17 records – page 1 of 1.

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.
History
Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
Clothing
Crafts
Employment
Migration
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Occupations - Labourers
Occupations - Millworkers
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Names
Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
Manhas, Ghania Singh
Singh, Mayo
Manhas, Kashmir Singh
Manhas, Sher Singh
Manhas, Budhan Kaur
Manhas, Lashman Singh
Accession Code
BV022.29.5
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Related Material
See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep
Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby
Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3
Less detail

Brentwood Div 2 Gr 6

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36065
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1959
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Division 2, Grade 6 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teachers. Miss Wadden is standing on the far right.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1959
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-023
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Division 2, Grade 6 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teachers. Miss Wadden is standing on the far right.
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Gr 4 Div 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36060
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1957
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Grade 4, Division 4 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teachers; Mrs. M. DeRidder is on the right.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1957
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-018
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Grade 4, Division 4 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teachers; Mrs. M. DeRidder is on the right.
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Gr 5 Div 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36061
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1957
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Grade 5, Division 2 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher (sitting- far right).
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1957
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-019
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Grade 5, Division 2 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher (sitting- far right).
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Park Div 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36064
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1958
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Division 3 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher, Mr. Rahrick (standing on the left).
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1958
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-022
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Division 3 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher, Mr. Rahrick (standing on the left).
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Park Div 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36063
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1958
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Division 5 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher (standing on the left).
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1958
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-021
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Division 5 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher (standing on the left).
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Park Elementary School fashion show

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96896
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[2001]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
Description Level
File
Physical Description
2 photographs (tiff) : col.
Scope and Content
File contains photographs of a fashion show organized by students at Brentwood Park Elementary School to benefit Oxfam and discuss the role of sweatshops in the fashion industry. Photographs show the students in the fashion show wearing brand-name clothing and other students assembled and seated on…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[2001]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
Physical Description
2 photographs (tiff) : col.
Description Level
File
Record No.
535-2453
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2018-12
Scope and Content
File contains photographs of a fashion show organized by students at Brentwood Park Elementary School to benefit Oxfam and discuss the role of sweatshops in the fashion industry. Photographs show the students in the fashion show wearing brand-name clothing and other students assembled and seated on the floor of the school's gymnasium.
Subjects
Persons - Students
Events - Fundraising
Social Issues
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Bartel, Mario
Notes
Title based on caption
Collected by editorial for use in a May 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Students at Brentwood Park Elementary School get an education about the role of sweatshops in the fashion industry, in a brand-name fashion show to benefit OXFAM. The show, which was organized and presented by grade six-seven students, discussed the kind of conditions faced by workers making clothes for such popular brands as Nike, Gap, Adidas and Tommy Hilfigger."
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Park Gr 2- 3 Div 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36057
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1956
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Grade 2-3, Division 3 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher, Mrs. M. DeRidder (far left).
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1956
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-015
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Grade 2-3, Division 3 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher, Mrs. M. DeRidder (far left).
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Park Gr 4 Div 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36058
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1956
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Grade 4, Division 3 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher, Miss Joan Beauchamp (far left).
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1956
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-016
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Grade 4, Division 3 class at Brentwood Park School sitting and standing in rows outside of their school with their teacher, Miss Joan Beauchamp (far left).
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Beauchamp, Joan
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Park School

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription62666
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
August 27, 2009
Collection/Fonds
Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : col. ; 600 ppi
Scope and Content
Photograph of Brentwood Park School.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
August 27, 2009
Collection/Fonds
Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
Series
Charting Change project series
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : col. ; 600 ppi
Description Level
Item
Record No.
503-003
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2009-10
Scope and Content
Photograph of Brentwood Park School.
Subjects
Buildings - Schools
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Pasch, Rebecca
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Park School Grade 7 class

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37901
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1968 (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.5 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 26.3 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the 1967-1968 Brentwood Park School Grade 7 class, Division 2.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1968 (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Image Bank subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.5 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 26.3 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-489
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the 1967-1968 Brentwood Park School Grade 7 class, Division 2.
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w copy negative accompanying
Negative has a pink cast
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Park School Staff

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37900
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1966 (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.0 x 3.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.4 x 26.9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Brentwood Park School staff.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1966 (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Image Bank subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.0 x 3.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.4 x 26.9 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-488
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of Brentwood Park School staff.
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w copy negative accompanying
Negative has a pink cast
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood School Staff

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36066
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1959
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff members at Brentwood Park School, sitting and standing in rows outside of the school.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1959
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-024
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff members at Brentwood Park School, sitting and standing in rows outside of the school.
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Occupations - Nurses
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Hadwritten note on verso of photograph identifies the staff members by listing them: "Mr. Harris, Mr. Kaye, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. McGregor (Nurse), Mrs. Hune, Mrs. Schawalder, Mrs. McCanty, Mrs. Kulla, Miss Gray, Mrs. Guggishberg, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. DeRidder, Mrs. Tweedy, Miss Johnstone, Miss Wadden, Mrs. Cook"
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Brentwood Staff

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36062
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1958
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff members at Brentwood Park School, sitting and standing in rows outside of the school. A hand-written note on verso of print indentifies the staff members in a list: Mr. Rahrick, Mr. Robinson, Mrs. Hune, Mrs. Schawalder, Mrs. Guggisberg, Mrs. McCanty, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Matheson…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1958
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Material Details
Photographer wrote their name, photograph's title and the date on the negative, making all three white on the photograph
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-020
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff members at Brentwood Park School, sitting and standing in rows outside of the school. A hand-written note on verso of print indentifies the staff members in a list: Mr. Rahrick, Mr. Robinson, Mrs. Hune, Mrs. Schawalder, Mrs. Guggisberg, Mrs. McCanty, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Kay, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Pervis, Miss Ginny (?), Mrs. Lewis, Miss \, Mrs. Lloyd, Miss Wadden, Mrs. Kulla, Mrs. Weir, Mrs. Smith"
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Second note on verso of photograph reads: D.A. Rahrick
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

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
Less detail

Staff at Brentwood Park School

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36056
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1955 or 1956]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff at Brentwood Park School. The woman are standing in a row at the back, with the men sitting in chairs at the front. Handwritten note on verso of print identifies the staff members in the photograph as: " Back - Miss Doreen Hurst, Mrs. M. DeRidder, Mrs. Melvin (Secretary), Mi…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1955 or 1956]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-014
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff at Brentwood Park School. The woman are standing in a row at the back, with the men sitting in chairs at the front. Handwritten note on verso of print identifies the staff members in the photograph as: " Back - Miss Doreen Hurst, Mrs. M. DeRidder, Mrs. Melvin (Secretary), Miss Marjorie Biggar, Miss Malcolm, Mrs. Guggisberg, Miss Joan Beauchamp Front - Mr. Eldon Dunnett, Mr. J.R. Wilson (Principal), Mr. Olson, Mr. Killer"
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Hurst, Doreen
Biggar, Marjorie
Beauchamp, Joan
Dunnett, Eldon
Wilson, J.R.
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Staff Brentwood

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36059
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1957
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff at Brentwood Park school sitting and standing in rows outside. Teachers in the photograph have been indentified (using other photographs as a guide) as: unidentified, Mr. Rahrick, Mrs. McCanty, unidentified, Mr. J.R.Wilson, unidentified, Mr. Kay, unidentified, Mrs. Hune, Mrs…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1957
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Grace Dickie subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm
Material Details
Photographer wrote their name, the photograph's title and the date on the negative, making all three white on the photograph
Description Level
Item
Record No.
215-017
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1989-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the staff at Brentwood Park school sitting and standing in rows outside. Teachers in the photograph have been indentified (using other photographs as a guide) as: unidentified, Mr. Rahrick, Mrs. McCanty, unidentified, Mr. J.R.Wilson, unidentified, Mr. Kay, unidentified, Mrs. Hune, Mrs. Schawalder, Mrs. M. DeRidder, Mrs. Lloyd, unidentified, unidentified, Mrs. Guggisberg, Mrs. Smith.
Subjects
Occupations - Teachers
Names
Brentwood Park School
Wilson, J.R.
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Handwritten signature on verso of print: "W. Bonnycosth" (?)
Photographer identified as "Layton"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

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