interviewed found 41 records | Heritage Burnaby

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) + 65 photographs + 26 photographs (jpg) + 1 portfolio (15 col. photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and his wife, Donna Polos; photographs of Jimmy Chow and his family soon after they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s as well as a sampling of photographs and records documenting Jimmy Chow's career in the film industry. Fonds is arranged…

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) + 65 photographs + 26 photographs (jpg) + 1 portfolio (15 col. photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and his wife, Donna Polos; photographs of Jimmy Chow and his family soon after they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s as well as a sampling of photographs and records documenting Jimmy Chow's career in the film industry. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos interviews series 2) Jimmy Chow family photographs series 3) Property master photographs series 4) Property master records series

History: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow was born in Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China in 1948. In 1950, Jimmy Chow and his mother, Gim Gee Chow (1913-1991) fled China to escape the Communist Revolution and to be reunited with his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow (1906-1990) who’d immigrated to Canada many years earlier. Jimmy’s elder sister Shao-Lin Chow stayed behind in China. Jimmy’s father, Robin Chung Dip Chow immigrated to Canada in 1921 at 14 years of age and was forced to pay the Chinese head tax of $500. In 1950, Jimmy and his mother first fled to Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada and arriving in Vancouver. Jimmy Chow’s birth name is Hipman Chow but when he arrived in Canada, his father indicated that he needed an English name and he was given the name “Jimmy” but retained his birth name “Hipman Chow”. Over the years, Jimmy has also used the name “James H. Chow” and is often credited by this name in the film industry. For the first four years after immigrating, Jimmy and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec where his father had work in hotels and restaurants. While living in Asquith, Saskatchewan Jimmy attended school and began to learn English. In 1954, Jimmy and his parents returned to Vancouver, first living in the area of Strathcona before settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant where they purchased a house located on 15th Avenue east of Main Street. While living in Mount Pleasant, Jimmy attended both elementary and high school. While attending high school, Jimmy began working at the local grocery store where he worked for many years living at home and saving his money. In 1970 while attending Vancouver City College, Jimmy met his future wife Donna Polos. Two years later, they moved in together, married in 1981 and started a family. Jimmy and Donna first lived in North Burnaby before purchasing a house on Victory Street in Burnaby where they raised their three children. Growing up in a traditional Chinese Canadian family, Jimmy was always one who went against the grain. Although his father wanted him to get a business degree, Jimmy had aspirations for a different career path. Through the referral of a friend, he entered the film industry in 1973 working for CBC Vancouver. While working at the CBC, Jimmy gained valuable experience working on the set of the television series The Beachcombers, which launched his career in the film industry. Over a 45 year career, Jimmy worked on over 50 blockbuster movies, historical period films, science fiction films and fantasy films, where he honed in on his expertise as a set decorator, art director and property master. He built an international reputation through working with production companies, prop makers and antique sellers across the globe. As a property master in the film industry, Jimmy Chow has been responsible for designing, managing, and sourcing props for films such as: The BFG, Warcraft: The Beginning, X-Men 2, Fantastic Four, Watchman, Tron: Legacy, Little Women, Seven Years in Tibet, Shanghai Noon, The Shipping News, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Changeling, Man of Steel (Superman), Snow Falling on Cedars, Legends of the Fall, And the Sea Will Tell, Once a Thief and many more. With Jimmy's many years of professional experience in the film industry, he has been a union member of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians...) from July 1979, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science from 2018 and has worked as a guest lecturer in film production at Capilano University and Langara University. He was also a key contributor to the Burnaby Village Museum’s 2014 temporary exhibition Burnaby Makes Movies. Donna Polos was born in Vancouver in 1949 to parents Mayme "May" Helen Tillikana Polos (1931-1977) and Donald James Polos (1926-2017). Donna’s maternal grandparents, Elvi Tienhara and Toiva Tillikana immigrated to Canada from Helsinki, Finland. Donna’s paternal grandmother, Pauline Chimiki Polos emigrated from Ukraine to Argentina and then to Winnipeg. Donna’s paternal grandfather, James "Jimmy" Kostopolus emigrated as an orphan from Sparta Greece at the age of 12 years. In 1908, he first immigrated to the United States where he was denied entry so immigrated to Canada, entering through Halifax at Pier 17. When immigrating, James changed his last name to "Polos". Jimmy Polos arrived in Halifax with only five dollars in his pocket. He lived in Halifax for many years before making his way to Vancouver where he established three restaurants and raised his family. James was the proprietor of three restaurants in Burnaby including; the Home Apple Pie Café (1941-1944) located on East Hastings near Princess Avenue; Jimmy’s Café (1945-1955) located on East Hastings near Hawks Avenue and another restaurant located near 10th Avenue and Alma Street. Donna grew up with her family in Vancouver, first living in the downtown eastside before moving to a home near Joyce Station. Donna attended elementary school and high school while growing up in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station. Donna moved out of her family home at 21 years of age and lived with roommates before moving in with Jimmy Chow in 1972. Donna attended Vancouver City College and the University of British Columbia where she obtained her teaching degree in 1974. Donna first taught at Gilmore Elementary School before being hired to teach at Clinton Elementary School where she taught for nine years. While raising their three children, Donna worked part time teaching in schools in Burnaby. In 1991, after a near death experience, Donna became interested in fine art and took drawing and watercolour painting classes. This experience led her to experimenting with different painting techniques on paper and fabric. In 2008, Donna retired from teaching but continued her art career often working as an Artist in Residence at various schools and exhibiting her work. While living in Burnaby Donna has been politically active with a particular passion for heritage, housing and preserving the natural environment. Donna was instrumental in advocating and petitioning for the establishment of a tree bylaw in Burnaby which was eventually adopted by the City.

Creator: Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"; Polos, Donna

Accession Code: BV022.21; BV023.11

Date: 1950-2022

Media Type: Sound Recording; Photograph; Textual Record; Graphic Material

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds; Hipman "Jimmy" Chow's name in Cantonese is Chow Hipman and in Mandarin is Zhou Xiamin.

Appointed Committee to Interview Medical Health Officer re Slaughter House

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport79432

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 83540

Meeting Date: 13-Feb-1897

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

2 documents

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 83540

Meeting Date: 13-Feb-1897

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Documents

Report 83540

13-Feb-1897 Meeting Minutes

Appointment of Committee to Interview New Westminster re East Burnaby Water Supply

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport74421

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 74415

Meeting Date: 13-Feb-1911

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

2 documents

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 74415

Meeting Date: 13-Feb-1911

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Documents

Report 74415

13-Feb-1911 Meeting Minutes

Appointment of Committee to Interview North and South Vancouver re Telephone Rates

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport76347

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 76413

Meeting Date: 27-Nov-1911

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

2 documents

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 76413

Meeting Date: 27-Nov-1911

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Documents

Report 76413

27-Nov-1911 Meeting Minutes

Appointment of Committee to to Interview City of Vancouver re Seymour Creek Water Supply

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport74304

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 74386

Meeting Date: 6-Feb-1911

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

2 documents

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 74386

Meeting Date: 6-Feb-1911

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Documents

Report 74386

6-Feb-1911 Meeting Minutes

Appointment of Special Committee to Interview Interests re Proposed Amalgamation of the New Westminster and Vancouver Annual Fairs

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport70099

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 75064

Meeting Date: 5-Oct-1925

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

2 documents

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 75064

Meeting Date: 5-Oct-1925

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Documents

Report 75064

5-Oct-1925 Meeting Minutes

Burnaby General Hospital - interview on radio - intensive care & emergency services

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport31894

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 24733

Meeting Date: 19-May-1970

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

1 document

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Report ID: 24733

Meeting Date: 19-May-1970

Format: Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Documents

19-May-1970 Meeting Minutes

Century Park Museum Association fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3781

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1971-1989

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 1814 photographs + 219 architectural drawings + 17 technical drawings + 4 videocassettes + 3 audio reels + 17 audio cassettes + 1.6 m of textual records + 2 maps

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records created and collected by the Century Park Museum Association (renamed Burnaby Village Museum Association after 1984), which managed Heritage Village (later named Burnaby Village Museum) from its opening in 1971 until it's dissolution in December 1989. Records include archi…

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 1814 photographs + 219 architectural drawings + 17 technical drawings + 4 videocassettes + 3 audio reels + 17 audio cassettes + 1.6 m of textual records + 2 maps

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records created and collected by the Century Park Museum Association (renamed Burnaby Village Museum Association after 1984), which managed Heritage Village (later named Burnaby Village Museum) from its opening in 1971 until it's dissolution in December 1989. Records include architectural drawings and proposals; photographs and films of the site; documentation of exhibits and artifacts, special events and programs; oral history interviews and other sound recordings; association meeting minutes; constitutions and bylaws; financial records; reports; correspondence; publications and research materials. Fonds has been arranged into the following series: 1) Century Park Museum Association photograph collection series 2) Century Park Museum Association film collection series 3) Century Park Museum Association architectural records and reports series 4) Heritage Village Museum oral history Interviews series 5) Heritage Village Museum presentations and Programming series 6) Century Park Museum Association reports series 7) Century Park Museum Association constitution, bylaws and agreements series 8) Century Park Museum Association minutes of meetings series 9) Century Park Museum association Board of Directors' administrative files series 10) Century Park Museum membership series 11) Heritage Village Museum exhibits and artifacts series 12) Century Park Museum Association committees' minutes and reports series 13) Museum staff adminstrative files series 14) Century Park Museum Association financial records series

History: The Heritage Village Museum was originally created as a British Columbia Centennial Project in 1971 through funding from the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments. A sub-committee of the Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee was responsible for the creation of a permanent commemorative project. The concept for an open-air museum was developed with the location to be in Burnaby on lots 8,9, 10 and 11 of District Lot 79 and Lots 2 and 5, Block "R" of Districts Lots 79 and 85. The official sod turning for Heritage Village took place on April 11, 1971. In the spring of 1971, a museum director and curator were hired to oversee the development of the project and the acquisition of artifacts with funding from the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Century Park Museum Association (CPMA) was founded under the auspices of the Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee to govern Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative Project, Heritage Village. The CPMA Board of directors were elected on October 26, 1971 with Donald (Don) Copan as the founding president (Don continued to serve on the Board until 1989). The Board of Directors reported directly to the Municipal Council. The association had an overall objective of providing a museum that was a historical resource for Burnaby and the region. The museum mandate was to collect, preserve, research, document and interpret artifacts and historical buildings that illustrated the history and lifestyle of the Lower Mainland in B.C. and Burnaby. The Museum focused on the period between 1890 and 1925 depicting a village lifestyle of a small community. This was achieved through the use of exhibits and displays within historic buildings and built reconstructions along with costumed museum interpreters. Many people contributed to the construction and design of the village. Architect, Rudy Kovach created the initial concept drawings and architecture designs were created by architectural design consultants Hopping, Kovach and Grinnell. Many carpenters and tradespeople worked on the construction of the buildings including Mr. Angelo Giacometti who was respsonible for much of the final decorative elements. The official opening of Heritage Village took place on November 19, 1971 with Burnaby Mayor Bob Prittie and Canada’s Governor General Roland Michener. Heritage Village was opened up to the public for a few days between November 19 and 21 with approximately 15,000 visitors. On July 1st, 1972 Heritage Village re-opened for the summer season with CPMA president, Don Copan and Mayor Bob Prittie officiating. This opening showcased further development of the site with more buildings and exhibits added. In 1984, Heritage Village Museum changed its name to “Burnaby Village Museum” and in turn, the Century Park Museum Association changed its name to the “Burnaby Village Museum Association”. Burnaby Village Museum continued to be governed by the Burnaby Village Museum Association until the end of 1989. In 1990, the Corporation of the District of Burnaby assumed the operation and management of Burnaby Village Museum under the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department and the Burnaby Village Museum Association was dissolved.

Responsibility: Century Park Museum Association

Accession Code: BV985.6028; BV005.14; BV000.18; BV011.44; BV011.50; BV014.30; BV016.56; BV017.46; BV018.21; BV019.52; BV020.4; BV020.5; BV021.5; BV022.9

Date: 1971-1989

Media Type: Photograph; Sound Recording; Textual Record; Architectural Drawing; Moving Images; Cartographic Material; Technical Drawing

Related Material: Donald Copan fonds; Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee collection; Royal Bank exhibit collection; Bell's Dry Goods exhibit collection; Jesse Love farmhouse fonds; Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Arrangement: Records are arranged by types and functions of the Century Park Museum Association. The series reflects how they were maintained by the associaton, it's members and staff of Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum) while under the governance of the association.

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds; Further accruals are expected; Some records within this fonds are Closed - contact Burnaby Village Museum for access