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dish
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact40273
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV999.46.15
- Description
- Sauce dish, ceramic, white; four floral and leaf motifs around a central piece of fruit, in pink, green and yellow; underneath is "CHINA" in red;
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Food Service T&E - - Eating Vessels
- Object Term
- Dish, Eating
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
dish
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact40274
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV999.46.16
- Description
- Sauce dish, ceramic, white; four floral and leaf motifs around a central piece of fruit, in pink, green and yellow; underneath is "CHINA" in red; small chips, small cracks; stain
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Food Service T&E - - Eating Vessels
- Object Term
- Dish, Eating
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
dish
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact40275
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV999.46.17
- Description
- Sauce dish, ceramic, white; four floral and leaf motifs around a central piece of fruit, in pink, green and yellow; underneath is "CHINA" in red; small chips
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Food Service T&E - - Eating Vessels
- Object Term
- Dish, Eating
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
exercise book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact7000
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.360.1
- Description
- Exercise book, "Globe Stationery", for Mun Pow of the Lake Forest Academy Francais I - 1910
- Object History
- Some books in this accession are marked: "Mr. Chan Y. Leong, 111 Pender St. E., Vancouver B.C., Canada, North America, Western H."
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
exercise book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact7001
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.360.2
- Description
- Exercise book, for math, in very poor condition
- Object History
- Some books in this accession are marked: "Mr. Chan Y. Leong, 111 Pender St. E., Vancouver B.C., Canada, North America, Western H."
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
game piece
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact85451
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV015.23.2
- Description
- Small domed disk of white porcelin used in gambling games, like Fantan or in the game of Go.
- Object History
- This game piece was found in the 1990s underneath the Chauffeur's cottage at Ceperley Mansion (Burnaby Art Gallery today). It bears resemblance to a game piece from Fantan set. There were Chinese Canadians working at the Fairacres Estate around 1912, so it is possible this piece is related to these workers.
- Measurements
- diameter 1.1 cm by .6 thick
- Subjects
- Games
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
hat
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91751
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.14.7
- Description
- Conical straw or bamboo hat. The material is woven together and has a white nylon corded edge. There is an internal hat ring that would rest on the wearer's head. The ring is made out of plastic and is zap strapped to the inner structure of the woven hat. There is a black cord chin strap attached to the ring.
- The top of the cone is damaged and missing.
- There are three smudged marks evenly spaced around the outside of the hat, indicating some sort of design at one point.
- Object History
- These items belonged to the Hong family - who founded Hop On Farms in Burnaby. Heritage Burnaby has a number of photos and an oral history about the family.
- Used by family and farm workers until 2022.
- Category
- 03. Personal Artifacts
- Classification
- Clothing - - Headwear
- Object Term
- Hat
- Measurements
- Diameter: 42 cm
- Names
- Hop on Farms
Images
Interview with Denise Fong by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14276
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:60:38 min.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an audio recording of a Zoom interview with Denise Fong conducted by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. The interview was conducted with Denise Fong as part of the students' research for their podcast "Where is your food from?". This podcast…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- UBC Partnership series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:60:38 min.)
- Material Details
- Interviewers: Rose Wu; Wei Yan Yeong Interviewee: Denise Fong Interview Date: September 2020 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all tracks: 00:60:38 Recording device: Zoom video communication platform Photograph info: Store front of Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co in Victoria, B.C., 1975. BV017.7.191
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an audio recording of a Zoom interview with Denise Fong conducted by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. The interview was conducted with Denise Fong as part of the students' research for their podcast "Where is your food from?". This podcast was part two in a series of three "Back to the Roots" podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. In this series the students connected their knowledge of food systems to their shared Chinese heritage in order to discover how Chinese Canadian history is rooted in their local food systems. "Where is your food from?" explores contemporary versus historical alternative food movements and how early Chinese farmers in the lower mainland had to be creative in their business tactics in order to survive in a local food system that discriminated against their race. 00:00 - 4:51 Denise Fong introduces herself and provides a summary of the work that she has done while working as a researcher on the Chinese Canadian History Research project for the Burnaby Village Museum. Denise explains how much of her research has focused on the history of Chinese Canadian market gardeners and green grocers and their presence in Burnaby. Denise tells of how many Chinese immigrants found it hard to find work due to racial discrimination which led many Chinese men to work in agriculture and farming. Her research has shown that many of the Chinese farms were located in the Big Bend area of Burnaby. 04:52 – 08:24 In this segment, Denise elaborates on the “truck” or “market” farming industry for Chinese farmers in Burnaby. Denise explains how “truck” farming was a mode for distributing produce from Chinese farms and some of the challenges the Chinese farmers faced. 08:25 – 14:10 In this segment Denise talks about peddling as another mode to distribute farm produce and how this was often dominated by Chinese Canadians since they were restricted from accessing other jobs. Denise explains how the Chinese peddlers would have their own routes with customers who depended on them to bring the produce to them. Denise provides an example of racial discrimination whereby a Burnaby Bylaw prevented people of Chinese descent from working for the city. 14:11 – 22: 39 In this segment, Denise describes how in the 1950s and 1960s, produce distribution networks for Chinese Canadian farmers in Burnaby expanded to larger stores and wholesalers including Woodward’s, Safeway in Burnaby, MacDonald’s Consolidated and Kelly Douglas. Denise provides specific examples of Burnaby families and tells the story of Chinese Canadian Cecil Lee, a produce buyer for Kelly Douglas. In the mid 1970s Lee, was asked to oversee the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into Canada and was responsible for the design of a new cardboard box to replace the wooden crates that held the mandarin oranges. 22:40 – 33:28 In this segment, Denise provides information on Chinese farming methods and practices that she gathered through her research. Information gathered from interviews, research papers and an article in Harrowsmith magazine suggest that many of the Big Bend farms in Burnaby relied on crop rotation, companion planting and intercropping along with traditional organic fertilizers that were available. Denise also tells of how Chinese farmers often relied on traditional methods that they brought from Southern China including the creation of raised beds to avoid damage due to flooding. Wei Yan comments that many of these traditional methods are being reintroduced as a new sustainable way of farming. Research done by Wei Yan found that when chemical fertilizers were introduced informational brochures included Chinese translations. 33:29 – 38:30 In this segment Rose and Wei Yan speak to Denise about the cultural demographic of farmers in the Big Bend area of Burnaby and what types of crops were grown. Denise comments that to her knowledge there were mostly Chinese farmers in this area but there were some European farmers as well. Produce that was grown on the farms was mostly market driven by the local consumers and it wasn’t until the 1970s that there was a bigger demand to grow Chinese vegetables to supply the growing Chinese population. Denise shares personal experience of what she learned after a visit to a local farm and the different methods that the farmer used for growing crops. The three discuss the importance of innovation and adaptability in growing techniques that Chinese farmers have used. 38:31 – 46:23 In this segment, Rose and Wei Yan speak to Denise about the discrimination barriers that Chinese farmers had to face. Denise speaks about discriminatory bylaws and regulations that targeted Chinese farmers including the Peddling tax. She tells of how this tax, persecution to peddlers and restrictions resulted in the emergence of a new industry of Chinese green grocers. Denise names Chinese trade organizations that were formed in response to the social and economic segregation and marginalization that Chinese farmers and retailers faced. Denise references research done by Natalie Gibb and Hannah Wittman from their article “Parallel Alternatives: Chinese-Canadian farmers and the Metro Vancouver local food movement” as well as research by Harry Con and Edgar Wickberg. Denise also provides information that she has gathered from Chinese farmers in Burnaby including the Yip family who were able to purchase land after World War II through the Veterans Land Act and how prior to World War II it was very difficult for Chinese immigrants to purchase land. 46:24 – 1:00:38 In this segment the group discusses how Chinese farmers have adapted in the market garden farm distribution system and the introduction of retail spaces on their farms as part of the new local food movement. Denise, Rose and Wei Yan reflect on how their interview with Denise Fong and research resources will support their podcast series and exhibits at Burnaby Village Museum.
- History
- Interviewer biographies: Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong are University of British Columbia students in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. Interviewee biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Social Issues - Discrimination
- Social Issues - Racism
- Agriculture
- Agriculture - Crops
- Agriculture - Farms
- Gardens - Market Gardens
- Foods
- Names
- Fong, Denise
- Responsibility
- Wu, Rose
- Yeong, Wei Yan
- Accession Code
- BV020.28.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 2020
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- BV020.28.4
- Notes
- Title based on contents of recording
- Item was originally recorded as an mp4 video and converted to an mp3 sound recording for public access on Heritage Burnaby. To access the video recording, contact Burnaby Village Museum.
- For recording of podcast "Where is your food from?" see BV020.28.4
Images
Audio Tracks
Interview with Denise Fong by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, 2020
Interview with Denise Fong by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Sound_Recordings/2020_0028_0002_002.mp3![Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/2017_0036_0004_001.jpg?width=280)
Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12337
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)
- Scope and Content
- Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewee: Josephine Chow Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: February 7, 2020 Total Number of Tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 00:43:19
- Scope and Content
- Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. The farm is situated in the Big Bend area along Marine Drive and is still in operation today. 0:00-08:45 Josephine Chow provides some historical background on the history of “Hop On Farm” and her family in British Columbia. She tells of how her grandfather Gay Tim Hong and three partners pooled money together to purchase twelve acres on Marine Drive in 1951. Prior to this, most of them farmed on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation Reserve for 20-30 years. It all began when her great grandfather Sui Wing Hong, first came to Canada from China and slowly brought over her grandfather, father and other members of the family. Her grandfather, Gay Tim Hong went back and forth between Canada and China at least four times since he and her grandmother had four children including her father, who was born in 1931. Her father came to Canada at 10 years of age to live with his father. Josephine’s great grandfather came to Vancouver from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). 8:46- 14:20 Josephine provides the names of her siblings from the eldest to the youngest; Pauline, Josephine (herself), Catherine, Noreen, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. She describes what life was like on the farm with her parents working from sunrise to sunset. The family farmed vegetable produce taking orders from local stores in the lower mainland. Often the children helped their parents with the orders starting at eight or nine years of age. Other workers on the farm travelled by bus from Vancouver’s Chinatown. She also tells of how her father was an animal lover and raised chickens, pigeons, geese, koy, goldfish and dogs. 14: 21 – 16:56 Josephine describes what Burnaby was like during the time that she grew up in the late 1950s. She explains that Burnaby was very quiet with nothing being open on Sundays. On the farm, she and her siblings would entertain themselves by playing games like soccer, baseball and kick ball or also by catching frogs, snails, caterpillars and ladybugs. There were neighbours living on Marine Drive and almost every house had someone who we went to the same elementary school. The neighbourhood children would often come to play with them on their farm. 16:56- 26:47 Josephine describes how when they were young there were farms all around them and how on Sunday drives with her father, they would go to feed horses or look at the cows. Josephine shares that her elder sister Pauline was the only one born in China and how when she first arrived that she lived on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations Reserve with their parents before they moved to Burnaby. Josephine recollects that most of her friends were farmer’s kids from the neighbourhood but while in school, she had more Caucasian friends. Josephine and her siblings attended Glenwood Elementary on Marine Drive and later Junior Secondary at McPherson Park (grades 8-10) and Burnaby South Senior Secondary (grades 11-12. ). She shares some of her experiences while attending school. She said that there were about a dozen Asians in school with her, mostly from farming families in the “Flats”. 26:48- 30:45 Josephine describes what life was like for her and her siblings after school. They often helped on the farm when they got home, usually taking care of orders for green onions. Her mother made dinner and did all of the cooking for family and workers on the farm as well as working in the fields. Her father did all of the grocery shopping in Vancouver’s Chinatown two or three times per week where he purchased meat and fish. She says that her grandfather, often travelled by bus every Saturday or Sunday to meet up with friends in Chinatown. Extracurricular activities for her and her siblings included volley ball and soccer as long as it didn’t interfere with their work schedule on the farm. 30:46- 37:03 Josephine describes what occurred while living at home, the food they ate, shopping and attending Chinese school. Her mother cooked only Chinese food, she didn’t know how to cook “Western food”. For school lunches, the kids made their own sandwiches. She tells of a Chinese language school arranged by Mrs. Joe [sic] who lived on Gilley Road and was Canadian born Chinese. Mrs. Joe [sic] also arranged an English class for farmer’s wives on Tuesday nights in which her mother attended. Josephine recollects learning Mandarin from Mrs. Joe [sic] a few days a week after her regular school. Chinese school took place at Riverway School on Meadow Avenue in Burnaby. Mrs. Joe also taught them a lot about Chinese culture including Kung Fu, Chinese Dance and Chinese brush painting. 37:04- 39:39 Josephine describes Medical Care for her and her family in the 1950s and 1960s. She tells of a female Chinese doctor in Vancouver, Dr. Madeline Chung. Dr. Chung was responsible for delivering a lot of Chinese babies including Josephine. The family also visited herbalists in Vancouver Chinatown. They would often buy herbs for colds etc. Josephine also tells of how her parents stayed in touch with family in China by writing letters. Her mother’s family, including her parents and siblings were still in China while most of her father’s family were here in Canada. 39:40- 43:19 – In closing, Josephine shares how life is much busier now and of how she misses the quietness of her days growing up. She briefly describes her life on the family farm now and how different it is from when her parents worked the farm. She explains how farming methods have changed and how they don’t have to work as hard as her parents did.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Josephine Chow (nee Hong) is the second eldest child of Chan Kow Hong and Sui Ha Hong. In 1925, Josephine's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong immigrated to Canada from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). In 1952, her father, Chan Kow Hong joined his father, Gay Tim Hong and by 1953, he established "Hop On Farms" in the Big Bend area of Burnaby near Marine Drive. Josephine grew up on the farm with her parents and six siblings; Pauline, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. In 1969, Josephine's elder sister Pauline and her husband Jack Chan took over the family farm and in 1972 their father and grandfather moved to Kamloops to open a restaurant. As an adult, Josephine worked in several different areas including owning and running her own Aesthetics business. Josephine eventually retired and returned to the farm to assist her siblings. The farm is still in operation. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Agriculture - Farms
- Education
- Buildings - Schools
- First Nations reserves - British Columbia
- Names
- Chow, Josephine
- Glenwood Elementary School
- McPherson Park Junior Secondary School
- ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)
- Responsibility
- Fong, Denise
- Geographic Access
- Byrne Road
- Accession Code
- BV020.6.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
- Related Material
- See also BV017.36*
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 12/3/2017
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of interview
- Photograph info: Gary Hong and Chan Kow Hong harvesting celery at Hop-On Farms [1969]. BV017.36.4
Images
![Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/2017_0036_0004_001.jpg)
Audio Tracks
Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020
Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2020_0006_0001_001.mp3![Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020, [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/2017_0024_0027_001.jpg?width=280)
Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12338
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:53:46 min.)
- Scope and Content
- Recording consists of an interview with Julie Lee conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong. Julie Lee shares information about her mother, Suey Ying Jung's (Laura's) experiences growing up as a Chinese Canadian on a farm in Burnaby during the 1920s and 1930s. She also shares some …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:53:46 min.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewee: Julie Lee Location of Interview: Home of Julie and Cecil Lee Interview Date: February 6, 2020 Total Number of Tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 00:53:46
- Scope and Content
- Recording consists of an interview with Julie Lee conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong. Julie Lee shares information about her mother, Suey Ying Jung's (Laura's) experiences growing up as a Chinese Canadian on a farm in Burnaby during the 1920s and 1930s. She also shares some information about her father Puy Yuen Chan. 0:00- 01:47 Julie Lee provides background information on her families’ connection to Burnaby and conveys how her maternal grandparents farmed a five acre lot at Still Creek and Douglas Road. Her grandparents grew vegetable produce and operated a piggery at this location. Her mother, Suey Ying Jung (Laura) was the middle child between two older sisters, Maida and Annie and her two younger brothers Gordon and Harry. They were all born at home and educated at Edmonds Elementary School. 01:48- 11:47 Julie provides some background information about her mother, the friendships she made growing up, when she got married and places that she lived. She tells of her mother marrying in 1942 at age 30 years, moving to Fraser Mills and then onto Maillardville in 1958. There was easy access to the Interurban tram so her mother was able to have a social life with others in Vancouver’s Chinatown. She says that many of the only existing photographs of the family living on the farm at Still Creek and Douglas Road can be attributed to her mother’s friend Lil Mau [sic] who owned a camera. The farm was sold around 1949 when her grandparents moved to East Vancouver. While operating the farm, her grandparents only hired Chinese workers who spoke the same language and ate the same foods as them. Despite this, her grandparents made friends with the Collin’s family who assisted them in adjusting to the Canadian way of life. Julie tells that her mother’s sister Maida and brother in law lived with them at Fraser Mills. Her mother’s sister Maida had nine children so Julie’s mother helped her in raising them. 11:48 – 16:53 - Julie talks about racial prejudice towards the Chinese in Burnaby during the 1920s and 1930s. She says that for the most part, her mother’s family had a very insular life on the farm and mainly socialized only within the Chinese community. Julie tells of how she recently became aware of a memoir “The Way it Was”, written by Burnaby resident, Fannie Waplington. The memoir is held as part of the Burnaby Village Museum collection. In the memoir, Fannie Waplington tells of how she was forbidden from visiting Julie’s mother on their farm due to her ethnic background. Julie conveys that it seems like it was a missed friendship for both her mother and Fannie. 16:54 – 22:30 Julie describes what school life was like for her mother and what she may have done outside of school. Her mother attended Edmonds School in the 1920s up to Grade 7 or Grade 8. Julie explains that Asian girls were never offered the opportunity to pursue higher education while her mother’s brothers continued with their education attending Vancouver Technical School. Her mother continued to work on the farm until she was married cooking for workers and helping her mother. Outside of school, she may have helped with looking after nieces and nephews, played cards and mahjong. She says that her mother continued to play cards with her own children and was a skilled knitter into her 80s. 22:31 – 30: 53 Julie tells of what she knows about the Chinese workers on the farm and Fraser Mills and what they did on the weekends. She figures that many may have played card games to pass the time and at Fraser Mills gambling occurred. Fishing was a highlight for her father and she recalls him fishing sturgeon. Single workers may have gone into Vancouver on the weekends. Julie says that her parents had a hobby farm while living at Fraser Mills and that they grew enough garlic to sell in Chinatown. She thinks that before living at Fraser Mills, her mother must have went to Chinatown quite a bit, assisting with banking and enjoying a social life. Julie shares that her father, Puy Yuen Chan came to Canada from China at twelve years of age but working as a shingle packer, he never learned to speak English. She figures that her parents must have met at Fraser Mills while her mother was visiting her sister Maida. 30:54 – 37:33 Julie describes her mother as the cook, caregiver and the “one man show”. She says that her mother enjoyed cooking traditional Chinese recipes. Julie talks of her own cooking and gardening skills which she may have inherited from her parents including her large patch of garlic. 37:34- 40:23- Julie is asked as to whether her mother attended Chinese school and says that she had some Chinese schooling. She could read and write a little but didn’t attend a formal school as far as she knows. Julie shares some background information on her own husband Cecil, who grew up in East Vancouver. She shares that Cecil’s family went back to China from 1931 until 1939 when they returned to Queensborough. Cecil attended Chinese school in New Westminster. 40:24 – 42:19 Julie speaks briefly about what type of medical care her mother and her family had. She relates that all births took place at home and they accessed a Chinese herbalist in Chinatown. Hospitals were accessed in 1950s—1960s. The family did use Western doctors that were insured under the medical system. She recalls growing up and having to drink a particular herbal brew at least once a month to stay well. 42:20- 46:47 Julie describes how her parents stayed connected with their families in China. She says that her mother’s family didn’t stay in touch with relatives in China and that her uncles rejected anything to do with the past. On her father’s side they maintained a connection with cousins. She recalls that her father, Puy Yuen Chan supported some of his relatives back home in China and stayed in touch with some. Her mother, Laura travelled to China in 1991 and 1992 and connected with some relations on Julie’s father’s side. 46:48- 53:46 In this segment, Julie speaks of her mother’s character being very self-assured, independent and goal oriented. She feels that her mother valued being surrounded by her family and friends and felt very comfortable growing up in Burnaby and with the relationships that she had. She feels that her mother adapted to her roles being the last of four children on the farm and that she was very self-sufficient and determined.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Julie Lee (nee Chan) is the daughter of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) and Puy Yuen Chan. Her mother's family owned and operated a vegetable and piggery farm on Douglas Road near Still Creek in the early 1900s. Their farm was located in front of the Douglas Road interurban tram station. Her mother had two older sisters named Maida and Annie and two younger brothers Harry and Gordon. Her mother was born in 1912 and left the farm for Fraser Mills when she was married in 1942. Julie grew up with her parents and siblings on the Fraser Mills site during the 1940s and 1950s. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Names
- Lee, Julie Cho Chan
- Chan, Puy Yuen
- Jung, Suey Ying "Laura"
- Wong, Suey Fong "Maida" Jung
- Jung, Suey Cheung "Harry"
- Jung, Suey Yook "Gordon"
- Jung, Gee Shee
- Jung, Chung Chong
- Jong, Suey Kin "Annie" Jung
- Responsibility
- Fong, Denise
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Accession Code
- BV020.6.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Related Material
- See also BV018.16.1
- Scan Resolution
- 1000
- Scan Date
- 01-Oct-2017
- Scale
- 96
- Notes
- Title based on contents of interview
- Photograph info: Suey Ying (Laura) with produce baskets [between 1940 and 1942]. BV017.24.27
Images
![Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020, [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/2017_0024_0027_001.jpg)
Audio Tracks
Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020, [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020
Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020, [1920-1992] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 6, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2020_0006_0002_001.mp3
jacket and pants
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact23662
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.4.1
- Description
- Jacket and pants, man's, dark maroon/brown, Chinese; jacket has Mandarin collar. Fabric is an open weave used for summer pattern suggesting waves or clouds. glaising on outside. hand stitched Hip piece waistband of pants is ramie? Jacket is western influenced but pants are traditional.
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
jug
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact14391
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV984.21.3
- Description
- Stoneware jug with some dark, brown glaze covering from top to body with some missing at the bottom. Small lipped opening on top with small spout beside it. Used for soya sauce. Item is second from left in photo.
- Object History
- Objects in this accession were inherited by donor from the estate of her parents, Leslie and Ina Morrow of Vancouver.
- Note in accession file states: "Stoneware pots & glass bottles found at cook campsite of shingle bolt camp on McNab Creek operating about turn of century. Found about 1970.".
- Measurements
- 12 cm H x 15 cm W
Images
jug
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact14393
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV984.21.5
- Description
- Jug, square shaped, stoneware, for soya sauce, mostly glazed except for some areas on the bottom, small spout for pouring appears chipped, fluted opening for refilling, raised floral pattern around the lid, chinese characters in a box on one side of jar. Artifact is third from left in photograph
- Object History
- Objects in this accession were inherited by donor from the estate of her parents, Leslie and Ina Morrow of Vancouver.
- Note in accession file states: "Stoneware pots & glass bottles found at cook campsite of shingle bolt camp on McNab Creek operating about turn of century. Found about 1970.".
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Marks/Labels
- Two chinese characters enclosed in a box embossed onto one side of jar. Floral pattern embossed around opening.
- Measurements
- 15cm height x 10cm width
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
jug
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact14394
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV984.21.6
- Description
- Earthenware brown jug with sloped shoulders and rounded shape, flat on bottom. Raised round hole in middle of top; smaller hole for pouring spout near top. Artifact is first on left in photograph.
- Object History
- Objects in this accession were inherited by donor from the estate of her parents, Leslie and Ina Morrow of Vancouver.
- Note in accession file states: "Stoneware pots & glass bottles found at cook campsite of shingle bolt camp on McNab Creek operating about turn of century. Found about 1970.".
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Measurements
- 12 cm height x 10 cm diameter
Images
jug
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact14466
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV984.21.78
- Description
- Earthenware brown jug with sloped shoulders and rounded shape, flat on bottom. Raised round hole in middle of top; smaller hole for pouring spout near top. Artifact is third from left in photograph.
- Object History
- Objects in this accession were inherited by donor from the estate of her parents, Leslie and Ina Morrow of Vancouver.
- Note in accession file states: "Stoneware pots & glass bottles found at cook campsite of shingle bolt camp on McNab Creek operating about turn of century. Found about 1970.".
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Measurements
- 12.5 cm height x 10.5 cm diameter
Images
mancho suit
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact21316
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV976.49.1
- Description
- Mancho suit; kimono-style jacket and two wrap-around panel skirts. Blind embroidery on jacket.
- Object History
- Item dates from before the 1900s, possibly as early as the 1860s. Was likely made for a wealthy Chinese family, rather than being produced for the tourist market.
Images
matchbook
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact89161
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV017.37.8
- Description
- matchbook; red folded paper with gold ink text and illustration of a dragon; "Dragon Inn / 4510 KINGSWAY, BURNABY, B.C. / 4524 E. HASTINGS, BURNABY B.C." printed on face; "THE HOUSE OF / CHINESE SMORGASBORD / Dragon Inn / 4510 Kingsway, Burnaby . . . 435-4148 / 4524 E. Hastings . . . 298-6481". There are pink-tipped matches in the book.
- Object History
- Dragon Inn belonged to the Lee family. The Dragon Inn restaurant was located at at 4510 Kingsway, on the corner of Kingsway and Willingdon Avenue (opened in the 1970s) and later at Hastings Street near Willingdon (opened in the 1990s). The Dragon Inn was known for its exterior neon sign which was removed in 1997.
- Category
- 02. Furnishings
- Classification
- Temperature Control Equipment - - Firemaking Equipment
- Object Term
- Matchbook
- Names
- Dragon Inn
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4510 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
matchbook
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact89162
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV017.37.9
- Description
- matchbook; white folded paper with blue and red ink text and illustration of a dragon; "Dragon / Inn / CHINESE / Smorgasbord / EVERY DAY / 4510 KINGSWAY / BURNABY, B.C." printed on face; business hours printed on back. There are blue-tipped matches in the book; manufactured by "DAHL AGENCIES LTD, B.C. * CANADA MATCH TORONTO".
- Object History
- Dragon Inn belonged to the Lee family. The Dragon Inn restaurant was located at at 4510 Kingsway, on the corner of Kingsway and Willingdon Avenue (opened in the 1970s) and later at Hastings Street near Willingdon (opened in the 1990s). The Dragon Inn was known for its exterior neon sign which was removed in 1997.
- Category
- 02. Furnishings
- Classification
- Temperature Control Equipment - - Firemaking Equipment
- Object Term
- Matchbook
- Names
- Dragon Inn
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4510 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
matchbox
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact50021
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV006.3.27
- Description
- Red and white paper match box The tray slides out of the outer covering. Outer covering features a red dragon "The House of / Chinese Smorgasbord / Dragon Inn." One side of the outer covering features a strike area the other " For Free / Home Delivery / 298 - 6481..." The other side of the outer covering " ...4524 E. hastings St. / N. Burnaby, B.C.".
- Object History
- Dragon Inn belonged to the Lee family. The Dragon Inn restaurant was located at at 4510 Kingsway, on the corner of Kingsway and Willingdon Avenue (opened in the 1970s) and later at Hastings Street near Willingdon (opened in the 1990s). The Dragon Inn was known for its exterior neon sign which was removed in 1997.
- Category
- 02. Furnishings
- Classification
- Temperature Control Equipment - - Firemaking Equipment
- Object Term
- Matchbox
- Names
- Dragon Inn
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
milk crate
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91786
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.17.6
- Description
- Light grey plastic milk crate produced for Silverwood's Dairy of Ontario.
- The plastic is formed in a diamond cut out pattern and has handles on two sides.
- There are various imprinted texts throughout.
- The top of the crate is scuffed an dirty
- Object History
- Item was used in the Canada Way Food Market owned by Harry Toy between 1975 and the late 2000s. the building sat vacant until sold in 2023.
- Classification
- Container
- Object Term
- Crate
- Marks/Labels
- "PROPERTY OF / SILVERWOOD'S"
- "MISUSER OF / THIS CASE / IS LIABLE TO / PROSECUTION"
- "G H J INDUSTRIES LTD / MADE IN CANADA BY GHJ IND / PATEND PENDING"
- "WARNING / USE BY OTHER THAN REGISTERED OWNER PROHIBITED BY LAW"
- Measurements
- Height: 27.5 cm
- Width: 33 cm
- Depth: 33 cm
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Container
- Names
- Canada Way Food Market
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4692 Canada Way
Images
