Narrow Results By
Creator
- Atkinson, Dorothy Mallett 1
- British Columbia Historical Federation 2
- Burnaby Historical Society 1
- Burnaby Village Museum 1
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy" 1
- City of Burnaby 1
- Ehlers, Edith "Edie" Fleming 1
- Fleming, Frances "Fanny" Waplington 1
- Friends of the Carousel 1
- Girl Guides of Canada 1
- Hall, Paulene 1
- Heritage BC 1
Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia : the first five years
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6730
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Author
- Heritage Legacy Fund B.C.
- Publication Date
- 2010
- Call Number
- 971.1005 HER
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 971.1005 HER
- Author
- Heritage Legacy Fund B.C.
- Contributor
- Heritage BC
- Land Conservancy of British Columbia
- Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia Society
- Place of Publication
- Victoria, B.C.
- Publisher
- Heritage Legacy Fund
- Publication Date
- 2010
- Physical Description
- [12] p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 22 x 28 cm
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Conservation and restoration
- Notes
- The Heritage Legacy Fund is an initiative of Heritage BC and the Land Conservancy. Programs are administered by the Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia Society. -- summary
Newsletter : British Columbia Historical Federation, no. 36 December 2011
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6722
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- ISBN
- 1710-1433
- 1710-1441
- Call Number
- 971.1005 BCH v. 36
- Publisher
- British Columbia Historical Federation
- Publication Date
- 2011
- Physical Description
- 7 p. : ill ; 28 cm
- Library Subject (LOC)
- British Columbia Historical Federation
- British Columbia--History
- Periodicals
- Notes
- "Website: bchistory.ca" -- cover page
Newsletter : British Columbia Historical Federation, no. 41 March 2013
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6723
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- ISBN
- 1710-1433
- 1710-1441
- Call Number
- 971.1005 BCH v. 41
- Publisher
- British Columbia Historical Federation
- Publication Date
- 2013
- Physical Description
- 7 p. : ill ; 28 cm
- Library Subject (LOC)
- British Columbia Historical Federation
- British Columbia--History
- Periodicals
- Notes
- "Website: bchistory.ca" -- cover page
School files - British Columbia Institute of Technology
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66584
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1988-2005
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records (newsprint)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1988-2005
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- School files subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records (newsprint)
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 43068
- Accession Number
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- File consists of newspaper clippings pertaining to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Historical land title research : District Lot 173
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7348
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 333.5 KIN
- Contributor
- King, Rod
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby
- Publisher
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Publication Date
- 2018
- Physical Description
- 1 v, ; 30 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Land titles
- Chinese--Canada--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
- Chinese Canadians--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
- Farm life--British Columbia--Burnaby (B.C.)--History
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Notes
- Summary: Research in District Lot 173 from 1907 to present. Which traced lease/ownership of Big Bend area farms by Chinese and Chinese Canadians. Copies of one of few legal documents of such lease in very early 20th century.
Interurban again
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6712
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 388.46 FRA
- Contributor
- Hudson, Ray
- Place of Publication
- Surrey, B.C.
- Publisher
- Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society
- Publication Date
- 2013
- Physical Description
- 16 P. : col. ill. ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Electric railroads
- Local transit
- Street-railroads
- Transportation
- Periodicals
- British Columbia--History
- Notes
- "Editor, Ray Hudson
- "Website is www.fvhrs.org"
Reflections : serving as an informational journal for the Burnaby Village Museum, volume 1, issue 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6711
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Author
- Burnaby Historical Society
- Publication Date
- 2000
- Call Number
- 971.133 BUR v. 1 no. 1
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 971.133 BUR v. 1 no. 1
- Author
- Burnaby Historical Society
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- Burnaby Historical Society
- Publication Date
- 2000
- Physical Description
- 8 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby (B.C.)--History--Anecdotes
- Burnaby Village Museum--History
- British Columbia--History
- Periodicals
A call to renew British Columbia's heritage program
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6718
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 971.1005 HER
- Place of Publication
- Victoria, B.C.
- Publisher
- Heritage BC
- Publication Date
- 2010
- Physical Description
- 11 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Conservation and restoration
- Periodicals
- Notes
- " www.heritagebc.ca"
Deer Lake Park : heritage walking tour
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6727
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 971.133 DEE
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby, Community Heritage Commission
- Publication Date
- 2003
- Physical Description
- 1 v: : ill, map. ; 10 x 22 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Deer Lake Park (Burnaby, B.C.)--History
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Burnaby
- Burnaby (B.C.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
- Notes
- Cross-reference with Deer Lake Park : heritage resource inventory 971.133 WOL Copy 1 & 2
Heritage BC quarterly, spring 2010
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6717
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- ISBN
- 1914-6175
- Call Number
- 971.1005 HER spring 2010
- Place of Publication
- Victoria, B.C.
- Publisher
- Heritage BC
- Publication Date
- 2010
- Physical Description
- 11 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Conservation and restoration
- Periodicals
- Notes
- " www.heritagebc.ca"
Heritage BC quarterly, summer 2010
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6713
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- ISBN
- 1914-6175
- Call Number
- 971.1005 HER summer 2010
- Place of Publication
- Victoria, B.C.
- Publisher
- Heritage BC
- Publication Date
- 2010
- Physical Description
- 11 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Conservation and restoration
- Periodicals
- Notes
- " www.heritagebc.ca"
Heritage BC quarterly, summer 2012
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6716
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- ISBN
- 1914-6175
- Call Number
- 971.1005 HER summer 2012
- Place of Publication
- Victoria, B.C.
- Publisher
- Heritage BC
- Publication Date
- 2012
- Physical Description
- 11 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Conservation and restoration
- Periodicals
- Notes
- " www.heritagebc.ca"
Heritage BC quarterly, winter 2010
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6714
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- ISBN
- 1914-6175
- Call Number
- 971.1005 HER winter 2010
- Place of Publication
- Victoria, B.C.
- Publisher
- Heritage BC
- Publication Date
- 2010
- Physical Description
- 11 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Conservation and restoration
- Periodicals
- Notes
- " www.heritagebc.ca"
Heritage BC quarterly, winter 2012
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6715
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- ISBN
- 1914-6175
- Call Number
- 971.1005 HER winter 2012
- Place of Publication
- Victoria, B.C.
- Publisher
- Heritage BC
- Publication Date
- 2012
- Physical Description
- 11 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Historic buildings--British Columbia--Conservation and restoration
- Periodicals
- Notes
- "www.heritagebc.ca"
The interurban line : put on track by the Volunteer Advisory Commitee, fall & winter 2000
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6709
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 971.133 INT fall & winter 2000
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Publication Date
- 2000
- Physical Description
- 10 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby (B.C.)--History--Anecdotes
- Burnaby Village Museum--History
- British Columbia--History
- Periodicals
- Notes
- "Burnaby Village Musuem for all staff and volunteers".
The interurban line : put on track by the Volunteer Advisory Commitee, spring 2001
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6710
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 971.133 INT spring 2001
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Publication Date
- 2001
- Physical Description
- 10 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby (B.C.)--History--Anecdotes
- Burnaby Village Museum--History
- British Columbia--History
- Periodicals
- Notes
- "Burnaby Village Musuem for all staff and volunteers".
The interurban line : put on track by the Volunteer Advisory Commitee, spring, summer 2000
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6708
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Textual Record
- Call Number
- 971.133 INT summer 2000
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Publication Date
- 2000
- Physical Description
- 12 p. : ill ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby (B.C.)--History--Anecdotes
- Burnaby Village Museum--History
- British Columbia--History
- Periodicals
- Notes
- "Burnaby Village Musuem for all staff and volunteers".
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription29
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1892-2021
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 130m of textual records and other material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records generated in the course of municipal business by City Council and the Office of the City Clerk.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1892-2021
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- 130m of textual records and other material
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FOIPPA
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records generated in the course of municipal business by City Council and the Office of the City Clerk.
- History
- The City of Burnaby covers an area of approximately 98 square kilometers between the cities of Vancouver to the west, and Coquitlam and New Westminster to the east, Burrard Inlet to the north, and the Fraser River to the south. The municipality derived its name from Robert Burnaby, a prominent businessman and advisor to Sir James Douglas, the first Governor of the Crown Colony of British Columbia. Burnaby’s early development was closely tied to the development of the City of New Westminster. New Westminster became British Columbia’s capital in 1859, the year after the British Government proclaimed the establishment of British Columbia. Shortly thereafter, the Royal Engineers began exploring Burnaby to establish military defenses and secure natural resources. This involved the construction of a road linking New Westminster to Burrard Inlet for military purposes, which is present-day North Road. At this time, individuals and families began settling in Burnaby and were largely involved in agricultural and logging activities. Burnaby developed slowly until 1887, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was extended into Vancouver from the Port Moody terminal, causing a dramatic increase in traffic between New Westminster and Vancouver. To meet the new transportation demands, a tramline was built in 1891 connecting the two urban centers along what is now Kingsway. The creation and location of the tramline induced property owners to begin subdividing and selling their lands as early as October 1891. The property taxes the roughly 200 residents paid at this time went directly to the provincial government in Victoria. No local services were provided in turn, which prompted the formation of a committee to petition the provincial government for a municipal charter. As a result, the Corporation of the District of Burnaby was incorporated by letters patent on September 22, 1892. Burnaby’s first Council was elected by acclamation on October 15, 1892 and consisted of Reeve Charles R. Shaw and councillors William Brenchley, Arthur De Windt Hazard, L. Claude Hill, William McDermott, and John Woolard.* The first formal Council election was conducted three months later. Nicolai Shou became the first elected reeve of Burnaby by ballot. Council met at various locations, including the tramline’s power house, private homes, and offices until the first municipal hall was built at Kingsway and Edmonds in 1899. Council is ultimately responsible for the government of the City of Burnaby. The Mayor (formally called “Reeve” prior to 1968) and Council are elected by the residents of Burnaby to represent them in decisions with respect to the provision of public services and facilities. Additionally, the Mayor represents the citizens of Burnaby at various public functions and events. Burnaby was without Council representation during most of the Great Depression and part of the Second World War. Council was disbanded on December 31, 1932 as a result of financial difficulties. The Provincial Government appointed a Commissioner to take over the duties of Reeve and Council beginning in 1933. This system of government was retained until January 1943, when Burnaby residents could once again elect their local government officials. The following individuals have served as Mayor (or Reeve) of Burnaby: Charles R. Shaw 1892 Nicolai C. Schou 1893-1903 Charles F. Sprott 1904-1905 Peter Byrne 1906-1910 John W. Weart 1911-1912 Duncan C. McGregor 1913 Hugh M. Fraser 1914-1918 Thomas Sanderson 1919-1920 Alexander K. McLean 1921-1926; 1928-1929 Charles C. Bell 1927 William L. Burdick 1929 William A. Pritchard 1930-1932 William Tate Wilson 1943-1944 George A. Morrison 1945-1949 William R. Beamish 1950-1953 Charles W. MacSorley 1954-1957 Alan H. Emmott 1958-1968 Robert W. Prittie 1969-1973 Thomas W. Constable 1973-1979 David M. Mercier 1979-1981 William A. Lewarne 1981-1987 William J. Copeland 1987-1996 Douglas P. Drummond 1996-2002 Derek R. Corrigan 2002-2018 Mike Hurley 2018-present The following individuals have served as provincially appointed Commissioners for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby: John Bennett 1933 John Mahony 1933-1934 Hugh M. Fraser 1934-1940* R.S. Gilchrist 1941-1942* B.C. Bracewell 1942* *Richard Bolton was Acting Commissioner for most of 1940-1942. He refused to be a full-fledged Commissioner. Closely associated with the functions of Council is the City Clerk. The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for the statutory duties of the municipal clerk including the preparation and preservation of all minutes books and records of Council business, custody of City bylaws, administrative support to Council and its Committees, preparation of Council and Committee agendas and the conduct of local government elections. The Clerk’s Office is the communications link between Council and other City Departments and the general public, and provides assistance and advice to citizens with respect to Council and Council Committee processes, reporting procedures and decisions. At the time of Burnaby’s incorporation in 1892, the municipal Clerk had the responsibility to attend all meetings of Council, keep all records of Council, prepare and alter voters’ lists, conduct Council elections, collect revenue, as well as having the responsibility to prepare balance sheets and audits. An advertisement in a local newspaper for the appointment of the Clerk dated February 1, 1905 states the “united offices of clerk, collector and assessor” receive a salary of $65.00 per month. Originally the treasurer, assessor and records manager for the corporation, the Clerk eventually became the municipal Council liaison. The primary functions of the City Clerk over time have been the keeping of minutes for the meetings of City Council and related bodies; keeping the records of the City of Burnaby as required by the Local Government Act (formally Municipal Act); keeping all records related to City Council decision making; carrying out correspondence on behalf of Council; assembling voters’ lists and carrying out elections; providing communication, information, and public relations services, including responsibility for civic ceremonies/events, and the municipal archives. The following individuals have served as City Clerk: Alexander Philip 1892–1894 Alfred Smither 1894–1899 F.J.H. Shirley 1899–1901 Arthur De Windt Haszard 1901–1902 Walter J. Walker 1902–1905 Benjamin George Walker 1905–1908 Charles Thomas Saunders 1908–1911 W.M. Griffiths 1911–1912 Arthur G. Moore 1912–1933 Charles Boyer Brown 1933–1959 John H. Shaw 1959–1973* James Hudson 1974–1984 Charles A. Turpin 1984–1995 Debbie R. Comis 1995–2011 Anne Skipsey (Acting) 2011-2012 Maryann Manuel (Acting) 2012-2014 Dennis Back 2014-2018 Kate O'Connell 2018-2020 Blanka Zeinabova 2020-2022 *Deputy City Clerk T. Ward took over many of the Clerk’s duties from 1972 to 1973 due to Shaw’s ill health during these years.
- Formats
- Microforms exist for some records. See series descriptions.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Notes
- Title based on creators of fonds
William Holmes fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10416
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1841]-1994
- Collection/Fonds
- William Holmes fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (calotype) + 1 photograph : b&w + 6 photographs : col. + 5 p. textual records + 1 newspaper clipping
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs pertaining to the William Holmes family, family grave markers in cemetery in Ireland along with original correspondence, land title certificates and a newspaper clipping. Fonds is arranged in series: 1) William Holmes family photographs series 2) William Holmes family…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- William Holmes fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (calotype) + 1 photograph : b&w + 6 photographs : col. + 5 p. textual records + 1 newspaper clipping
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs pertaining to the William Holmes family, family grave markers in cemetery in Ireland along with original correspondence, land title certificates and a newspaper clipping. Fonds is arranged in series: 1) William Holmes family photographs series 2) William Holmes family records series 3) Holmes family cemetery photographs series
- History
- William Holmes was the first non-Indigenous resident of Burnaby and was born in Kilkenny Ireland January 4, 1812. In 1833, at the age of 20 yrs, William Holmes immigrated to Canada from Ireland in with his parents, Joseph and Jane (McCullough) Holmes and ten other family members including two of his married brothers and their wives, two sisters with their husbands and two unmarried brothers. This was the first group of thirteen to leave Ireland and set up homesteads in Canada near the shores of Lake Huron. The family settled on land concessions in Huron County, Ontario about 14 km southeast of Goderich. The area in Huron County was first founded in 1832 by John and Samuel Holmes and the community was known as Holmes Hill before becoming Holmesville [ca. 1850]. In 1837, William Holmes is noted as owning Lot 23, Concession IX, Goderich Twp. Much of the village of Holmesville grew up around the five road concession near the border of his brother’s farm so William decided to open a store. The Holmesville post office opened on March 1, 1855 and William was appointed the first post master which he operated until May 1857. William met and married Mary Richardson in 1841 and the couple had three daughters: Jane (1844-1926) (married Charles Studdert Finlaison in New Westminster in 1863); Anne Maria (Annie) (1846-192?) (married John Gunther Jennings in New Westminster in 1865 and married Robert Johnson in New Westminster in 1877) and Elizabeth (1848-1934) (married Thomas Carrington of Lakes District in 1867). William’s wife, Mary (Richardson) Holmes died in Holmesville sometime between 1848 and 1853. Following the death of his first wife, Mary, William married Charlotte McCullough (McCulloch). The couple had four daughters; Arabella Charlotte Amelia (1854-1943) (married Arthur Robert Green in 1887); Laura (1855-1867); Arabella Henrietta (1857-1929) (married Clark Wesley Gillanders in 1880) and Mary (1863-1864). During the late 1850s, William became aware of the gold rush and opportunities opening up in British Columbia so left for the west coast in 1858 at the age of 46 yrs. In preparation for his move to the west coast of Canada, William obtained a letter of introduction from top government officials of Canada. William Holmes arrived in British Columbia in 1859. Upon arriving, he first worked running pack trains from Harrison Mills to Lillooet. After earning some money, he decided to re-invest it in land. His first pre-emption of land occurred on January 21, 1860 for 160 acres situated on North Road from the Military Camp to Burrard Inlet and distancing 25 chains south of the Brunette River and 20 chains south of the river with the land extending in a westerly direction. On March 17, 1860, Holmes received a Crown Grant for this and other land in the immediate area totalling 415 acres of which was known as Lot No. 1, Group 1, Rural Land, New Westminster District. The balance of land was situated on the east side of the Brunette River – Lot 13, with 344 2/3 acres of which he made an application to purchase on June 26, 1860, and a Crown Grant dated March 16, 1861 covering 86 acres. Holmes also pre-empted land in Port Moody and Pitt Meadows in 1860 and 1861. The name of “Brunette River” is officially attributed to William Holmes who referred to the river as “Brunette” due to it’s dark colour originating from the peat lands above the lake. Following his purchase of property, he sent for his wife Charlotte, their three daughters and her three step daughters (from William’s first marriage). Charlotte and the six children made the long trip to B.C. by ship and rail, crossing the Isthmus of Darien at Panama. They arrived in B.C. in October 1861 and moved into a one room log cabin built by William. The cabin stood on the North Road at the foot of Sapperton, on a bluff overlooking the Brunette River. Eventually the family moved to a larger dwelling but the original cabin remained on the site until the 1890s when it was burned after being used as a sick house. Mr. Holmes was instrumental in organizing the first Orange Lodge in British Columbia. He was a prominent Orangeman who joined the order in 1840 and was the first master in the order of the City of New Westminster when the Lodge No. 1150 was established there. Charlotte Holmes died in New Westminster in 1893 at the age of 70 years and William Holmes died in New Westminster September 11, 1907 at the age of 95 years.
- Responsibility
- Holmes, William
- Accession Code
- HV971.46
- BV997.50
- Date
- [1841]-1994
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Related Material
- See also: Reference file: Persons - Holmes, William
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
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