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- Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Gardening Equipment 2
- Agriculture 3
pruner
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91748
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.12.3
- Description
- Tree pruner or pruning tool with a hook and restractable blade. There is a metal spring action lever one quarter of the way up the shaft attached to a metal rod that runs the remaining length of the shaft up to the blade. The rod is anchored to the shaft in two places. Pulling the lever engages the blade and exposes
- The lever is wrapped in black electrical tape. The metal parts of the pruner are rusted.
- Object History
- These tools belonged to donor's father who had a market garden at his home on 4930 Marine Drive from 1971-79. Her father's name was Yee Law (or Herbert Law). After Yee stopped farming for a living in 1980, he gave these tools to the his daughter Gail and her family (the Yips). They presume that he no longer needed them. He maintained a 1 acre garden on his property until he couldn't anymore.
- Classification
- Maintenance T&E - - Groundskeeping Equipment
- Object Term
- Pruner, Tree
- Measurements
- Length: 194 cm
- Names
- Law, Yee "Herbert"
- Geographic Access
- Marine Drive
- Street Address
- 4930 Marine Drive
Images
seeding tray
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91752
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.14.8
- Description
- Shallow wooden tray. The tray has three slats along the bottom with a small gap between each slat.
- The side of the tray are very worn and weathered with a white haze.
- Included with the tray are 6 thin strips of wood, almost like wood veneer, that are scored at intervals in order to form a wood plant pot. The plant pots would fit inside the tray.
- Object History
- These items belonged to the Hong family - who founded Hop On Farms in Burnaby. Heritage Burnaby has a number of photos and an oral history about the family.
- Used before plastic trays were used more regularly in the 1970s. In the 1970s, the business shifted to selling wholesale bedding plants so the plastic trays were more practical to give away. The wooden trays and pots were taken out to fields for transplanting and cleaned and reused regularly. The donors recall repairing these wooden trays over the winter months. The used the broken pots as bottoms for repaired pots.
- See BV017.36.9 on Heritage Burnaby for photograph of these in use on Hop On Farm.
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Agricultural T&E
- Measurements
- Length: 51.5 cm
- Width: 34.5 cm
- Depth: 7.5 cm
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Gardening Equipment
- Gardens
- Gardens - Market Gardens
- Names
- Hop on Farms
Images
advertisement
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact40534
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.5877.1
- Description
- Anticipating the Modern Trend - leaflet. Advertising leaflet for the Easy Washing Machine Company Limited at 187 Geary Avenue, Toronto Ontario. The leaflet advertises seven new washers and irons. The front cover has a small illustration of a man in a tuxedo and a red haired lady in an evening dress. The leaflet was made for The T. Eaton Company Limited in Winnipeg Canada and was lithographed in Canada. The leaflet measures 8cm x 15.5cm when folded close.
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts
- Documentary Artifacts - Leaflets
- Maintenance Tools and Equipment - Washing Machine
Images
Barrel
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact90555
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV020.22.1
- Description
- Cylindrical veneer mushroom spawning barrel. The wood has been shaped to make the barrel. There is a base and rim around the top and bottom of the barrel, stapled to hold it together. There are a number of stains, discolourations, ink, and evidence of past mold. There is also a lid with a metal ring afixed to it. The lid has the name "Stiglish" handwritten with a circled number "2". In black ink, a stamp reads: Fraser Valley Mush Grow.Co-op Assn.265 E. Georgia St. Vancouver, B.C. Canada"
- Object History
- Used on the Stiglish family mushroom farm
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Agricultural T&E - - Cultivation Equipment
- Object Term
- Barrel
- Marks/Labels
- Railway Express Agency Incorporated / Printed in U. / This Export Shipment Must Be Routed Via
- Colour
- Brown
- Gray
- Black
- Measurements
- 14" in diameter and 17" high
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)
Images
brush hook
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91750
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.14.6
- Description
- Tool with a hooked blade attached to a long wooden handle used for land clearing - cut heavy brush, shrubs, or small trees.
- The blade is made of iron and is heavily rusted. The handle is damaged in several spots and cracked where the blade is attached.
- Object History
- These items belonged to the Hong family - who founded Hop On Farms in Burnaby. Heritage Burnaby has a number of photos and an oral history about the family.
- Classification
- Maintenance T&E - - Groundskeeping Equipment
- Object Term
- Hook, Brush
- Measurements
- Length: 92 cm
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Agricultural Tools and Equipment
- Gardens
- Gardens - Market Gardens
- Names
- Hop on Farms
Images
raffia bundle
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91753
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.14.9
- Description
- Bundle of raffia strands twisted into a bundle. The bundle is held together at the top by a strip of raffia and is knotted around itself at the bottom.
- Object History
- These items belonged to the Hong family - who founded Hop On Farms in Burnaby. Heritage Burnaby has a number of photos and an oral history about the family.
- Raffia bundle, used for tying vegetables in the fields. *We have a photo of raffia ties in use at Hop On Farm: BV017.36.7
- Measurements
- Length: 138 cm
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Agricultural Tools and Equipment
- Gardens
- Gardens - Market Gardens
- Names
- Hop on Farms
Images
rake
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91747
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.12.2
- Description
- Garden rake consisting of a row of short metal tines attached perpendicularly to a long wooden shaft. There are 14 tines on the rake head.
- There is some rust on the metal of the rake.
- Object History
- These tools belonged to donor's father who had a market garden at his home on 4930 Marine Drive from 1971-79. Her father's name was Yee Law (or Herbert Law). After Yee stopped farming for a living in 1980, he gave these tools to the his daughter Gail and her family (the Yips). They presume that he no longer needed them. He maintained a 1 acre garden on his property until he couldn't anymore.
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Agricultural T&E - - Cultivation Equipment
- Object Term
- Rake, Garden
- Measurements
- Rake head: 36.5 cm
- Handle: 123.5 cm
- Names
- Law, Yee "Herbert"
- Geographic Access
- Marine Drive
- Street Address
- 4930 Marine Drive
Images
seed drying tray
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91757
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.14.12
- Description
- Large wooden hoop frame with thin slats of wood woven across it. This creates a shallow tray on one side of the hoop. The hoop is held together by ties around the hoop itself. Some of the ties have broken causing the hoop to come apart.
- The hoop and weave are very brittle.
- Object History
- These items belonged to the Hong family - who founded Hop On Farms in Burnaby. Heritage Burnaby has a number of photos and an oral history about the family.
- Seed drying tray, used when the family saved their own seed. They saved their seed to have a reliable supply of vegetable seeds difficult to find through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s: choi sum, gai lan, bok choi. The seed heads were clipped and placed on the tray, and stored in the greenhouses to dry down. A finer sieve would have been used to separate the seeds from the chaff.
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Agricultural T&E
- Measurements
- Diameter: 86 cm
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Agricultural Tools and Equipment
- Gardens
- Gardens - Market Gardens
- Names
- Hop on Farms
Images
shovel
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91746
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.12.1
- Description
- Rounded digging style shovel. the shovel has a long wooden shaft or handle with a metal rounded mouth blade.
- Imprinted in the collar of the blade is "HEAT / TREATED / 2"
- The blade of the shovel is rusted.
- Object History
- These tools belonged to donor's father who had a market garden at his home on 4930 Marine Drive from 1971-79. Her father's name was Yee Law (or Herbert Law). After Yee stopped farming for a living in 1980, he gave these tools to the his daughter Gail and her family (the Yips). They presume that he no longer needed them. He maintained a 1 acre garden on his property until he couldn't anymore.
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Agricultural T&E
- Object Term
- Shovel
- Measurements
- Length: 146.5 cm
- Subjects
- Agricultural Tools and Equipment
- Names
- Law, Yee "Herbert"
- Geographic Access
- Marine Drive
- Street Address
- 4930 Marine Drive
Images
sign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact1217
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV971.33.1
- Description
- Weathered wood sign in two parts; informs readers of the penalty for attaching any raft, vessel, boat, etc., to wooden bridges in the province of British Columbia in 1902.
- Classification
- Written Communication T&E
- Object Term
- Sign
- Marks/Labels
- "The attention of Steamers and of any person in charge of any vessel, barge, boat, raft, or any floating body is directed to Clause 12 "Chapter 25" Bridges Act of the Revised Statutes of British Columbia. Any person that shall moor, make or last or in any other way "Attach" any raft, vessel, boat, barge or any other floating body to any wooden or other bridge... shall be.. not exceeding fifty dollars. Department of Land and Works, Victoria, BC 23rd June 1902.
- Subjects
- Recreational Activities - Boating
- Regulative and Protective Tools and Equipment
- Transportation - Boats
- Written Communication Tools and Equipment
Images
bowl
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact36104
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV994.24.1
- Description
- Bowl. White, ceramic, green transfer print on the front of the bowl.
- Object History
- The major B.C.E.R. Main Terminal building at Carrall Street and West Hastings Street in Vancouver and the New Westminster Station at 8th and Columbia included diners where food was served on dishware stamped with the B.C. Electric Railway name.
- Marks/Labels
- On front in green "COURTEOUS" "B.C. Electric" "SERVICE". On underside, "VITRIFIED", in a circle "GLOBE POTTERY CO. LTD. SHELTON" with a lion logo in the middle. Under logo is "ENGLAND" "BUSCOMBE & COMPANY" "VANCOUVER, CANADA."
- Subjects
- Transportation
- Transportation - Public Transit
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Food Service Tools and Equipment
Images
creamer
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact26675
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV974.44.19
- Description
- Creamer. White, ceramic, creamer. Green transfer print on front face
- Object History
- The major B.C.E.R. Main Terminal building at Carrall Street and West Hastings Street in Vancouver and the New Westminster Station at 8th and Columbia included diners where food was served on dishware stamped with the B.C. Electric Railway name.
- Marks/Labels
- On front face is "COURTEOUS" "B.C. Electric" "SERVICE". On underside in green is "VITRIFIED" then a lion logo with "GLOBE POTTERY Co. Ltd. SHELTON" in a circle around logo. Under logo is "ENGLAND" "BUSCOMBE & COMPANY" "VANCOUVER, CANADA.".
- Subjects
- Transportation
- Transportation - Public Transit
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Food Service Tools and Equipment
Images
dinner plate
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact36108
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV994.24.5
- Description
- Plate. White, ceramic, dinner size, plate. Green transfer print on rim.
- Object History
- The major B.C.E.R. Main Terminal building at Carrall Street and West Hastings Street in Vancouver and the New Westminster Station at 8th and Columbia included diners where food was served on dishware stamped with the B.C. Electric Railway name.
- Marks/Labels
- On rim in green transfer print is "COURTEOUS" "B.C. Electric" "SERVICE". On underside in green, "VITRIFIED" "GLOBE POTTERY CO. LTD." "COBRIDGE" "ENGLAND". "6-29" is stamped in.
- Subjects
- Transportation
- Transportation - Public Transit
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Food Service Tools and Equipment
Images
light bulb
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact47311
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV004.73.6
- Description
- Light bulb, "B.C.E.R. Co." stamped faintly near metal base.
- Object History
- Belonged to donor's mother and father.
- Marks/Labels
- "B.C.E.R. Co." stamped faintly near metal base. (British Columbia Electric Railway Company)
- Subjects
- Transportation
- Transportation - Public Transit
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Lighting Devices
- Lighting Devices - Light Bulbs
- Electrical and Magnetic Tools and Equipment
Images
plate
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact36106
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV994.24.3
- Description
- Plate. White, ceramic, bread and butter size plate. Green transfer print on rim.
- Object History
- The major B.C.E.R. Main Terminal building at Carrall Street and West Hastings Street in Vancouver and the New Westminster Station at 8th and Columbia included diners where food was served on dishware stamped with the B.C. Electric Railway name.
- Marks/Labels
- On rim in green transfer print is "COURTEOUS" "B.C. Electric" "SERVICE". On underside in green, "VITRIFIED" "GLOBE POTTERY CO. LTD." "COBRIDGE" "ENGLAND". "6-27" is stamped in.
- Subjects
- Transportation
- Transportation - Public Transit
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Food Service Tools and Equipment
Images
side plate
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact36105
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV994.24.2
- Description
- Plate. White, ceramic, side or salad plate. Green transfer print on rim
- Object History
- The major B.C.E.R. Main Terminal building at Carrall Street and West Hastings Street in Vancouver and the New Westminster Station at 8th and Columbia included diners where food was served on dishware stamped with the B.C. Electric Railway name.
- Marks/Labels
- On rim in green transfer print is "COURTEOUS" "B.C. Electric" "SERVICE". On underside in green, half of "VITRIFIED" "GLOBE POTTERY CO. LTD." "COBRIDGE" "ENGLAND", "2-30" stamped in.
- Subjects
- Transportation
- Transportation - Public Transit
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Food Service Tools and Equipment
Images
pamphlet holder
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact28948
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV973.41.24
- Description
- The pamphlet holder is made of sheet metal. The back, interior and base are painted green.The front face is alternating stripes of four redish orange and three cream paint with the words "TAKE ONE!" printed on the bottom cream stripe. There are holes in each corner for mounting the holder. On the back in pencil is the number "416" possibly from PCC streetcar #416.
- Object History
- This holder was used to display copies of "The Buzzer", a free weekly newsletter published by BC Electric Railway.
- Classification
- Written Communication T&E - - Writing Accessories
- Object Term
- Holder
- Marks/Labels
- "TAKE ONE!", painted in orange on front of holder
- Subjects
- Written Communication Tools and Equipment
- Transportation - Public Transit
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
Images
pamphlet holder
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact28949
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV973.41.25
- Description
- The pamphlet holder is made of sheet metal. The back, interior and base are painted green.The front face is alternating stripes of four redish orange and three cream paint with the words "TAKE ONE!" printed on the bottom cream stripe. There are holes in each corner for mounting the holder. On the bottom tab is painted in white paint "1216" possibly from interurban #1216. At the top is a blue tape stamped with "BCER 1216-B69". This holder would have been used to display copies of "The Buzzer", a free weekly newsletter published by BC Electric Railway.
- Object History
- Holder for "Buzzer" newsletter (which contained transit information), published by BCER for free distribution to transit passengers
- Classification
- Written Communication T&E - - Writing Accessories
- Object Term
- Holder
- Marks/Labels
- "TAKE ONE!" printed in reddish orange on a cream stripe. "BCER 1216 - B69", blue dynamix tape stuck to top face. Collectors ID tag. "1216", hand lettered in white on the bottom face of base
- Subjects
- Transportation - Public Transit
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Written Communication Tools and Equipment
Images
Box
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact89918
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.1
- Description
- box; to ship and sell mandarin oranges; rectangular, corrugated cardboard box; single piece of cardboard, folded to form box; locking tab lid; oval cut outs in sides and lid for air circulation and for carrying; interior is plain brown cardboard; exterior has white, orange, and green text and illustrations beneath a wax coating. Colourful illustrations of mandarin oranges on sides and lid of box; text on front, back, and lid reads: "CHINESE / MANDARIN / ORANGES"; text on one side in French and other side in English reads: "THE ORIGINAL CHINESE / MANDARIN / CHINA NATIONAL CEREALS, OILS & FOODSTUFFS IMPORT & EXPORT CORPORATION / PRODUCT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA / [text in Chinese] / MINIMUM 31 PCS. PER BOX"."
- Object History
- As a produce buyer for Kelly Douglas, Cecil Lee worked closely with local farmers along Marine Drive and in the Fraser Valley. The Burnaby company was one of the largest food distributors in Canada. In the mid-1970s, Lee was asked to oversee the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into Canada. Until that time, mandarin oranges had come from Japan and were sold in the winter, especially at Christmas. When the Japanese market could no longer keep up with demand, Kelly Douglas looked to China. The company relied on Lee’s cultural knowledge to build this very profitable part of their business. Lee designed the cardboard Chinese mandarin orange box to replace wooden containers. The iconic design required no glue or staples, making it possible for farmers to assemble and pack the boxes as they picked the oranges.
- Reference
- For other records in this collection see: Business records series of Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Food Processing & Preparation T&E - - Food Storage Equipment
- Object Term
- Box, Food Storage
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Fruit and Berries
- Container - Box
- Occupations - Agricultural Labourers
- Occupations - Grocers
- Names
- Lee, Julie Cho Chan
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
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…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- 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
- 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
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