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Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19348
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Dr. Sadhu Binning Location of Interview: Love farmhouse at Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 25, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 3 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:15:57) Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto three separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future exhibits and for researchers to learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby. During the interview, Dr. Binning shares his ancestral background along with his relatives' and his own personal experiences as a South Asian immigrant living and working in British Columbia and Burnaby. Dr. Binning conveys that he’s a Burnaby resident who’s lived in Burnaby since 1973 and that his children were born here. Binning shares his ancestral heritage beginning with his uncle Dhana Singh who emigrated from Punjab to British Columbia in 1931 and began working in the forest industry. He explains how Dhana Singh and another partner owned, operated and worked in small sawmills in the vicinity of Kamloops, Williams Lake and also on Vancouver Island. Binning conveys that in the beginning Dhana Singh and many other South Asian immigrants were not legal residents until 1938. In 1938, about 350 South Asian immigrants (mainly Punjabi) gathered resources to hire a lawyer to obtain permanent residency. Binning mentions that one of the notable South Asians in the group who was also a close friend of his uncle, was Darshan Singh Sangha, a trade unionist who was a founding member of the International Woodworkers of America (IWA) union and an active member of the Communist Party of Canada. Binning conveys how Darshan Singh Sangha returned to India in 1947 to be a part of the revolution, how he was very active in the communist movement in India. While in India, Darshan Singh Sangha, was known as Canadian and thereby adopted “Canadian” as his surname, becoming “Darshan Singh Canadian”. Binning further explains that his uncle Dhana Singh Sangha returned to India in 1951, married and came back to B.C. in 1957 bringing with him, his wife and children. In 1960, with the support of his uncle, Binning’s father, Jit Singh Binning immigrated to British Columbia and began working in sawmills in the lower mainland, Kamloops, Quesnel and on Vancouver Island. Binning clarifies that his uncle, Dhana Singh was able to immigrate to Canada with the support of his cousins from the Tarker Singh Bains family. Binning further describes Darshan Singh Sangha’s involvement with the Communist party and the IWA and how the majority of the members were from the forest industry. As an active and prominent member of the labour movement, Darshan Singh Sangha fought for the rights of South Asians and Chinese who working in the industry and facing racism, unfair wages and discriminatory practices. Binning describes how Darshan Singh Sangha wrote a book in English in 1943, titled “Rise of the New Asia”. Binning conveys how immigrants of Chinese and South Asian decent didn’t have the right to vote in British Columbia and how Darshan Singh Sangha was instrumental in obtaining the right to vote in British Columbia, although he was never given the credit. Binning describes his uncle Dhana Singh as a likeable guy with many friends, first living in Kamloops before moving to Vancouver. Binning imparts how the sport of wrestling is a popular Punjabi sport along with Punjabi kabaddi. He conveys that his uncle became involved in wrestling while working in sawmills. South Asian immigrants had to do physical labour working in sawmills, the work could be tough and could often lead to physical fights. A number of South Asian immigrants working in the mills already had experience as wrestlers from back home. Dhana Singh later left the lumber industry to work in the agriculture sector. Binning explains how immigration rules changed in the 1960s which lead to larger numbers of South Asians immigrating to Canada. Many of these new immigrants were educated and politically conscious. All of these new immigrants faced racism but being politically conscious from an independent India and with the ability to speak English they organized themselves to fight for their rights. Binning imagines the items that his uncle and his father may have brought with them in their suitcase when immigrating to Canada. Binning describes three items, including a rajai (a blanket with cotton inside that is sewn together), a bistra (small attaché case or trunk) and a piece of cloth to lie on. Binning further describes the roles in Indian society as caste divisions and that it was usually women’s work in making the rajais. Binning recollects the locations that his father and his family lived after coming to Vancouver. Binning explains that a few years after living together in Vancouver, he and his family moved to Burnaby in 1973 to be closer to his Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish Binning’s family. Dr. Binning and family lived in a house in Burnaby located on Irmin Street near Royal Oak between 1973 and 1987. While living at this house their children attended McPherson Park Junior High School and later Burnaby South Secondary School. Binning reflects on some of the racism that he and his family have faced while living in Burnaby which led him to write a poem that he published in 1994 titled “No More Watno Dur”. Binning explains the meaning of the title “Watan” meaning “country and everybody” “a country far way from the motherland”. Binning explains the origins of the magazine “Watan” that was started by a friend in 1973. The magazine got its roots in Vancouver in 1973 from an organization called the “Punjabi Literary Association”. Binning became the editor of the magazine in 1976 and his friend joined him as assistant editor in 1978. Binning continued to work as editor until 1983 or 1984 when he returned to school to complete his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. Binning describes the origins of the “Vancouver Sath” that was formed by a small group of South Asians around 1982. Binning was a founding member of the organization and held meetings and rehearsals at his house in Burnaby. Vancouver Sath first started out as an informal discussion forum by a group of politically conscious Punjabi writers and activists. Binning talks about issues and problems that Vancouver Sath addressed including; racism as well as domestic violence in the South Asian community. Binning explains how he and Sukhwant Hundal wrote articles on these issues and others that were happening in the South Asian community in Canada. Binning talks about how in 1983, the group was inspired to begin performing theatrical works after consulting with Gursharan Singh who was from a well known theatrical group from Punjab who were performing in Vancouver. In the beginning the Vancouver Sath’s plays were focused on the problems in Punjab but they soon decided to address social issues in their own South Asian community here in Canada. Binning summarizes and draws attention to, some of the plays that Vancouver Sath has written and performed including; “Picket Line”, about Punjabi women farmworkers’ rights; “Lattan de Bhoot”, about domestic abuse; “A Crop of Poison”; “Kihda Viah” (English translation- “Whose Marriage”) about arranged marriage and others about social issues in the South Asian community. The plays were performed in public schools and community centres in Vancouver and Richmond, Simon Fraser University and some were also performed in Toronto, Calgary and Williams Lake. Binning mentions some of the traditional foods that he likes to eat and where he and his family have shopped to find ingredients. He recalls how his mother, Gurmaje Kaur Binning did all of the cooking and was often cooking all day long. In the sixties, the Binning family address on 13th Avenue in Vancouver was also used as a postal address for many friends and family who’d recently immigrated. When these friends dropped by to pick up their mail, his mother often provided them with tea and food. After Binning and his wife, Jagdish moved to their own home in 1973, he shared in some of the shopping and cooking but his wife did the majority of the work due to his busy schedule. The interview closes with Binning providing an explanation of how “Watno Dur” magazine changed it’s name to “Watan” magazine. Binning reflects on how this came to be, when he made the decision to get an education in Canada and to stay here, not just as a “Canadian” but as a “Punjabi Canadian.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Dr. Sadhu Binning was born on May 10, 1947 to mother Gurmej Kaur and father Jeet Singh Binning. Due to lack of proper records management in India at the time of his birth, it is believed that he was actually born sometime in December of 1947. He grew up alongside two brothers and one sister in a village located in Kapurthala, Punjab. Dr. Binning attended secondary school in the nearby city of Phagwara, Punjab although he did not complete his education here. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed reading both Punjabi and Hindi novels and learned how to read Urdu as well. Dr. Binning’s uncle, Dhana Singh immigrated to Canada in 1933 and returned to India in 1953. When Dhana Singh returned to Canada in 1957, he sponsored Dr. Binning’s father, Jeet Singh Binning to immigrate. Dhana Singh co-owned a few saw mills in British Columbia and also worked in the truck driving industry. Dr. Binning remembers that some people who had lived in Canada would visit their village and that they appeared to be strong and healthy and looked happy. He also noticed that they would eat meat, so whenever they would visit there would be meat available. In 1967, when he was nineteen and a half years old, Dr. Binning immigrated Canada to join his father. He recalls his father and uncle and a friend arriving at the airport to pick him up. During his first few days, Dr. Binning made the decision to remove his turban and beard upon receiving advice from his uncle. Dr. Binning first obtained work on a farm in Abbotsford, working alongside his mother. While working, Dr. Binning also attended English classes in Vancouver. Dr. Binning’s Uncle Dhana Singh worked in a Vancouver saw mill and tried to help find work for his nephew but was unsuccessful. Dr. Binning soon found work at a saw mill in Avola and worked there until the end of the summer until a friend helped find him work in a saw mill in North Vancouver. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with friends. In 1970, Dr. Binning left the saw mill after obtaining a job at the post office. The post office offered lower wages than working at the mill but Dr. Binning believed that he would become more educated working here. While working as a postman, Dr. Binning recalls facing a lot of discrimination and racism and was often referred to as a ‘Paki’ multiple times a day. In 1973, Dr. Binning married Jagish Sihota. Sadhu and Jagdish originated from nearby villages in India and met each other in Canada. Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish worked at the Royal Bank of Canada for thirty years until her retirement. While working, she also looked after the household and their son and daughter. Jagdish also handwrote a magazine, “Watno Dur’ (English translation: ‘away from homeland’) which was distributed in the community. In 1976, Dr. Binning became the editor of the magazine and the name was later changed to “Watan’ as they had accepted their new homeland of Canada. While working at the post office, Dr. Binning also attended night school starting in eighth grade. After receiving his high school diploma, he was accepted to Simon Fraser University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology and in 1986 he obtained a Masters degree from Simon Fraser University. While attending university, Dr. Binning was very active within the community and wanted to work to improve society. He first thought that he would return to India to contribute and improve rights in his homeland but upon seeing the prevalence of the movements in Canada, he realized that work needed to be done here too. In 1983, Dr. Binning became a founding member and contributor to a theatrical collective known as “Vancouver Sath”. The theatrical group produced plays that represented societal issues and were invited to perform at multiple conferences throughout British Columbia and Canada. The group focused and acknowledged the many issues in Punjab and in Canada. One of the plays that the group produced focused on the exploitation of Punjabi women who worked on farms in Canada. Dr. Binning continued to be involved as an integral member of Vancouver Sath until 1995. Over the years, Dr. Binning has strongly lobbied for Punjabi language education and between 1988 and 2008 he worked as Punjabi instructor at the University of British Columbia. He first worked as a teaching assistant at UBC under Dr. Harjot Oberoi and due to low wages, he simultaneously worked at the Post Office. In 2019, Dr. Binning received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UBC in recognition of his work. Since 1973, Dr. Binning has lived in Burnaby and has resided in the same home that he and his wife Jagdish purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Industries - Forestry
- Foods
- Migration
- Organizations - Societies and Clubs
- Organizations - Unions
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Performances
- Performances - Dramatic Performances
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Names
- Binning, Dr. Sadhu
- Binning, Gurmaje Kaur
- Binning, Jit Singh
- Binning, Jagdish
- Sangha, Darshan Singh
- Canadian Farmworkers Union
- Hundal, Sukhwant
- Sangra, Harjinder
- Singh, Dhana
- Vancouver Sath
- Responsibility
- Petrusa, Kate
- Malik, Anushay
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0003_004.mp33355-3375 North Rd Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription93891
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- June 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 52 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the strip mall located at 3355-3375 North Road. Stores visible in the photographs include: CD Rentals and Laser Discs, Canadian 2-for-1 Pizza, Eyecrafters, North Road Dental Centre, Mike Fridays, and Penningtons.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- June 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 52 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-074
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the strip mall located at 3355-3375 North Road. Stores visible in the photographs include: CD Rentals and Laser Discs, Canadian 2-for-1 Pizza, Eyecrafters, North Road Dental Centre, Mike Fridays, and Penningtons.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Young, Richard
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 93-273-B
- Geographic Access
- North Road
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lyndhurst Area
4775 Hastings St.
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94340
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- October 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 26 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of a Pizza Hut restaurant located at 4775 Hastings Street and Honda and Toyota automotive dealerships located at 4780 Hastings Street.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- October 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 26 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-125
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of a Pizza Hut restaurant located at 4775 Hastings Street and Honda and Toyota automotive dealerships located at 4780 Hastings Street.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 95-247-B
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Street Address
- 4775 Hastings Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Capitol Hill Area
4780 Hastings Street
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94341
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- July 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 50 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the Honda and Toyota automotive dealerships located at 4780 Hastings Street. File also contains photographs of businesses located along Hastings Street, including: Liquidation World, Young Buildings Supplies and Hardware, Big-O Tires, Full Gospel Assembly Vancouver, Salza Mexican Pr…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- July 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 50 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-126
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the Honda and Toyota automotive dealerships located at 4780 Hastings Street. File also contains photographs of businesses located along Hastings Street, including: Liquidation World, Young Buildings Supplies and Hardware, Big-O Tires, Full Gospel Assembly Vancouver, Salza Mexican Products, and Pro-Feel Hair Studio.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 95-248-B
- Photographer identified as "K.H."
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Street Address
- 4780 Hastings Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Capitol Hill Area
4806 Hastings Street
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94342
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- July 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the 4700 and 4800 blocks of Hastings Street. Businesses visible in the photographs include Pizza Hut and Jan's Grocery.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- July 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-127
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the 4700 and 4800 blocks of Hastings Street. Businesses visible in the photographs include Pizza Hut and Jan's Grocery.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 95-249-B
- Photographer identified as "K.H."
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Capitol Hill 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.
- 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
7641-51 Kingsway Ave
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94346
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- August 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of a two-storey commercial building located on the 7600 block of Kingsway and the Burnaby Hotel on the opposite side of the street.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- August 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 25 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-131
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of a two-storey commercial building located on the 7600 block of Kingsway and the Burnaby Hotel on the opposite side of the street.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 95-286-B
- Photographer identified as "L.D."
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
Interview with Janet White May 10, 2005 - Track 7
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4473
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1950-1959] (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:03:25 min)
- Scope and Content
- Track 7: This portion of the recording pertains to changes in Burnaby since Janet’s childhood, and her continuing connection to the community and its values. She also describes her family’s shopping routines from the 1940s and 1950s, which centred on the Super Value at Canada Way and Smith St., and…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Growing Up in Burnaby subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:03:25 min)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Janet White Date of interview: May 10, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 8 Total length of all Tracks: 0:31:34
- Scope and Content
- Track 7: This portion of the recording pertains to changes in Burnaby since Janet’s childhood, and her continuing connection to the community and its values. She also describes her family’s shopping routines from the 1940s and 1950s, which centred on the Super Value at Canada Way and Smith St., and the Hudson’s Bay store downtown. When Woodward’s and Sears opened, the family also shopped there occasionally.
- History
- Recording of an interview with Janet White recording by Tom Gooden on May 10 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1950s.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Names
- Gooden, Tom
- White, Janet
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Smith Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV017.45.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1950-1959] (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Interview with Janet White May 10, 2005 - Track 7, [1950-1959] (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Interview with Janet White May 10, 2005 - Track 7, [1950-1959] (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0001_007.mp3![Metrotown Eaton's store closing, [1999] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-3307-1.jpg?width=280)
Metrotown Eaton's store closing
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98229
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1999]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 3 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of the Eaton's in the former Eaton Centre, now Metropolis at Metrotown, preparing to close. Photographs depict unidentified shoppers in the store with signs advertising the store closing and sale prices, and an unidentified person posing in the mall in front of a sign of t…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1999]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 3 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-3307
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of the Eaton's in the former Eaton Centre, now Metropolis at Metrotown, preparing to close. Photographs depict unidentified shoppers in the store with signs advertising the store closing and sale prices, and an unidentified person posing in the mall in front of a sign of the Eaton's logo.
- Names
- Metrotown
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Collected by editorial for use in an August 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4700 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
![Metrotown Eaton's store closing, [1999] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-3307-1.jpg)
![Star Wars advance ticket line at Metrotown, [1999] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-3175-2.jpg?width=280)
Star Wars advance ticket line at Metrotown
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98095
- 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 people waiting in line for advance tickets for "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" at the Silver City Metropolis. Photographs depict a group of teenagers playing a board game as they wait and a long line of seated movie-goers in the Metrotown mall with a sign noting the beg…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1999]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-3175
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of people waiting in line for advance tickets for "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" at the Silver City Metropolis. Photographs depict a group of teenagers playing a board game as they wait and a long line of seated movie-goers in the Metrotown mall with a sign noting the beginning of the line.
- Subjects
- Persons - Adolescents
- Persons - Crowds
- Buildings - Commercial - Cinemas
- Buildings - Commercial - Malls
- Names
- Metrotown
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a May 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-3175-1: "Ashley Simmons, 16, passes the time in line for advance tickets to the opening of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, at Silver City Metropolis, by playing the Star Wars edition of Trivial Pursuit with some of her friends. She says she's seen the three previsions editions of the movie "at least a hundred times each, on video." She says she joined the lineup at about 9:15, three hours before tickets went on sale, because "you wanna go (see the movie) on the first day when everybody's happy and looking forward to it." She says her enthusiasm hasn't been dampened by some of the lukewarm reviews already circulating, "they're not real Star Wars fans." "
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4700 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
![Star Wars advance ticket line at Metrotown, [1999] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-3175-2.jpg)
Interview with Sev Morin by Rod Fowler April 4, 1990 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory538
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1950-1990
- Length
- 00:06:16
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s description of Burnaby’s growth and business development along Kingsway and Hastings, the Lake City Industrial Park, and the purchase of property in 1958 for the Heritage Park and Art Gallery.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s description of Burnaby’s growth and business development along Kingsway and Hastings, the Lake City Industrial Park, and the purchase of property in 1958 for the Heritage Park and Art Gallery.
- Date Range
- 1950-1990
- Photo Info
- Sev Morin (left) of Severin's in Burnaby (formerly the Gai Paree) hosting a gala New Year's celebration, 1979. Item no. 480-712
- Length
- 00:06:16
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial
- Buildings - Civic
- Buildings - Industrial
- Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Lake City Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Kingsway-Beresford Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- April 4, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Severin "Sev" Morin, conducted by Rod Fowler. Sev Morin was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about Sev Morin’s banquet hall, restaurant and night club business on Kingsway, originally named the “Gai Paree Supper Club” (1947-1976) and later “Severin’s” (1976-1985) and “Diego’s” (1985-1994), its function as a Burnaby landmark, and the entertainment and political people he met through his business. He also describes his many volunteer activities in Burnaby, including member of the SFU Senate, Rotary Club, Variety Club and Telethon, fund raising for Burnaby Hospital, and tourism related groups, and his political work for the federal Liberal party. He talks about his parents’ origins, the lives of his brothers Rudy and Rene, and the family’s involvement in establishing the “Gai Paree”. He also shares his views about the business and cultural development of Burnaby. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Severin “Sev” Rene Morin was born September 21, 1927, in Bonneville, Alberta, to Rene Pierre Morin (1878-1963) and Anne Marie (nee Lachiver) Morin (1886-1956). Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Morin and their son Rene Francois (1905-1954) immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, from France in 1913, where Rene Pierre Morin worked for the C.N.R. and a second son Adolphe “Rudy” Ferdinand (1922-1969) was born, followed by their third son Severin. In 1943, after R.P. Morin retired, the family moved to Burnaby to a house on Sperling Avenue. Sometime earlier the two older Morin brothers found work in Trail at the smelter and developed musical careers. In 1946/47 the Morin family purchased property on Kingsway and built a banquet hall, the “Gai Paree Supper Club”. Sev and Rudy Morin managed the club and Rene F. Morin moved to Burnaby to join them with his band. The supper club, with its live music and dance floor, became a popular meeting place and wedding venue, eventually expanding into a restaurant and nightclub in the 1970s. The “Gai Paree” was renamed “Severin’s” in 1976 and “Diego’s” in 1985, closing finally in 1994. Sev Morin’s business life included three record stores which he owned with his friend Jack Cullen. Through these businesses Sev Morin was well known in the entertainment and hospitality industry. He and his restaurant also hosted political and social events that made the restaurant a community landmark. Sev Morin contributed many volunteer hours to community and charitable organizations, including an appointment to the SFU Senate, fundraising for the Burnaby Hospital, Director of the Variety Club and Rotary Club, and consultant for a variety of tourism related ventures. He also was active in the federal Liberal Party. Sev Morin and his wife Pauline married in 1950 and had three children. Sev Morin died at age 86 on March 28, 2014.
- Total Tracks
- 10
- Total Length
- 00:56:44
- Interviewee Name
- Morin, Severin "Sev"
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track two of interview with Sev Morin
Track two of interview with Sev Morin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-021/MSS187-021_Track%202.mp36900 [and] 7000 bk Hastings St. / 7000 blk Pandora St. 200 [and] 300 blks Cliff Ave Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94205
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- November 1993 - December 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 96 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of various residential and commercial streets in Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- November 1993 - December 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 96 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-080
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of various residential and commercial streets in Burnaby.
- Subjects
- Geographic Features - Roads
- Buildings - Residential - Apartments
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Buildings - Commercial
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 93-455-B
- Note on negative envelope housing photographs 622-080-1 : 622-080-74 reads: "93-11-26 / Inlet Dr/Hastings, Bby, / 93-455-B"
- Note on negative envelope housing photographs 622-080-75 : 622-080-96 reads: "93-12-01 / Comp's / 93-455"
- Photographer identified as "K.H."
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Cliff Avenue
- Pandora Street
3735-3765 and 3815-3835 First Ave
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription93753
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- March 25, 1992
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 47 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the commercial-industrial buildings and loading bays located at 3735-3765 and 3815-3835 1st Avenue.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- March 25, 1992
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 47 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-038
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the commercial-industrial buildings and loading bays located at 3735-3765 and 3815-3835 1st Avenue.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial
- Buildings - Industrial
- Transportation - Trucks
- Transportation - Automobiles
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Young, Richard
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 92-139-B
- Geographic Access
- 1st Avenue
- Street Address
- 3735 1st Avenue
- 3815 1st Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- West Central Valley Area
5820 S.E. Marine Dr. Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94301
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- February 1994
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 19 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the commercial property located at 5820 Marine Drive and along the 5800 block of Marine Drive.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- February 1994
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 19 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-086
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the commercial property located at 5820 Marine Drive and along the 5800 block of Marine Drive.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 94-015-B
- Photographer identified as "K.H."
- Geographic Access
- Marine Drive
- Street Address
- 5820 Marine Drive
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
6850 Hastings burnaby [sic]
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94297
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- November 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 26 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the exterior of a Liquidation World store and several houses along an unidentified residential street. The address 6850 Hastings Street no longer exists.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- November 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 26 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-082
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the exterior of a Liquidation World store and several houses along an unidentified residential street. The address 6850 Hastings Street no longer exists.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 93-468-B
- Photographer identified as "L.D."
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Westridge Area
6979 Hastings St / 6941 Hastings St / 6951 Hastings St / 6939 Hastings St
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription94169
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- July 30, 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 141 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of various residential and commercial properties located throughout Burnaby. Stores visible in the photographs include Cafe Classico at 4293 Hastings Street, Firestone at 6941 Hastings Street, Coast Automatic Transmissions at 4700 Imperial Street, and Bill's Tune Up at 6979 Hastings St…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- July 30, 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 141 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-077
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of various residential and commercial properties located throughout Burnaby. Stores visible in the photographs include Cafe Classico at 4293 Hastings Street, Firestone at 6941 Hastings Street, Coast Automatic Transmissions at 4700 Imperial Street, and Bill's Tune Up at 6979 Hastings Street.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- File nos. 93-309-B, 93-310-B, 39-308-B, and 93-307-B
- Title and file numbers transcribed from manilla envelope photographs were originally housed in.
- Date transcribed from manilla envelope photographs were originally housed in.
- File no. 93-309-B is titled "6979 Hastings St."
- File no. 93-310-B is titled "6941 Hastings St."
- File no. 93-308-B is titled "6951 Hastings St."
- File no. 93-307-B is titled "3939 Hastings St."
- It is not known which photographs were originally contained in each file.
- Photographer identified as "H., Karl"
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Imperial Street
8503-8537 Eastlake dr / 2820-2880 Production Way / & 8500-8544 Baxter Place
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription93889
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- October - November 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 19 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the exteriors of the commercial-industrial buildings located at 8503-8537 Eastlake Drive, 2820-2880 Production Way, and 8500-8544 Baxter Place.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- October - November 1993
- Collection/Fonds
- Grover, Elliott & Co. Ltd. fonds
- Physical Description
- 19 photographs : col. negatives ; 35 mm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 622-072
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-39
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the exteriors of the commercial-industrial buildings located at 8503-8537 Eastlake Drive, 2820-2880 Production Way, and 8500-8544 Baxter Place.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from envelope photographs were originally housed in
- File no. 93-178-B
- Photographer identified as "M.G."
- Geographic Access
- Eastlake Drive
- Production Way
- Baxter Place
- Street Address
- 2800 Production Way
- Planning Study Area
- Lake City Area
![Burnaby Art Gallery, [1999] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-3192.jpg?width=280)
Burnaby Art Gallery
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98113
- 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 Denis Gautier posing on a planter outside of a commercial building with a sign reading: "Burnaby Art Gallery." A "For Lease" sign is visible next to the building in the background.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1999]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 535-3192
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Denis Gautier posing on a planter outside of a commercial building with a sign reading: "Burnaby Art Gallery." A "For Lease" sign is visible next to the building in the background.
- Names
- Burnaby Art Gallery
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Collected by editorial for use in a May 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Images
![Burnaby Art Gallery, [1999] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-3192.jpg)
Mayor Drummond getting a shave
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16823
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 3 May 1998
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Mayor Doug Drummond seated in the barbershop chair as Museum Interpreter, Eric Damer prepares to give him a shave inside the Burnaby Village Museum McKay Barber Shop. A group of visitors have gathered inside to watch. The original owner of the McKay Barber Shop, Ernie Tillack …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Mayor Doug Drummond seated in the barbershop chair as Museum Interpreter, Eric Damer prepares to give him a shave inside the Burnaby Village Museum McKay Barber Shop. A group of visitors have gathered inside to watch. The original owner of the McKay Barber Shop, Ernie Tillack is standing next to the mayor. This took place during the official opening of the McKay Barbershop.
- Accession Code
- BV020.5.1849
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 3 May 1998
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
- Clothing
- Crafts
- Employment
- Migration
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Occupations - Labourers
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Names
- Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
- Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
- Manhas, Ghania Singh
- Singh, Mayo
- Manhas, Kashmir Singh
- Manhas, Sher Singh
- Manhas, Budhan Kaur
- Manhas, Lashman Singh
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep
- Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby
- Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3