228 records – page 6 of 12.

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.
History
Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
Clothing
Crafts
Employment
Migration
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Occupations - Labourers
Occupations - Millworkers
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Names
Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
Manhas, Ghania Singh
Singh, Mayo
Manhas, Kashmir Singh
Manhas, Sher Singh
Manhas, Budhan Kaur
Manhas, Lashman Singh
Accession Code
BV022.29.5
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Related Material
See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep
Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby
Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3
Less detail

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
Less detail

Interview with Judy Hagen by Eric Damer November 7, 2012 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory333
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1918-2012
Length
0:09:44
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen's grandfather Sam Robins who also lived in the family home. Judy mentions a number of her neighbours, discusses her aunt and uncles, and tells a short story involving Kingsway West School.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen's grandfather Sam Robins who also lived in the family home. Judy mentions a number of her neighbours, discusses her aunt and uncles, and tells a short story involving Kingsway West School.
Date Range
1918-2012
Photo Info
Judith "Judy" Robins (later Hagen) posing in a dance costume, 1949. Item no. 549-036.
Length
0:09:44
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
November 7, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 7, 2012. Major theme discussed: the neighbourhood of Dover Street.
Biographical Notes
Judy Robins (later Hagen) was born in 1941 and grew up in South Burnaby. Her paternal grandfather, a master stone mason from Devon, moved to Vancouver in 1912 to find work before bringing over the rest of the family. He bought three lots in Burnaby and in 1918 moved his family to a small house on Dover Street (formerly Paul Street). Judy’s father, Jack, married, bought one of his father’s lots and built a new home for his family. Judy attended school and church nearby, took dance and piano lessons and participated actively in Girl Guides. After high school, she attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) and then Simon Fraser University (SFU), worked for a few years and then married in 1967 before moving to Courtaney, British Columbia.
Total Tracks
7
Total Length
1:09:51
Interviewee Name
Hagen, Judith "Judy" Robins
Interview Location
Nanaimo Museum on Vancouver Island
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
Audio Tracks

Track two of recording of interview with Judy Hagen

Less detail

Interview with Judy Hagen by Eric Damer November 7, 2012 - Track 6

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory337
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1944-2012
Length
0:12:18
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen's memories of taking dance lessons and being in Girl Guides. She tells a story of seeing the Second Narrows Bridge collapse in 1958.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen's memories of taking dance lessons and being in Girl Guides. She tells a story of seeing the Second Narrows Bridge collapse in 1958.
Date Range
1944-2012
Photo Info
Judith "Judy" Robins (later Hagen) posing in a dance costume, 1949. Item no. 549-036.
Length
0:12:18
Subjects
Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs
Structures - Bridges
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
November 7, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 7, 2012. Major theme discussed: the neighbourhood of Dover Street.
Biographical Notes
Judy Robins (later Hagen) was born in 1941 and grew up in South Burnaby. Her paternal grandfather, a master stone mason from Devon, moved to Vancouver in 1912 to find work before bringing over the rest of the family. He bought three lots in Burnaby and in 1918 moved his family to a small house on Dover Street (formerly Paul Street). Judy’s father, Jack, married, bought one of his father’s lots and built a new home for his family. Judy attended school and church nearby, took dance and piano lessons and participated actively in Girl Guides. After high school, she attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) and then Simon Fraser University (SFU), worked for a few years and then married in 1967 before moving to Courtaney, British Columbia.
Total Tracks
7
Total Length
1:09:51
Interviewee Name
Hagen, Judith "Judy" Robins
Interview Location
Nanaimo Museum on Vancouver Island
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
Audio Tracks

Track six of recording of interview with Judy Hagen

Less detail

Interview with Judy Hagen by Eric Damer November 7, 2012 - Track 7

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory338
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1950-2012
Length
0:10:20
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen's memories of the nineteen-sixties. She tells a work-related story about her father, Jack Robins. Judy also discusses what she sees as the differences between her generation and the more recent generations.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen's memories of the nineteen-sixties. She tells a work-related story about her father, Jack Robins. Judy also discusses what she sees as the differences between her generation and the more recent generations.
Date Range
1950-2012
Photo Info
Judith "Judy" Robins (later Hagen) posing in a dance costume, 1949. Item no. 549-036.
Length
0:10:20
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
November 7, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Judith "Judy" (Robins) Hagen conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 7, 2012. Major theme discussed: the neighbourhood of Dover Street.
Biographical Notes
Judy Robins (later Hagen) was born in 1941 and grew up in South Burnaby. Her paternal grandfather, a master stone mason from Devon, moved to Vancouver in 1912 to find work before bringing over the rest of the family. He bought three lots in Burnaby and in 1918 moved his family to a small house on Dover Street (formerly Paul Street). Judy’s father, Jack, married, bought one of his father’s lots and built a new home for his family. Judy attended school and church nearby, took dance and piano lessons and participated actively in Girl Guides. After high school, she attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) and then Simon Fraser University (SFU), worked for a few years and then married in 1967 before moving to Courtaney, British Columbia.
Total Tracks
7
Total Length
1:09:51
Interviewee Name
Hagen, Judith "Judy" Robins
Interview Location
Nanaimo Museum on Vancouver Island
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
Audio Tracks

Track seven of recording of interview with Judy Hagen

Less detail

Interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19346
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1600-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Oct. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (111 min., 51 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (111 min., 51 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar discusses and provides in…
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) (111 min., 51 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (111 min., 51 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Nadeem Parmar Location of Interview: Residence of Nadeem Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: October 7, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:51:51 min Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar discusses and provides information on; his ancestral background, his education, his employment background, his experiences of racial discrimmination as a South Asian immigrant, saw mills established by South Asian relations in Paldi (Vancouver Island), in North Vancouver and Burnaby, family relations in the South Asian Canadian community and in regions in Punjab, the caste system, his literary works, locations of family homes in Burnaby, the architectural design of his house, personal stories and anecdotal information as a South Asian Canadian living and working in Canada. 00:00 – 01:45 The framework and purpose of the interview is explained to interviewee Nadeem Parmar by interviewers Rajdeep and Anushay Malik. The interviewers explain how the information from this interview can be drawn on for Burnaby Village Museum’s future exhibits and also how researchers will learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby through residents’ stories. Interview begins with Nadeem providing his full name "Kulwant Singh Parmar". He clarifies that his name was given to him by his grandfather who was a civil engineer and that his father also worked as a civil engineer. Nadeem expresses that he was born with a “silver spoon in his mouth” as a descendent of his maternal grandfather who was a successful landlord. Nadeem explains that when the Partition of India came into effect, (1947) he was 11 years old. He and his family left the partitioned side, his native village was located in Punjab and his forefathers were located in Rajasthan. 3:20 – 4:57 Nadeem explains further about his forefathers who came from Rajasthan. He shares information about his ancestor on his father’s side, named Vijay Singh who was friends with Emperor Jahangir. When fighting began against Jahangir he left the area to head to the middle of central India, then to the Punjab area with small states. As a clan, as a Parmar, he conveys there were about eleven or twelve villages with the same name. Interviewer, Anushay helps Nadeem to clarify the time period of this information. Nadeem refers to the time period being similar to the epic historical film “Moghal-e-Azam” and Anushay confirms the time period being the 1600s when they left Rajasthan. 4:58 – 10:59 Interviewer Anushay asks Nadeem to about his migration to Canada. Nadeem conveys that his first ancestor on his in-laws side of the family migrated around 1889. Further discussion ensues about reading Punjabi and how interviewer Rajdeep can read Punjabi and that she comes from the village of "Lakhpur" in Punjab. Rajdeep notes that “Lakhpur” is near "Phagwara". Nadeem clarifies that his village is "Panchat" and this family used to live in "Phagwara". and Nadeem and Rajdeep compare their familiarity and memories of the area. Nadeem conveys some of his comments in Punjabi and then changes to English. Nadeem recollects when the Japanese bombarded Shillong, he was around seven years old and attended missionary school. The only languages that were taught were English and Persian. Nadeem conveys that his mother had hopes of Nadeem becoming an army officer and moving up the ranks but Nadeem wasn’t interested. Nadeem attended college, graduated with a Bachelor of Science, BSC with Physics and Chemistry, followed by another Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and finally a degree in his favourite subject in the language of Urdu. He completed these degrees in Punjab in Doaba College, Jalandher. Nadeem recollects how he started teaching but wasn’t getting paid very well. When he was at college, with encouragement from his professor, Veer Pankalia [sic] he began writing poetry and short plays. His professor also introduced him to a famous poet of Punjab, Mila Ram Offa [sic] and he gave him the name of Nadeem. Nadeem explains the meaning of the name “Nadeem” “…the one who know about it, inside out…” even though we generally think of the meaning being “friend” it’s not just about friend. 11:00 -24:48 Nadeem provides background information on how he ended up marrying his future wife who was born in India and immigrated to Canada with her family. Nadeem explains how the marriage was arranged through family relations that were already established in Punjab over a century ago. One of his wife’s ancestors, head of the family called “baniye” (traders) immigrated to Canada in [1899]. This relation returned to Punjab where he had nephews, the youngest of the nephews was Nadeem’s father (Lashman Singh Manhas) in law’s father (Sher Singh Manhas). He expresses that his wife’s ancestor couldn’t bring Nadeem’s father in law’s father since he was only 12 or 13 years old but he brought three of the nephews back to Canada with him. The nephews were named, Pola Singh, Ginaya Singh and Doman Singh (also named Dolmans). He describes how the group left India but it took them two to three years before they arrived in Canada. The group travelled to Burma, Indonesia and Hong Kong before landing in San Francisco. From San Francisco they walked and worked on the rail line before entering Canada and arriving in Grand Forks. The men got work on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and eventually made their way to the lower mainland. Nadeem conveys that the younger brother of Ginaya Singh, Maya Singh joined the others in Canada taking the same route, arriving in Bridal Falls where they were working at a saw mill and in CP rail construction. He describes Maya Singh as business minded and since he was too young to work in the mill, he began working as a cook and then began growing potatoes on land that he leased from a Dutch land owner. The local mill at Bridal Falls was facing bankruptcy and Maya Singh arranged to lease the mill, eventually buying it. From there the group moved their business to Strawberry Hill in Surrey and when the sale of logs declined, they moved over to Vancouver Island and established a sawmill with Doman Singh in the community of Paldi (originally known as Mayo Lumber) near Duncan. He explains further how the South Asian community helped each other like they did back home. He clarifies that his father in law’s father is the youngest cousin of Ginaya and Doman Singh and when he died, his father in law’s younger brother started Kashmir Lumber. Eventually his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) and the rest of the whole family including cousins and nephews were sponsored by their relations and immigrated to Canada. Nadeem explains how in 1959, his brother in law returned home to Punjab to get married, bringing his family with him. He tells of how during this time period, a marriage was arranged by his parents for him to marry his future wife. Nadeem recollects how this came to be. Nadeem and his wife Surjeet married in Punjab in December 1960, Nadeem was 24 years old and his wife was 18 years old. 24:49 – 39:42 Nadeem describes how he obtained his teaching degree from Ramgarhia College in Phagwara (located in the Kapurhtala district of Punjab) and after a disagreement with a teacher at home, he decided to go to England. He explains how he joined his brother who had moved to England and was working as a labourer. Nadeem tells of the difficulties he faced applying for a teaching job in England and how he had to go back to school to help with his English pronunciation. Nadeem explains that after taking this course, he got work teaching Grade two students which he felt was below his qualifications (he mentions that while living in Punjab, he was a Secondary School teacher) and the pay was very low. He discovered that his brother was making more money working as a labourer so Nadeem became discouraged and quit. When Nadeem couldn’t find work as a labourer, his brother advised him to shave off his beard. Nadeem conveys how difficult it was for him to shave off his beard and how once he was clean shaven he got work as a sweeper in a factory. He shares his experience of working in the factory and of how with his former education he got himself promoted to a more technical position. With encouragement from his employer, Nadeem enrolled in technical courses which lead to him obtaining an HNC Engineering Degree. He completed the course work in two years, obtaining skills in microwave communication becoming the senior test engineer at the factory. While working in this position, Nadeem shares how he suffered discrimination when he was passed over for a senior chief engineer position at the factory by a less educated and experienced employee. 39:43 – 53:38 Nadeem recollects how things changed for him in the 1970s. It began with his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) passing away in 1970 while he and his family were living on 18th Street in Burnaby. His father in law had been working at the saw mill, Kashmir Lumber Company in North Vancouver that was owned by his father in law’s younger brother (Kashmir Singh Manhas). The mill had burnt down and many of the workers lost everything. Nadeem confides that during this time, his wife was suffering from depression and wanted to be with her mother back in Canada now that her father had passed away. Nadeem emphasizes how his wife’s family (over 300 relatives) in Canada often get together every year on July 1st in Paldi near Duncan. In 1972, Nadeem arrived in Canada on his own to find work but was unsuccessful so he and his wife made plans to move to Uganda where he was offered a job. In 1973, when his visa didn’t come through for Uganda, Nadeem, his wife and two children decided to come to Canada. Nadeem describes that after several unsuccessful experiences to find skilled work in Canada, he eventually found work at Canadian National Telecommunications. During this time, Nadeem and his family lived with his father in law’s family at 5216 Pandora Street in Burnaby and in 1974, Nadeem purchased a house at 131 Fell Avenue in Burnaby. Nadeem provides further details of when the families lived at these different addresses and how in 1983 he had a house built on Woodsworth Street where he is still living now. He conveys some of the history of the lot where his current house resides including details on the lot subdivision, lot ownership and the cost of building his new house. Nadeem tells of how he designed his home with help from his son who was working as an apprentice with architect Arthur Erikson at the time. He describes the architectural interior as an open concept design, in an “L” shape in honour of his father “Lakhmir Singh”. Nadeem shares information on his mother’s name which was Jamna (prior to her marriage) and became Davinder Kaur after she was married. (Note: Jamna was her name before marriage. Traditionally after a woman is married, her husband’s family changes her first name because she is now considered a part of a new family). 53:39 – 58:56 Nadeem provides information on his career working as CNCP technician working with CPIC systems and how he was promoted to a new position. Nadeem inserts a quote from a Punjabi poem which he translates to English as “Somebody asked the blind people. What do you need? He said, do you need two eyes?, he said, what else do I need?”. Nadeem conveys how in 1986 his mother passed away so he went back home to the village of Lakhpur where his father and younger brother were living. His father and younger brother were on their own and in 1986 they decided to demolish the family home. He explains that there’s a college there now and that a library was built at this location in the name of his grandfather. 58:57 – 1:04:38 Nadeem shares how he suffered a heart attack in 1990 during the marriage ceremony of his son in Williams Lake. Nadeem talks about the complicated relations of the South Asian families and the saw mill owners in Paldi and comments on the problems with the caste system that provokes discrimination within the South Asian community. Nadeem refers to disputes that arose amongst mill owners and investors that included Kapoor Singh Siddoo, Mayo Singh, Gurdial Singh Teja and Ginaya Singh which caused problems amongst his family and also lead to Kapoor Singh selling his portion of the mill. Nadeem spells “Ginaya” Singh’s name and explains that this name is the nickname for “Krishna”. Nadeem provides his insight into the joint ownership of the saw mills located in Paldi and how the the joint ownership was dissolved in 1952. Nadeem clarifies that Ginaya Singh also left Paldi and that Ginaya Singh’s wife is his mother in law’s aunt and that he also moved to Burnaby. Nadeem explains the proper name spelling of mill owner “Mayo Singh” and that the correct spelling is actually “Mayan Singh” but he changed it to “Mayo” when it was mis-pronounced. Nadeem also comments on the problems that he encountered in 1970 on the pronunciation of his own name while living in England and at one point his employer referred to him as “Paul”. 1:04:39 – 1:18:50 Nadeem relays that when he emigrated from India and to Canada that he carried his personal possessions in a small suitcase made from cardboard since the weight limit on the airplane was just three pounds. He conveys that many of his relations have all suffered from heart problems including Ginaya Singh and his children. Nadeem shares that Ginaya Singh’s three sons all lived in Burnaby. Nadeem conveys that many South Asians lived in Burnaby and many worked at saw mills in North Vancouver and in the L&K sawmill near Pemberton. Nadeem explains further about the how the disagreements came to be between Mayo Singh and Kapoor Singh. He describes how each had a different business strategy in harvesting lumber and that there were feuds amongst the families. Nadeem provides further details on the root of the family feuds. Nadeem provides definitions for certain Punjabi terms that he’s using including “Mehta”(meaning lowest class of farmers, foreigner as well head as a title given to people of a clan living in the area) and ‘Panchat”, the name of his family village that was built and founded by five brothers and one nephew (Panj- meaning five and the sound “cht” meaning six). Nadeem explains that these terms were given to people from his own clan living in the area because it was small. Nadeem explains further about status that is based on money and the Punjabi terms “Parsu”, “Parsa” and “Pasaram” that are often used to describe a person. When you are poor the term “Parsu” is used and when you become rich the term “Pasaram” is used. Nadeem refers to Mayo Singh as a Pasaram as the second most successful millner in British Columbia, second to Frederick John Hart. Nadeem mentions that Ginaya Singh, elder brother to Mayo Singh helped provide the finances to start the mill and when there was a disagreement, Ginaya Singh left the mill business, moved his family to Burnaby and began working in insurance. Nadeem shares the sad story of Ginaya Singh’s sudden death (in 1953). Nadeem states that many of the people who left the mills at Paldi went to work at the Kapoor Mill in Burnaby and some relocated to the Interior of British Columbia. Nadeem mentions that his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) was able to purchase a house on 18th Street in along with other residences that he bought with his hard earned money working in the farms and mills, 16 hours per day, seven days a week. 1:18:51 – 1:32:04 Nadeem explains why he thinks that most South Asian people worked in the mills in the earlier days. Nadeem conveys that since Sikh men wore beards and turbans they encountered discrimination and were unable to get work in the business community. Nadeem shares his own personal experiences of wearing a turban and the discrimination he’s encountered while living in Scotland and Canada. Nadeem mentions that a defense committee was formed to protect the Gurdwaras and people’s homes from being vandalized due to racial discrimination. Nadeem describes some of the troubles that he’s encountered in his own neighbourhood when he had to call the police. Nadeem shares a personal experience just after 9/11 where he was the target of racial discrimination in the parking lot of Burnaby Lake. Nadeem emphasizes that he has experienced many incidents of racial discrimination, especially in the workplace and that this was not unusual for him. 1:32:05 – 1:36:19 Nadeem talks about his interest in writing and his many literary works including 12 novels that he’s written in Punjabi. Nadeem highlights a few books that he’s written including a book titled “Rape” and another one titled “Sponsorship” which conveys the complex nature of people immigrating to Canada. Nadeem mentions a particular book about AIDS, titled “Wide Net” that he’s been trying to get published. Nadeem speaks to the challenges and high costs of trying to get his works published. Nadeem provides a brief synopsis of his book “Wide Net”. Nadeem relays that this is a personal account of a gay couple that he knew where one of the partners died of AIDS and that the couple gave Nadeem permission to tell their tragic story. 1:36:20 – 1:51:51 Nadeem talks about his children and compares their experiences to his own as a South Asian immigrant. Nadeems talks about the accomplishments of his son, his daughter and grandchildren including their education and careers. Nadeem says that his children are well educated and well established in their careers. Nadeem’s children attended Capitol Hill Elementary School and North Burnaby High School in Burnaby. Nadeem shares specifics of his son’s career history. Nadeem expresses that he still considers Canada to be the best country for opportunities and that he prefers to live in Burnaby rather than Surrey and shares some personal anecdotes. Nadeem lists some local places that he’s shopped for South Asian groceries and spices rather than travelling to Surrey. He mentions shopping at Kelly Douglas, stores in Chinatown, small grocers on Capitol Hill, Patel’s on Commercial Drive and Main Street. As an aside Nadeem mentions that he worked as a security guard and the wages that he earned. Nadeem comments that he has been awarded various certificates and certifications from his education and career over the years, including a Bachelor of Science. The interviewers further express their interest in seeing the cardboard case that Nadeem brought with him when immigrating to Canada. In closing Nadeem states that his favourite food from back home was kheer (rice pudding).
History
Interviewee biography: Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar was born June 9, 1936, Chuck 138 in Lyalpur (India before 1947) to parents Lakhmir Singh Parmar and Davinder Kaur Jamana Parmar. Nadeem grew up in the village of Panchat in the northern region of Punjab, India. Nadeem married his wife Surjeet in Punjab in 1960. After marrying the couple immigrated to England where Nadeem was already working. While living in England, Nadeem and Surjeet had two children. After Surjeet's father died in Canada in 1972, Nadeem, Surjeet and their two children immgrated to Canada, joining Surjeet's family who were living in Burnaby. After Nadeem immigrated to Burnaby in 1973 he worked various jobs before working with CN/CP Telecommunications. Nadeem holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Teaching from Punjab University and a diploma from the London Board of Education (L.B.E.) and a P.Eng. from Lancaster. He has seven books published in Punjabi, three in Urdu and is published in eight anthologies. He is fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi. Interviewers' biographies: 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”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
Buildings - Industrial - Factories
Education
Employment
Industries - Logging/lumber
Migration
Occupations - Engineers
Occupations - Millworkers
Occupations - Teachers
Occupations - Writers
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Names
Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
Kapoor Sawmills Limited
Siddoo, Kapoor Singh
Teja, Gurdial Singh
Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
Manhas, Ghania Singh
Singh, Mayo
Manhas, Kashmir Singh
Manhas, Sher Singh
Manhas, Budhan Kaur
Manhas, Lashman Singh
Responsibility
Malik, Anushay
Rajdeep
Geographic Access
Woodsworth Street
Accession Code
BV022.29.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1600-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Oct. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Capitol Hill Area
Related Material
See also BV022.29.5 - Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Interview is conducted in English with various segments of discussion in Punjabi
Transcript of interview available upon request
Audio Tracks
Less detail

Interview with Lizette Pappas

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

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

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0020_004.mp3
Less detail

Confederation Park Miniature Railway opening

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96804
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[2004]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of engines at the Confederation Park Miniature Railway (Burnaby Central Railway) during preparations for the opening of the railway's season. Tom Pruden, of the British Columbia Society of Model Engineers, rides one of the trains in the background.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[2004]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
535-2362
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2018-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of engines at the Confederation Park Miniature Railway (Burnaby Central Railway) during preparations for the opening of the railway's season. Tom Pruden, of the British Columbia Society of Model Engineers, rides one of the trains in the background.
Subjects
Transportation - Rail
Transportation - Locomotives
Names
BC Society of Model Engineers (BCSME)
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Bartel, Mario
Notes
Title based on caption
Collected by editorial for use in an April 2004 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Tom Pruden, the president of the British Columbia Society of Model Engineers, rolls out the engines at the Confederation Park Miniature Railway in preparation for the opening of their season, on the Easter weekend. The Railway features more than two miles of track and working scale models of a variety of engines, from old-fashioned steamers to modern diesel engines."
Geographic Access
Confederation Park
Willingdon Avenue
Street Address
250 Willingdon Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Capitol Hill Area
Images
Less detail

Don Brown with book

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97262
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[2000]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Don Brown, a former Burnaby RCMP officer and Burnaby alderman, posing against a police car with a copy of his book: "Why? The Last Years of the British Columbia Provincial Police 1858-1950."
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[2000]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
535-2667
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2018-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of Don Brown, a former Burnaby RCMP officer and Burnaby alderman, posing against a police car with a copy of his book: "Why? The Last Years of the British Columbia Provincial Police 1858-1950."
Subjects
Officials - Aldermen and Councillors
Occupations - Police Officers
Occupations - Writers
Names
Brown, Donald N. "Don"
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Bartel, Mario
Notes
Title based on caption
Collected by editorial for use in an August 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Retired police officer Don Brown, who's written a book on the history of the old British Columbia Provincial Police force, says its time the province look into re-establishing such a force."
Images
Less detail

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
Less detail

Dorothy Atkinson fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17532
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1929-2004, predominant 1929-1940
Collection/Fonds
Dorothy Atkinson fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of school report cards and certificates belonging to Dorothy Atkinson (nee Mallett) along with a Vancouver Daily Province Pioneer's Honour Roll Certificate awarded to her parents, Percy and Alice Mallett (nee Lowry).
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Dorothy Atkinson fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
3 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of school report cards and certificates belonging to Dorothy Atkinson (nee Mallett) along with a Vancouver Daily Province Pioneer's Honour Roll Certificate awarded to her parents, Percy and Alice Mallett (nee Lowry).
History
Alice (nee Lowry) (1879-1954) and Percy Mallett (1882-1955) were married in Vancouver, British Columbia on January 26, 1910. Alice Lowry was born in Kinnear’s Mills, Quebec and Percy Mallett was born in Cornwall, England. Alice and Percy had four children Percival “Perc” (1916-1971), Alan (1919-2006), Dorothy (1923-2016) and a son who died in infancy. Alice and Percy resided in Vancouver until 1914. In 1915, they moved to 3965 Cambridge Street in Burnaby and lived there with their three children until 1934. The Mallett family lived at various other locations in Burnaby including 4119 East Hastings (1935-1937), 4075 Triumph Street (1938-1949) and 4211 Oxford Street (1950-1954). All three children attended Gilmore Avenue School and North Burnaby High School. After graduating from North Burnaby High School, Dorothy Mallett worked at B.C. Telephone and B.C. Electric in downtown Vancouver. Dorothy attended University of British Columbia for one year with her earnings from these jobs. While working at B.C. Electric, Dorothy met her future husband, Charles McDonald "Mac" Atkinson. In 1949, Dorothy Mallett married Charles McDonald “Mac” Atkinson at Willingdon Heights United Church in Burnaby with Dorothy’s brother, Reverend Percival Mallett officiating. In 1965, Dorothy and Mac moved to Nanaimo. Dorothy taught piano and was an accomplished singer and musician performing in various recitals. Dorothy died in 2016 and her husband Mac Atkinson died in 2012.
Responsibility
Atkinson, Dorothy Mallett
Accession Code
BV021.28
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Date
1929-2004, predominant 1929-1940
Media Type
Textual Record
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Environment Minister David Anderson and Scrap-It

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96320
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[2002]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Environment Minister David Anderson demonstrating a car crushing machine to promote British Columbia's Scrap-It Program, to encourage the exchange of old environmentally-unfriendly cars for credit. The demonstration is taking place at the AirCare testing centre on Wayburne Drive.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[2002]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
535-2003
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2018-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of Environment Minister David Anderson demonstrating a car crushing machine to promote British Columbia's Scrap-It Program, to encourage the exchange of old environmentally-unfriendly cars for credit. The demonstration is taking place at the AirCare testing centre on Wayburne Drive.
Subjects
Government - Provincial Government
Officials - Elected Officials
Transportation - Automobiles
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Bartel, Mario
Notes
Title based on caption
Collected by editorial for use in a March 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Environment Minister David Anderson crushes an old car to promote British Columbia's Scrap-It program, which allows owners of polluting old cars to turn in their beaters for credit towards the purchase of a new car, bicycle or transit pass. The Minister says by getting the old cars off the roads, it's better for the environment. The demonstration was held at the AirCare testing centre on Wayburne, in Burnaby."
Geographic Access
Wayburne Drive
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
Less detail

Gerald F. Sanders and Alice Sparman Sanders fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18831
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1918-2016
Collection/Fonds
Gerald F. Sanders and Alice Sparman Sanders fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
33 photographs + 7 architectural drawings +1 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of family photographs and personal papers pertaining to Gerald Frank Sanders and Alice Viola Sparman Sanders along with architectural plans pertaining to the family home located on Spruce Street in Burnaby. Fonds has been arranged into the following series: 1) Sanders-Sparman photog…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Gerald F. Sanders and Alice Sparman Sanders fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
33 photographs + 7 architectural drawings +1 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of family photographs and personal papers pertaining to Gerald Frank Sanders and Alice Viola Sparman Sanders along with architectural plans pertaining to the family home located on Spruce Street in Burnaby. Fonds has been arranged into the following series: 1) Sanders-Sparman photographs series 2) Sanders family personal papers 3) Sanders family architectural drawings
History
Gerald Frank Sanders (1916-2017) was born August 28, 1916 in Hackney, London. In 1918, Gerald immigrated to Canada with his mother Harriett Sanders (nee Chalkley) (1889-1962) while his father, Frank (1887-1967) was convalescing in hospital in England after succumbing to wounds while serving in action during WWI. Gerald's father, Frank soon joined them in British Columbia. In 1926 they settled in a house located at 4312 Spruce Street near the corner of Spruce Street and Carleton Avenue. By 1946 the family grew in size to four children (Gerald, Leslie, Reginald and Eileen) and they built a larger house right on the corner of Spruce and Carleton Avenue. Gerald attended Inman Elementary, then Van Technical School. He eventually joined the RAF during WWII as an airplane mechanic in England. He sent his pay home and his mother purchased two lots on Pine Street with some of the money. On March 8, 1948 Gerald married Alice Viola Sparman (1925-1996) and the couple lived in the Sanders' family home on Spruce Street. Alice grew up near Cranbrook and spent her teenage years in Victoria. She trained to be a nurse at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver before marrying Gerald. Alice worked at the Burnaby General Hospital from 1952. Gerald and Alice had six children: Dennis, Kris, Kerry, David, Ruth and Marie. In 1949 with the help of family and friends Gerald built a new house located at 4325 Pine Street (address after 1959- 4091 Pine Street) and he moved in with his family. Gerald worked as a carpenter on various projects including the dentistry building at University of British Columbia, the Vancouver Court House and Jack Poole's house in the British Properties. Gerald lived in Burnaby until his death in 2017. Frank and Harriett Sanders lived on Spruce Street until Harriett died in 1962. Frank continued to live on Spruce Street until 1964 and then lived with his son Gerald on Pine Street until his death in 1967.
Creator
Sanders, Alice Viola Sparman
Sanders, Gerald Frank
Accession Code
BV018.34
Date
1918-2016
Media Type
Photograph
Architectural Drawing
Textual Record
Arrangement
Records and series were arranged by specific record types.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Hazel Peterson subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription62793
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[188-]-[2000]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Photographs and textual records
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of photographs and textual records, including marriage and baptism certificates, belonging to Hazel Erickson Peterson and her family.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[188-]-[2000]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Hazel Peterson subseries
Physical Description
Photographs and textual records
Description Level
Subseries
Accession Number
BHS2000-08
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of photographs and textual records, including marriage and baptism certificates, belonging to Hazel Erickson Peterson and her family.
History
Hazel Eleanora Erickson was born May 21, 1896 in San Francisco California and baptized on December 25, 1899. She was the daughter of Charles Victor Erickson and Amanda Hedvig Erickson of Sweden. Her parents were married in Oakland, California on January 20, 1894. The Erickson family lived in San Francisco, then travelled up the panhandle to Alaska. They travelled throughout British Columbia and by the 1920s made Burnaby their home. Hazel Erickson was living at Gibson's Landing, British Columbia by the time of her marriage on August 31, 1936 to Edwin Peterson. Edwin Peterson was born at sea on October 18, 1884 and became naturalized as a British subject from the Dominion of Canada in 1921. He was an electrician by trade. Hazel resided at the Dania Home in Burnaby for 20 before her death in 1996.
Media Type
Photograph
Textual Record
Creator
Peterson, Hazel Erickson
Notes
Title based on creator of subseries
MSS094, PC504
Less detail

Household counts : Canadian households and families in 1901

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1420
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
c2007
Call Number
306.850971 SAG
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Reference Collection
Material Type
Book
ISBN
9780802038029
9780802038609
0802038603
0802038026
Call Number
306.850971 SAG
Contributor
Sager, Eric W., 1946-
Baskerville, Peter A.
Place of Publication
Toronto
Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Publication Date
c2007
Physical Description
485 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Families--Canada--History--20th century
Households--Canada--History--20th century
Families--Canada--Statistics
Canada--Population--History
Notes
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: Transitions in household and family structure : Canada in 1901 and 1991 / Stacie D. A. Burke -- Canadian fertility in 1901 : a bird's-eye view / Peter Gossage, Danielle Gauvreau -- Family geographies : a national perspective / Larry McCann, Ian Buck, Ole Heggen -- Family geographies : an urban perspective / Larry McCann, Ian Buck, Ole Heggen -- Rural to urban migration : finding house hold complexity in a New World environment / Kenneth M. Sylvester -- Family geographies : Montreal, Canada's metropolis / Larry McCann, Ian Buck, Ole Heggen -- Families, fostering, and flying the coop : lessons in liberal cultural formation, 1871-1901 / Gordon Darroch -- Canadian children who lived with one parent in 1901 / Bettina Bradbury -- Boundaries of age : exploring the patterns of young-old age among men, Canada and the United States, 1870-1901 / Lisa Dillon -- Inequality, earnings, and the Canadian working class in 1901 / Eric W. Sager -- 'Leaving God behind when they crossed the Rocky Mountains' : exploring unbelief in turn-of-the-century British Columbia / Lynne Marks -- Giving birth : families and the medical marketplace in Victoria, British Columbia, 1880-1901 / Peter Baskerville -- Language, ancestry, and the competing constructions of identity in turn-of-the-century Canada / Chad Gaffield -- Constructing normality and confronting deviance : familial ideologies, household structures, and divorce in the 1901 Canadian census / Annalee Lepp. Edited by Eric W. Sager and Peter Baskerville
Less detail

Interview with Charmaine Bayntun by Eric Damer October 22, 2012 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory292
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1955-2012
Length
0:09:31
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun's memories of childhood recreational activities and early friendships. She discusses the canning practices of her family as well.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun's memories of childhood recreational activities and early friendships. She discusses the canning practices of her family as well.
Date Range
1955-2012
Photo Info
Charmaine Yanko (later Bayntun) nursing a goat from a bottle, [1969]. Item no. 549-015.
Length
0:09:31
Subjects
Recreational Activities
Geographic Features - Gardens
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
October 22, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 22, 2012. Major themes discussed are: education and family heritage.
Biographical Notes
At the age of twenty, John Ivan Yanko met his future wife Leida Doria "Lillian Doris" Carman while visiting relatives in Burnaby. Lillian received a rail pass because of her dad’s employment with the CPR and at fourteen had gone to visit her Godmother in Burnaby. John Ivan Yanko and Lillian Doris (Carman) Yanko were married October 16, 1948 in Nelson, British Columbia and moved into the basement of John’s sister’s house on Union Street. Lillian began working at the downtown Woodward’s store as a cashier in 1948. In 1950, the young couple bought property at 7385 (later renumbered 7391) Broadway in Burnaby and began constructing a house as they could afford it. Knowing she’d be let go if she was pregnant, when Lillian was expecting her first child, Jenny sewed her several versions of the same outfit; they all used the same material, but each was a little bit larger than the last to accommodate her expanding girth. Rhonda, born in 1953 and Charmaine, born in 1955, grew up in the Broadway home. They attended school at Sperling Elementary, and later at Burnaby North high school. Lillian left her job to be a stay-at-home mom when Rhonda was born, but that changed in 1963 when John and Charmaine were in a car accident that left John temporarily unable to work. John Yanko later returned to work, establishing his own tile setting business and working until age eighty-two. John and Lillian lived out the rest of their married lives on the Broadway property. John Ivan Yanko passed away in 2010; his wife Lillian Doria Leida (Carman) Yanko passed away in 2011. Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun completed her schooling in Burnaby and became a teacher for twenty-two years, followed by ten years as a Burnaby elementary school principal.
Total Tracks
5
Total Length
0:47:24
Interviewee Name
Bayntun, Charmaine "Sherrie" Yanko
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
Audio Tracks

Track two of recording of interview with Charmaine Bayntun

Less detail

Interview with Charmaine Bayntun by Eric Damer October 22, 2012 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory293
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1960-2012
Length
0:09:21
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun's memories of sewing and craft-making as a teen, as well as her student days at Sperling Avenue Elementary School. She compares school of that time to her working years as a teacher and principal.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun's memories of sewing and craft-making as a teen, as well as her student days at Sperling Avenue Elementary School. She compares school of that time to her working years as a teacher and principal.
Date Range
1960-2012
Photo Info
Charmaine Yanko (later Bayntun) nursing a goat from a bottle, [1969]. Item no. 549-015.
Length
0:09:21
Subjects
Education
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
October 22, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 22, 2012. Major themes discussed are: education and family heritage.
Biographical Notes
At the age of twenty, John Ivan Yanko met his future wife Leida Doria "Lillian Doris" Carman while visiting relatives in Burnaby. Lillian received a rail pass because of her dad’s employment with the CPR and at fourteen had gone to visit her Godmother in Burnaby. John Ivan Yanko and Lillian Doris (Carman) Yanko were married October 16, 1948 in Nelson, British Columbia and moved into the basement of John’s sister’s house on Union Street. Lillian began working at the downtown Woodward’s store as a cashier in 1948. In 1950, the young couple bought property at 7385 (later renumbered 7391) Broadway in Burnaby and began constructing a house as they could afford it. Knowing she’d be let go if she was pregnant, when Lillian was expecting her first child, Jenny sewed her several versions of the same outfit; they all used the same material, but each was a little bit larger than the last to accommodate her expanding girth. Rhonda, born in 1953 and Charmaine, born in 1955, grew up in the Broadway home. They attended school at Sperling Elementary, and later at Burnaby North high school. Lillian left her job to be a stay-at-home mom when Rhonda was born, but that changed in 1963 when John and Charmaine were in a car accident that left John temporarily unable to work. John Yanko later returned to work, establishing his own tile setting business and working until age eighty-two. John and Lillian lived out the rest of their married lives on the Broadway property. John Ivan Yanko passed away in 2010; his wife Lillian Doria Leida (Carman) Yanko passed away in 2011. Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun completed her schooling in Burnaby and became a teacher for twenty-two years, followed by ten years as a Burnaby elementary school principal.
Total Tracks
5
Total Length
0:47:24
Interviewee Name
Bayntun, Charmaine "Sherrie" Yanko
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
Audio Tracks

Track three of recording of interview with Charmaine Bayntun

Less detail

Interview with Charmaine Bayntun by Eric Damer October 22, 2012 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory294
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1929-2012
Length
0:09:03
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun's father and the influence he had on her in her enjoyment of school as well as on her decision to become an educator herself. She discusses her family's interest in music and gardening, and how it is closely tied to being members o…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun's father and the influence he had on her in her enjoyment of school as well as on her decision to become an educator herself. She discusses her family's interest in music and gardening, and how it is closely tied to being members of the Ukrainian Community.
Date Range
1929-2012
Photo Info
Charmaine Yanko (later Bayntun) nursing a goat from a bottle, [1969]. Item no. 549-015.
Length
0:09:03
Names
Yanko, John Ivan
Subjects
Education
Occupations - Musicians
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
October 22, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 22, 2012. Major themes discussed are: education and family heritage.
Biographical Notes
At the age of twenty, John Ivan Yanko met his future wife Leida Doria "Lillian Doris" Carman while visiting relatives in Burnaby. Lillian received a rail pass because of her dad’s employment with the CPR and at fourteen had gone to visit her Godmother in Burnaby. John Ivan Yanko and Lillian Doris (Carman) Yanko were married October 16, 1948 in Nelson, British Columbia and moved into the basement of John’s sister’s house on Union Street. Lillian began working at the downtown Woodward’s store as a cashier in 1948. In 1950, the young couple bought property at 7385 (later renumbered 7391) Broadway in Burnaby and began constructing a house as they could afford it. Knowing she’d be let go if she was pregnant, when Lillian was expecting her first child, Jenny sewed her several versions of the same outfit; they all used the same material, but each was a little bit larger than the last to accommodate her expanding girth. Rhonda, born in 1953 and Charmaine, born in 1955, grew up in the Broadway home. They attended school at Sperling Elementary, and later at Burnaby North high school. Lillian left her job to be a stay-at-home mom when Rhonda was born, but that changed in 1963 when John and Charmaine were in a car accident that left John temporarily unable to work. John Yanko later returned to work, establishing his own tile setting business and working until age eighty-two. John and Lillian lived out the rest of their married lives on the Broadway property. John Ivan Yanko passed away in 2010; his wife Lillian Doria Leida (Carman) Yanko passed away in 2011. Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun completed her schooling in Burnaby and became a teacher for twenty-two years, followed by ten years as a Burnaby elementary school principal.
Total Tracks
5
Total Length
0:47:24
Interviewee Name
Bayntun, Charmaine "Sherrie" Yanko
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
Audio Tracks

Track four of recording of interview with Charmaine Bayntun

Less detail

Interview with Charmaine Bayntun by Eric Damer October 22, 2012 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory295
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1960-2012
Length
0:10:32
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun's memories of being raised on a more traditionally rural diet and how that was different from her peers. She discusses popular culture and events of the nineteen-sixties and seventies, and concludes with present day changes to the …
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun's memories of being raised on a more traditionally rural diet and how that was different from her peers. She discusses popular culture and events of the nineteen-sixties and seventies, and concludes with present day changes to the neighbourhood.
Date Range
1960-2012
Photo Info
Charmaine Yanko (later Bayntun) nursing a goat from a bottle, [1969]. Item no. 549-015.
Length
0:10:32
Subjects
Protests and Demonstrations
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
October 22, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 22, 2012. Major themes discussed are: education and family heritage.
Biographical Notes
At the age of twenty, John Ivan Yanko met his future wife Leida Doria "Lillian Doris" Carman while visiting relatives in Burnaby. Lillian received a rail pass because of her dad’s employment with the CPR and at fourteen had gone to visit her Godmother in Burnaby. John Ivan Yanko and Lillian Doris (Carman) Yanko were married October 16, 1948 in Nelson, British Columbia and moved into the basement of John’s sister’s house on Union Street. Lillian began working at the downtown Woodward’s store as a cashier in 1948. In 1950, the young couple bought property at 7385 (later renumbered 7391) Broadway in Burnaby and began constructing a house as they could afford it. Knowing she’d be let go if she was pregnant, when Lillian was expecting her first child, Jenny sewed her several versions of the same outfit; they all used the same material, but each was a little bit larger than the last to accommodate her expanding girth. Rhonda, born in 1953 and Charmaine, born in 1955, grew up in the Broadway home. They attended school at Sperling Elementary, and later at Burnaby North high school. Lillian left her job to be a stay-at-home mom when Rhonda was born, but that changed in 1963 when John and Charmaine were in a car accident that left John temporarily unable to work. John Yanko later returned to work, establishing his own tile setting business and working until age eighty-two. John and Lillian lived out the rest of their married lives on the Broadway property. John Ivan Yanko passed away in 2010; his wife Lillian Doria Leida (Carman) Yanko passed away in 2011. Charmaine (Yanko) Bayntun completed her schooling in Burnaby and became a teacher for twenty-two years, followed by ten years as a Burnaby elementary school principal.
Total Tracks
5
Total Length
0:47:24
Interviewee Name
Bayntun, Charmaine "Sherrie" Yanko
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
Audio Tracks

Track five of recording of interview with Charmaine Bayntun

Less detail

Interview with Don and Orville Jantzen by Eric Damer November 19, 2012 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory351
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1955-2012
Length
0:07:31
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Don Jantzen's memories of Burnaby's political landscape. Orville Jantzen discusses air pollution in Burnaby and Eric Damer mentions various conservation strategies. Don discusses the Burnaby Citizen's Association platform and a number of politicians from th…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Don Jantzen's memories of Burnaby's political landscape. Orville Jantzen discusses air pollution in Burnaby and Eric Damer mentions various conservation strategies. Don discusses the Burnaby Citizen's Association platform and a number of politicians from the federal government including Tommy Douglas.
Date Range
1955-2012
Photo Info
Don Jantzen, [198-]. Item no. 549-040.
Length
0:07:31
Names
Burnaby Citizen's Association
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
November 19, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Don Jantzen and his brother Orville Jantzen conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 19, 2012. Major themes discussed are: political activism and the trade union movement.
Biographical Notes
Don Jantzen came to Vancouver from the prairies following the war, found work, married, and settled in Burnaby in 1950. Through his work as a longshoreman, Don became active in the trade union movement (ILWU) and eventually became vice president of the Vancouver local. He was also active in politics, helping to launch the Burnaby Citizen’s Association in the early nineteen-fifties and working as campaign manager for candidates in both the provincial and the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). Don has been a participant in local politics for many years as well as a supporter of Habitat for Humanity. Don's younger brother, Orville Jantzen, was born in Saskatchewan but grew up in South Vancouver. He is married with two children. Orville began his career as a salesman for a Burnaby bakery and remained in the food and beverage industry, working in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Since retiring, Orville has been engaged with Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
Total Tracks
4
Total Length
0:30:32
Interviewee Name
Jantzen, Don
Jantzen, Orville
Interview Location
Interviewee's residence
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
Audio Tracks

Track three of recording of interview with Don and Orville Jantzen

Less detail

228 records – page 6 of 12.