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![Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020, [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/2017_0024_0027_001.jpg?width=280)
Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12338
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:53:46 min.)
- Scope and Content
- Recording consists of an interview with Julie Lee conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong. Julie Lee shares information about her mother, Suey Ying Jung's (Laura's) experiences growing up as a Chinese Canadian on a farm in Burnaby during the 1920s and 1930s. She also shares some …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:53:46 min.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewee: Julie Lee Location of Interview: Home of Julie and Cecil Lee Interview Date: February 6, 2020 Total Number of Tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 00:53:46
- Scope and Content
- Recording consists of an interview with Julie Lee conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong. Julie Lee shares information about her mother, Suey Ying Jung's (Laura's) experiences growing up as a Chinese Canadian on a farm in Burnaby during the 1920s and 1930s. She also shares some information about her father Puy Yuen Chan. 0:00- 01:47 Julie Lee provides background information on her families’ connection to Burnaby and conveys how her maternal grandparents farmed a five acre lot at Still Creek and Douglas Road. Her grandparents grew vegetable produce and operated a piggery at this location. Her mother, Suey Ying Jung (Laura) was the middle child between two older sisters, Maida and Annie and her two younger brothers Gordon and Harry. They were all born at home and educated at Edmonds Elementary School. 01:48- 11:47 Julie provides some background information about her mother, the friendships she made growing up, when she got married and places that she lived. She tells of her mother marrying in 1942 at age 30 years, moving to Fraser Mills and then onto Maillardville in 1958. There was easy access to the Interurban tram so her mother was able to have a social life with others in Vancouver’s Chinatown. She says that many of the only existing photographs of the family living on the farm at Still Creek and Douglas Road can be attributed to her mother’s friend Lil Mau [sic] who owned a camera. The farm was sold around 1949 when her grandparents moved to East Vancouver. While operating the farm, her grandparents only hired Chinese workers who spoke the same language and ate the same foods as them. Despite this, her grandparents made friends with the Collin’s family who assisted them in adjusting to the Canadian way of life. Julie tells that her mother’s sister Maida and brother in law lived with them at Fraser Mills. Her mother’s sister Maida had nine children so Julie’s mother helped her in raising them. 11:48 – 16:53 - Julie talks about racial prejudice towards the Chinese in Burnaby during the 1920s and 1930s. She says that for the most part, her mother’s family had a very insular life on the farm and mainly socialized only within the Chinese community. Julie tells of how she recently became aware of a memoir “The Way it Was”, written by Burnaby resident, Fannie Waplington. The memoir is held as part of the Burnaby Village Museum collection. In the memoir, Fannie Waplington tells of how she was forbidden from visiting Julie’s mother on their farm due to her ethnic background. Julie conveys that it seems like it was a missed friendship for both her mother and Fannie. 16:54 – 22:30 Julie describes what school life was like for her mother and what she may have done outside of school. Her mother attended Edmonds School in the 1920s up to Grade 7 or Grade 8. Julie explains that Asian girls were never offered the opportunity to pursue higher education while her mother’s brothers continued with their education attending Vancouver Technical School. Her mother continued to work on the farm until she was married cooking for workers and helping her mother. Outside of school, she may have helped with looking after nieces and nephews, played cards and mahjong. She says that her mother continued to play cards with her own children and was a skilled knitter into her 80s. 22:31 – 30: 53 Julie tells of what she knows about the Chinese workers on the farm and Fraser Mills and what they did on the weekends. She figures that many may have played card games to pass the time and at Fraser Mills gambling occurred. Fishing was a highlight for her father and she recalls him fishing sturgeon. Single workers may have gone into Vancouver on the weekends. Julie says that her parents had a hobby farm while living at Fraser Mills and that they grew enough garlic to sell in Chinatown. She thinks that before living at Fraser Mills, her mother must have went to Chinatown quite a bit, assisting with banking and enjoying a social life. Julie shares that her father, Puy Yuen Chan came to Canada from China at twelve years of age but working as a shingle packer, he never learned to speak English. She figures that her parents must have met at Fraser Mills while her mother was visiting her sister Maida. 30:54 – 37:33 Julie describes her mother as the cook, caregiver and the “one man show”. She says that her mother enjoyed cooking traditional Chinese recipes. Julie talks of her own cooking and gardening skills which she may have inherited from her parents including her large patch of garlic. 37:34- 40:23- Julie is asked as to whether her mother attended Chinese school and says that she had some Chinese schooling. She could read and write a little but didn’t attend a formal school as far as she knows. Julie shares some background information on her own husband Cecil, who grew up in East Vancouver. She shares that Cecil’s family went back to China from 1931 until 1939 when they returned to Queensborough. Cecil attended Chinese school in New Westminster. 40:24 – 42:19 Julie speaks briefly about what type of medical care her mother and her family had. She relates that all births took place at home and they accessed a Chinese herbalist in Chinatown. Hospitals were accessed in 1950s—1960s. The family did use Western doctors that were insured under the medical system. She recalls growing up and having to drink a particular herbal brew at least once a month to stay well. 42:20- 46:47 Julie describes how her parents stayed connected with their families in China. She says that her mother’s family didn’t stay in touch with relatives in China and that her uncles rejected anything to do with the past. On her father’s side they maintained a connection with cousins. She recalls that her father, Puy Yuen Chan supported some of his relatives back home in China and stayed in touch with some. Her mother, Laura travelled to China in 1991 and 1992 and connected with some relations on Julie’s father’s side. 46:48- 53:46 In this segment, Julie speaks of her mother’s character being very self-assured, independent and goal oriented. She feels that her mother valued being surrounded by her family and friends and felt very comfortable growing up in Burnaby and with the relationships that she had. She feels that her mother adapted to her roles being the last of four children on the farm and that she was very self-sufficient and determined.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Julie Lee (nee Chan) is the daughter of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) and Puy Yuen Chan. Her mother's family owned and operated a vegetable and piggery farm on Douglas Road near Still Creek in the early 1900s. Their farm was located in front of the Douglas Road interurban tram station. Her mother had two older sisters named Maida and Annie and two younger brothers Harry and Gordon. Her mother was born in 1912 and left the farm for Fraser Mills when she was married in 1942. Julie grew up with her parents and siblings on the Fraser Mills site during the 1940s and 1950s. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Names
- Lee, Julie Cho Chan
- Chan, Puy Yuen
- Jung, Suey Ying "Laura"
- Wong, Suey Fong "Maida" Jung
- Jung, Suey Cheung "Harry"
- Jung, Suey Yook "Gordon"
- Jung, Gee Shee
- Jung, Chung Chong
- Jong, Suey Kin "Annie" Jung
- Responsibility
- Fong, Denise
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Accession Code
- BV020.6.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Related Material
- See also BV018.16.1
- Scan Resolution
- 1000
- Scan Date
- 01-Oct-2017
- Scale
- 96
- Notes
- Title based on contents of interview
- Photograph info: Suey Ying (Laura) with produce baskets [between 1940 and 1942]. BV017.24.27
Images
![Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020, [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/2017_0024_0027_001.jpg)
Audio Tracks
Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020, [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020
Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020, [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2020_0006_0002_001.mp3![Ancient Willow Bed & Breakfast sign, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2137.jpg?width=280)
Ancient Willow Bed & Breakfast sign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96513
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Leah-Anne Arbers posing in front of her bed and breakfast, Ancient Willow, with a sign that was broken by vandals. Arbers' cousin Olga Shevchenko stands behind her, holding part of the broken sign, which reads: "BED."
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 535-2137
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Leah-Anne Arbers posing in front of her bed and breakfast, Ancient Willow, with a sign that was broken by vandals. Arbers' cousin Olga Shevchenko stands behind her, holding part of the broken sign, which reads: "BED."
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Hotels and Motels
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Crimes
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in an April 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata: "Leah-Anne Arbers, and her cousin, Olga Shevchenko, who helps her run her Parker St. bed and breakfast, with pieces of the sign destroyed by teenage vandals."
- Geographic Access
- Parker Street
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
- Brentwood Area
Images
![Ancient Willow Bed & Breakfast sign, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2137.jpg)
![Condominiums, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2869-1.jpg?width=280)
Condominiums
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97530
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of two condominium buildings. One building has a sign that reads: "Final Sell Out," and towers are visible behind the complex in the other photograph.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-2869
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of two condominium buildings. One building has a sign that reads: "Final Sell Out," and towers are visible behind the complex in the other photograph.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Residential - Condominiums
- Buildings - Residential
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Collected by editorial for use in an October 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Images
![Condominiums, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2869-1.jpg)
![Development on Big Bend agricultural land, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1685-2.jpg?width=280)
Development on Big Bend agricultural land
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95885
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Burnaby citizens concerned about industrial and big box retail development in the Big Bend area. One photograph shows Shawn Wade leaning against a fence next to a sign that reads "Western Garden Soil Mushroom Manure Bark Mulch." The other photograph shows Ed Leong holdi…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-1685
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Burnaby citizens concerned about industrial and big box retail development in the Big Bend area. One photograph shows Shawn Wade leaning against a fence next to a sign that reads "Western Garden Soil Mushroom Manure Bark Mulch." The other photograph shows Ed Leong holding soil in the fields at Leong's Nursery.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a November 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-1685-1: "Shawn Wade is concerned the City of Burnaby's plans to allow big box retail development in the Big Bend area along Marine Way would threaten the unique agricultural flavor of the area, including nurseries, and the allotment gardens."
- Caption from metadata for 535-1685-2: "Ed Leong, who's run Leong's Nursery since the 1960s, says industrial development in the Big Bend area has already destroyed his ability to grow crops like Chinese vegetables, green onions, lettuce and carrots, as water gets trapped in the already boggy soil by surrounding landfill."
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
Images
![Development on Big Bend agricultural land, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1685-2.jpg)
![Michelle Donders and Bullying Bites campaign, [2001] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2740.jpg?width=280)
Michelle Donders and Bullying Bites campaign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97364
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2001]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Michelle Donders in the Lougheed Mall, signing an anti-bullying pledge board that reads: "Bullying Bites!"
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2001]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 535-2740
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Michelle Donders in the Lougheed Mall, signing an anti-bullying pledge board that reads: "Bullying Bites!"
- Names
- Lougheed Town Centre
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a September 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata: "Michelle Donders signs an anti-bullying pledge board at the Lougheed Mall. The board was part of a community awareness campaign to help stop bullying. Similar boards from around the area will eventually be displayed at Parliament Hill, in an effort to get federal politicians to declare a national anti-bullying day."
- Geographic Access
- Austin Road
- Street Address
- 9855 Austin Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Cameron Area
Images
![Michelle Donders and Bullying Bites campaign, [2001] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2740.jpg)
![Road Sense sign, [2001] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2737.jpg?width=280)
Road Sense sign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97361
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2001]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Leanne Cassap, of the ICBC Broker Road Sense Team, and Diane Mumford, the vice-chair of the Burnaby School District Parent Advisory Council, setting up a roadside sign by a school that reads: "30 km/h Monday-Friday 8 am - 5 pm."
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2001]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 535-2737
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Leanne Cassap, of the ICBC Broker Road Sense Team, and Diane Mumford, the vice-chair of the Burnaby School District Parent Advisory Council, setting up a roadside sign by a school that reads: "30 km/h Monday-Friday 8 am - 5 pm."
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a September 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata: "Leanne Cassap, of the ICBC Broker Road Sense Team, and Diane Mumford, the vice-chair of the Burnaby School District Parent Advisory Council, make sure drivers have plenty of notice to slow down around area schools."
Images
![Road Sense sign, [2001] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2737.jpg)
![Student with Edmonds Town Centre banner, [2002] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2915.jpg?width=280)
Student with Edmonds Town Centre banner
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97599
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2002]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Anthony Lazazzera, a grade three student at St. Francis de Sales School, posing with a banner he designed. The banner reads: "Edmonds Town Centre" and features a drawing of a sunflower.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2002]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 535-2915
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Anthony Lazazzera, a grade three student at St. Francis de Sales School, posing with a banner he designed. The banner reads: "Edmonds Town Centre" and features a drawing of a sunflower.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a January 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata: "Anthony Lazazzera, 8, a Grade Three student at St. Francis de Sales School, with the banner he designed that will hang from light standards in Burnaby's Edmonds area. Anthony says it took him "about 15 minutes" to come up with the design, which was inspired by a recent trip his family took to Italy. "We saw lots of sunflowers and we took lots of pictures of them," he says."
- Geographic Access
- Balmoral Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Kingsway-Beresford Area
- Edmonds Area
Images
![Student with Edmonds Town Centre banner, [2002] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-2915.jpg)