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Interview with Shirley Cohn

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19597

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)

Scope and Content: File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on …

1 image 1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Shirley Cohn Location of Interviews: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Dates: April 14, 2023 and September 6, 2023 Total Number of Tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 67 min., 33 sec. Digital master recording (wav) recording of second interview (50 min., 36 sec.) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on September 6, 2023: 0:00 – 16:09 Shirley Cohn shares background information about her parents who immigrated to Detroit from Hungary in the 1930’s. Shirley recalls what it was like for her parents being Jewish during World War II and how many of their relations were killed in the Holocaust. Shirley talks about her Jewish Hungarian heritage, what it was like growing up in Detroit, the Jewish community in Detroit and the Jewish holidays and traditions that her family celebrated. Shirley recalls her high school and University education and experiences, starting her career in social work and how she met her future husband, Theodore “Ted” Cohn. 16:10 – 18:27 Shirley shares the story about her father in law, Dr. Daniel E. Cohn who was Harry Houdini’s doctor at the time of his death in Detroit on Oct. 31, 1926. Shirley explains that she donated some of Dr. Daniel E. Cohn’s original documents pertaining to this event to the New York Public Library. 18:28 – 26:04 Shirley describes her experiences living and working in London Ontario while her husband was a professor at University of Western Ontario and Shirley worked as a social worker in family services. Shirley recalls experiences of anti-Semitism while living in London. Shirley talks about moving to Burnaby in 1977 after her husband took a job as a professor at Simon Fraser University. Shirley describes her experiences living in Burnaby, raising a family and working as a social worker at Burnaby General Hospital. 26:05 – 26:18 Shirley talks about her interests outside of work, her family’s involvement in the Burquest Jewish Community Association and being a member of Temple Shalom. Shirley conveys information about other Jewish synagogues in Greater Vancouver, describes Reform Judaism at Temple Shalom and some Jewish cultural practices that her family has been involved with. 26:19 – 33:12 Shirley describes her family’s experiences living in the Garden Village nieghbourhood in Burnaby, her involvement sharing Jewish cultural traditions at her children’s school and recalls her children’s experiences attending school in Burnaby. 33:13 – 40:46 Shirley conveys the career paths that her children took and talks about what she likes about living in Burnaby including; the walking and hiking trails, the cultural and art performances and her involvement in local politics. Shirley talks about her and her husband’s involvement in the SFU retirees association and the SFURA walking and hiking group. Shirley reflects on her husband’s academic career, experiences teaching at SFU and the role of the Hillel Jewish Students Association at the Simon Fraser University. Shirley talks about the difficulties of discussing political views about the State of Israel. Shirley describes some traditional Jewish foods, the roles that they play and a local bakery that carries Jewish bake goods. 40:47 – 50:36 Shirley describes her current daily life in Burnaby; working one day a week as a social worker, gardening, her involvement at Temple Shalom and the Jewish Community Centre and how she travels in Burnaby. Shirley recalls the changes that she’s encountered in Burnaby and in her career over the years, shares a story about her husband losing his thesis and describes what Burnaby was like while she was raising her family. Shirley shares what she thinks about the areas of development in Burnaby and conveys the importance of having parks and affordable housing. In closing, Shirley reflects on what is like to be a Jewish person living in Burnaby.

History: Interviewee biography: Shirley Tanner was born in Detroit in 1947. Her parents were both Jewish. Her mother fled Hungary as a refugee in 1939, while her father emigrated from there in 1934. Shirley attended public schools in Detroit, and then studied social work at the University of Michigan. After marriage, Shirley and Ted Cohn moved to Ontario where Ted had a faculty appointment at the University of Western Ontario in political science. Six years later they moved to Burnaby for Ted’s teaching position in political science at Simon Fraser University. While living in Burnaby, Shirley took care of a growing family while also practicing social work, mainly at Burnaby Hospital. The family enjoyed Burnaby’s libraries and parks. Shirley helped out at her children’s schools, became a Block Watch captain, and the family joined Burquest Jewish Community Association. The Cohns later became members of Temple Sholom Synagogue in Vancouver, while remaining in Burnaby. Beginning in 2009, Ted started an informal hiking group for retired Simon Fraser University staff. This group has been open to others, so now has a wide variety of members. Shirley has also helped lead hikes in the region. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Education; Recreational Activities - Hiking; Organizations; Organizations - Societies and Clubs; Migration; Persons - Jewish Canadians; Religions - Judaism; Social Issues - Racism; Social Issues; Wars - World War, 1939-1945

Names: Cohn, Dr. Daniel E.; Cohn, Shirley; Cohn, Theodore H. "Ted"; Burquest; Hillel Jewish Students Association; Simon Fraser University; SFURA walking and hiking group; Simon Fraser University Retirees Association "SFURA"; Temple Shalom

Responsibility: Damer, Eric

Accession Code: BV023.16.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of file; Summary, recording and transcript of second interview available on Heritage Burnaby

Images

Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023 thumbnail

Documents

2023_0016_0001_004

Audio Tracks

Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_003.mp3

Interview with Bob Lowe 2005 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4494

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 2005

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:11:02 min)

Scope and Content: Track 2: This portion of the recording pertains to the earning and spending of money, household living arrangements, friends, and recreational activities. Bob describes his small businesses, and how he spent the money he earned. He shares his perspective that the self-sufficiency and practicality o…

1 audio

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) (0:11:02 min)

Material Details: Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Bob Lowe Date of interview: May 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 6 Total length of all Tracks: 0:43:36

Scope and Content: Track 2: This portion of the recording pertains to the earning and spending of money, household living arrangements, friends, and recreational activities. Bob describes his small businesses, and how he spent the money he earned. He shares his perspective that the self-sufficiency and practicality of the people he knew at the time had their origin in the community’s experiences of the First World War. Bob discusses his family’s living arrangements, and how they moved as circumstances required, although they always remained in the same area. Bob recalls his school sporting activities, and the Army Cadets organized in his high school during World War II. He talks of his friends and how they played in the bush, at the millponds, and on Still Creek, and how they could skate on the frozen creek to Burnaby Lake. He describes the hunting and fishing, and the field and water trials for retrievers in the marsh.

History: Recording of an interview with Bob Lowe recording by Tom Gooden in 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 1930s and 40s.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Recreational Activities; Organizations - Boys Societies and Clubs; Wars - World War, 1939-1945; Sports - Skating

Names: Lowe, Robert "Bob"

Geographic Access: Burnaby Lake; Still Creek

Accession Code: BV017.45.6

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 2005

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item

Audio Tracks

Interview with Bob Lowe 2005 - Track 2, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0006_002.mp3

Interview with Don Brown by Rod Fowler February 26, 1990 - Track 10

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory511

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1952-1990

Length: 00:07:45

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Don Brown’s activities with the Parks and Recreation Commission, the relationship between community groups and the Commission, and the development of Central Park. He lists membership in other community groups such as the Historical Society. He also continues …

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Don Brown’s activities with the Parks and Recreation Commission, the relationship between community groups and the Commission, and the development of Central Park. He lists membership in other community groups such as the Historical Society. He also continues to describe the activities of the South Burnaby Men’s Club and its change of name to South Burnaby Metrotown Club to include women

Date Range: 1952-1990

Photo Info: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Don Brown, November 2, 1997. Item no. 535-0979

Length: 00:07:45

Names: South Burnaby Men's Club; Burnaby Historical Society

Subjects: Recreational Activities; Organizations - Men's Societies and Clubs

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: February 26, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Don Brown, conducted by Rod Fowler. Don Brown 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 Don Brown’s description of the changes in Burnaby’s built and natural landscapes and socioeconomic conditions, especially between 1947 and 1975, the strong impression made on him by those changes evident in the interview. He talks about his work and career as a police officer with the Burnaby Provincial Police and RCMP. The interview also details his involvement in Burnaby politics and volunteer community groups. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Donald Neil “Don” Brown was born in Birmingham, England May 4, 1919, and immigrated with his parents and siblings to Winnipeg in 1922. At the outbreak of WWII Don Brown left high school and enlisted in the 12th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, serving six years in the army. Before going overseas he married Helen Birch in 1939. In 1947 Don Brown joined the B.C. Provincial Police which was absorbed by the RCMP in 1950. He worked as a police officer in Burnaby from 1947 to 1954, and then was transferred to Ottawa (with a stop in Regina) for nine and a half years where he attended Carleton University to study forensics. In 1963 Don Brown was transferred back to Vancouver and bought and moved into a house on Watling Street in Burnaby where he still lived in 1990. Another transfer took him to Edmonton for five years, returning to Burnaby in 1975. Following retirement in 1980 with the rank of Supervisor and after 22 years in forensic laboratories, Don Brown started his own business as a private document examiner. Don Brown was active in Burnaby politics, serving as Alderman from 1979-1985. He was also involved in many community groups including the South Burnaby Men’s Club, which he helped found in 1952, as well as active in the Burnaby Historical Society, and served on the Burnaby School Board, Burnaby Centennial Committee, and the Community College for the Retired. Don and Helen Brown had six children: Donna, Don, Gina, Patricia, Christopher and Susan. Don Brown died May 16, 2009.

Total Tracks: 14

Total Length: 01:35:07

Interviewee Name: Brown, Donald N. "Don"

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

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

Images

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Don Brown, November 2, 1997. Item no. 535-0979 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track ten of interview with Don Brown

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-016/MSS187-016_Track%2010.mp3

A handbook for Brownies

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6863

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Baden-Powell of Gilwell, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, Baron, 1857-1941

Edition: 24th ed.

Publication Date: 1955

Call Number: 369.4 BAD

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: BV015.35.70

Call Number: 369.4 BAD

Edition: 24th ed.

Author: Baden-Powell of Gilwell, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, Baron, 1857-1941

Publisher: C. A. Pearson

Publication Date: 1955

Printer: Wyman & Sons Ltd.

Physical Description: 62 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.

Inscription: "Rosemary Sawkins" [handwritten in pink ink on cover] "Rosemary Sawkins 5312 Pri_e St. V___, 16 BC" [handwritten on inside cover in blue ink]

Library Subject (LOC): Girls--Societies and clubs; Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Subjects: Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs

Names: Girl Guides Association; Girl Guides of Canada

Notes: Includes index.

Amanda and the Brownies

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6813

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Anderson, Verily, 1915-2010

Publication Date: c1960

Call Number: 823.91 AND

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: BV015.35.6

Call Number: 823.91 AND

Author: Anderson, Verily, 1915-2010

Contributor: Milroy, Joan

Place of Publication: London

Publisher: University of London Press

Publication Date: c1960

Printer: University of London Press

Physical Description: 128 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.

Inscription: "Kim Robinson" [handwritten in black ink on front pastedown] "Wendy Robinson" [handwritten in blue ink and crossed out in black on page opposing front pastedown] "Kim Sharon Robinson" [handwritten on page opposing front pastedown] Sticker reading: "Approved by The Canadian Council Girl Guides Association and supplied by its Stores and Deparment and Agencies" [affixed to front endpapers]

Library Subject (LOC): Juvenile fiction; Girls--Societies and clubs

Subjects: Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs

Names: Girl Guides Association; Girl Guides of Canada

Notes: "Illustrated by Joan Milroy"--t.p.

The big books for guides

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6807

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: 1933

Call Number: 369.4 STR

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: BV015.35.1

Call Number: 369.4 STR

Contributor: Strang, Herbert, Mrs.

Place of Publication: London

Publisher: Humphrey Milford/Oxford University Press

Publication Date: 1933

Series: Big books

Printer: Richard Clay and Sons

Physical Description: 1 vol. (unpaged) : ill. ; 24 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Girls--Societies and clubs; Children's stories; Juvenile literature

Subjects: Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs

Names: Girl Guides Association

Notes: "edited by Mrs. Herbert Strang." -- title page

Brownie games

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6827

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Knight, A.M.

Edition: Fifth ed.

Publication Date: 1959

Call Number: 369.4 KNI

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: BV015.35.20

Call Number: 369.4 KNI

Edition: Fifth ed.

Author: Knight, A.M.

Place of Publication: s.l.

Publisher: Girl Guides Association

Publication Date: 1959

Printer: Surrey Fine Art Press

Physical Description: 80 p. ; 19 cm.

Inscription: "40th Burnaby Pack" [written in black ink on cover]

Library Subject (LOC): Girls--Societies and clubs; Games

Subjects: Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs

Names: Girl Guides Association; Girl Guides of Canada

Notes: "compiled by A.M. Night"; Author's full name: Knight, Alice Marjory

Brownie handbook

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6418

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Cook, Lyn

Publication Date: 1965

Call Number: 369.4 COO

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: BV014.17.66

Call Number: 369.4 COO

Author: Cook, Lyn

Contributor: Shadbolt, Frances

Place of Publication: [S.l]

Publisher: Girl Guides of Canada

Publication Date: 1965

Physical Description: 136 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 22cm

Inscription: "Jane Pankrate"; "Div. 12" [Handwritten in pencil on verso of cover]

Library Subject (LOC): Girls--Societies and clubs; Juvenile literature

Subjects: Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs

Names: Girl Guides of Canada

Notes: "Illustrated by Frances Shadbolt" -- title page

The Brownie handbook

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6864

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Girl Guides of Canada

Publication Date: 1960

Call Number: 369.4 GIR

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: BV015.35.71

Call Number: 369.4 GIR

Author: Girl Guides of Canada

Place of Publication: Toronto

Publisher: Canadian Council of the Girl Guides of Canada

Publication Date: 1960

Physical Description: 20 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.

Inscription: "Georgia Runcic 1940 Moore Burnaby 2, B. C." [handwritten in black ink on cover]

Library Subject (LOC): Girls--Societies and clubs; Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Subjects: Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs

Names: Girl Guides of Canada

The Brownie program : for fun and adventure

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5219

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Lee, Linda

Publication Date: 1995

Call Number: 369.46 LEE

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 0919220770

Call Number: 369.46 LEE

Author: Lee, Linda

Contributor: Ohi, Ruth; Woolford, Ross

Place of Publication: Toronto

Publisher: Girl Guides of Canada

Publication Date: 1995

Physical Description: 80 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Girls--Societies and clubs; Juvenile literature

Subjects: Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs

Names: Girl Guides of Canada

Brownies and guides : a book of rhymes

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary3676

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Stitch, Wilhelmina, 1889-1936

Publication Date: 1932

Call Number: 369.4 STI

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Special Collection

Material Type: Book

Accession Code: BV000.30.42

Call Number: 369.4 STI

Author: Stitch, Wilhelmina, 1889-1936

Contributor: Baden-Powell of Gilwell, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, Baron, 1857-1941

Place of Publication: London

Publisher: Methuen & Co. Ltd.

Publication Date: 1932

Printer: Jarrold & Sons., Ltd.

Physical Description: 63 p. ; 17 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Girls--Societies and clubs; Nursery rhymes; Juvenile fiction

Subjects: Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs

Names: Girl Guides Association; Pellant, Edith Mary; Girl Guides of Canada

Object History: Item was originally owned by Edith Pellant who was a Girl Guide District Commissioner for North Burnaby and Vancouver in the 1930s and 40s.