"British Columbia" found 567 records

Fred K. Leggett family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18773

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1900]-1993, predominant [1900-1947]

Collection/Fonds: Fred K. Leggett family fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 16 photographs + 1 videocassette

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of a collection of photographs of the Leggett family, the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel, the Lone Star Circus, a film created by family members that documents the opening day of the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel at Burnaby Village Museum along with photographs of Parker Carousel "Carry…

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Fred K. Leggett family fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 16 photographs + 1 videocassette

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of a collection of photographs of the Leggett family, the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel, the Lone Star Circus, a film created by family members that documents the opening day of the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel at Burnaby Village Museum along with photographs of Parker Carousel "Carry Us All" in Alum Rock San Jose.

History: Fred Kirk Leggett was the first owner of the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel. Fred and Norvie Leggett had six children including, Norvie, Fred D., Leon, Dedie and Ralph. The eldest daughter (name unknown) of F.K. and Norvie Leggett died in 1911. In 1913 the carousel was sold to Fred K. Leggett of Houston Texas for $5,886.00 and was originally equipped with a steam engine and ""wishbones/grass-hopper/jumping horse"" mechanisms. It toured Texas for two years with the Lone Star Circus until 1915 when the machine was shipped back to the factory. It is believed that the machine was rebuilt by the factory with fancier horses and heavier rounding boards referred to as the “Superior” style. Some of the horses were built around 1917 and some between 1920 and 1922. The factory records consulted do not tell for certain where the machine went between 1915 and 1936, possibly to San Jose, California from 1918 until 1922 and then to San Francisco California, or Tacoma, Washington. The carousel was installed at Happyland in the nineteen thirties and then moved to Playland and the PNE. In 1989 "The Lower Mainland Association of Friends of the Vancouver Carousel" came together save the carousel from destruction. With a lot of hard work, the help of the Government of British Columbia and the support of the Municipality of Burnaby, the carousel was purchased. Funds were also raised by The Friends of the Carousel to pay for the restoration, and Burnaby agreed to build a new pavilion for it as a Centennial project. The Centennial Parker Carousel (C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel) and the Don Wrigley Pavilion where the carousel is housed, opened at Burnaby Village Museum on March 25, 1993. The eldest daughter of F.K. Leggett, Norvie Leggett Frame and other members of the Leggett family were in attendance for the opening of the newly restored carousel at Burnaby Village Museum in 1993.

Responsibility: Frame, Norvie Leggett

Accession Code: BV993.18; BV993.51; BV004.94; BV005.49; BV005.63

Date: [1900]-1993, predominant [1900-1947]

Media Type: Photograph; Moving Images

Arrangement: Fonds is arranged by subject from various donations that orignated from the Leggett family.

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds; Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view video content

Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory253

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1903-1940

Length: 0:09:46

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's descriptions of road construction in Burnaby, including the names of the settlers and logging companies involved in their construction. Alfred discusses the changes that took place during World War I, along with municipal Relief work that he t…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's descriptions of road construction in Burnaby, including the names of the settlers and logging companies involved in their construction. Alfred discusses the changes that took place during World War I, along with municipal Relief work that he took part in at Burnaby Mountain. Alfred also discusses early schools and mentions his wife, Ada Bingham.

Date Range: 1903-1940

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:09:46

Subjects: Construction - Road Construction; Land Clearing

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Scope and Content: Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 12

Total Length: 1:38:06

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track three of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-2/100-13-20-2_Track_3.mp3

CP 585 at Victoria, B.C.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3295

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1903]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 585 (built in 1903) at Victoria, British Columbia.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 585 (built in 1903) at Victoria, British Columbia.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Geographic Access: Victoria

Accession Code: BV985.6114.67

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1903]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "# 535 C.P. at Victoria B.C"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "269A"

Images

CP 585 at Victoria, B.C., [after 1903] thumbnail

Gladys Killip subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58418

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1904-1998

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and graphic material

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of papers pertaining to the Killip family, primarily Gladys Killip's personal activism in the municipality of Burnaby and the causes she supported. Subseries also includes photographs of the Burnaby Council of Women taken during Gladys Killip's time as Publicity Co-Chairwoman du…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1904-1998

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Gladys Killip subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and graphic material

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS1996-12; BHS1998-11; BHS2000-02; BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of papers pertaining to the Killip family, primarily Gladys Killip's personal activism in the municipality of Burnaby and the causes she supported. Subseries also includes photographs of the Burnaby Council of Women taken during Gladys Killip's time as Publicity Co-Chairwoman during the 1967 Centennial Celebration festivity "100 Years of Progress in Women's Activities, Arts and Crafts" .

History: Gladys M. Yeomans married Alfred Charles “Charlie” Killip in St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church in Vancouver on August 16, 1947. They spent their honeymoon together at the Sunset Inn at Qualicum Beach. The Killips lived in the same house in South Burnaby for the greater part of their married lives. Their address began as 729 Marshall, changed to 729 Hazelmere Street in 1951 (due to bylaw 3133) and again to 7763 Hazelmere Street (due to 1958/1959 street re-numbering). The Killips were activists within Burnaby, writing letters to their member of Council when they felt that the citizens of Burnaby were not being treated fairly. An example of this is when they led the protest against Pacific Stage Lines for reducing its service on the Grandview Highway by making fewer stops and by changing its route. Gladys led their delegation to Council in June of 1964. Gladys was also involved in the activities of the Valley View Players and in Burnaby Little Theatre activities. She was part of the cast of “Crime at Blossoms” in 1951 and held a membership card from 1952 to 1959 for the Valley View Players Club. Among other roles, she was one of the principle actors in “You Can’t Take it With You” and “In the Shadow of the Glen” both performed in 1957. Gladys was the Burnaby Council of Women Publicity Co-Chairwoman. In this capacity she helped to organize such events as the "100 Years of Progress in Women's Activities, Arts and Crafts" for the Centennial Celebration in 1967 (the Burnaby Diamond Jubilee). She was also a founding member of the Century Park Museum Association, which created under the auspices of the Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee, to administer Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative Project, Heritage Village. Both Gladys and Charles Killip were active members of the Monarchist League of Canada. Gladys’ hobby started with a small silver spoon commemorating King George VI taking the throne in 1936. Her collection includes items commemorating every Royal from Prince Edward, Queen Victoria's father, to a cup commemorating one of Prince Williams recent birthdays. Gladys opened the Silver Spoon collectors shop in Burnaby in 1974 and operated it until 1980 when she and her husband Charlie retired to Qualicum Beach and opened Chilham Village Antiques and Collectables in 1984. The Killips earned a Silver Badge of Service from the Monarchist League of Canada in 1992 for their significant contribution to the League’s work. As of November 2010, Ms. Gladys Yeomans’ collection of British Royal family memorabilia has grown so large, that she has countless of mugs, spoons, plates, t-shirts and pieces of poetry, filling a room in her basement and upstairs in her home in Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: Killip, Gladys M. Yeomans; Killip, Alfred Charles “Charlie”

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries; PC497, MSS125, MSS081, MSS085

Interview with Charles A. Purdon and May E. Purdon July 9, 1975 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory91

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1904-1932

Length: 0:08:08

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Charles A. Purdon's employment history and first years of marriage to May E. Purdon.

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Charles A. Purdon's employment history and first years of marriage to May E. Purdon.

Date Range: 1904-1932

Length: 0:08:08

Subjects: Transportation - Rail

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: July 9, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with Charles A. Purdon and May E. Purdon by SFU graduate student Bettina Bradbury July 9, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression and Canadian politics. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: May Eliza was born in London, England in 1907. She came out to Regina with her family when she was eleven. Charles A. Purdon was born February 28, 1904 in London, England. He came to Canada in 1925 from China where he had been working as an accountant for the previous three years. Charles first came to Vancouver and joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) but within a week he was sent to Regina. This is where he met May. May and Charles got married in 1926 and Charles began working as an accountant for the Saskatchewan Wheat Growers, then for the Canadian Wool Growers before being laid off. In October of 1930, Charles and May left Regina for Vancouver Island. Charles drove himself out and May rode the train with her children; twin boys and a daughter, only one year apart. They settled at May’s parent’s second house in Coombs. The Purdons arrived in Burnaby in December of 1932 and rented a house on Edmonds Street. Charles was unable to do road work and instead found work through the Liberal Party and also with the Municipal engineers indoors on a number of projects. In 1938 the Purdons were able to get into a reverted house built by Ernie Winch at Maple Avenue (then Jubilee) and Nelson Avenue that had nine bedrooms. They paid ten dollars a month to the municipality for use of this property. May Eliza Purdon died April 6, 1983 at the age of seventy-six.

Total Length: 1:40:03

Interviewee Name: Purdon, Charles A.; Purdon, May Eliza

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Audio Tracks

Track one of interview with Charles A. Purdon and May E. Purdon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-19/100-13-19_Track_1.mp3

Robinson-Surgenor collection

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18746

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1905-1931] (date of originals), copied 2016

Collection/Fonds: Robinson-Surgenor collection

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 15 photographs (tiffs)

Scope and Content: Collection consists of photographs of train locomotive "Old Curly" along with photographs of other locomotives. Photographs of "Old Curly" were taken during it's early logging days and when it was moved back to Vancouver. Photographs were maintained and collected by William F. Surgenor and later by…

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Robinson-Surgenor collection

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 15 photographs (tiffs)

Scope and Content: Collection consists of photographs of train locomotive "Old Curly" along with photographs of other locomotives. Photographs of "Old Curly" were taken during it's early logging days and when it was moved back to Vancouver. Photographs were maintained and collected by William F. Surgenor and later by his grandson Bill Robinson.

History: William F. Surgenor was born in Ireland in 1877 and in 1905 William Surgenor immigrated to British Columbia. In 1912, William Surgenor married Bessie Duncan in Vancouver. William worked as a railway locomotive engineer and was toted in the Vancouver Sun as a legend among railroaders in British Columbia. His first railway job as train engineer in British Columbia was aboard the locomotive named "Old Curly". William Surgenor worked on the engine during it's logging service up Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast and before it was moved back to Vancouver around 1927. William and Bessie Surgenor had four children; William George "Tyke", Earl Almer, Alice Margrete (Robinson) and Robert. William and Bessie Surgenor's eldest son William "Tyke" Surgenor also worked on the railway as a fireman and brakeman. William William F. Surgenor died in 1965. The locomotive engine "Old Curly" was built in San Francisco in 1879 and was used during the building of the harbour sea wall. It was likley built by Marshutz & Cantrell. It was acquired by Andrew Onderdonk in 1881 to use during construction of the Fraser Canyon section of the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR). The locomotive was the first logging locomotive in this area. It was later used on the section from Savona Ferry to Kamloops. The locomotive was layed up in 1887 and not used for several years until it was purchased by the British Columbia Timber and Trading Company (BCTTC) for use on their logging railway in Surrey. In the early 1900s the engine was shifted from Surrey to the company operations north of Powell River and was a familiar sight carrying logs from Hastings Mill. It was brought back to Vancouver, in a damaged condition and stored on BCTTC property around 1927, was acquired by the CPR and restored as a 50th Anniversary Project in 1930. It was displayed at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds until the 1973 when it was brought to Heritage Village (later Burnaby Village Museum) and restored again.

Creator: Surgenor, William F.

Accession Code: BV016.52

Access Restriction: Restricted access

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [1905-1931] (date of originals), copied 2016

Media Type: Photograph

Arrangement: A selection of 15 photographs (negatives and prints) with a common subject were loaned for reproduction purposes (three of the photographs were prints from negatives). Photographs are arranged and described at item level. Low resolution copies of each photograph have been made available on Heritage Burnaby.

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds

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

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20285

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser M…

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: 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewees: Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy Location of Interview: Residence of Harry Toy Interview Date: September 25, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 02:01:13 Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants’ Association and Harry's daughters, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy's memories of growing up in Burnaby. 00:00:00 – 00:23:53 Harry Toy shares biographical information about himself and his ancestors. Harry provides information about his migration to Canada and his life in Manitoba, attending school, working at the family restaurant and teaching high school. 00:23:53 – 00:41:16 Harry talks about moving his family to Burnaby and his experiences owning and operating the Canada Way Food Market. 00:41:17 – 00:54:19 Harry talks about his involvement with the Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) and provides some history about the organization. 00:54:20 – 1:22:44 Harry talks about running the Canada Way Food Market and the alterations that he made to the store over the years. Harry and his daughters comment as they look through photographs of Harry and his store and the Fraser Merchants Association. 1:22:45 – 2:01:14 Beverley and Christina talk about their early childhood in Manitoba and growing up in Burnaby. They recall what it was like growing up and working in the family owned store.

History: Interviewee biography: Harry Wee Koon Toy was born in February 9, 1936 in Taikong, Toisan county, Guangdong, China. Harry's father William Toy came to Canada in the early 1920s when he was ten years old. Harry arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 9, 1950. After staying in Vancouver for one night, he joined his father in Neepawa, Manitoba where the family operated a cafe business (Royal Cafe). Harry grew up in Neepawa and graduated from the University of Manitoba and teacher's college. He became a high school teacher and worked at schools in Minnedosa and Gladstone, Manitoba teaching various subjects including, science, business, geography, history and physical education. Harry and his wife, had three daughters, Melinda, Beverley and Christina who were all born in Neepawa. When the family decided to move to the west coast, Harry was introduced to the grocery store business through an uncle who was a store operator. Around 1970, Harry purchased a grocery store at 4694 Canada Way in Burnaby which he named "Canada Way Food Market" and Harry and his daughters made their home at the back of the store. Harry owned and operated the store for approximately 40 years between 1970 and 2010. Around 1986, Harry purchased the butcher shop next door (4692 Canada Way) which was no longer in operation, expanding his store and adding a second storey to use a residence. Harry's children helped him operate the store throughout their childhood. In the early 1970s, corner stores were threatened by the spread of small chain-operated convenience stories from Eastern Canada to Vancouver. Formed in April 1972, the Fraser Merchants’ Association was established to protect the rights of corner store operators. With no paid legal help, the association was incorporated in Victoria, BC for the cost of 56 cents. The benefits of being a member of the association included warehouse and group purchasing, common advertising and other advantages of being part of an association. Founded by Gary Lee Ling and five others, Fraser Merchants’ Association’s first member was Graham Grocery. By 1978, the association represented over 200 corner stores in the Lower Mainland (Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, and New Westminster) and Fraser Valley. The association remained active into the 1980s and 1990s. Harry has served as President of the Fraser Merchants' Association from 1992 to present. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Education; Migration; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Grocers; Organizations; Organizations - Business Associations; Persons - Chinese Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores

Names: Toy, Christina; Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"; Babey, Beverley; Canada Way Food Market; Fraser Merchants' Association

Responsibility: Fong, Denise

Geographic Access: Canada Way

Street Address: 4694 Canada Way

Accession Code: BV023.16.19

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Related Material: See also: BV023.25 - Harry Toy fonds

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available

Documents

2023_0016_0019_003

Audio Tracks

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0019_002.mp3

CP 6151 at Victoria

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3278

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1906]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 6151, a 0-6-0 Switcher (built in 1905 and 1906) at Victoria, British Columbia. A railway labourer looks to be cleaning or painting the side of the locomotive.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 6151, a 0-6-0 Switcher (built in 1905 and 1906) at Victoria, British Columbia. A railway labourer looks to be cleaning or painting the side of the locomotive.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail; Occupations - Railroad Labourers

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Geographic Access: Victoria

Accession Code: BV985.6114.50

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1906]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CP 6151 at/ Victoria"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "840"

Images

CP 6151 at Victoria, [after 1906] thumbnail

Nichols Chemical Company fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18755

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1906-1962

Collection/Fonds: Nichols Chemical Company fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 9 technical drawings

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of technical drawings of the Nichols Chemcial Company plant and machinery.

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Nichols Chemical Company fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 9 technical drawings

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of technical drawings of the Nichols Chemcial Company plant and machinery.

History: In 1905 the Nichols Chemical Company, acid manufacturers based in Montreal, established their chemical plant on on a tract of land along Burrard Inlet, just east of the North Pacific Lumber Company. This company was later amalgamated and acquired by General Chemical and remains in operation on the original waterfront site. Many of workers at the Nichols Chemical Plant lived in bunkhouses in the community of Barnet including Japanese Canadian families who were employed there. Many of these families were laid off and forcibily removed during the internment of the Japanese in British Columbia during World War II.

Creator: Nichols Chemical Company Limited

Accession Code: BV998.23

Date: 1906-1962

Media Type: Technical Drawing

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds

Grieve family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66379

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1908-1966

Collection/Fonds: Grieve family fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 14 cm. of textual records and 15 b&w prints.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of publications, correspondence and photographs pertaining to the Grieve family of North Burnaby.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1908-1966

Collection/Fonds: Grieve family fonds

Physical Description: 14 cm. of textual records and 15 b&w prints.

Description Level: Fonds

Accession Number: 2011-04

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of publications, correspondence and photographs pertaining to the Grieve family of North Burnaby.

History: William Ewart “Bill” Grieve was born at Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan (then the North-West Territories), on August 15, 1885. He was the eldest child of John and Flora Grieve. Bill attended school at Qu’Appelle until he was 12 years old and went to work at a furniture store. In October of 1902, at the age of 17, he moved to the Okanagan and worked on a Kettle Valley Railroad construction camp for four years. Bill enlisted at Kamloops in 1915 and served overseas as a member of the 72nd Seaforth Battalion. He was wounded at the Battle of Lens in August of 1917 and was invalided home in November of 1917. On April 14, 1920, William Ewart “Bill” Grieve married Christine. Bill’s ill health sent them to California for a year but by April of 1923, they had returned to Canada and bought a house at 3925 Triumph Street in North Burnaby. Bill worked as manager of the Used Car Department of Johnston Motors Ltd in Vancouver for the next twenty years. He retired in 1946 and opened his own used car business at 4507 East Hastings Street, Burnaby. Christine Grieve was a life-long member of the Women’s Missionary Society of the United Church of Canada. Christine and Bill had two sons, Kenneth Ewart “Ken” and William Ronald “Ronald.” Ken was born about 1922. By 1928, he was in grade three at Gilmore Avenue School and by 1948, he was at the University of British Columbia. Ken died prior to March of 2006. Ronald was born about 1929 and was 13 years old during World War II. Like his older brother before him, he attended the University of British Columbia. He later married and had children, one of whom was Catherine E. “Cathy” Grieve (later Linowski). Ronald died April 7, 1970, at the age of 41. Bill served as president of the North Burnaby Liberal Association for four years and was liberal candidate for the Burnaby Provincial riding at the General Election in 1937. He also served on the Burnaby School Board from 1943 to 1957 consecutively. Bill died April 1, 1969 at the age of 83.

Media Type: Textual Record

Creator: Grieve, William Ewart "Bill"

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds; MSS155, photo catalogue 523

Brian Elder subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97415

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1908 (date of original)-1936 (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of copies of records compiled by Brian Elder on the history of the British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER).

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1908 (date of original)-1936 (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Brian Elder subseries

Physical Description: Textual records

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS1996-23; BHS2001-01

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of copies of records compiled by Brian Elder on the history of the British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER).

History: Brian Elder was a restoration volunteer for Friends of Interurban 1223.

Media Type: Textual Record

Creator: Elder, Brian

Notes: Title based on creator of subseries

Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4648

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1908-1975

Collection/Fonds: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 3 folders of textual records + 180 photographs + ephemera + 1 map + 1 architectural drawing

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records acquired from the Chinese Herbalist shop “Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co” operating in Victoria from 1905 until 1968. Textual records include a few pieces of correspondence, receipts and ephemera addressed to "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Lim You and Lim Yau (Yew Long Lum) wh…

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 3 folders of textual records + 180 photographs + ephemera + 1 map + 1 architectural drawing

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records acquired from the Chinese Herbalist shop “Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co” operating in Victoria from 1905 until 1968. Textual records include a few pieces of correspondence, receipts and ephemera addressed to "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Lim You and Lim Yau (Yew Long Lum) while the shop was in operation at 1620 Government Street in the 1940s. Some of the records are written in English while a portion are written in Cantonese and haven't been translated. Most of the photographs document the content of the original shop at the time of aquistion in 1975. Some photographs of unidentified people may be related to the owner or proprietor of the shop. A collection of other photographs document various Chinese Canadian organizations that were in operation in Victoria. Records are arranged into the following series: 1) Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. photographs series 2) Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. documents series

History: The Chinese Herbalist shop "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co" operated in Victoria, BC from about 1905 until [1968]. The meaning of "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co" can be translated as "Collection, Life, Source, Alive, Shop" although many interpretations can be taken since each Chinese character can have several meanings. Contents of the shop were purchased by the Burnaby Village Museum in 1975 and reassembled as a permanent display in the Burnaby Village Museum. The shop’s original owner was Ng Chee Fong who opened the shop ca.1905. In 1921, Ng returned to Hong Kong and sold the business to Lam Yuen and Wong Ying who were from Vancouver. Lam Yuen and Wong Ying employed Lum Chuck Yue to operate the shop. Lum Chuck Yue had formerly operated a small herbal counter in a Chinese apothecary store on the south side of Fisgard Street, Victoria. In 1924 Lam Yuen and Wong Ying purchased Wah Sun & Co. from Lee S. Yew and Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. moved into the Wah Sun premises at 1620 Government Street in the Lee Block . The furnishings and fixtures of both stores were combined, with the more elaborate fixtures from WSYWK remaining as part of the public part of the shop and the plainer fixtures of Wah Sun moved into the workroom and basement. In the 1930s Lum Chuck Yue took over the business and became the proprietor. In about 1934, Tan Yi Tang purchased the business and the shop reopened as Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. following renovations with Lum Yew Jong as the shop's proprietor. Lum Yew Jong continued to operate the shop until his death in 1967 at the age of 68 years. Following Lum’s death, the property and contents of the shop were purchased by Mr. J. Watson Marles, a local owner operator of an antique store at 1714 Government Street. The shop and contents went through a few more private owners including Rodney Pain before it was purchased by the Heritage Village Museum in 1975 with funds made available by the Vancouver Foundation and the Province of British Columbia. Contents of the original shop were reasembled in a reconstructed building as a permanent display on site at the Burnaby Village Museum.

Creator: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Company

Accession Code: HV975.5; BV985.5331; BV017.7

Access Restriction: Restricted access

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 1908-1975

Media Type: Photograph; Textual Record; Cartographic Material; Architectural Drawing

Related Material: See also Artifacts under Accessions HV975.5; BV985.5331 and BV017.7

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds

Interview with Charles B. Brown May 21, 1975 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory27

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1909-1938

Length: 00:07:15

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Charles Boyer Brown's early days working at Burnaby's Municipal Hall, first as an office boy.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Charles Boyer Brown's early days working at Burnaby's Municipal Hall, first as an office boy.

Date Range: 1909-1938

Photo Info: Charles Boyer Brown, by photographer Nicholas Rossmo [1950]. Item no. 307-008

Length: 00:07:15

Subjects: Occupations - Civic Workers

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: May 21, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with Charles B. Brown by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury May 21, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression, the Commissioner and municipal politics in general. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Charles Boyer Brown was born on June 16, 1894 in the town of Ongar, Essex, England. He came to Canada as a young child with his parents Jean and Percy Brown. In 1903, the family settled in New Westminster and by 1911, Charles had joined the Burnaby municipal staff working as an office boy. The outbreak of World War One interrupted Charlie’s career as he immediately enlisted with the Royal Engineers and served from 1915 to 1918. While overseas he met and married Lillian Bernice Bryan and they returned to Canada together after the war and Charles resumed his position in municipal administration. For a short time, Charles was appointed as the Municipal Assessor, but in 1927 he became the Assistant Municipal Clerk. In 1933, Charles was made Municipal Clerk, a post he held until he retired in 1959. Charles has also been credited with playing a significant role in administering the city while it was under the rule of the provincial commission from 1932-1942. Recognized for his expertise in civic affairs, Charles was appointed by the provincial government to a committee formed to review and revise the Municipal Act. He was also a member of the BC Municipal Officers’ Association from its formation in 1936 and was made its chair in 1953. While these civic duties occupied much of his time, Charles still managed to participate as a volunteer on many sport and youth clubs in the city and served as the secretary for the Kingsway Rotary Club. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Burnaby, both paid and volunteer, Charles was presented with the Gold Key award in 1959, the same year he finally retired from municipal administration. During Charles’ lifetime, many changes took place in the Municipality that he loved. He saw Burnaby grow in population and progress and he could be proud of the significant part he played in that growth and development. Charles Brown died on August 11, 1981.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 0:58:01

Interviewee Name: Brown, Charles B. "Charlie"

Interview Location: Walker Avenue

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Charles Boyer Brown, by photographer Nicholas Rossmo [1950]. Item no. 307-008 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track one of interview with Charles B. Brown

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-06/100-13-06_Track_1.mp3

LaFavor Family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription72548

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [191-]; 1953-1955

Collection/Fonds: LaFavor Family fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 0.5 cm. of textual records (newsprint) and 59 photographs : sepia postcards ; 8 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of photographic postcards (some are duplications) depicting the village of Barnet in Burnaby along with newspaper clippings pertaining to Barnet Village from the 1950s.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [191-]; 1953-1955

Collection/Fonds: LaFavor Family fonds

Physical Description: 0.5 cm. of textual records (newsprint) and 59 photographs : sepia postcards ; 8 x 13 cm

Description Level: Fonds

Accession Number: 2007-03

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of photographic postcards (some are duplications) depicting the village of Barnet in Burnaby along with newspaper clippings pertaining to Barnet Village from the 1950s.

History: Orville Glen LaFavor was born in Willow City, North Dakota, on May 31, 1903, to Harvey M. LaFavor. On April 20, 1924, Orville married Cathryn Arlou "Kate" Lewis. In that same year, Orville and Kate moved to Barnet Village to join Harvey and his wife. Orville and Kate had five children who were all born in Barnet: Lewis in September 1925, Irene in December 1927, Clyde Martin in July 1930, Florence Alice in March 1933 and Cathryn Bernice on April 24, 1934. Orville worked as a trimmer for the Barnet Lumber Company. He and his family lived at Number 10 on the Barnet property. In 1924, he began working at the mills and retired in 1960. During the war, he made blackout blinds and worked as a warden or home guard in Vancouver. Kate LaFavor stayed at home to look after the five children. All of the children went to Barnet School until grade five, when they had to bus up to Capitol Hill in North Burnaby. Once evictions began in Barnet in 1953, Orville bought the house from the municipality and moved it to Port Coquitlam. Orville's brother, Vern Victor LaFavor, married Irene Winnifred "Winnie" Warner on August 6, 1928. Clyde and Lou LaFavor also worked in the mill. Fred Marshall and his brother Roy Marshall lived and worked at the mill and were uncles to the LaFavor children. Harvey, the grandfather of the children, worked as a millwright and had a section in the village for gardening, which he tended to regularly. He had horses that worked with him at the mill and later on the construction of Barnet Road, allowing him to make money during the Depression. During a strike for higher wages at the Barnet Sawmill, Harvey was badly beaten. Murray Glen "Bud" LaFavor was born on December 13, 1944, in New Westminster. He had four sisters: Irene, Catherine, Carol, and Rene. He worked as a volunteer fireman for 25 years and was employed by the District of 100 Mile House. He died in 2009. Lewis LaFavor, son of Orville and Kate, joined the navy and survied World War II. Catherine Bernice (LaFavor) Nelson, daughter of Orville and Kate, died July 7, 2011, in Nelson, British Columbia.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: LaFavor family

Notes: Photo catalogue 540, MSS166

Interview with Elsie Ansdell by Eric Damer September 18, 2012 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory287

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1910-1946

Length: 0:09:17

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to the Brown-Johns first settling in Burnaby. Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell discusses land clearing for the family home, each of her parents and her brothers.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to the Brown-Johns first settling in Burnaby. Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell discusses land clearing for the family home, each of her parents and her brothers.

Date Range: 1910-1946

Photo Info: Elsie Brown-John (bottom, far right) with her class at Kitchener Street School, [1936]. Item no. 549-001.

Length: 0:09:17

Names: Brown-John, Victor Joseph Charles; Brown-John, Winnifred Douglas

Subjects: Land Clearing

Geographic Access: Napier Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Willingdon Heights Area

Interviewer: Damer, Eric

Interview Date: September 18, 2012

Scope and Content: Recording is an interview with early Burnaby resident Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, September 18, 2012. Major themes discussed are: settling in Burnaby and the early years of the Brown-John family.

Biographical Notes: Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell’s father, a trained carpenter and cabinet maker, Victor Brown-John came to Canada from Wales in 1910. He cleared three lots at Napier and Gilmore Streets and built a two-roomed house. In 1912, he was joined by his wife and two eldest sons, Victor and Archie. Twin boys, Frank and Roy, were born in 1914 in the Burnaby home and their fifth son, Clive, was born in 1915. From 1916 to 1919 Victor John-Brown left Burnaby to serve overseas. Elsie Brown-John (later Ansdell) was born in 1921. Her younger brother, Gwyn "Jerry" was born in 1923. In 1925 Victor Brown-John suffered a fatal accident while working as a longshoreman in Northern British Columbia. Elsie attended Kitchener Elementary and North Burnaby High School. She married during the Second World War and moved to South Burnaby to raise her family whilst continuing to work in various department stores both in Vancouver and Burnaby.

Total Tracks: 4

Total Length: 33:02

Interviewee Name: Ansdell, Elsie Brown-John

Interview Location: Burnaby Village Museum

Interviewer Bio: Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burna-Boom Oral History Project series

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Images

Elsie Brown-John (bottom, far right) with her class at Kitchener Street School, [1936]. Item no. 549-001. thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track one of recording of interview with Elsie Ansdell

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-001/MSS171-001_Track_1.mp3

Rhoda Jeffers fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4146

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1910-1960]

Collection/Fonds: Rhoda Jeffers fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: .5 cm of textual records + 31 photographs

Scope and Content: The fonds consists of a collection of family photographs and a small collection of personal records, correspondence and education records belonging to Rhoda Jeffers during her work as a teacher. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Jeffers family photographs series 2) Education and personal records s…

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Rhoda Jeffers fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: .5 cm of textual records + 31 photographs

Scope and Content: The fonds consists of a collection of family photographs and a small collection of personal records, correspondence and education records belonging to Rhoda Jeffers during her work as a teacher. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Jeffers family photographs series 2) Education and personal records series

History: Rhoda Maie Jeffers (middle name also spelled Mae) was born in July 1, 1904 in River Hebert, Nova Scotia to Albert Clifford Jeffers (1877 - 1967) and Eldora McAloney (1879 - 1978). The family moved to British Columbia in 1912, living in Vancouver at various addresses before moving to Burnaby around 1950 residing at 4254 Charles Street. Albert and Eldora Jeffers had three children; Rhoda Maie (Mae), Sarah Etta "Muriel" (later Webster) and Charles Kenneth Leroy (1906-1970). Rhoda began teaching in Grand Forks in 1922 and one of her early teaching posts included Eriksdale, Manitoba. Rhoda divided her teaching career between Alberta, Lake Cowichan, Agassiz and North Delta. In 1952, Rhoda worked as an exchange teacher in England and in 1957, Rhoda graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Education (secondary specialization). Due to a severe injury in 1969, Rhoda was forced to retire and sometime after, she moved in with her parents at 4254 Charles Street. Rhoda continued to reside at this address until a year before her death in 1990.

Creator: Jeffers, Rhoda Mae

Accession Code: BV007.20

Date: [1910-1960]

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds; See also portrait of Rhoda Jeffers [c. 1915] BV077.20.2

Ed Eckley subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64503

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1911 (date of original)-[1998]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: 2 boxes of textual records and 1 photographic album

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of records created and collected by Edmund Eckley on the history of the Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby. Included in the subseries are notes for an oral presentation, maps, plans, contracts, memorandums and Oakalla policies, rules and regulations, as well asan album containing pho…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1911 (date of original)-[1998]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Ed Eckley subseries

Physical Description: 2 boxes of textual records and 1 photographic album

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS2006-01

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of records created and collected by Edmund Eckley on the history of the Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby. Included in the subseries are notes for an oral presentation, maps, plans, contracts, memorandums and Oakalla policies, rules and regulations, as well asan album containing photographs of the Oakalla Prison Farm just after it was closed down and some photocopied images and text.

History: Edmund R. Eckley is believed to have worked as a logging manager in Tahsis, British Columbia. Later, he and his wife Teresa lived at 7810 Rayside Street in Burnaby. Ed was a volunteer interpreter at Burnaby Village Museum in the 1990s. He wrote the interpreters’ notes for the first temporary exhibit held in Stride Studios [1995] at the Burnaby Village Museum entitled “Captive Heritage Oakalla Revealed” which traced the history of Oakalla Prison from construction to closure. He also designed his own walking tour of the Oakalla site prior to it being torn down. On January 14, 1998 Ed presented "A Short History of the Oakalla Prison Farm" for the Burnaby Historical Society. Ed also served as vice-president and fundraising chair for Friends of Interurban 1223 until the project's completion in 2008. Teresa worked as a school teacher for the Burnaby School District until her retirement in 2004. Following retirement, Teresa and Ed moved to Vancouver, where they currently reside.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: Eckley, Edmund R.

Notes: Title based on creator of subseries; MSS120, PC511

Oakalla Prison fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription100561

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1911-1953

Collection/Fonds: Oakalla Prison fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 6 cm. of textual records.

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records created by the Oakalla Prison Farm, including administrative correspondence related to staff appointments and wages, and a staff shortage when employees left to fight in World War I. The records pertain only to staffmembers of the prison and are not directly related to any…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1911-1953

Collection/Fonds: Oakalla Prison fonds

Physical Description: 6 cm. of textual records.

Description Level: Fonds

Record No.: 66669

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2022-13

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records created by the Oakalla Prison Farm, including administrative correspondence related to staff appointments and wages, and a staff shortage when employees left to fight in World War I. The records pertain only to staffmembers of the prison and are not directly related to any prison inmates.

History: The Oakalla Prison Farm was a model prison farm on 185 acres (75 ha) of land next to Deer Lake, Burnaby. The Oakalla Prison Farm was a full-service facility that originally opened on September 2, 1912, and was initially designed to hold 150 men and women. The first inmate was William Daley, sentenced on July 31, 1912 to serve a year of hard labor for stealing some fountain pens valued at over $10. By April 30, 1913, some 328 prisoners had passed through the jail's doors. In 1916, the women's section officially opened, and in 1942, the women's unit opened on the grounds as a separate facility. It was renamed as the "Lakeside Correctional Centre for Women" in 1979. The original women's unit was expanded in 1953, and consisted of two cottage-style buildings. By the 1950s, the population was well over 1000. As a working farm, the prison had its own dairy, vegetable gardens, and livestock. Executions in British Columbia were primarily carried out in Oakalla; after 1919, it was the sole penitentiary where executions took place. The first execution was that of 25 year-old Alex Ignace on August 29, 1919. 44 prisoners were executed by hanging at Oakalla from 1919 until the death penalty was abolished in 1959. In 1959, the last execution in British Columbia took place at Oakalla, with the hanging of former sailor Leo Mantha, aged 33. Oakalla was also one of the locations that undertook the experiment of performing cosmetic surgery on inmates to remove deformities that made prisoners "more likely to offend". The experiment was led by Dr. Edward Lewison, and continued into the mid-1960s. Procedures were conducted on 450 inmates, voluntarily. In 1970, the prison was renamed as the Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre (LMRCC) The farm portion of the prison, providing work for the inmates and food in the prison, closed in 1979 and 64 acres of land were transferred to the City of Burnaby. This land was included in the existing Deer Lake Park that was adjacent to the prison. Originally designed to house a maximum of 484 prisoners, Oakalla's population peaked in 1962-1963 at 1,269 inmates. With population averages of over 600, overcrowding was always a problem. In the institution's final years, two nationally-spotlighted events occurred. 13 maximum security prisoners escaped on New Year's Day, 1988, following an uprising on December 27, 1987, and on November 22, 1983, a violent and costly riot took place. Rioters caused more than $150,000 damage in a two-day spree. Oakalla was closed down on June 30, 1991, and was developed into a new residential housing development and an expansion of the park. Prisoners from Oakalla were then moved to various other Correctional Facilities in British Columbia, including but not limited to the Vancouver Pretrial Services Centre (VPSC), the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre (FRCC), and the Alouette Regional Correctional Centre (ARCC), later Alouette Correctional Centre for Women. Source: https://wikimapia.org/8004045/Former-site-Lower-Mainland-Correctional-Centre-Oakalla-Prison-Farm Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakalla_Prison

Media Type: Textual Record

Burnaby Lake Interurban

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37174

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [before 1954]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Burnaby Lake Interurban in the snow. The house in the background is 2231 Fareham Street, a short street that ran behind Elwell and the tram tracks about midway between the Cumberland Road and Hill Street Stations. This rail line route is now the route of Highway 1 through Burnaby.…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [before 1954]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 328-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1996-14

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Burnaby Lake Interurban in the snow. The house in the background is 2231 Fareham Street, a short street that ran behind Elwell and the tram tracks about midway between the Cumberland Road and Hill Street Stations. This rail line route is now the route of Highway 1 through Burnaby. The uppermost window in the house was the donor's bedroom.

Subjects: Transportation - Electric Railroads

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Fareham Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Cariboo-Armstrong Area

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