10 records – page 1 of 1.

Burnaby Art Gallery subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription14
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1890 (date of original)-1983
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Photographs and textual records
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of photographs of and publications related to the Burnaby Art Gallery and Fairacres property.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1890 (date of original)-1983
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Art Gallery subseries
Physical Description
Photographs and textual records
Description Level
Subseries
Accession Number
BHS1996-12
BHS1990-05
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of photographs of and publications related to the Burnaby Art Gallery and Fairacres property.
History
The Burnaby Art Gallery association was founded in 1967. The purpose of the association was to present a historical and contemporary art program by local, regional, national, and international artists; facilitate the development of emerging artists; provide diverse art educational programming; acquire culturally significant works on paper. The City of Burnaby assumed management of the gallery, its collection, staff and governance in 1998, with the art gallery then taking on the added responsibility of caring for and managing the City of Burnaby’s permanent art collection. The Gallery, along with the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and the Burnaby Village Museum in Deer Lake Park, are part of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department of the City of Burnaby. The Burnaby Art Gallery is located inside the historic Ceperley House, built by Henry and Grace Ceperley. The couple purchased a strawbery farm on the north shore of Deer Lake from George Clayton in 1909 and built their home, also known as "Fairacres", on the property in 1911. The house was designed by the English architect, R.P.S. Twizell and with its river rock veranda, beautiful hand-crafted woodwork, stained-glass and tile, remains one of the finest examples of Edwardian architecture in the Lower Mainland. Grace and Hentry Ceperley had one daughter named Ethelwyn who married James Edward Hall. Ethelwyn and James Edward Hall had three children: Edith Ceperley, James Edward "Junior," and Florence Renn. In 1917, Grace Ceperley died and left Fairacres to her husband with the stipulation that when the home was sold the proceeds would be used to build a playground for the children of Vancouver in Stanley Park. In 1939, the local Catholic Diocese funded a group of five Benedictine monks from Mount Angel, Oregon to establish a priory in the province. The monks purchased the Ceperley House for their monastery. They also built a large gymnasium on the property. After serving as a monastery, the house was used as a fraternity for some of the first students attending Simon Fraser University, and then became home to the art gallery in the 1960s. The City of Burnaby acquired the property in 1966 and the house was designated a heritage building in 1992. In 1998 the City began restoring exterior of the house and upgraded the building for improved public use. The renovations were completed in 2000, and transformed the house back to its appearance of 1911. The gymnasium built by the Benedictine monks was converted into into the James Cowan Theatre. There are two main galleries, a lounge gallery with a fireplace and easy chairs and The Shopping Bag, a gallery shop run by volunteers. The goals of the gallery are to: provide access to contemporary Canadian art, present works from the permanent collection; collect contemporary works on paper; and offer challenging and educational exhibition related programming.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Burnaby Art Gallery
Notes
Title based on contents of subseries
PC241, PC242, MSS066
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Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel - promotional footage

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13063
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
2000 (date of original), digitized in 2020
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 videocassette (29 min. , 33 sec.) : Betacam SP, 29 fps, col., sd.
Scope and Content
Item consists of promotional film footage for the Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel". Film footage includes glimpses of the Burnaby Village Museum site with visitors touring the various exhibits and programs through museum's interpreters including Heritage Christmas, Easter Weekend, Labour Day Week…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum film collection series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 videocassette (29 min. , 33 sec.) : Betacam SP, 29 fps, col., sd.
Scope and Content
Item consists of promotional film footage for the Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel". Film footage includes glimpses of the Burnaby Village Museum site with visitors touring the various exhibits and programs through museum's interpreters including Heritage Christmas, Easter Weekend, Labour Day Week, Fall Fair Event and a final versions with highlights. Summary of Content: 00:00-00:27 Blank screen 00:28-00:48 SMPTE colour bar screen reads "Property of: / Burnaby Village Museum / and Carousel / copyright 2000". 00:49-00:58 Blank screen 00:59-12:44 Heritage Christmas with entertainers, Father Christmas, Print Shop, Blacksmith Shop, Seaforth School, Elworth House, Herbalist, Village exteriors, Christmas Carolers, Love Farmhouse and the C.W. Parker Carousel. 12:45-15:29 Easter Weekend: Entertainment, Ice Cream Parlour, Speeches, Easter Bonnet Parade, bunnies and chicks. 15:30-22:40 Canada Day Celebrations and Labour Day Week: Visitors arriving, flag waving, singing O'Canada, cake cutting and entertainment. 22:41-24:18 Fall Fair Event: harvest displays, potatoe sack races, baking and preserves competition, fortune telling, 24:19- 24:25 Blank screen 24:26-26:45 Highlight Video: "Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel / Step back in time...". Includes compiled footage some gathered from previous content. This footage is followed by edited promotional footage "Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel / Step back in time" which includes some of the previous film footage. 26:46-29:33 Blank screen
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Publisher
Voice of the Fraser Productions Inc. 2000
Subjects
Recreational Devices - Carousels
Names
Burnaby Village Museum
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
Burnaby Art Gallery
C.W. Parker no. 119 Carousel
Responsibility
Burnaby Village Museum - City of Burnaby
Accession Code
BV020.4.36
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
2000 (date of original), digitized in 2020
Media Type
Moving Images
Related Material
See also: BV020.4.33; BV020.4.29b; BV929.4.38
Notes
Transcribed title from film content
Label inside videocassette case reads: Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel / Promotional footage: / 00:01:00:00 Heritage Christmas... / 00:12:50:00 Easter Weekend... / 00:15:43:00 Canada Day Celebrations ... / 00:20:17:00 Labour Day Week / 00:21:54:00 Fall Fair Event.../ 00:24:28:00 Highlight Video / (2:00)"
Images
Video

Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel - promotional footage, 2000 (date of original), digitized in 2020

Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel - promotional footage, 2000 (date of original), digitized in 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2020_0004_0036_001.mp4
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Step Back in Time at the Burnaby Village Museum and Carousel

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12339
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
2000 (date of original), digitized in 2020
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 videocassette (29 min. , 59 sec.) : VHS, 29 fps, col., sd.
Scope and Content
Film titled “Step Back in Time at the Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel” includes narration by Archie Miller. The film opens with historical background regarding land settlement and development in Burnaby supported with historical images. The film then transverses into contemporary images and foota…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum film collection series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 videocassette (29 min. , 59 sec.) : VHS, 29 fps, col., sd.
Material Details
Sponsored in part by: The Burnaby Historical Society; Poetry Written by: Don Benson; Voices: Arlie Mason; Tom Worledge
Scope and Content
Film titled “Step Back in Time at the Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel” includes narration by Archie Miller. The film opens with historical background regarding land settlement and development in Burnaby supported with historical images. The film then transverses into contemporary images and footage of the Burnaby Village Museum which opened in Burnaby on November 19, 1971 in commemoration of British Columbia joining the confederation of Canada. The film’s title text, “Step Back / In Time / at the Burnaby Village / Museum & Carousel” appears a few minutes past the opening footage. Narration continues throughout the film along with interviews with various staff members and museum interpreters. The film is divided into various segments containing titles in order of appearance: “Deer Lake Park” provides glimpses of and information about Deer Lake Park, its heritage buildings and cultural facilities including The Burnaby Art Gallery, The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and Burnaby Village Museum. “A Living Museum” takes you on a tour of some of the museum’s exhibits and programs through the museum’s interpreters. “The Magical Carousel” provides background on the historic C.W. Parker Carousel #119 that was restored and opened on the site in 1993. “Keeping History Alive” speaks to the interpretive, artifact and archival collection of the Burnaby Village Museum with information provided by Curator Colin Stevens, Assistant Curator Steve Turnbull and Assistant Director of Cultural Services, Denis Nokony. “A Step Back in Time” speaks to the various 1920s highlights and features that the museum has to offer. “Something Special / is Always Happening” tells of the annual events that the museum offers to capture the interests of visitors. “A Day at the / Burnaby Village / Museum & Carousel” includes Denis Nokony speaking about the importance of the museum and what it means to visitors and the community.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Publisher
Voice of the Fraser Productions Inc. 2000
Subjects
Recreational Devices - Carousels
Names
Burnaby Village Museum
Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
Burnaby Art Gallery
C.W. Parker no. 119 Carousel
Responsibility
Burnaby Village Museum - City of Burnaby
Accession Code
BV020.4.29b
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
2000 (date of original), digitized in 2020
Media Type
Moving Images
Related Material
See also: BV020.4.33; BV020.4.36; BV929.4.38
Notes
Transcribed title from film content
Images
Video

Step Back in Time at the Burnaby Village Museum and Carousel, 2000 (date of original), digitized in 2020

Step Back in Time at the Burnaby Village Museum and Carousel, 2000 (date of original), digitized in 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2020_0004_0029b_001.mp4
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Fairacres Mansion

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51376
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[after 1911]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w copy negative ; 6.5 x 10 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the back of the Fairacres Mansion. A large tree dominates the right side of the image.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[after 1911]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Art Gallery subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w copy negative ; 6.5 x 10 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
242-031
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1990-05
Scope and Content
Photograph of the back of the Fairacres Mansion. A large tree dominates the right side of the image.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential - Houses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Deer Lake Avenue
Street Address
6344 Deer Lake Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
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Gavin House

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51363
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[after 1911]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w copy negative ; 2 x 3.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Gavin House taken from a distance at a 3/4 view. Fence posts are visible. This home was designed by architect A. C. Hope.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[after 1911]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Art Gallery subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w copy negative ; 2 x 3.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
241-031
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1990-05
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Gavin House taken from a distance at a 3/4 view. Fence posts are visible. This home was designed by architect A. C. Hope.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential - Houses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Buckingham Avenue
Sperling Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Sperling-Broadway Area
Images
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Inkwells to Internet: A History of Burnaby Schools

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7551
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Reference Collection
Digital Reference Collection
Material Type
Book
ISBN
978-0-9781979-2-6
Call Number
371 CAR
Author
Carter, David
Cooke, Rosemary
Pride, Harry, 1925-
White, Janet
Yip, Gail
Place of Publication
Burnaby
Publisher
City of Burnaby
Publication Date
2020
Physical Description
vii, 35 p. : ill. ; 29 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Burnaby (B.C.)--History
Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby
Subjects
Education
Notes
"Includes index"
A history of the Burnaby school district and individual school buildings in Burnaby, BC, between 1893 and 2013.
The “First Nations cemetery” described on page 109 in Mary Johnson’s recollections was originally written as “Indian” and may refer to the Khalsa Diwan Society’s Sikh cremations at the Vancouver Cemetery.
Images
Digital Books
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Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14758
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
8 Oct. 2020
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (56 min., 15 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Public Librarian, Mariah Gastaldo. The webinar is titled "Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake" and is presented by Nathan Lee, Lead Designer and co-founder of Contexture Design. The zoom webin…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series
Subseries
Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2020 subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (56 min., 15 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Material Details
Presenter: Nathan Lee
Host: Mariah Gastaldo
Date of Presentation: October 8, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 56 min., 15 sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Public Librarian, Mariah Gastaldo. The webinar is titled "Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake" and is presented by Nathan Lee, Lead Designer and co-founder of Contexture Design. The zoom webinar is the third in a collection of seven "Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker series" webinars that were presented and made available to the public between September 29 and October 27, 2020. The live webinar and recording was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. In this webinar, Nathan Lee speaks about his public art installation that will be installed near the site of the Burnaby Art Gallery in Deer Lake Park. Nathan presents his background research which lead to the project. He tells how the site of the Burnaby Art Gallery and surrounding Century Garden are rich with stories of early settlers and of how British farmers and social elite have shaped the history of this area since the early 1900’s. Nathan's presentation highlights the unseen presence of a Chinese community that is equally profound in its connect. The presentation is supported with slides consisting of historical and contemporary photographs. At the conclusion of his presentation, Nathan takes questions from webinar participants.
Subjects
Persons - Chinese Canadians
Arts - Sculptures
Geographic Features - Parks
Agriculture - Farms
Names
Lee, Nathan
Ceperley, Grace
Ceperley, H.T.
Ceperley, Arthur
Gastaldo, Mariah
Geographic Access
Deer Lake Avenue
Deer Lake
Deer Lake Park
Accession Code
BV020.29.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
8 Oct. 2020
Media Type
Moving Images
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Notes
Title based on contents of video recording
Video recording was edited for publication on Heritage Burnaby. Original mp4 video recording (BV020.29.3.1) is 66 min., 51 sec.
Images
Video

Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake, 8 Oct. 2020

Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake, 8 Oct. 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2020_0029_0003_002.mp4
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Chinese Canadian history in Burnaby resource guide

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7608
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
[2022]
Call Number
971.1 CHI
2020 HEAD TAX 1885-1923 CHINESE EXCLUSION 1923-1947 REPEAL & REUNIFICATION 1947-1967 NEW WAVES 1960s-1970s ASTRONAUT FAMILIES & PARACHUTE KIDS 1980s-1990s BURNABY TODAY 2000s Visit the grounds of the Burnaby Art Gallery, located on the former Fairacres Estate. The property was once the home to Chinese
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Digital Reference Collection
Material Type
Digital Resource
Accession Code
BV022.8.1
Call Number
971.1 CHI
Contributor
City of Burnaby
Place of Publication
Burnaby, BC
Publisher
City of Burnaby
Publication Date
[2022]
Physical Description
36 p. ; ill. (some col.), maps, ports
Library Subject (LOC)
Burnaby (B.C.)--History
Burnaby (B.C.)--Social Life and Customs
Chinese Canadians--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
Chinese--British Columbia--History
Pharmacy--Canada
Pharmacy--United States
Pharmaceutical museums
Directories
Object History
Chinese Canadians have contributed to Burnaby’s growth for over a century. The long and intertwining histories between Chinese Canadians, Indigenous people and other communities have shaped the founding of Burnaby and British Columbia. This resource guide was created because their life experiences and important contributions to Burnaby’s development are not widely known.
Images
Digital Books
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Deer Lake

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34298
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1923
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia
Scope and Content
Photograph of a large tree standing near the shore of Deer Lake. In the background, the estate built by Henry and Grace Ceperley, known as "Fairacres" can be seen. Also visible is the estate's water tower. The Ceperley's purchased the land to build Fairacres in 1909 and it quickly became the mos…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1923
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Peers family subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia
Description Level
Item
Record No.
020-005
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2007-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of a large tree standing near the shore of Deer Lake. In the background, the estate built by Henry and Grace Ceperley, known as "Fairacres" can be seen. Also visible is the estate's water tower. The Ceperley's purchased the land to build Fairacres in 1909 and it quickly became the most opulent residences in all of Burnaby. In 1917, Grace died and and by 1922, her husband had decided to sell the home to a former Vancouver Mayor, Frederick Buscombe. In 1939, the Benedictines purchased the property and established a priory at the estate. A large gymnasium was added which was converted into the James Cowan Theatre when the City of Burnaby acquired the land. The old mansion was renovated and became the Burnaby Art Gallery.
Subjects
Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Deer Lake
Deer Lake Avenue
Street Address
6344 Deer Lake Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
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Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19602
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pe…
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
2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewees: Ellen and Bill Schwartz Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: May 15, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:08:52 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph information: Bill and Ellen Schwartz.
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pennsylvania the 1970s. Bill and Ellen explain how in the 1970s, they were discouraged about the current politics in the United States under the Nixon administration and how they were inspired by the “back to the land” ideals, rejecting materialism and wanting an alternative lifestyle. With these ideals in mind, they recall how in 1972 they and a few other friends decided to leave the United States, move to British Columbia with the goal of buying land in the Okanagan or Kootenay region and starting a new lifestyle for themselves. Bill and Ellen recollect how they purchased 20 acres of land in Galena Bay in the Kootenays and how they lived in the area off and on until the early 1980s. They describe how they cleared three acres of land, built a cabin, put in a garden, chicken coop and honey bees. With the challenges of the isolated location and no access to electricity they explain how they decided that they had to live elsewhere in order to make a living. Ellen talks about working as a special education teacher in Revelstoke and Slocan and how Bill obtained his teaching certificate while they lived in Nelson. Bill and Ellen describe themselves as environmentalists and of how they both became active Provincial environmentalists during the construction of the Revelstoke Dam. Bill talks about getting work with the “Energy Van” program talking about energy conservation, renewable energy and recycling. They explain how after their first child was born in 1980, they returned to Galena Bay for about a year and a half until Bill was offered a job with the Department of Energy Conservation which lead them to move to Vancouver. 16:48 – 22:46 Bill and Ellen describe their first few years of living in Vancouver and at University of British Columbia while Ellen completed her master’s degree in creative writing. During this time, they had their second child. They recall how in 1988 how they purchased a house in Burnaby, selecting to live in the Deer Lake neighbourhood. They talk about the benefits of the neighbourhood including; a French immersion school for their children, proximity to the trails around Deer Lake and having transit close by. 22:47 – 33:55 Bill and Ellen talk about their consulting business “Polestar Communications”. A Burnaby based communications consulting firm composed of three people, Ellen and Bill and colleague Richard Banner. They describe how their business got started and some of the projects that they’ve worked on including; BC Hydro’s Power Smart Program, financial literacy curriculum that was introduced in B.C. schools and reports for the Province of British Columbia. Ellen and Bill convey how Bill has been a very active member with the City of Burnaby Environment Committee, the Steering Committee to develop a sustainable environmental strategy for Burnaby, how he’s been awarded for his contributions in coaching youth sports and other areas in which they have both volunteered. 33:56 – 43:07 Ellen describes how she got started in writing educational resources about the environment and how since she completed grad school in 1984, she’s published nineteen books. Ellen conveys how her first book was published and sold to the Province of British Columbia as part of the B.C. educational curriculum on the environment. Ellen talks about some of the children’s books that she’s written and published with themes including; social justice, the labour movement and racism in sports. Ellen describes some of her books and the research that she’s done. 43:08 – 51:04 Ellen and Bill Schwartz reflect on what they like about living in Burnaby. They talk about the benefits of their neighbourhood including; performances at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival, the Burnaby Art Gallery and Deer Lake as well as having access to parks and community centres in Burnaby. 51:05-56:36 Bill and Ellen reflect on their involvement in the Jewish community, considering themselves non-secular Jews. Ellen talks about how they were involved with “Burquest” a Jewish Community Association and how they often observe some of the Jewish holidays including Hanukah and traditions including the Jewish coming of age ritual, bar mitzvah (masc.) and bat mistvah (fem.). Ellen mentions her involvement with the “Jone Betty Stuchner Oy Vey! Funniest Children’s book Award” where she acts a judge and her involvement with the Jewish Book festival and that she is a recipient of the Jewish Book award. 56:37 – 1:08:53 Bill and Ellen reflect on their 35 years living in Burnaby and how they’ve seen it change. They talk about the increased development and density in the city, how they are troubled by a lack of low income housing, the benefits and importance of public transportation and preservation of green space including Burnaby parks.
History
Interviewees' biographies: Ellen Schwartz was born in Washington, DC, (1950) but grew up in New Jersey. She attended the Universities of Chicago and Wisconsin before moving to a farm in Pennsylvania, where she met her future husband Bill Schwartz. Bill Schwartz grew up in and around Philadelphia (b. 1947), and attended Pennsylvania State University. After travelling, and discouraged with life in eastern America, he and Ellen decided that British Columbia held better prospects. Bill and Ellen quit their jobs in 1972 and moved to the Kootenay region where they adopted a “back to the land” lifestyle, a very new experience for both of them. After eight years of modest success, and occasional work in nearby towns, they opted to return to Vancouver where Bill had work and where they could raise a family more easily. They rented in Vancouver for a few years before moving to family housing at UBC, while Ellen studied creative writing. Bill founded a communications and writing company, and in 1988 they purchased a home in Burnaby. Ellen launched a new career as a writer, mainly for children young adults. Both were active in their careers, raising a family, and participating in local social and political activities. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Education
Environmental Issues
Environmental Issues - Environmental Protection
Geographic Features
Geographic Features - Parks
Housing
Occupations
Occupations - Entrepreneurs
Occupations - Writers
Persons - Volunteers
Persons - Jewish Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Religions
Religions - Judaism
Names
Schwartz, William "Bill"
Schwartz, Ellen
City of Burnaby
Polestar Communications
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Responsibility
Damer, Eric
Accession Code
BV023.16.6
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Burnaby Lake Area
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_003.mp3
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10 records – page 1 of 1.