan, explains her own physical characteristics

Date Range: 1989-1990

Length: 00:06:41

Names: Burnaby Mountain Centennial Park; Burnaby Mountain Park; Kamui Mintara

Subjects: Celebrations - Centennial; Ceremonial Artifacts - Totem Poles; Woodworking Tools and Equipment

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 27, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Toki Miyashita, conducted by Rod Fowler. Toki Miyashita was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Toki Miyashita’s family’s internment during WWII, her awakening interest in Japanese culture after the war, her subsequent interest in teaching others about Japanese crafts and arts, and becoming a helpful intermediary between Burnaby and visitors from Japan. The interview explores her interest in the Ainu of Japan and their possible link to the aboriginals of BC, her impressions of the Ainu carver Nuburi Toko, and her involvement in the events surrounding the creation of the sculpture “Playground of the Gods” for Burnaby Mountain. The interview also contains interesting details about the art of Japanese flower-arranging. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Toki Miyashita was born in Richmond B.C., ca. 1935, at the Nelson Brothers “fishery”, a second generation Canadian descended from the Oikawa family who settled on Don and Lion Islands (Oikawa-shima). In 1942 the Japanese Canadians in BC were forcibly moved from the coast and their belongings confiscated. Toki Miyashita, her parents, two brothers, and grandparents were first taken to Hastings Park where her father was separated from the family to work in road camps, and the rest of the family were interned in New Denver. Her resourceful grandmother moved the family to land outside the internment camp, growing a large garden from seeds brought with her. In 1946 the family moved to Kamloops and in 1958, after finishing high school, Toki Miyashita moved to Montreal to be with relatives and a small Japanese community. At this time she became interested in Japanese culture and took a Japanese language course at age 22. She learned about Japanese flower-arranging (Ikebana), paper folding (Origami), silk doll making (from a Russian Jew), and how to wear a kimono. She began demonstrating these arts in schools and to other groups, which she continued doing when she, her husband and two young children moved to Burnaby in 1969. Toki Miyashita has been called an unpaid “ambassador” of Japanese culture to the Lower Mainland. She has acted as liaison between Burnaby and her sister city Kushiro in Japan, which involved her in the creation of the Ainu sculpture “Playground of the Gods” on Burnaby Mountain for Burnaby’s Centennial. Toki Miyashita is a recognized Master in Ikebana Sogetsu, a school of flower-arranging, and has served on the board of the Vancouver Ikebana Association. She also served on Burnaby’s Family Court in the 1980s.

Total Tracks: 11

Total Length: 01:34:10

Interviewee Name: Miyashita, Toki

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

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

Audio Tracks

Track ten of interview with Toki Miyashita

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-017/MSS187-017_Track_10.mp3

Land surveyor on a road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98246

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

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

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified land surveyor standing behind a land surveying total station at the curve of a road.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

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

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-3313

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified land surveyor standing behind a land surveying total station at the curve of a road.

Subjects: Occupations - Land Surveyors; Photographic Tools and Equipment; Geographic Features - Roads

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Collected by editorial for use in a September 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader

Images

Land surveyor on a road, [1999] thumbnail

Interview with Toki Miyashita by Rod Fowler February 27, 1990 - Track 9

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory524

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1980-1990

Length: 00:19:08

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Toki Miyashita’s involvement with the Ainu carver Nuburi Toko and her interest in the link between BC’s aboriginals and the Ainu of Japan. She describes Toko’s visits, her arrangement for Toko to meet Haida carver Bill Reid, and the events surrounding Burnaby…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Toki Miyashita’s involvement with the Ainu carver Nuburi Toko and her interest in the link between BC’s aboriginals and the Ainu of Japan. She describes Toko’s visits, her arrangement for Toko to meet Haida carver Bill Reid, and the events surrounding Burnaby’s sister-city Kushiro’s gift of Toko’s sculptures to Burnaby for the Centennial. She also describes Toko’s appreciation of the Haida totems and the native people of BC, and his gift of a set of carving tools to Chief Saul Terry

Date Range: 1980-1990

Length: 00:19:08

Names: Burnaby Mountain Centennial Park; Burnaby Mountain Park; Kamui Mintara

Subjects: Celebrations - Centennial; Indigenous wood-carving - Totem poles; Woodworking Tools and Equipment

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 27, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Toki Miyashita, conducted by Rod Fowler. Toki Miyashita was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Toki Miyashita’s family’s internment during WWII, her awakening interest in Japanese culture after the war, her subsequent interest in teaching others about Japanese crafts and arts, and becoming a helpful intermediary between Burnaby and visitors from Japan. The interview explores her interest in the Ainu of Japan and their possible link to the aboriginals of BC, her impressions of the Ainu carver Nuburi Toko, and her involvement in the events surrounding the creation of the sculpture “Playground of the Gods” for Burnaby Mountain. The interview also contains interesting details about the art of Japanese flower-arranging. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Toki Miyashita was born in Richmond B.C., ca. 1935, at the Nelson Brothers “fishery”, a second generation Canadian descended from the Oikawa family who settled on Don and Lion Islands (Oikawa-shima). In 1942 the Japanese Canadians in BC were forcibly moved from the coast and their belongings confiscated. Toki Miyashita, her parents, two brothers, and grandparents were first taken to Hastings Park where her father was separated from the family to work in road camps, and the rest of the family were interned in New Denver. Her resourceful grandmother moved the family to land outside the internment camp, growing a large garden from seeds brought with her. In 1946 the family moved to Kamloops and in 1958, after finishing high school, Toki Miyashita moved to Montreal to be with relatives and a small Japanese community. At this time she became interested in Japanese culture and took a Japanese language course at age 22. She learned about Japanese flower-arranging (Ikebana), paper folding (Origami), silk doll making (from a Russian Jew), and how to wear a kimono. She began demonstrating these arts in schools and to other groups, which she continued doing when she, her husband and two young children moved to Burnaby in 1969. Toki Miyashita has been called an unpaid “ambassador” of Japanese culture to the Lower Mainland. She has acted as liaison between Burnaby and her sister city Kushiro in Japan, which involved her in the creation of the Ainu sculpture “Playground of the Gods” on Burnaby Mountain for Burnaby’s Centennial. Toki Miyashita is a recognized Master in Ikebana Sogetsu, a school of flower-arranging, and has served on the board of the Vancouver Ikebana Association. She also served on Burnaby’s Family Court in the 1980s.

Total Tracks: 11

Total Length: 01:34:10

Interviewee Name: Miyashita, Toki

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

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

Audio Tracks

Track nine of interview with Toki Miyashita

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-017/MSS187-017_Track_9.mp3

Tree chopping guy

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98147

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified man, posing with a handsaw next a dead section of a large hedge on Parker Street.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-3225

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified man, posing with a handsaw next a dead section of a large hedge on Parker Street.

Subjects: Plants; Plants - Trees; Woodworking Tools and Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on original file name; Collected by editorial for use in a June 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader

Geographic Access: Parker Street

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Burnaby Village Museum, Heritage Village

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12362

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1990]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. postcard ; 9 x 14 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of Heritage Village. Groups of costumed people are gathered beside a flagpole. There is a pennyfarthing bicycle.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Marketing photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. postcard ; 9 x 14 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of Heritage Village. Groups of costumed people are gathered beside a flagpole. There is a pennyfarthing bicycle.

Subjects: Documentary Artifacts - Postcards

Names: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV020.5.15

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1990]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 25-Mar-20

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on note on verso of photograph; This photograph was made into a postcard.

Images

Burnaby Village Museum, Heritage Village, [1990] thumbnail

Reconstructed Central Park Bandstand

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58424

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1996

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photographic postcard : col.

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the reconstructed Central Park Bandstand used to promote its official opening taking place May 29, 1996 (to be described).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1996

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pixie McGeachie subseries

Physical Description: 1 photographic postcard : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 332-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1996-16

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the reconstructed Central Park Bandstand used to promote its official opening taking place May 29, 1996 (to be described).

Subjects: Buildings - Recreational - Bandstands; Documentary Artifacts - Postcards

Media Type: Photograph

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Street Address: 3883 Imperial Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Reconstructed Central Park Bandstand

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58425

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1996

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photographic postcard : col.

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the reconstructed Central Park Bandstand used to promote its official opening taking place May 29, 1996.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1996

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pixie McGeachie subseries

Physical Description: 1 photographic postcard : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 332-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1996-16

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the reconstructed Central Park Bandstand used to promote its official opening taking place May 29, 1996.

Subjects: Buildings - Recreational - Bandstands; Documentary Artifacts - Postcards

Media Type: Photograph

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Street Address: 3883 Imperial Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

1160 Douglas Rd

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94327

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: December 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 22 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photographs of the exterior of a three-storey commerical building located at 1160 Douglas Road.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: December 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Physical Description: 22 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Description Level: File

Record No.: 622-112

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-39

Scope and Content: Photographs of the exterior of a three-storey commerical building located at 1160 Douglas Road.

Subjects: Land Clearing; Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Buildings - Commercial

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Young, Richard

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in; File no. 94-424-B

Geographic Access: Douglas Road

Street Address: 1160 Douglas Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Willingdon Heights Area

4010 Regent St.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94318

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: September 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photographs of an undeveloped property located at 4010 Regent Street. Property is covered with soil, brush, and some trees.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: September 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Physical Description: 25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Description Level: File

Record No.: 622-103

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-39

Scope and Content: Photographs of an undeveloped property located at 4010 Regent Street. Property is covered with soil, brush, and some trees.

Subjects: Land Clearing

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Young, Richard

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in; File no. 94-342-B

Geographic Access: Regent Street

Street Address: 4010 Regent Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: West Central Valley Area

5200 Oakmount Cr.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94313

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: June 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 23 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photographs of an undeveloped property located at 5200 Oakmount Crescent - an address that no longer exists.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: June 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Physical Description: 23 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Description Level: File

Record No.: 622-098

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-39

Scope and Content: Photographs of an undeveloped property located at 5200 Oakmount Crescent - an address that no longer exists.

Subjects: Land Clearing

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in; File no. 94-236-B; Photographer identified as "J.C."

Geographic Access: Oakmount Crescent

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Windsor Area

5548 Marshland Ave

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94302

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: January 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photographs of an undeveloped property located at 5548 Marshland Avenue - an address that no longer exists.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: January 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Physical Description: 25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Description Level: File

Record No.: 622-087

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-39

Scope and Content: Photographs of an undeveloped property located at 5548 Marshland Avenue - an address that no longer exists.

Subjects: Land Clearing

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in; File no. 94-023-B; Photographer identified as "K.D."

Geographic Access: Marshland Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

7026 Kingsway

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94304

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: January 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 19 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photographs of commercial and undeveloped properties located in the 7100 block of Kingsway, including Middlegate Honda, with mid-rise towers visible in the background.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: January 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Physical Description: 19 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Description Level: File

Record No.: 622-089

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-39

Scope and Content: Photographs of commercial and undeveloped properties located in the 7100 block of Kingsway, including Middlegate Honda, with mid-rise towers visible in the background.

Subjects: Land Clearing; Buildings - Commercial; Buildings - Commercial - Automobile Dealerships

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in; File no. 94-028-B; Photographer identified as "L.D."

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

8980 Fraserwood Crt

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94326

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: December 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 24 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photographs of an undeveloped property located at 8980 Fraserwood Court. A Sutton Group real estate sign on the property advertises the site as the Fraserwood Corporate Centre with strata warehouse and office flex space. File also contains photographs of the commerical building adjacent to the si…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: December 1994

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Physical Description: 24 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Description Level: File

Record No.: 622-111

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-39

Scope and Content: Photographs of an undeveloped property located at 8980 Fraserwood Court. A Sutton Group real estate sign on the property advertises the site as the Fraserwood Corporate Centre with strata warehouse and office flex space. File also contains photographs of the commerical building adjacent to the site.

Subjects: Land Clearing; Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Buildings - Commercial

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in; File no. 94-422-B; Photographer identified as "L.D."

Geographic Access: Fraserwood Court

Street Address: 8980 Fraserwood Court

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Burnaby

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription93751

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1991

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 43 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photographs of the exterior of a single-storey industrial building and surrounding undeveloped property. A sign on the building reads "Bauer". The location of the building has not been identified.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1991

Collection/Fonds: Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds

Physical Description: 43 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm

Description Level: File

Record No.: 622-036

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-39

Scope and Content: Photographs of the exterior of a single-storey industrial building and surrounding undeveloped property. A sign on the building reads "Bauer". The location of the building has not been identified.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial; Land Clearing

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in; File no. 91-452-B

Residents involved in protesting tree removal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription78595

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 8, 1995

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 24.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of residents of Burnaby protesting the clearing of land around the Hong Kong Bank, in Discovery Park industrial site near British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 8, 1995

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 24.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-0011

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2012-11

Scope and Content: Photograph of residents of Burnaby protesting the clearing of land around the Hong Kong Bank, in Discovery Park industrial site near British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

Subjects: Animals - Dogs; Land Clearing; Protests and Demonstrations

Names: Chami, Parvin

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Ponne, Simone

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in black ink on recto of photograph reads: "2764A Bby Ponne / Bby p. 1 81%"; Trim marks and/or reproduction instructions on recto (scan is cropped)

Geographic Access: Willingdon Avenue

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Residents involved in protesting tree removal, October 8, 1995 thumbnail

Disco ball maker

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98179

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified person in a studio, using a caulk gun to make a disco ball.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-3257

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified person in a studio, using a caulk gun to make a disco ball.

Subjects: Occupations - Artists; Construction Tools and Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Collected by editorial for use in a July 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader

Images

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

Ken Shymka at Still Creek

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98252

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of photographer Ken Shymka posing with his camera at Still Creek.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-3319

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of photographer Ken Shymka posing with his camera at Still Creek.

Subjects: Occupations - Photographers; Geographic Features - Creeks; Geographic Features - Streams; Photographic Tools and Equipment - Camera

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of file; Collected by editorial for use in a September 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader

Geographic Access: Still Creek

Images

Ken Shymka at Still Creek, [1999] thumbnail

Tom Collings

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription78856

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: February 14, 1996

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 21 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Tom Collings, a lab engineer at Simon Fraser University (SFU) holding his 'V-chip' invention that allows images and language to be programmed out of television shows.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: February 14, 1996

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 21 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-0168

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2012-11

Scope and Content: Photograph of Tom Collings, a lab engineer at Simon Fraser University (SFU) holding his 'V-chip' invention that allows images and language to be programmed out of television shows.