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Subject
- Animals - Dogs 1
- Buildings - Civic 2
- Buildings - Civic - Archives 1
- Buildings - Civic - City Halls 1
- Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls 5
- Buildings - Civic - Museums 1
- Clothing - Uniforms 6
- Documentary Artifacts - Photographs 1
- Emergency Measures 1
- Industries - Logging/lumber 7
- Natural Phenomena - Fires 7
- Occupations - Fire Fighters 20
Burnaby Fire Department fire truck no. 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1466
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [after 1942]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 5.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a 1942 Ford V-8, two ton fire truck with "B.F.D. / No. 1" written on the door. A hose has been mounted at the back of the cab and a ladder has been mounted along the side of the cargo bed. This was the Burnaby Fire Department's first closed cab truck.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 5.5 cm
- Material Details
- Photograph was likely taken out of an album as there is black paper residue on its recto
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a 1942 Ford V-8, two ton fire truck with "B.F.D. / No. 1" written on the door. A hose has been mounted at the back of the cab and a ladder has been mounted along the side of the cargo bed. This was the Burnaby Fire Department's first closed cab truck.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.15
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [after 1942]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 08-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Burnaby Fire Department papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64453
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1924-1943
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to the development of a unified Fire Department; including Bylaw 451, a letter addressing the unlawfulness of the previous system of fire protection from lawyer P. McD. Kerr and related correspondence between the North Burnaby Board of Trade and Burnaby Council.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1924-1943
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS118-003
- Accession Number
- BHS2005-8
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to the development of a unified Fire Department; including Bylaw 451, a letter addressing the unlawfulness of the previous system of fire protection from lawyer P. McD. Kerr and related correspondence between the North Burnaby Board of Trade and Burnaby Council.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Burnaby Fire Department truck no. 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1459
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [after 1942]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a 1942 Ford V-8, two ton fire truck with "B.F.D. / No. 1" written on the door, parked near the No. 2 firehall on Kingsway. This was the Burnaby Fire Department's first closed cab truck.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Material Details
- Photograph was likely taken out of an album as there is black paper residue on its recto
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a 1942 Ford V-8, two ton fire truck with "B.F.D. / No. 1" written on the door, parked near the No. 2 firehall on Kingsway. This was the Burnaby Fire Department's first closed cab truck.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.8
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [after 1942]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 08-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- "Velox" is lightly printed on the back of the photographic paper (made in early 1900s for amateur photography)
Images
Check from Connaught Heights for the Burnaby Fire Department
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport54541
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 70639
- Meeting Date
- 9-Dec-1942
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 70639
- Meeting Date
- 9-Dec-1942
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Introduction of the 48-hour Work Week - Burnaby Fire Department and Promotions of H. Chapman, A. Killey, J. Steenbergen, L. Auvache and G. Monk
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport49332
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 49794
- Meeting Date
- 15-Jul-1946
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 49794
- Meeting Date
- 15-Jul-1946
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
North Burnaby Fire Department no. 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1682
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 9 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the total crew of North Burnaby's Fire Department no. 1 sitting and standing in dress uniforms in front of a brick building. Sitting in the front row (from left) are; William Menzies and Chief Gordon Waddell. Standing behind them (from left) are; Albert Killer, Gordon Monk, Fred Blak…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 9 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the total crew of North Burnaby's Fire Department no. 1 sitting and standing in dress uniforms in front of a brick building. Sitting in the front row (from left) are; William Menzies and Chief Gordon Waddell. Standing behind them (from left) are; Albert Killer, Gordon Monk, Fred Blake and Henry Chapman.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Menzies, William "Bill"
- Waddell, Gordon
- Killer, Albert "Abe"
- Monk, Gordon
- Blake, Frederick "Fred"
- Chapman, Henry H.
- Accession Code
- BV002.75.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed note on verso of photograph reads: "Total crew North Burnaby/ Fire Department No. 1 - 1939/ L to R. front W. Menzies,/ Chief G. Waddell./ Rear. A. Killer, G. Monk/ F. Blake, H. Chapman"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Mr F. Blake 4165 Pandora Street Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5C 2B2"
Images
Receipt Book, Burnaby Fire Department
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription5789
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1932-1936
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- One black ledger book with a label on the front reading "Instructions to Financial Secretaries" followed by two paragraphs of instructions as to how to make entries in the book. The financial transactions recorded on pages in the middle section of the ledger seem to be the receipts of initiation f…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1932-1936
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 8740
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- One black ledger book with a label on the front reading "Instructions to Financial Secretaries" followed by two paragraphs of instructions as to how to make entries in the book. The financial transactions recorded on pages in the middle section of the ledger seem to be the receipts of initiation fees paid by members of the fire department. There is no written indication as to who kept this ledger, but by virtue of its location next to Burnaby Firefighters Association Local 323 bank book, it seems that this ledger served the same purpose and did belong to Local 323.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Bill Banks in protective gear
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1481
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [after 1935]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of District Chief Bill Banks wearing a helmet and a projective jacket over his suit as he stands beside a house.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of District Chief Bill Banks wearing a helmet and a projective jacket over his suit as he stands beside a house.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.30
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [after 1935]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- For another photograph of the same fireman in the same setting, see BV999.55.31
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Bill Banks in protective gear
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1482
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [after 1935]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of District Chief Bill Banks wearing a helmet and a projective jacket over his suit as he
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of District Chief Bill Banks wearing a helmet and a projective jacket over his suit as he
- Subjects
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.31
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [after 1935]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- For another photograph of the same fireman in the same setting, see BV999.55.30
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Burnaby firemen display new uniforms
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1474
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 10.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of seven men standing in front of a fire truck, dressed in what has been described as the Burnaby Fire Department's new uniforms. The fire truck is parked in front of the Burnaby Public Hall, Burnaby's first municipal hall.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 10.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of seven men standing in front of a fire truck, dressed in what has been described as the Burnaby Fire Department's new uniforms. The fire truck is parked in front of the Burnaby Public Hall, Burnaby's first municipal hall.
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 7282 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.23
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- 1939
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
- Related Material
- For a copy print of this photograph, see BV999.55.24
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 08-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on caption of photograph
Images
Chief Gordon Waddell and Pal
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1293
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [before July 1939] (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16 x 10 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Chief Gordon Waddell of the Burnaby Fire Department in uniform, standing beside a partially visible fire truck parked inside a garage. The fire department's "faithful mascot" Pal is standing next to him. Pal was Firefighter Killer's wire-haired terrier who would come to work with Kill…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16 x 10 cm print
- Material Details
- Item was exposed with the area between the officer and the dog covered, thus this area appears blank
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Chief Gordon Waddell of the Burnaby Fire Department in uniform, standing beside a partially visible fire truck parked inside a garage. The fire department's "faithful mascot" Pal is standing next to him. Pal was Firefighter Killer's wire-haired terrier who would come to work with Killer and even learned to climb ladders during drills.
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [before July 1939] (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 02-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Chief Gordon Waddell and PAL. 1939 BURNABY FIRE DEPARTMENT"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"
Images
Chief Training Officer Fred Blake
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1292
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1949] (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 10 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Fred Blake in uniform with his hands resting on the book "The B.C. Fire Fighters." Fred Blake was an early volunteer of the Burnaby Fire Department and became one of the North Burnaby's first paid members in 1939. He came up through the ranks to become Training Officer for the departm…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 10 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Fred Blake in uniform with his hands resting on the book "The B.C. Fire Fighters." Fred Blake was an early volunteer of the Burnaby Fire Department and became one of the North Burnaby's first paid members in 1939. He came up through the ranks to become Training Officer for the department in 1949, and full time training officer with the rank of District Chief in 1952. Fred was promoted to Assistant Chief in 1966 before retiring from service March 1, 1972.
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1949] (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 02-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "District Chief Fred Blake/ Training Officer 1949-1969/ Burnaby Fire Department"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"
Images
District Chief Bill Banks
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1471
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1935 and 1937]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bill Banks, Officer in Charge of Fire Area no. 1 in South Burnaby, sitting behind the steering wheel of Burnaby Fire Department fire truck no. 2. Bill Banks was the owner of Burnaby Garage where he built and serviced fire trucks for the municipality.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bill Banks, Officer in Charge of Fire Area no. 1 in South Burnaby, sitting behind the steering wheel of Burnaby Fire Department fire truck no. 2. Bill Banks was the owner of Burnaby Garage where he built and serviced fire trucks for the municipality.
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 7282 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.20
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [between 1935 and 1937]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 08-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "fire chief Banks"
Images
Fire at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd.
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15206
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 14 Jan. 1947 (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a fire at Kapoor Sawmills Limited in January 1947.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a fire at Kapoor Sawmills Limited in January 1947.
- History
- Kapoor Singh Siddoo was born in 1885 in the Punjab village of Kharaudi, India. Kapoor was one of the pioneer South Asian Canadian Sikhs who immigrated to America in 1906 and onto Canada in 1912. Kapoor first arrived in San Francisco in 1906, along with twenty uneducated men from the Province of Punjab, India. Kapoor was the only one among these men who was educated so acted as their interpreter, manager and accountant. They worked along the Southern Pacific Railway line near Marysville, California, toward Reno and Nevada. Kapoor heard about the beauty of British Columbia and decided to travel to the west coast but times were tough with discrimination against all South Asians in British Columbia. With this information, Kapoor traveled east to Northern Ontario where he tried homesteading for a year but the extreme winter conditions didn’t appeal to him. Kapoor returned to British Columbia after receiving word from South Asian Canadians that they were in need of an educated accountant/manager for a sawmill. In 1923, with the change in immigration laws, Kapoor arranged for his wife, Besant Kaur to emigrate from India. Besant came to Canada accompanied by Kapoor’s older brother. Kapoor and Besant had two daughters, both born in Duncan B.C. Jagdis Kaur Siddoo was born in 1925 and Sarjit Kaur Siddoo was born in 1926. Both of their daughters graduated as doctors from University of Toronto medical school. His career in B.C. began as a lumberman for a large lumber mill on Vancouver Island until 1935. Following this, Kapoor established the Kapoor Lumber Company Limited and operated a mill at Shawnigan Lake before eventually purchasing 45 acres in 1939 of the eastern section of the former Barnet Mill site in Burnaby. He purchased the site from the Municipality of Burnaby under the name of Modern Sawmills Limited since there was a restriction on selling this piece of a property to a non-white person. Eventually the name was changed to Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Kapoor’s company was a financial success but was tragically razed on January 14, 1947 due to a devastating fire. A smaller mill was rebuilt on the site and Kapoor maintained a successful financial operation until 1959. In 1959, Kapoor Siddoo was considered one of Vancouver’s most influential men in the South Asian Community. In this same year, the family set up the Kapoor Singh Siddoo Foundation and with help from his wife and daughters opened a hospital in the Punjab village of Aur. In 1964, Kapoor died in India at the age of 79 years. Kapoor’s younger brother, Tara Singh Siddoo came to Canada from India in 1906 but after suffering discrimination, he returned to India in 1912. Several years later Tara returned to Canada joining Kapoor at a logging mill on Vancouver Island. Lesser shares of the mill were held by Tara and other family members. Tara and his wife, Beant Siddoo lived at Barnet between 1943 and 1945, with their family of five sons, Lakhbeer, Gurdeb, Gurcharn, Baldev, Hardev and three daughters, Harjeet (Sangha), Runjeet (Basi) and Buckshish (Sarai). One of Tara’s responsibilities was to oversee the logging camp and ensure that the logs arrived regularly from Cowichan Bay near Duncan to the Barnet logging mill.
- Subjects
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Natural Phenomena - Fires
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.27
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 14 Jan. 1947 (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Information from page 6 of The Province newspaper-Jan. 15, 1947 confirms that the fire occurred on January 14, 1947
- See page 67 of book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "The February, 1947 Kapoor Sawmill fire. Maintenance workers were trying to thaw out frozen bearings on a machine with a blowtorch and inadvertently started a fire in oily shavings. all the water pipes were frozen preventing the workers from dousing the intital small flames. Finally, but too late to prevent the mill's destruction, water was pumped in from the inlet by the Burnaby Fire Department."
Images
Fire at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd.
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15207
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 14 Jan.1947 (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a fire that destroyed the Kapoor Sawmills Limited in January 1947. A group of bystanders are looking on while firefighters from the Burnaby Fire Department fight the blaze.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a fire that destroyed the Kapoor Sawmills Limited in January 1947. A group of bystanders are looking on while firefighters from the Burnaby Fire Department fight the blaze.
- History
- Kapoor Singh Siddoo was born in 1885 in the Punjab village of Kharaudi, India. Kapoor was one of the pioneer South Asian Canadian Sikhs who immigrated to America in 1906 and onto Canada in 1912. Kapoor first arrived in San Francisco in 1906, along with twenty uneducated men from the Province of Punjab, India. Kapoor was the only one among these men who was educated so acted as their interpreter, manager and accountant. They worked along the Southern Pacific Railway line near Marysville, California, toward Reno and Nevada. Kapoor heard about the beauty of British Columbia and decided to travel to the west coast but times were tough with discrimination against all South Asians in British Columbia. With this information, Kapoor traveled east to Northern Ontario where he tried homesteading for a year but the extreme winter conditions didn’t appeal to him. Kapoor returned to British Columbia after receiving word from South Asian Canadians that they were in need of an educated accountant/manager for a sawmill. In 1923, with the change in immigration laws, Kapoor arranged for his wife, Besant Kaur to emigrate from India. Besant came to Canada accompanied by Kapoor’s older brother. Kapoor and Besant had two daughters, both born in Duncan B.C. Jagdis Kaur Siddoo was born in 1925 and Sarjit Kaur Siddoo was born in 1926. Both of their daughters graduated as doctors from University of Toronto medical school. His career in B.C. began as a lumberman for a large lumber mill on Vancouver Island until 1935. Following this, Kapoor established the Kapoor Lumber Company Limited and operated a mill at Shawnigan Lake before eventually purchasing 45 acres in 1939 of the eastern section of the former Barnet Mill site in Burnaby. He purchased the site from the Municipality of Burnaby under the name of Modern Sawmills Limited since there was a restriction on selling this piece of a property to a non-white person. Eventually the name was changed to Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Kapoor’s company was a financial success but was tragically razed on January 14, 1947 due to a devastating fire. A smaller mill was rebuilt on the site and Kapoor maintained a successful financial operation until 1959. In 1959, Kapoor Siddoo was considered one of Vancouver’s most influential men in the South Asian Community. In this same year, the family set up the Kapoor Singh Siddoo Foundation and with help from his wife and daughters opened a hospital in the Punjab village of Aur. In 1964, Kapoor died in India at the age of 79 years. Kapoor’s younger brother, Tara Singh Siddoo came to Canada from India in 1906 but after suffering discrimination, he returned to India in 1912. Several years later Tara returned to Canada joining Kapoor at a logging mill on Vancouver Island. Lesser shares of the mill were held by Tara and other family members. Tara and his wife, Beant Siddoo lived at Barnet between 1943 and 1945, with their family of five sons, Lakhbeer, Gurdeb, Gurcharn, Baldev, Hardev and three daughters, Harjeet (Sangha), Runjeet (Basi) and Buckshish (Sarai). One of Tara’s responsibilities was to oversee the logging camp and ensure that the logs arrived regularly from Cowichan Bay near Duncan to the Barnet logging mill.
- Subjects
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Natural Phenomena - Fires
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.28
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 14 Jan.1947 (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Information from page 6 of The Province newspaper-Jan. 15, 1947 confirms that the fire occurred on Tuesday January 14, 1947
- See page 67 of book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "The February, 1947 Kapoor Sawmill fire. Maintenance workers were trying to thaw out frozen bearings on a machine with a blowtorch and inadvertently started a fire in oily shavings. all the water pipes were frozen preventing the workers from dousing the intital small flames. Finally, but too late to prevent the mill's destruction, water was pumped in from the inlet by the Burnaby Fire Department."
Images
Fire at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd.
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15209
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 14 Jan.1947 (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a fire at the Kapoor Sawmills Limited on January 14, 1947. Mill buildings are engulfed in flames. There is snow on the ground.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a fire at the Kapoor Sawmills Limited on January 14, 1947. Mill buildings are engulfed in flames. There is snow on the ground.
- History
- Kapoor Singh Siddoo was born in 1885 in the Punjab village of Kharaudi, India. Kapoor was one of the pioneer South Asian Canadian Sikhs who immigrated to America in 1906 and onto Canada in 1912. Kapoor first arrived in San Francisco in 1906, along with twenty uneducated men from the Province of Punjab, India. Kapoor was the only one among these men who was educated so acted as their interpreter, manager and accountant. They worked along the Southern Pacific Railway line near Marysville, California, toward Reno and Nevada. Kapoor heard about the beauty of British Columbia and decided to travel to the west coast but times were tough with discrimination against all South Asians in British Columbia. With this information, Kapoor traveled east to Northern Ontario where he tried homesteading for a year but the extreme winter conditions didn’t appeal to him. Kapoor returned to British Columbia after receiving word from South Asian Canadians that they were in need of an educated accountant/manager for a sawmill. In 1923, with the change in immigration laws, Kapoor arranged for his wife, Besant Kaur to emigrate from India. Besant came to Canada accompanied by Kapoor’s older brother. Kapoor and Besant had two daughters, both born in Duncan B.C. Jagdis Kaur Siddoo was born in 1925 and Sarjit Kaur Siddoo was born in 1926. Both of their daughters graduated as doctors from University of Toronto medical school. His career in B.C. began as a lumberman for a large lumber mill on Vancouver Island until 1935. Following this, Kapoor established the Kapoor Lumber Company Limited and operated a mill at Shawnigan Lake before eventually purchasing 45 acres in 1939 of the eastern section of the former Barnet Mill site in Burnaby. He purchased the site from the Municipality of Burnaby under the name of Modern Sawmills Limited since there was a restriction on selling this piece of a property to a non-white person. Eventually the name was changed to Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Kapoor’s company was a financial success but was tragically razed on January 14, 1947 due to a devastating fire. A smaller mill was rebuilt on the site and Kapoor maintained a successful financial operation until 1959. In 1959, Kapoor Siddoo was considered one of Vancouver’s most influential men in the South Asian Community. In this same year, the family set up the Kapoor Singh Siddoo Foundation and with help from his wife and daughters opened a hospital in the Punjab village of Aur. In 1964, Kapoor died in India at the age of 79 years. Kapoor’s younger brother, Tara Singh Siddoo came to Canada from India in 1906 but after suffering discrimination, he returned to India in 1912. Several years later Tara returned to Canada joining Kapoor at a logging mill on Vancouver Island. Lesser shares of the mill were held by Tara and other family members. Tara and his wife, Beant Siddoo lived at Barnet between 1943 and 1945, with their family of five sons, Lakhbeer, Gurdeb, Gurcharn, Baldev, Hardev and three daughters, Harjeet (Sangha), Runjeet (Basi) and Buckshish (Sarai). One of Tara’s responsibilities was to oversee the logging camp and ensure that the logs arrived regularly from Cowichan Bay near Duncan to the Barnet logging mill.
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.29
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 14 Jan.1947 (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Information from page 6 of The Province newspaper-Jan. 15, 1947 confirms that the fire occurred on Tuesday January 14, 1947
Images
Fire Department at Fire Hall No. 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35199
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1934 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby fire department trucks and firefighters, in front of fire hall No. 2. Note the old Burnaby Municipal Hall on the left.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1934 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pioneer Tales subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 204-056
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby fire department trucks and firefighters, in front of fire hall No. 2. Note the old Burnaby Municipal Hall on the left.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Civic - City Halls
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 7252 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
Images
Firefighter Fred Blake beside fire truck no. 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1295
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighter Fred Blake leaning on the side of Burnaby Fire Department's twelve cylinder Packard combination hose and chemical fire truck. This was the third fire truck in the fleet. Fred was hired as a Burnaby firefighter in April 1939.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighter Fred Blake leaning on the side of Burnaby Fire Department's twelve cylinder Packard combination hose and chemical fire truck. This was the third fire truck in the fleet. Fred was hired as a Burnaby firefighter in April 1939.
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 02-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Fred Blake with 12 cyl./ PACKARD combination hose/ and chemical truck. 1939"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"
Images
Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1294
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 15 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake lying down on their beds and reading (in the dormitory during the night shift) at No. 1 Burnaby Fire Hall at Carleton Avenue and Eton Street. Fire boots (with fire resistant pants gathered over them) are visible at the side of Fred Blake's bed.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 15 cm print
- Material Details
- .
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake lying down on their beds and reading (in the dormitory during the night shift) at No. 1 Burnaby Fire Hall at Carleton Avenue and Eton Street. Fire boots (with fire resistant pants gathered over them) are visible at the side of Fred Blake's bed.
- Geographic Access
- Carleton Avenue
- Eton Street
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1939 (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 02-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Night shift at No.1 Hall/ Carleton Ave. and Eton St. (L) Albert Killer (R) Fred Blake 1939"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"
Images
Firefighters Albert Killer, Gordon Monk and Wendell Walyer
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1302
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1942] (date of original)
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 14 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a Ford triple combination fire truck stationed outside the former Fire hall no. 1 on Carleton Avenue near Eton Street. Firefighters Albert Killer, Gordon Monk and Wendell Walyer (not in uniform) are standing at the truck, looking towards the camera.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 14 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a Ford triple combination fire truck stationed outside the former Fire hall no. 1 on Carleton Avenue near Eton Street. Firefighters Albert Killer, Gordon Monk and Wendell Walyer (not in uniform) are standing at the truck, looking towards the camera.
- Subjects
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Clothing - Uniforms
- Transportation - Fire Trucks
- Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls
- Geographic Access
- Carleton Avenue
- Eton Street
- Accession Code
- BV998.31.17
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1942] (date of original)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 01-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Truck bay in former pump house. 290 N. Carleton/ 1942 FORD Triple combina-tion. (L) A. Killer/ G. Monk W. Walyer"
- Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"