40 records – page 1 of 2.

Alpha Secondary School

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark678
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Associated Dates
1950
Street View URL
Google Maps Street View
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Geographic Access
Parker Street
Associated Dates
1950
Heritage Value
The unexpected period of growth in Burnaby during the first few years of the 1950s resulted in many overcrowded schools. As a result, the School Board decided it required a Junior High to alleviate enrolment issues at Gilmore Avenue Elementary-Junior school. Alpha opened in 1950 with 423 students. The new school had 12 rooms but added more in 1953. There were fires at the school in 1956 and 1964, resulting in the rebuilding of seven classrooms, library and administrative offices. There were additions made in 1968 and 1969 and in 1976 a gymnasium was built.
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Street Address
4600 Parker Street
Street View URL
Google Maps Street View
Images
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Brentwood Neighbourhood

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark669
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Associated Dates
1925-1954
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Associated Dates
1925-1954
Heritage Value
In July, 1953, Burnaby's Municipal Council gave approval for the construction of a $12,000,000 residential and shopping development to be called Brentwood Park, located on the northeast corner of Lougheed and Willingdon. Plans called for about 400 homes and a 30-acre shopping centre to be built in this new subdivision - the first large residential subdivision in Burnaby to be developed with sewers and paved streets as well as other services.
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
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Brentwood Neighbourhood

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark780
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Associated Dates
1955-2008
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Associated Dates
1955-2008
Heritage Value
Between 1955 and 2001, the Brentwood Neighbourhood developed into one of Burnaby's four official Town Centres. The Brentwood Town Centre serves the north-west sector of the Municipality, providing facilities such as commercial developments - of which the Brentwood Mall is the most significant. Under Burnaby's Residential Development Framework adopted by Council in 1981, the Town Centre also incorporated a full range of multi-housing types and forms in close relationship with their commercial facilities. In 1996, the City adopted the Brentwood Town Centre Development Plant to solidify the area as a focus of higher-density and higher-intensity residential and commercial opportunities, public transit and supporting leisure facilities.
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
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Brentwood Park Elementary School

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark679
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Associated Dates
1954
Street View URL
Google Maps Street View
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Associated Dates
1954
Heritage Value
Brentwood Park Elementary School was built during the post-World War Two housing boom in Burnaby and like other schools at the time, was similar in design - no basements, no second stories and no high stairways. New classrooms could be added in line with the original structure as was the case when two additions were put on between 1956 and 1958, a new classroom and library added in 1965-1966 and two more classrooms in 1969.
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Street Address
1455 Delta Avenue
Street View URL
Google Maps Street View
Images
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Interview with Lizette Pappas

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

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

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0020_004.mp3
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Doreen Lawson fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58356
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1950-2002
Collection/Fonds
Doreen Lawson fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
18 cm of textual records + approx. 1000 photographs
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created and received by Doreen Lawson during her career as Parks Commissioner (1965-1971), Burnaby City Council member (1972-1985, 1990-1999) and environmental advocate following her retirement from Council in 1999. Records include election campaign materials, congratulat…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1950-2002
Collection/Fonds
Doreen Lawson fonds
Physical Description
18 cm of textual records + approx. 1000 photographs
Description Level
Fonds
Accession Number
2003-30
2015-15
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created and received by Doreen Lawson during her career as Parks Commissioner (1965-1971), Burnaby City Council member (1972-1985, 1990-1999) and environmental advocate following her retirement from Council in 1999. Records include election campaign materials, congratulatory letters and correspondence, community speeches and slideshow presentations regarding the conservation of Burnaby Lake, the administrative papers of the Burnaby Centennial Rhododendron and Spring Flower Show Society, and photographs of Burnaby waterways and wildlife.
History
Doreen Anne Fowler Lawson was born July 8, 1928, to Eva Barnhill and Leonard Fowler. Her parents met in Alberta but decided to move to Vancouver where they got married and Doreen was born. The family moved to the north side of Claude Avenue in Burnaby when Doreen was a few months old. In 1931, they moved to a house with an acre of land directly across the street from their first house.
When Doreen was six, her family moved to Collingwood, Vancouver, near where her father grew up. This is where her brother Ron was born. The family moved again to County Line in Langley Prairie in 1944, which is where Doreen met Edward Lawson, her future husband. Soon after, they moved to a seven-acre plot in Burquitlam. Ed and Doreen Lawson’s eldest daughter, Linda, was born in 1954. Their second daughter, Wendy, was born in 1959 and their youngest, Lisa, was born in 1961. They lived in the Brentwood area, where all three daughters attended Brentwood Elementary School. Linda went on to Alpha Secondary School.
In 1945, Doreen began her first of several office jobs, and in the early 1950s she became the first woman to be elected into a vice-president position within the BC Trade Union Congress (now the BC Federation of Labour).
Doreen Lawson had a long and prolific political career, starting as Parks Commissioner in 1965, and serving as its chair from 1969 to 1971. She was instrumental in the selection and promotion of the rhododendron as the official flower of Burnaby in 1966. In 1971, she was elected to Burnaby City Council and, in 1972, Doreen proposed that Council take action to declare Burnaby Lake a wildlife sanctuary. After a 10-year campaign, she was able to convince Council to declare the park “a nature conservation area.” She put forward a policy of preservation for creeks and streams, as well as a proposal to preserve trees in subdivisions, both of which were adopted by Council. Doreen continued to serve on Council until 1985, during which time she initiated and chaired the Burnaby Information Committee, which designed the present Burnaby logo (and official flower pins) and established the Information Burnaby Newsletter. In 1979 Doreen Lawson won Vancouver Natural History Society’s Frank Sanford Award.
In 1984, Doreen was elected the first woman president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Doreen ran as a BC Liberal Party candidate in the new Federal Riding of Burnaby in 1979, and from 1985 to 1987, she served as the Executive Director of the British Columbia Liberal Party. As the B.C. Liberal Party Executive Director, her major responsibility was to work with both the Federal and Provincial Associations in implementing riding organizations and fundraising programs in preparation for election time. In the 1980s, Doreen was an active guest lecturer at Burnaby Elementary and High Schools as well as at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. Doreen was active in a variety of community clubs and organizations including: the Burnaby Library Board; Greater Vancouver Spinners and Weavers Guild; and Vancouver Natural History Society. She was an executive member of the Burnaby-New Westminster Canada Summer Games; the Burnaby Division of the United Way; Information Burnaby Committee; and the Brentwood Parent Teachers Association; as well as serving as the President of the Burnaby Voters Association from 1988-1990.
In 1990, Doreen was elected back to Burnaby Council and put forward the rejuvenation of Burnaby Lake which she saw completed before her final year on Council in 1999. Doreen continued to be a strong environmental advocate for the protection and rejuvenation of Burnaby Lake after she retired from council.
Doreen Lawson died October 11, 2003.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Lawson, Doreen A.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
MSS071, photo catalogue 605, photo catalogue 618
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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
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Westlawn Drive

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38304
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1953]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.3 x 24.8 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Westlawn Drive, in the Brentwood area, under construction. A number of houses can be seen in various stages of construction and the road is unpaved.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1953]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Jim Wolf subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.3 x 24.8 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
401-001
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS2000-11
Scope and Content
Photograph of Westlawn Drive, in the Brentwood area, under construction. A number of houses can be seen in various stages of construction and the road is unpaved.
Subjects
Construction
Geographic Features - Roads
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph.
Geographic Access
Westlawn Drive
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
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4674 Southlawn Drive

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37873
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1958] (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.8 x 2.8 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of 4674 Southlawn Drive in the snow. The snow-covered road can be seen in front of the house.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1958] (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 ; 2.8 x 2.8 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-461
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of 4674 Southlawn Drive in the snow. The snow-covered road can be seen in front of the house.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential - Houses
Natural Phenomena - Snow
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w copy negative accompanying
Negative has a pink cast
Geographic Access
Southlawn Drive
Street Address
4674 Southlawn Drive
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

4674 Southlawn Drive

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37874
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[ca. 1954] (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.5 x 3.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the view from 4674 Southlawn Drive, facing north. A car and houses across the street can be seen. Capitol Hill is visible in the distance.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[ca. 1954] (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 ; 2.5 x 3.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-462
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the view from 4674 Southlawn Drive, facing north. A car and houses across the street can be seen. Capitol Hill is visible in the distance.
Subjects
Transportation - Automobiles
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
Southlawn Drive
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

4674 Southlawn Drive construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37872
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1954 or 1955] (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.8 x 2.8 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the begining construction of a house at 4674 Southlawn Drive.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1954 or 1955] (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 ; 2.8 x 2.8 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-460
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the begining construction of a house at 4674 Southlawn Drive.
Subjects
Construction
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w copy negative accompanying
Negative has a pink cast
Geographic Access
Southlawn Drive
Street Address
4674 Southlawn Drive
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
Less detail

Alpha Secondary School

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription62709
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1950 or 1951]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w negative ; 5.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Aerial photograph of Alpha Secondary School.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1950 or 1951]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Image Bank subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w negative ; 5.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-813
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Aerial photograph of Alpha Secondary School.
Subjects
Aerial Photographs
Buildings - Schools
Names
Alpha Secondary School
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Pride, A.H. "Harry"
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w original photograph accompanying
Geographic Access
Parker Street
Street Address
4600 Parker Street
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
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Automatic equipment being installed

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34707
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1959
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.3 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of three men working with rows of equipment at the British Columbia Telephone Company Glenburn Exchange at Delta Avenue and Parker Street. A typed description on the back of the photograph reads, "Automatic equipment being installed in the new Glenburn exchange. / B.C. Telephone Company…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1959
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Photographs subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.3 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
111-002
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS2007-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of three men working with rows of equipment at the British Columbia Telephone Company Glenburn Exchange at Delta Avenue and Parker Street. A typed description on the back of the photograph reads, "Automatic equipment being installed in the new Glenburn exchange. / B.C. Telephone Company."
Subjects
Telecommunication Tools and Equipment
Names
British Columbia Telephone Company
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Williams Brothers Photographers Limited
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Stamp and annotation at bottom of photograph reads, "Williams Bros. Photographers Ltd. / 413 Granville St. Vancouver 2, B.C. / Phone Tatlow 8588 / 06569-7"
Geographic Access
Delta Avenue
Parker Street
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
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Bank of Montreal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34638
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[195-]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 24.7 x 17.4 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of the Bank of Montreal at 418 Willingdon Avenue and Hastings Street.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[195-]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Photographs subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 24.7 x 17.4 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
073-001
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS2007-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of the Bank of Montreal at 418 Willingdon Avenue and Hastings Street.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Banks
Names
Bank of Montreal
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Willingdon Avenue
Street Address
418 Willingdon Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Images
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BCER 1233 at Horne-Payne siding

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription2883
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1952]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of British Columbia Electric Railway car 1233 at Horne-Payne siding awaiting the passing of the west bound train on the Burnaby Lake line. Gordin Gregg is identified as the motor man at the front.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of British Columbia Electric Railway car 1233 at Horne-Payne siding awaiting the passing of the west bound train on the Burnaby Lake line. Gordin Gregg is identified as the motor man at the front.
Subjects
Transportation - Electric Railroads
Names
British Columbia Electric Railway Company
Gregg, Gordin
Accession Code
BV012.18.7
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[1952]
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
13-Mar-2018
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "On a warm summer afternoon, in 1952, east bound / B.C.E.R. #1233 pulls into passig siding at the / Horne-Payne subbstation to await the passing of the / west bound train on th eBurnaby Lake Line."
Typewritten note on verso reads: "Gordin Gregg - Motor man"
Images
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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
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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

40 records – page 1 of 2.