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Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory475
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1946-1987
- Length
- 00:06:32
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s career at Canadian Industries Inc (CIL) for a few years and then for Fleck Brothers until 1965, when he started his own business, Blaze Industries, which manufactured fire places and wood burning heaters. He also describes his short retirement…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s career at Canadian Industries Inc (CIL) for a few years and then for Fleck Brothers until 1965, when he started his own business, Blaze Industries, which manufactured fire places and wood burning heaters. He also describes his short retirement in 1980 and going back to work for a solar panel manufacturing company, which led to building a plant in India.
- Date Range
- 1946-1987
- Photo Info
- Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263
- Length
- 00:06:32
- Subjects
- Occupations
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- March 19, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.
- Total Tracks
- 11
- Total Length
- 1:31:44
- Interviewee Name
- Gordon, Merrill
- Interview Location
- unknown
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track four of interview with Merrill Gordon
Track four of interview with Merrill Gordon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_4.mp3Burnaby Sports Day
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85204
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1936 and 1939]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 film clip (8 min., 37 sec.) : digital, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of the annual Sports Day events held at Burnaby Central Park. The film opens with an unidentified dedication ceremony and tree planting in an unknown location and switches to students marching into Central Park. Hundreds of child…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1936 and 1939]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 film clip (8 min., 37 sec.) : digital, col., si.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 562-002-3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2012-15
- Scope and Content
- Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of the annual Sports Day events held at Burnaby Central Park. The film opens with an unidentified dedication ceremony and tree planting in an unknown location and switches to students marching into Central Park. Hundreds of children and Youth are showcased in sporting field events and competitions such as track and field sports, acrobatics, gymnastics, dancing, leap frog, skipping, rugby.
- Subjects
- Events - Parades
- Occupations
- Occupations - Labourers
- Organizations - Mens' Societies and Clubs
- Organizations - Womens' Societies and Clubs
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Photographer
- Digney, Andy
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
- Film clip originates from digitized version of original 16 mm film footage (item 562-002). This segment was part of digitized portion titled 'May Day Events'
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Central Park
- Street Address
- 3883 Imperial Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Sussex-Nelson Area
Images
Video
Burnaby Sports Day, [between 1936 and 1939]
Burnaby Sports Day, [between 1936 and 1939]
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-002-3.m4vGoodlad Street house
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37767
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1955] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 3.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 26.2 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a home on Goodlad Street, address unknown. The house has just been finished and the yard has yet to be landscaped.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1955] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Burnaby Image Bank subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 3.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 26.2 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 370-355
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1999-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a home on Goodlad Street, address unknown. The house has just been finished and the yard has yet to be landscaped.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- 1 b&w copy negative accompanying
- Negative has a pink cast
- Geographic Access
- Goodlad Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lakeview-Mayfield Area
Images
House with Christmas lights
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98655
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 2021
- Collection/Fonds
- Disappearing Burnaby collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of a house with an unknown address, located in the area of Inman and Cascade Heights Elementary Schools and near Smith Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at night and lit up with Christmas lights and other holiday decorations. Snow is covering the house's front lawn.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 2021
- Collection/Fonds
- Disappearing Burnaby collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 634-002
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2022-14
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of a house with an unknown address, located in the area of Inman and Cascade Heights Elementary Schools and near Smith Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at night and lit up with Christmas lights and other holiday decorations. Snow is covering the house's front lawn.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Cheung, Nakita
- Notes
- Title taken from the associated blog post
- Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/03/03/christmas-ho-ho-ho/
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Cascade-Schou Area
- Garden Village Area
Images
Looking east from north side of 5118 Douglas Road - The Roberts House
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription91823
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1931]
- Collection/Fonds
- Small family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 cm x 8.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Roberts' children: Lauretta, John A., Edward, and Roland. The children are posed with a bicycle in the Roberts' yard, which is in the process of being landscaped. The house at 3090 Douglas Road (left) and the Adams' family house at 3011 Godwin (right) are visible in the backgrou…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1931]
- Collection/Fonds
- Small family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 cm x 8.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 620-004
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2017-01
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Roberts' children: Lauretta, John A., Edward, and Roland. The children are posed with a bicycle in the Roberts' yard, which is in the process of being landscaped. The house at 3090 Douglas Road (left) and the Adams' family house at 3011 Godwin (right) are visible in the background. The photograph was taken from the north side of the Roberts' property at 5118 Douglas Road.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from donor's notes
- 5118 Douglas Road renumbered to 3131 Douglas Road in 1958 and to 5538 Dominion Street in 1970 or 1971
- 3011 Godwin is a new address. Previous address was on the 5100 block of Douglas Road (house number unknown).
- Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "1930? or '31 / Roberts children / Lauretta John A. Edward / Roland"
- Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "P5"
- See landscape plan for 5118 Douglas Road
- Street Address
- 3131 Douglas Road
- 5118 Douglas Road
- 5538 Dominion Street
- 3090 Douglas Road
- 3011 Godwin Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Ardingley-Sprott Area
Images
Looking east from north side of 5118 Douglas Road - The Roberts House
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription91824
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1940 and 1949]
- Collection/Fonds
- Small family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Roberts' front yard after a snowfall. The house at 3090 Douglas Road (left) and the Adams' family house at 3011 Godwin (right) are visible in the background. The photograph was taken from the north side of the Roberts' house at 5118 Douglas Road.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1940 and 1949]
- Collection/Fonds
- Small family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 620-005
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No reproduction permitted
- Accession Number
- 2017-01
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Roberts' front yard after a snowfall. The house at 3090 Douglas Road (left) and the Adams' family house at 3011 Godwin (right) are visible in the background. The photograph was taken from the north side of the Roberts' house at 5118 Douglas Road.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from donor's notes
- 5118 Douglas Road renumbered to 3131 Douglas Road in 1958 and to 5538 Dominion Street in 1970 or 1971
- 3011 Godwin is a new address. Previous address was on the 5100 block of Douglas Road (house number unknown).
- The tree bisecting the gable end of the house on the left is likely the oak tree in photograph 620-007
- Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "Probably 1940's Looking East from Roberts front yard"
- Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "P6"
- Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "132"
- Street Address
- 3131 Douglas Road
- 5118 Douglas Road
- 5538 Dominion Street
- 3090 Douglas Road
- 3011 Godwin Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Ardingley-Sprott Area
Images
Looking southeast from 5118 Douglas Road - The Roberts House
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription91830
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1960 and 1975]
- Collection/Fonds
- Small family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 cm x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Manahan family's house, taken from 5118 Douglas Road, looking southeast. In the 1960s the Meyers sold a portion of their property at to the Manahan family and the house in the centre of the photograph was built. The address of the house is unknown. To the right, the Meyers' hou…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1960 and 1975]
- Collection/Fonds
- Small family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 cm x 9 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 620-011
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No reproduction permitted
- Accession Number
- 2017-01
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Manahan family's house, taken from 5118 Douglas Road, looking southeast. In the 1960s the Meyers sold a portion of their property at to the Manahan family and the house in the centre of the photograph was built. The address of the house is unknown. To the right, the Meyers' house is partially visible.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from donor's notes
- 5106 Douglas Road later subdivided into 5539 and 5545 Norfolk Street
- Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "(Meyers House on Right)"
- Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "P11"
- Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "Manahan's House"
- Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "1960's or early 1970s"
- Street Address
- 5106 Douglas Road
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Ardingley-Sprott Area
Images
Lubbock's farm
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36517
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 8.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Copyright holder and creator are unknown. Copyright expires in 2053.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1977
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Lubbock family subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 8.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 289-006
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1992-24
- Scope and Content
- Copyright holder and creator are unknown. Copyright expires in 2053.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Grandview Highway
- Canada Way
- Burris Street
- Street Address
- 7803 Burris Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area