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Interview with Ken Yip May 9, 2005 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4533
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:07 min)
Scope and Content
Track 3: This portion of the recording continues with Ken’s band activities, and then pertains to the games Ken played with his brother and friends. Ken discusses how the school band’s repertoire and performances were designed to complement the school’s events throughout the year. He describes the …
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) (0:06:07 min)
Material Details
Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Ken Yip Date of interview: May 9, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 5 Total length of all Tracks: 0:62:00
Scope and Content
Track 3: This portion of the recording continues with Ken’s band activities, and then pertains to the games Ken played with his brother and friends. Ken discusses how the school band’s repertoire and performances were designed to complement the school’s events throughout the year. He describes the concert the band was invited to play on the lawn of Ceperley House on their return from Expo 67. Ken recalls the games he and his brother played, and the two neighbor boys they played with. He describes playing on the North American Peat property adjacent to theirs, in the peat trenches and in the bush. He talks of roaming as far as New Westminster and the Fraser River.
History
Recording of an interview with Ken Yip recording by Tom Gooden on May 9, 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 and 60s.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Persons - Chinese Canadians
Persons - Children
Education
Organizations - Bands
Names
Yip, Ken
Accession Code
BV017.45.5
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Interview with Ken Yip May 9, 2005 - Track 3, 1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005

Interview with Ken Yip May 9, 2005 - Track 3, 1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0005_003.mp3
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Jensine Andersen honoured as a Burnaby pioneer

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13178
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[16 May 1971]
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Jensine Andersen (seated in an armchair) with her daughter, Hazel Kellett and two Job's Daughters. Jensine Andersen is being honoured as a Burnaby Pioneer during the Burnaby's British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Series
Copan album series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Jensine Andersen (seated in an armchair) with her daughter, Hazel Kellett and two Job's Daughters. Jensine Andersen is being honoured as a Burnaby Pioneer during the Burnaby's British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
Subjects
Persons - Pioneers
Persons - Seniors
Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs
Names
Andersen, Jensine
Kellett, Hazel
Accession Code
BV005.54.124
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[16 May 1971]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
July 20, 2020
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
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Jensine Andersen receiving tea from Job's Daughters

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13174
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
16 May 1971
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby pioneer, Jensine Anderson receiving a cup of tea from two Job's Daughters. Jensine is being honoured as a Burnaby Pioneer during the Burnaby's British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Series
Copan album series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby pioneer, Jensine Anderson receiving a cup of tea from two Job's Daughters. Jensine is being honoured as a Burnaby Pioneer during the Burnaby's British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
Subjects
Persons - Seniors
Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs
Officials - Mayors and Reeves
Persons - Pioneers
Names
Andersen, Jensine
Accession Code
BV005.54.120
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
16 May 1971
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
July 20, 2020
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Jensine Andersen receiving tea from Job's Daughters

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13181
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
16 May 1971
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby pioneer, Jensine Anderson receiving a cup of tea from two, Job's Daughters. Jensine is being honoured as a Burnaby Pioneer during the Burnaby's British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Series
Copan album series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby pioneer, Jensine Anderson receiving a cup of tea from two, Job's Daughters. Jensine is being honoured as a Burnaby Pioneer during the Burnaby's British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
Subjects
Persons - Pioneers
Persons - Seniors
Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs
Names
Andersen, Jensine
Accession Code
BV005.54.121
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
16 May 1971
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
July 20, 2020
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Jensine Andersen receiving tea from Job's Daughters

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13182
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
16 May 1971
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby pioneer, Jensine Anderson receiving a cup of tea from two Job's Daughters. Jensine is being honoured as a Burnaby Pioneer during the Burnaby's British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Series
Copan album series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby pioneer, Jensine Anderson receiving a cup of tea from two Job's Daughters. Jensine is being honoured as a Burnaby Pioneer during the Burnaby's British Columbia Centennial celebrations.
Subjects
Persons - Pioneers
Persons - Seniors
Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs
Names
Andersen, Jensine
Accession Code
BV005.54.122
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
16 May 1971
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
July 20, 2020
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
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Students at the Chinese school in New Westminster

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14785
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[195-]
Collection/Fonds
Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : b&w ; 600 dpi
Scope and Content
Photograph of a group of Chinese Canadian students standing on the stairs of the Chinese School in New Westminster. Frank and Emma Wong (members of the Quinn Wong family) are identified standing in the bottom left corner of the photograph and elder sister, Jessie Wong is identified standing in the …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
Series
Lee family photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : b&w ; 600 dpi
Scope and Content
Photograph of a group of Chinese Canadian students standing on the stairs of the Chinese School in New Westminster. Frank and Emma Wong (members of the Quinn Wong family) are identified standing in the bottom left corner of the photograph and elder sister, Jessie Wong is identified standing in the middle of the photograph. Members of the Kong family of Fraser Mills also appear in the photograph including Alice, Dorothy and Lea Kong along with members of the New Westminster Quan family. The front porch is decorated with bunting and includes a sign that reads "The Chinese Benevolent Association" along with a British flag and a flag of the Republic of China.
Subjects
Persons - Chinese Canadians
Organizations - Societies and Clubs
Persons - Students
Buildings - Schools
Names
Wong, Quinn
The Chinese Benevolent Association
Kong, Alice
Kong, Dorothy
Kong, Lea
Wong, Frank
Wong, Emma
Wong, Jessie
Geographic Access
New Westminster
Accession Code
BV020.38.8
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[195-]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
26-Nov-2019
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Burnaby May Day

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription39
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
May 26, 1928
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the procession of the bag pipe band at Burnaby May Day, at Robert Burnaby Park. Leading the pipe band is Constable George Jeffrey. A crowd and maypoles can be seen in the background.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the procession of the bag pipe band at Burnaby May Day, at Robert Burnaby Park. Leading the pipe band is Constable George Jeffrey. A crowd and maypoles can be seen in the background.
Subjects
Musical Instruments - Bagpipes
Organizations - Bands
Persons - Crowds
Events - May Day
Names
Jeffery, George
Geographic Access
Robert Burnaby Park
Wedgewood Street
Street Address
8155 Wedgewood Street
Accession Code
HV971.144.6
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
May 26, 1928
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Lakeview-Mayfield Area
Related Material
For another copy of this photograph in a different accession, see HV972.204.14
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-03-28
Photographer
Lloyd, Frank Ernest
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Inscribed on the negative and printed on the photograph, bottom front: "33 / Burnaby May Day 26. 5. 28 / Lloyd's Studio, McKay, B.C."
Images
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Burnaby May Day

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3118
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
May 26, 1928
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the procession to the retiring Queen at Burnaby May Day, at Robert Burnaby Park. The retiring May Queen is escorted by a gentleman in suit holding his hat. There are boys in uniforms lined up along both sides of the procession, with a large crowd gathered behind them.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the procession to the retiring Queen at Burnaby May Day, at Robert Burnaby Park. The retiring May Queen is escorted by a gentleman in suit holding his hat. There are boys in uniforms lined up along both sides of the procession, with a large crowd gathered behind them.
Subjects
Organizations - Boys' Societies and Clubs
Persons - Crowds
Events - May Day
Clothing - Uniforms
Names
Boy Scouts of Canada
Geographic Access
Wedgewood Street
Robert Burnaby Park
Street Address
8155 Wedgewood Street
Accession Code
HV972.204.12
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
May 26, 1928
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Lakeview-Mayfield Area
Related Material
For other photographs from the same album, see HV972.204.3 - .14
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-04-25
Photographer
Lloyd, Frank Ernest
Notes
Inscribed on the negative and printed on the photograph reads: "34 / Burnaby May Day / 26. 5. 28 / Lloyd Studio, McKay B.C."
Images
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Canada Victory Bonds organization Chinese branch in Victoria, B.C

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3376
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1 Jun. 1941
Collection/Fonds
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 23.5 cm (sight) in mat 30.5 x 35.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of members of the Canada Victory Bonds organization Chinese branch in Victoria, B.C., seated and standing together in two rows. The photograph was taken on June 1, 1941 in the hall of the Chee Kung Tong Chinese Freemasons building. Lum Chuck Yue, a proprietor of the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
Series
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 23.5 cm (sight) in mat 30.5 x 35.5 cm
Material Details
Chinese characters have been added to recto of mat
Scope and Content
Photograph of members of the Canada Victory Bonds organization Chinese branch in Victoria, B.C., seated and standing together in two rows. The photograph was taken on June 1, 1941 in the hall of the Chee Kung Tong Chinese Freemasons building. Lum Chuck Yue, a proprietor of the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. Chinese herbalist shop in Victoria, served as the committee secretary and is identified as sitting in the front row, first from the right.
Subjects
Organizations
Persons - Chinese Canadians
Names
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Company
Accession Code
BV985.5331.8
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
1 Jun. 1941
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
1/7/2010
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w copy negative accompanying
Images
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Choir performing on opening day

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13635
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
19 November 1971
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 8.9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a men's choir singing on Hill Street inside of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) on opening day November 19, 1971.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Series
Copan album series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 8.9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a men's choir singing on Hill Street inside of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) on opening day November 19, 1971.
Subjects
Events - Openings
Persons - Crowds
Organizations - Choirs
Performances
Names
Burnaby Village Museum
Accession Code
BV005.54.530
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
19 November 1971
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
August 11, 2020
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
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Group of young men

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1256
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[192-]
Collection/Fonds
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm, mounted on card 30.5 x 35 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of seventeen unidentified young men seated and standing in three rows outside at an unidentified location. These men are believed to be Chinese Freemasons of British Columbia (previously named the Chee Kung Tong).
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
Series
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm, mounted on card 30.5 x 35 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of seventeen unidentified young men seated and standing in three rows outside at an unidentified location. These men are believed to be Chinese Freemasons of British Columbia (previously named the Chee Kung Tong).
Subjects
Organizations
Persons - Chinese Canadians
Names
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Company
Accession Code
BV985.5331.4
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[192-]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
1/7/2010
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Notes on verso of photograph read: "[illegible] Chinese Freemason" and "Dr. Lam / [illegible] in San Diego" and "[not equal to] 1914"
Images
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Interview with Bill Gruenthal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19636
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (74 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (74 min., 37 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on July 31 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:27:01 Bill Gruenthal provides details on his family background, his early life experiences, how he got into the insurance business,…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (74 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (74 min., 37 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Bill Gruenthal Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 31, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:14:37 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on July 31 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:27:01 Bill Gruenthal provides details on his family background, his early life experiences, how he got into the insurance business, his knowledge and interest in Judaism, places that he and his wife lived before moving to Burnaby, family life in Burnaby and his political involvement in running for the Burnaby school board. 00:27:02 – 00:42:50 Bill Gruenthal talks about the Burquest Jewish Community Association, it’s background and his involvement, experiences of discrimination in his career, a brief history of the Jewish people and some cultural traditions. 00:42:51 – 00:56:04 Bill Gruenthal mentions some of the charities that he supports including Burnaby Hospital, his volunteer work within the community and community organizations including the Nikkei Place Foundation and shares more details on his insurance career. 00:56:05 – 01:14:37 Bill Gruenthal shares information about his Burnaby neighbourhood and Jewish funeral customs and provides his impressions of new development at Brentwood, Burnaby Council and other development projects in Burnaby.
History
Interviewee biography: Bill Gruenthal was born in the British Mandate of Palestine, now Israel, in 1935 after his parents had fled Germany in advance of the then worsening political situation. Bill’s father died in 1942; some years later his mother remarried to an Irish-born senior civil servant in that government. He had a difficult and somewhat dangerous job. Soon after marriage, the family, including Bill’s older brother, Martin, immigrated to Canada in January 1947 on the strength of his step-father’s British Passport. They traveled via New York, where Bill’s uncle and his family resided and who put up the family. Later that month, the parents travelled by CP rail from Montreal to Vancouver, followed by Bill and his brother in March 1947 who travelled from New York to White Rock on an American railroad. While passing through the Fraser Valley Bill’s parents took an interest in Silverdale, a small hamlet west of Mission where the four eventually settled. Bill finished High School in Mission and soon joined the insurance industry. Bill connected with the Jewish Community in Vancouver where he met his soon-to-be wife. Upon marriage they were transferred to Calgary; after five years suffering its cold weather they were transferred back to Vancouver. They settled in Burnaby in 1966 as an affordable neighbourhood with easy access to his office downtown Vancouver. Outside work, Bill helped raise his family of three daughters who all graduated Burnaby High School (Alpha). They joined Temple Sholom in Vancouver, and he volunteered and still volunteers for a number of non-profits, including The Jewish Museum and Archives and Nikkei Place Foundation (Burnaby). He was an early long-term supporter and a past president of Burquest Jewish Community Association, mostly involving persons from Burnaby, New Westminster, and the Tri-Cities area (hence the name). He ran for political office in Burnaby in 1976 but was not elected. He delivers food in Burnaby for the Food Bank and is a donor to many worthy causes including Burnaby General Hospital. 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
Migration
Persons - Jewish Canadians
Transportation
Transportation - Rail
Religions - Judaism
Cemeteries
Organizations
Elections
Names
Gruenthal, Bill
Gruenthal, Noemi Yadlow
O'Connor, Herta Ingrid Gruenthal
O'Connor, John
Burquest
Jacobson, Max Alec
Temple Shalom
Brentwood Shopping Centre
Brentwood Park School
Alpha Secondary School
Burnaby School Board
Responsibility
Damer, Eric
Accession Code
BV023.16.14
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Bill Gruenthal, [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

Interview with Bill Gruenthal, [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0014_003.mp3
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Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19349
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Honourable Raj Chouhan Location of Interview: Residence of Honourable Raj Chouhan Interview Date: December 2, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (00:49:21) Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant and the organizations that he became involved with. Honourable Raj Chouhan recalls how he arrived in Burnaby with his family in 1973 and that his family worked in farming. Chouhan imparts his first hand experiences as a new immigrant working as a labourer in the farming industry and describes the unsafe and unfair working conditions that he and migrant workers faced. Chouhan conveys how this experience lead him to become an activist for better working conditions for migrant workers. This lead Chouhan and others to form the Canadian Farm Workers Union in 1980. Chouhan recollects his experiences flying from India to Canada with his wife, his first impressions after arriving in Vancouver and driving to Burnaby and what he brought with him. Chouhan explains his connections to Burnaby. Members of Chouhan's wife's family immgrated to Canada in 1957 and his wife and her three brothers joined them in 1970. Chouhan's father in law, Hardial Singh Grewal immigrated in 1957 and became president of the Sikh temple in New Westminster. Hardial Singh Grewal worked in a lumber mill in Vancouver and eventually bought a house in Burnaby. Chouhan married to his wife at the Sikh temple in New Westminster and lived in Burnaby for a period before moving to New Westminster where they could find more affordable housing. Chouhan shares that he first worked as a farm labourer in Abbotsford and then found a job in the sawmill which paid more. Chouhan describes the extreme racism and discrimination that he and other immigrants faced which lead to the formation of the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma. Chouhan describes this organization that he was a part of and the Canadian Farm Workers Union that were both formed in Burnaby. Chouhan shares that he moved to Victoria in 1988 to serve on the Hospital Employee's Union and moved back to the mainland in 1993 and returned to Burnaby in 2001. Chouhan reflects on the history of South Asian immigration in Canada, how many of the migrants settled in the lower mainland including Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver establishing temples in Vancouver and New Westminster which became the centre for the South Asian community. He conveys how earlier occupations were limited to farming and millwork and how over time employment opportunities and education have broadened but there is still work to do. He imparts how second generation Canadians’ experiences differ from first generations providing examples of his own daughters’ and the occupations that they are working in. Chouhan provides his insights into the South Asian Canadian experience imparting “We make history every day and that history needs to be recorded and learned from.."... “People from different communities, different backgrounds who lived in Burnaby have contributed so much and South Asians are just like another community and participated in all aspects of social life, cultural, religious, economy. I'm so proud of our community, our forefathers who had that vision to fight for our rights. I'm inspired by people who struggled so much to gain basic rights, like the right to vote". Chouhan refers to these first immigrants as “Gadri Babbas” “revolutionary old people” who were also the main motivation that lead to India becoming a free country in 1947 and for fighting for basic rights here in Canada and how they made their contributions for future generations. Chouhan expresses what he imparts to students “Do not forget your past... if you remember your past then you are much more knowledgeable. Then we know what we need for the future. If we don't know the past, we don't know what the future is going to be like. To make a better future, you have to learn from the past and improve".
History
Interviewee biography: Honourable Raj Chouhan was born in the city of Ludhiana in the Province of Punjab in India and immigrated to Canada in 1973. After arriving in Canada, Raj's family settled in Burnaby. Raj grew up in Burnaby and attended schoool. Honourable Raj Chouhan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020. He was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on December 7, 2020. Honourable Chouhan is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism and has served as a director of the Hospital Employees' Union, the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. Honourable Chouhan has also served as the Vice President of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003 and has taught courses in Human Rights, the B.C. Labour Code and Collective Bargaining since 1987. Interviewer biography: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Occupations - Agricultural Labourers
Migration
Organizations - Unions
Rights
Rights - Human Rights
Agriculture
Agriculture - Farms
Government - Provincial Government
Government
Names
Chouhan, Raj
British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism
Sharma, Dr. Hari Prakash
Grewal, Hardial Singh
Canadian Farmworkers Union
Hospital Employees Union
Khalsa Diwan Society
Responsibility
Petrusa, Kate
Accession Code
BV022.29.4
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0004_002.mp3
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Interview with Lizette Pappas

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20334
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 7 Nov. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
3 sound recordings (wav) (137 min., 12 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (137 min., 12 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Lizette Pappas conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher James Binks on November 7, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:41:04 Lizette provides details on her family background in Greece, recalls her early childhood in Naxos, her families’ migrati…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
3 sound recordings (wav) (137 min., 12 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (137 min., 12 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: James Binks Interviewees: Lizette Pappas Location of Interview: Fraser Wilson Room, Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 7, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 3 Total Length of all Tracks: 02:17:12 Digital master recordings (wav) were converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Lizette Pappas conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher James Binks on November 7, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:41:04 Lizette provides details on her family background in Greece, recalls her early childhood in Naxos, her families’ migration to Canada and their experiences as new immigrants living in Penticton. Lizette shares information about her husband including his Greek origins, his migration story, and how they met as well as information about their careers and raising their family in Burnaby. 41:05 – 01:10:52 Lizette talks about living in Penticton and helping out in the family restaurant business. Lizette describes some of the challenges that they faced and describes some of the foods that they served and reflects on what it means to be a Greek immigrant in British Columbia. 01:10:53– 01:36:32 Lizette talks about her life in Burnaby, her involvement with the Ladies Philoptochos Society, a back to your roots group, the Hellenic Community, the importance of sharing Greek culture, traditions and food with the younger generation and her experiences celebrating Greek culture while attending university. 01:36:33 – 01:54:39 Lizette talks more about her families’ life in Penticton as Greek immigrants, their experiences and accomplishments, her experiences visiting Greece after immigrating to Canada and her husbands’ experiences living in Greece. 01:54:40 – 02:03:59 Lizette reflects on the impacts of COVID in the restaurant industry, community building and urban development in Burnaby and makes comparisons to communities in Greece. 02:04:00 – 02:17:14 Talks about the origin of her name, shares the story of how her name evolved over time after she immigrated to Canada and shares examples of some of the traditional family names that have been passed down through generations.
History
Interviewee biography: Lizette Pappas was born in Apeiranthos on the island of Naxos in Greece in 1948 to parents Florio Vassilakakis and Paraskevi Vassilakis. In 1956, Lizette immigrated to Canada with her parents and her two older brothers. With the help of Lizette’s uncle, her family settled in Penticton and in 1958, Lizette’s younger sister was born. Lizette’s birth name was Elisa Vassilakakis but when she immigrated to Canada she was given the first name “Alice” on her immigration documents. Soon after, when she was enrolled in elementary school, her aunt suggested that she use the name “Lizette” instead of “Alice” and Lizette became the first name she’s continued to use since. While living in Penticton, Lizette’s parents first worked doing manual labour in the fruit industry before buying their own restaurant in 1968. Lizette obtained her teaching degree from the University of British Columbia. In 1972, Lizette met her future husband Basile Pappas and they were married in 1975. After marrying, Lizette and her husband settled in the Brentwood area of Burnaby and began raising their two children. Lizette, her husband and children moved back to Penticton in late 1979 to join her family running two restaurants and a nightclub. After a number of years, Lizette, her husband and two children returned to their home in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Lizette has worked as a teacher with the Vancouver School Board and has been involved with various organizations including “Back to our Roots” and “Philoptochos Ladies Society”. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Religions
Organizations - Women's Societies and Clubs
Persons - Greek Canadians
Migration
Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
Names
Pappas, Elisa Alice "Lizette" Vassilakakis
Vassilakakis, Florio
Vassilakis, Paraskevi
Love, John Agapitos
Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society
Hellenic Community of Vancouver
Responsibility
Binks, James
Accession Code
BV023.16.20
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 7 Nov. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcript available
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Lizette Pappas, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 7 Nov. 2023

Interview with Lizette Pappas, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 7 Nov. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0020_004.mp3
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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
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Interviewees: Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill Location of Interview: Gill family residence on Warwick Avenue in Burnaby Interview Date: November 11, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:58:39) Digital master recording (m4a) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share their ancestral background, their personal experiences immigrating to Canada, living in Burnaby and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants. 00:00 – 27:34 Santokh “Gurmail” Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill share their migration stories and experiences living and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants and their eldest child, Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences as a child of South Asian immigrants and growing up in British Columbia as a South Asian Canadian. Gurmail Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar and Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in Hoshiapur of the Indian state of Punjab. Gurmail describes how he moved from India to England with his family in 1957, immigrated to Canada from England in 1966, married his wife Mohinder in England in 1968 and brought his family (parents and two siblings) to Canada from England in 1970 and other relatives including his wife’s family in the 1970s and 1980s. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill recollect their arranged marriage in England in 1968, their immigration process and explain how they arrived in Burnaby residing with a cousin at 4649 Georgia Street until they were able to purchase their own home after a few years. Gurmail shares names and connections to the relatives that came to British Columbia before him. Gurmail and Mohinder tell how they lived in the basement of the house and rented out the upper floor to save money. The couple recall what they brought with them when they immigrated to Canada and Mohinder Kaur Gill tells of how before leaving India, she and her mother made a special rajai for her to take with her. Mohinder describes the process of making a rajai (a quilted blanket that was made by hand). Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about the challenges that they’ve experienced as new immigrants including not being fluent in English, the cold weather and not having very many family or friends nearby to provide support. They attended the Gurdwara on Ross Street or Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara on Skeena in Vancouver. They explain how there was limited access to grocery stores that supplied Punjabi and Indian spices and other cooking supplies. They talk about how they used a food mill and mortar and pestle to grind their own spices and flour and how Mohinder often made traditional sweets like barfi and laddo and pakoras using pea flour when they couldn’t get Besan flour. 27:35 – 36:11 Gurmail provides more details on his family’s immigration story, including names of relatives, how his six siblings and parents all immigrated to British Columbia in 1970 and how in the early 1970s and mid 1980’s Gurmail and his family sponsored approximately 70 friends and relations from India (including Mohinder’s family) to immigrate to Canada. When Mohinder’s family arrived they lived with them in their house until they were able to purchase property next door and build their own home. Children in the families all attended elementary and high school in Burnaby which now amounts to three generations. 36:12 – 59:28 Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about their experiences of racial discrimination. Gurmail recalls members of the South Asian community, Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma, Harinder Mahil and Charan Gill starting the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism. Gurmail tells of how he got involved contributing some of his union dues as a member of CAIMAW (Canadian Association of Industrial Mechanical and Allied Workers Union- Local 15) and as a friend of Charan Gill and Raj Chouhan of the Canadian Farm Workers Union. Gurmail Gill explains how he was a founding member of CAIMAW and treasurer until the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (in 1991). Mohinder and Gurmail tell of how people from the South Asian community were discouraged from wearing Punjabi dresses or head coverings for fear of being yelled at with racial slurs and how it was often scary to go outside. Many from their community often avoided attending the Akali Singh Gurdwara since a head covering was required and people were afraid of being a target. Gurmail provides details about his work with A1 Steel, how different unions were formed pertaining to various skillsets and jobs per company and how he became a member of CAIMAW Local 15 (foundry workers). Mohinder recollects her experiences as a mother, the daily tasks involved and friends that she made who’d also emigrated from Punjab. Mohinder describes how she designed and sewed many Punjabi dresses using her electric sewing machine and how she learned English by attending adult classes at a church on Commercial Drive. Mohinder and her mother attended the classes for two hours per day for six years at a cost of twelve dollars for ten weeks. Once Mohinder could speak a little English, she started working and was able to practice more. 59:29 – 1:06:08 Mohinder, Gurmail and Prem talk about some of their favourite traditional foods including corn roti and spinach curry and how they grow many of their own vegetables including peppers, eggplant, saag (spinach), onions, garlic, cilantro, zucchini, squash and fenugreek. Mohinder reflects on how access to Punjabi clothing and fabric stores in Vancouver has changed and that ready made food is now more available. Traditional foods were previously made from scratch with women gathering together and cooking for hours and now it’s gotten easier but more expensive and less of a community feel. 1:06:09- 1:55:20 Mohinder and Gurmail Gill discuss and share their perspectives and experiences on raising a family in the past versus today. Gurmail imparts that all of his siblings became educated and secured professional careers while he continued to work in the trades. Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences growing up and attending school in Burnaby. Gurmail and Mohinder Gill recall the type of suitcase that they brought with them when they immigrated and how they recently they got rid of it. Gurmail and the group reflect and discuss the confusion with racial identity terms that have been used in this country. They comment that South Asians were referred to as “Hindu” and “East Indian” and Indigenous peoples were referred to as “Indian” and the controversy and racism behind some of these terms. The group discusses the impact of the caste system and other discriminatory experiences and compare their experiences of living in England to living in Canada. Prem comments on how it’s just recently that South Asian customs, celebrations and practices have been recognized and celebrated here in Canada, like Diwali and yoga. They comment on how much of the language, culture and customs have been retained in Surrey where many can still communicate in Punjabi and don’t need to be fluent in English. The group discusses how many South Asians immigrants first lived and worked in Vancouver but with rising property prices many moved to Surrey expanding and establishing a much larger South Asian community with resources. The group discusses and compares the differing travel routes that many of them and their relatives took when immigrating and travelling between India and Canada. The group talks about Rajdeep’s ancestral village in India which is near the Gill village of Firozpur. Gurmail explains the origins and details behind his family name that was changed from “Shergill” to “Gill” and the name “Santokh” from his maternal side.
History
Interviewees' biographies: Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar in Punjab, India. Gurmail moved to England with his family in 1957 and immigrated to British Columbia in 1966. Gurmail married his wife, Mohinder Kaur Gill in England in 1968 and she immigrated to British Columbia from England soon after. Gurmail first lived with a cousin in Burnaby before purchasing a home of his own in Burnaby where he raised his family. Gurmail worked in the steel industry and was a member and treasurer of the CAIMAW before the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in the Hoshiapur in Punjab, India. She married her husband Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill in England in 1968 and immigrated to Burnaby, British Columbia to join her husband. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill have four children, all born in Burnaby. Prem Kaur Gill was born in Burnaby in 1969 and is the eldest child of Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill. Prem grew up and attended school in Burnaby. Interviewers' biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Clothing
Foods
Indigenous peoples
Buildings - Religious - Temples
Food Processing Tools and Equipment
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Migration
Occupations
Organizations - Unions
Names
Gill, Prem Kaur
Gill, Mohinder Kaur
Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh
Responsibility
Rajdeep
Malik, Anushay
Accession Code
BV022.29.2
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcript available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum
Indian Family System Reference notes: Baba = informal way to say grandfather; old man Bibi = informal way to say grandmother; old woman Dada= paternal grandfather Dadi= paternal grandmother Dadke= paternal family members; paternal side (Various spellings might exist for the following terms) Thaiyya= father’s elder brother (uncle) Thaiyyi= father’s elder brother’s wife (aunt) Chacha= father’s younger brother (uncle) Chachi= father’s younger brother’s wife (aunt) Bua= father’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Phuphar= father’s sister’s husband (uncle) Nana= maternal grandfather Nani= maternal grandmother Nanke/nanka= maternal family members; maternal side Mama= mom’s brother (older or younger) (uncle) Mami= mom’s brother’s wife (aunt) Maasi= mom’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Maasard= mom’s sister’s husband (uncle)
Audio Tracks

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

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
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Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19604
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 6 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 7 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 - 00:13:30 Interview opens with introductions. Samuel (Sam) and Angela Nalliah provide biographical details including their p…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 6 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 7 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: James Binks Interviewees: Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah Location of Interview: Nalliah family home Interview Date: May 29, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 68 min., 6 sec. Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph information: Ruth (Angela) Nalliah with husband Samuel Nalliah WARNING: Some of the content discussed in this interview (00:40:58 – 00:57:31) regarding the Tamil genocide may be upsetting to some people.
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 - 00:13:30 Interview opens with introductions. Samuel (Sam) and Angela Nalliah provide biographical details including their parentage, place of birth (Sri Lanka), spoken language and education. Sam Nalliah shares details on his education while living in Sri Lanka, his later education in Wales where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and his migration to Halifax in 1978 after obtaining a job at Dalhousie University as a systems analyst. Sam conveys how he decided to relocate from Halifax to Vancouver in 1986 and started his employment with BC Tel. Angela Nalliah shares details on her education and employment after immigrating to Canada from Sri Lanka in 1986. Angela conveys how she first lived in Ottawa, moved to Toronto in 1989 where she began working for TD bank and moved to Vancouver in 1999. 00:13:31 – 00:20:03 Sam Nalliah talks about how he and his wife Angela first met and married in 1999 and moved to Vancouver. Sam shares information on where his other family members immigrated to and why he decided to immigrate to Canada. Angela shares information on other members of her family who immigrated to Canada before her and how her uncle sponsored them all to come. 00:20:04 – 00:29:30 Sam provides further details regarding his family make up including; his first wife, his daughters (born in 1983 and 1985), his step daughter (born in 1991) and his youngest daughter (born in 2000). Sam tells how he worked as a Systems and Operations Manager at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at BC Hydro. Sam provides locations of homes that they lived in Burnaby and Vancouver. Sam and Angela describe what they liked about living in Burnaby, where their daughter attended school and where they did their shopping. 00:29:31 – 00:32:11 Angela talks about working for Prospera Credit Union from 2003 after TD bank downsized. Sam describes how they rented out their house in Vancouver and lived in a rental home in Burnaby that was owned by the City of Burnaby. Sam and Angela recollect the time period that they lived in Burnaby and Vancouver before deciding to move to Surrey in 2015. 00:32:12 – 00:35:59 Sam and Angela provide details regarding their daughter’s post-secondary education and careers. Angela talks about her social activities, volunteer work and involvement with the Thamil Cultural Society of British Columbia, the Women’s Network as well as the Westminster Bible Chapel Church in Burnaby and the Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church in Surrey. 00:36:00 – 00:40:57 Sam recalls hearing Prime Minster Pierre Elliott Trudeau speak about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms at Dalhousie University and the effect that his speech made on him. Sam talks about joining the National Democratic Party when Peter Julian was elected as a Member of Parliament for Burnaby. 00:40:58 – 00:57:31 (WARNING: Some of the content discussed in this portion of the interview may be upsetting to some people) Sam and Angela speak about their involvement with the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC). Angela describes the brutal violence that she witnessed while living in Sri Lanka during the Anti-Tamil state sponsored genocide in the 1980’s. Sam and Angela recollect and discuss their views and actions pertaining to the MV Sun Sea incident where a Thai cargo ship carrying Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to British Columbia were identified as terrorists by the Canadian Government and held in detention facilities. 00:57:32 – 01:08:07 Sam reflects on what he likes about Burnaby. Angela and Sam talk about Hindu temples attended by many Tamil and Sri Lankan people living in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Angela talks about the many cultural events and celebrations that are celebrated within the Tamil and Sri Lankan community including the Pongal Festival. Angela and Sam reflect on how grateful they are to be residents of Canada.
History
Interviewees biographies: Samuel (Sam) Nalliah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1949. Sam immigrated to Halifax in 1977 after obtaining a position as a systems analyst at Dalhousie University. In 1986, Sam sponsored his parents to come to Canada. In 1986, after being introduced to the milder weather in Victoria, Sam decided to move to British Columbia. He moved to Burnaby in 1990 and began working for BC Tel in Burnaby. Following his job at BC Tel, Sam worked as a Systems and Operations Manager at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at BC Hydro. Ruth (Angela) Nalliah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1964 and immigrated to Canada in 1986. As a Tamil living in Sri Lanka in the 1980’s Angela witnessed first hand the brutal violence during the Anti-Tamil state sponsored genocide. In 1986 Angela was relieved to be able to immigrate to Canada after being sponsored by her uncle. Angela first lived and worked in Ottawa and Toronto before marrying Samuel Nalliah in Ottawa in 1999 and the couple moved to Burnaby. Angela worked for TD bank in both Toronto and Vancouver until it downsized in 2003 and she began working for Prospero Credit Union. While living in Burnaby, Angela attended the Westminster Bible Chapel and after moving to Surrey she became a member of the Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church. Sam and Angela Nalliah have four daughters and since moving to British Columbia they’ve lived in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. Both Sam and Angela are involved with the Tamil Cultural Association of British Columbia and the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) as well as participates in Sri Lankan and Tamil community cultural events. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Education
Events - Festivals
Government
Government - Federal Government
Migration
Occupations
Organizations - Political Parties
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Religions
Religions - Christianity
Religions - Hinduism
Rights
Rights - Human Rights
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Social Issues - Discrimination
Names
Nalliah, Ruth "Angela"
Nalliah, Samuel "Sam"
Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC)
Westminster Bible Chapel
Thamil Cultural Society of British Columbia (TCSBC)
Responsibility
Binks, James
Accession Code
BV023.16.8
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum
Images
Audio Tracks

Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah, 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah, 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0008_003.mp3
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Queen Elizabeth II during royal visit to Burnaby Municipal Hall

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3589
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
7 May 1971
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Queen Elizabeth II visiting with a boy scout and the crowd that have gathered during her royal visit to Burnaby Municipal Hall on May 7, 1971. Acting-mayor Hugh Ladner and his wife Valerie Ruth Ladner are standing behind. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made an official visit to …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Donald Copan collection
Series
Copan album series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Queen Elizabeth II visiting with a boy scout and the crowd that have gathered during her royal visit to Burnaby Municipal Hall on May 7, 1971. Acting-mayor Hugh Ladner and his wife Valerie Ruth Ladner are standing behind. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip made an official visit to Burnaby as part of their Centennial tour.
Subjects
Events - Royal Visits
Officials - Mayors and Reeves
Persons - Royalty
Celebrations - Centennials
Organizations - Boys' Societies and Clubs
Names
Elizabeth II Queen of Great Britain, 1926-2022
Ladner, Hugh G.
Ladner, Valerie Ruth Grant
Boy Scouts of Canada
Geographic Access
Canada Way
Street Address
4949 Canada Way
Accession Code
BV005.54.40
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
7 May 1971
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
July 16, 2020
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
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booklet

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact17351
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Accession Code
HV979.42.1
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Accession Code
HV979.42.1
Description
Museum & Art Notes - Booklet -- [1951]. The Art Historical and Scientific Association publication of Museum & Art Notes. This is Volume 1, Number 4 of the Second Series, March 1951. The front cover features a picture of the front entrance of the Association's building. This issue has articles on: Our Business Premises Autobiography of a Great Anthropologist The Pleistocene Age of British Columbia The Tuatara The Flora of Fairmont Hot Springs The Passenger Pigeon Reverend Jonathan Green The Burnaby Lodestone
Subjects
Documentary Artifacts
Documentary Artifacts - Booklets
Organizations - Art Societies
Organizations - Historical Societies
Organizations - Science Societies
Images
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booklet

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact17352
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Accession Code
HV979.42.2
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Accession Code
HV979.42.2
Description
The Totem Poles in Stanley Park - Booklet -- [194-?]. Created by The Art, Historical and Scientific Association in Vancouver BC. The booklet was created by John C. Goodfellow. The cover is brown with and illustration of a totem pole on the left side.
Subjects
Documentary Artifacts
Documentary Artifacts - Booklets
Organizations - Art Societies
Organizations - Historical Societies
Organizations - Science Societies
Images
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booklet

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact17353
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Accession Code
HV979.42.3
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Accession Code
HV979.42.3
Description
Museum & Art Notes - Booklet -- [1949]. The Art Historical and Scientific Association publication of Museum & Art Notes. This is Volume 1, Number 1 of the Second Series, September 1949. The front cover features a picture of the Dimorphodon Macronyx model made by Madam Erna C. von Engel-Baiersdorf. This issue has articles on: The Method of Reconstructiong Human and Animal Remains in Sculpture and in Paintings Early History of the Burnaby Family Indian Native Art Sundews The Aleuts of Attu The Trumpeter Swan Achatina Fulica, The Great African Snail Some Field Work of the Curator Palomar's Giant Eye, the Hale Telescope The Directors, Life and Honorary Members of the Art, Historical and Scientific Association.
Subjects
Documentary Artifacts
Documentary Artifacts - Booklets
Organizations - Art Societies
Organizations - Historical Societies
Organizations - Science Societies
Images
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100 records – page 2 of 5.