"Brentwood Area" found 153 records

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…

1 document 1 audio

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

2023_0016_0020_005

Audio Tracks

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

New development at Brentwood

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97105

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 3 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of the new construction and development in the Brentwood area. Photographs depict: Paul Kiidumae, general manager of Brentwood Mall, holding plans and viewing the progress of the new London Drugs wing; the interior of Brentwood Mall with the new Sears outlet visible in the…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 3 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-2632

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of the new construction and development in the Brentwood area. Photographs depict: Paul Kiidumae, general manager of Brentwood Mall, holding plans and viewing the progress of the new London Drugs wing; the interior of Brentwood Mall with the new Sears outlet visible in the background; and the construction site with an advertising sign for the residential and commercial Madison Centre complex.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Malls; Buildings - Residential - Condominiums; Construction

Names: Brentwood Shopping Centre

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a July 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata for 535-2632-1: "Paul Kiidumae, the general manager of Brentwood Mall, checks on the progress of the new London Drugs wing being constructed on the north side of the mall."; Caption from metadata for 535-2632-2: "Explosive growth in the area, and the arrival of Skytrain service, allowed Brentwood Mall to quickly replace its departed Eaton's store with a new Sears outlet."; Caption from metadata for 535-2632-3: "Burnaby's Brentwood area is booming, with the construction of Skytrain attracting new development, like the Madison Centre, a residential, commercial and business complex being built on the site of the old Lougheed Hotel."

Geographic Access: Lougheed Highway

Street Address: 4567 Lougheed Highway

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

New development at Brentwood, [2000] thumbnail

Brentwood Laundromat

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51391

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1963

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of Frances Johnston and her daughter Wendy standing in front of a line of washing machines at what has been indentified as a laundromat in the Brentwood area.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1963

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 483-026

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2008-08

Scope and Content: Photograph of Frances Johnston and her daughter Wendy standing in front of a line of washing machines at what has been indentified as a laundromat in the Brentwood area.

Subjects: Maintenance Tools and Equipment

Names: Johnston, Frances; Johnston, Dr. Wendy

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Johnston, Harold H.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Burnaby centennial anthology : stories of early Burnaby

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5472

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Edition: Rev. ed.

Publication Date: 1994

Call Number: 971.133 BUR COPY 3

1 digital book

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Digital Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 0969282826

Call Number: 971.133 BUR COPY 3

Edition: Rev. ed.

Place of Publication: Burnaby, B.C.

Publisher: City of Burnaby

Publication Date: 1994

Physical Description: 531 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History; Burnaby (B.C.); Biography

Notes: Includes index.; 3 copies held: copy 3.

Digital Books

Bylaw Number: 7844 - Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No 149, 1981

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw16534

Repository: Legislative Services

Bylaw Number: 7844

Final Adoption: 1982 Jan 04

Format: Bylaws - Adopted

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

1 document

Repository: Legislative Services

Bylaw Number: 7844

Final Adoption: 1982 Jan 04

Format: Bylaws - Adopted

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

Documents

Bylaw 7844

Chef James with Roberto Coltura

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription78697

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: November 22, 1995

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 17 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Chef James and Manager Roberto Coltura in Tivoli’s Restaurant at the Executive Inn in Burnaby's Brentwood area.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: November 22, 1995

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 17 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-0058

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2012-11

Scope and Content: Photograph of Chef James and Manager Roberto Coltura in Tivoli’s Restaurant at the Executive Inn in Burnaby's Brentwood area.

Subjects: Occupations - Cooks

Names: Coltura, Roberto

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in black ink on recto of photograph reads: "70% 3016 Bby Executive Inn"; Trim marks and/or reproduction instructions on recto (scan is cropped)

Images

Chef James with Roberto Coltura, November 22, 1995 thumbnail

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

Harry Rensmaag

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96585

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Harry Rensmaag, the site supervisor at the Brentwood development. Behind Rensmaag, an under-construction condo tower and crane are visible, next to a Winners store that is advertising its grand opening.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2207

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Harry Rensmaag, the site supervisor at the Brentwood development. Behind Rensmaag, an under-construction condo tower and crane are visible, next to a Winners store that is advertising its grand opening.

Subjects: Construction; Buildings - Residential - Condominiums; Buildings - Commercial - Malls

Names: Brentwood Shopping Centre

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a March 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Harry Rensmaag is the site supervisor of the new shopping/office/condo development being built in the Brentwood area."

Geographic Access: Lougheed Highway

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

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…

1 document 1 audio

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

2022_0029_0005_004

Audio Tracks

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

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.

1 image

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

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.

1 image

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

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.

1 image

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

4674 Southlawn Drive

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37875

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1989 or 1990] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.7 x 4.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph taken from 4674 Southlawn Drive after a snowfall, facing northwest.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1989 or 1990] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.7 x 4.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-463

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph taken from 4674 Southlawn Drive after a snowfall, facing northwest.

Subjects: Buildings - Residential - Houses; Geographic Features - Mountains; Natural Phenomena - Snow

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Negative has a pink cast; Copied from col. photograph

Geographic Access: Southlawn Drive

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

4674 Southlawn Drive, [1989 or 1990] (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

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.

1 image

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

4674 Southlawn Drive construction, [1954 or 1955] (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

Almond house

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34885

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1928]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 7.3 x 11.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the home of the Almond family. Two women and three girls are seated on the porch stairs. The description identifies the house as 4712 Union Street, while the house number shown in the photograph is 4771. An annotation on the back of the photograph notes that the hou…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1928]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Olive Cullum subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 7.3 x 11.7 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 154-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1985-27

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the home of the Almond family. Two women and three girls are seated on the porch stairs. The description identifies the house as 4712 Union Street, while the house number shown in the photograph is 4771. An annotation on the back of the photograph notes that the house was built in 1912.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Union Street

Street Address: 4712 Union Street; 4771 Union Street

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Alpha Avenue and Union Street

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34887

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [194-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.0 x 11.4 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two children beside a sandbox at Alpha Avenue and Union Street. Stumps can be seen in the background. An annotation on the back of the photograph reads, "The Alpha School is built on the property."

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [194-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Olive Cullum subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.0 x 11.4 cm

Material Details: Printed on photo paper: "Selo"

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 154-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1985-27

Scope and Content: Photograph of two children beside a sandbox at Alpha Avenue and Union Street. Stumps can be seen in the background. An annotation on the back of the photograph reads, "The Alpha School is built on the property."

Subjects: Land Clearing; Toys

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Stamped on back of photo: "017"

Geographic Access: Alpha Avenue; Union Street

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Alpha Avenue and Union Street, [194-] thumbnail

Alpha Secondary art exhibition

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96731

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2002]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of Alpha Secondary School's annual art exhibition. Photographs depict grade 12 student Tayler Hardy with one of her ceramic sculptures and grade 12 student John DeLuca painting with another of his works visible in the background.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2002]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-2336

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of Alpha Secondary School's annual art exhibition. Photographs depict grade 12 student Tayler Hardy with one of her ceramic sculptures and grade 12 student John DeLuca painting with another of his works visible in the background.

Subjects: Persons - Students; Arts; Exhibitions

Names: Alpha Secondary School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in an April 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata for 535-2336-1: "Tayler Hardy, a Grade 12 student at Alpha Secondary, looks through one of her ceramic sculptures at the schools annual art exhibit."; Caption from metadata for 535-2336-2: "John DeLuca, a Grade 12 student at Alpha Secondary, adds to his body of work, under the watchful gaze of one of his portraits, at the school's annual art exhibition."

Geographic Access: Parker Street

Street Address: 4600 Parker Street

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Alpha Secondary art exhibition, [2002] thumbnail

Alpha Secondary basketball game

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96111

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2003]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of a senior girls' high school basketball game between Alpha Secondary and the New Westminster Hyacks at Alpha Secondary School. Alpha's player is keeping the ball away from two New Westminster players.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2003]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-1816

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of a senior girls' high school basketball game between Alpha Secondary and the New Westminster Hyacks at Alpha Secondary School. Alpha's player is keeping the ball away from two New Westminster players.

Subjects: Sports - Basketball; Persons - Students

Names: Alpha Secondary School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a January 2003 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Alpha Aztecs' Daniella Lucarino tries to keep the ball away from New Westminster Hyacks' Norma Roberts and another defender in Senior Girls' high school basketball action, Wednesday at Alpha Secondary."