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Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory464
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1911-1990
- Length
- 00:05:22
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Dep…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Department in 1911.
- Date Range
- 1911-1990
- Length
- 00:05:22
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track one of interview with Al Nixon
Track one of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_1.mp3Fire Department fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription47
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1920-2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direct…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1920-2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FOIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direction, coordination, training services, and planning, including daily record books, emergency preparedness pamphlets, a departmental practice manual, procedural directives, scrapbooks, and an orthophoto map (in 63 pieces) of the City of Burnaby.
- History
- Serving the City since 1911, the Burnaby Fire Department is committed to providing timely, professional, and effective fire-related emergency services to save lives, property and the environment. Their dedicated staff serves the City via seven fire stations located strategically across Burnaby. Each of our stations is equipped with up-to-date vehicles and equipment. Their highly skilled and trained team of men and women provide many services, including fire suppression and prevention, investigation, inspection, training, medical, vehicle extrication, technical and other speciality rescues, hazardous materials response and public education services. The following information pertains to the publication "Follow That Fire": Communities have always lived with the threat of fire. Early Burnaby residents banded together to extinguish out-of-control brush fires. In the 1920s, the Municipal Police were responsible for fire-related matters, earning three dollars for attending a fire. Donations to the Vancouver and New Westminster Fire Departments' Benevolent Funds brought the first fire engines to Burnaby's rescue. As the population increased, by-laws were enacted to develop a full-time fire service. Several members saw the value in jotting down recollections of their experiences as Burnaby firemen, which sparked an interest in completing the History of the Burnaby Fire Department. While researching this project, the author was fortunate in being able to draw from the resources of retired chiefs Fred Blake and Lewis Auvache, who were original members of the Department. The Department's progression includes heated and sometimes humorous debates regarding who should be responsible for fire protection, deciding if there was a need for a fire services, and how taxes would be levied to support the service. Photographs throughout the text represent stages of development which include a pictorial record of Burnaby fire trucks from 1923 to the present platform ladder trucks. From its humble beginning as two separate fire departments operating from a converted police horse stable and a water pumping station, the Burnaby Fire Department has developed into a professional organization serving its citizens from six fire stations.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Cartographic Material
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds.
North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription124
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1920]-[1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of documents related to the North Burnaby Board of Trade (previously Burnaby Board of Trade), including its certificate of formation, reports and bylaws pertaining to both the Burnaby Fire Department and Barnet Park, correspondence, District of Burnaby financial reports, annual r…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1920]-[1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS2005-08
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of documents related to the North Burnaby Board of Trade (previously Burnaby Board of Trade), including its certificate of formation, reports and bylaws pertaining to both the Burnaby Fire Department and Barnet Park, correspondence, District of Burnaby financial reports, annual reports, a map, and photographs of Burnaby parks, schools and neighbourhoods.
- History
- The Burnaby Board of Trade formed on September 4, 1926 and registered with the province December 14, 1926. George Conway Brown was elected as Secretary. On May 30, 1927, The Governor General officially granted the Board to change its name to the North Burnaby Board of Trade. The Board's boundaries, under Secretary Thomas B. Blake, were changed from "the Municipality of Burnaby" to "that portion of the Municipality of Burnaby which lies north of Still Creek, Burnaby Lake and Brunette River" British Columbia. On April 26, 1932, the North Burnaby Board of Trade Constitution and Bylaws were adopted with A.G. Kidd as Secretary. Membership was open to all persons directly or indirectly engaged or interested in the trade and commerce or the economic welfare of the district of North Burnaby. The Secretary was the executive officer of the Board, ordered to keep the books, conduct the correspondence, preserve official documents, take minutes at all meetings, have custody of the seal and be in charge of all funds and accounts held by the Board. The North Burnaby Board of Trade was involved in many historic municipal decisions including the development of Barnet Park and establishing a unified Fire Department under one Fire Chief.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- North Burnaby Board of Trade
- Notes
- PC476, MSS118
- Title based on contents of subseries
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
Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory466
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1927-1990
- Length
- 00:04:05
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.
- Date Range
- 1927-1990
- Length
- 00:04:05
- Names
- Waddell, Gordon
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track three of interview with Al Nixon
Track three of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_3.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 8
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory471
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1928-1990
- Length
- 00:07:51
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the heritage home "Seven Gables" on Sullivan Street. He relates some childhood events, including the train wreck on Burnette Creek in 1936.
- Date Range
- 1928-1990
- Length
- 00:07:51
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lyndhurst Area
- Cameron Area
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track eight of interview with Al Nixon
Track eight of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_8.mp3![Massey residence, [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/580/581-015.jpg?width=280)
Massey residence
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88827
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015
- Collection/Fonds
- James Massey family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 600 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Massey family residence in Robert Burnaby Park. The house is surrounded by trees and has a fish pond in the front yard. After the Massey family moved out, the house was rented by Jack and Daphne Shaw (Burnaby clerk), followed by Roy and Grace McKay. In the late 1950s or early 1960…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015
- Collection/Fonds
- James Massey family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 600 dpi
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 581-015
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2014-34
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Massey family residence in Robert Burnaby Park. The house is surrounded by trees and has a fish pond in the front yard. After the Massey family moved out, the house was rented by Jack and Daphne Shaw (Burnaby clerk), followed by Roy and Grace McKay. In the late 1950s or early 1960s, the house was burned down by the Burnaby Fire Department during a fire practice.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lakeview-Mayfield Area
Images
![Massey residence, [between 1933 and 1948] (date of original), copied 2015 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/580/581-015.jpg)
![Bill Banks in protective gear, [after 1935] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550030.jpg?width=280)
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, [after 1935] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550030.jpg)
![Bill Banks in protective gear, [after 1935] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550031.jpg?width=280)
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
![Bill Banks in protective gear, [after 1935] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550031.jpg)
Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory465
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:08
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the location of the North Burnaby Fire Department fire hall and the location of the six fire halls subsequently built for the combined north and south department. He also talks about Fred Blake, Lewis Auvache and Henry Chapman, early member…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the location of the North Burnaby Fire Department fire hall and the location of the six fire halls subsequently built for the combined north and south department. He also talks about Fred Blake, Lewis Auvache and Henry Chapman, early members of the department who were also interested in the department's history.
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:08
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track two of interview with Al Nixon
Track two of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_2.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 7
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory470
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:34
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:34
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track seven of interview with Al Nixon
Track seven of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_7.mp3
Firefighters Harry Anderson, Leo Fraser, Fred Blake and Henry Chapman
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription2625
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1940
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighters Harry Anderson, Leo Fraser, Fred Blake and Henry Chapman lying down on their beds in the dormitory at No. 1 Burnaby Fire Hall at Carleton Avenue and Eton Street. This photograph was taken by Fred Blake using a box camera with a five minute exposure (so that he was able to…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Firefighters Harry Anderson, Leo Fraser, Fred Blake and Henry Chapman lying down on their beds in the dormitory at No. 1 Burnaby Fire Hall at Carleton Avenue and Eton Street. This photograph was taken by Fred Blake using a box camera with a five minute exposure (so that he was able to run and put himself into the shot before the shutter closed).
- Geographic Access
- Carleton Avenue
- Eton Street
- Accession Code
- BV002.75.6
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1940
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 1/12/2010
- Scale
- 100
- Photographer
- Blake, Frederick "Fred"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Quote from letter of Aug. 15, 2002 from Fred Blake (letter in accession file): "With reference to the enclosed picture where I am stretched out on the bed. All my early pictures were taken with a box camera that I still have. With the slow film and poor room lighting I knew it would have to be a five minute time exposure. There was no automatic timer on the box camera. You had to press the shutter button to open the lens and again to close it. With this length of exposure I knew that if I moved quickly I could be in the picture. I had the others propped up and opened the lens and ran across and took my place on the bed. When I fell back I realized that I had forgotten a back rest for myself. I stayed that way for five minutes as I didn't want to take a chance of spoiling the picture. When the time was up I ran across the room and closed the lens. I was pleased that the picture tuned out alright, but a little disappointed about me."
- Handwritten note on verso of photograph reads: "I had to hang on to FRASER so that I wouldn't fall off the bed. / 658X / 1940 No.1 HALL 290 N. CARLETON / HARRY ANDERSON LEO FRASER FRED BLAKE HENRY CHAPMAN / L TO R"
Images
![Fireman and fire truck, [194-?] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550036.jpg?width=280)
Fireman and fire truck
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1487
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-?]
- 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 Burnaby Fire Department fireman standing in front of a fire truck with one arm on the truck, the other on his hip.
- 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
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a Burnaby Fire Department fireman standing in front of a fire truck with one arm on the truck, the other on his hip.
- Names
- Burnaby Fire Department
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.36
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [194-?]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Fireman and fire truck, [194-?] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550036.jpg)
![Fire Prevention Officer, [194-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550053.jpg?width=280)
Fire Prevention Officer
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1504
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 cm (sight), in mat 25 x 37 cm folding to 25 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bill Banks dressed in a fire fighter's dress uniform, including a cap with a badge that reads, "FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER."
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 cm (sight), in mat 25 x 37 cm folding to 25 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bill Banks dressed in a fire fighter's dress uniform, including a cap with a badge that reads, "FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER."
- Subjects
- Occupations - Fire Fighters
- Accession Code
- BV999.55.53
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [194-]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 09-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Photographer
- Hoyer Studios
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photographer's mark printed on photograph's mat reads: "Hoyer Studio/ BURNABY, B.C."
- Window and mat backing are glued together
Images
![Fire Prevention Officer, [194-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550053.jpg)
![Firefighters Albert Killer, Gordon Monk and Wendell Walyer, [1942] (date of original) thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199800310017.jpg?width=280)
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"
Images
![Firefighters Albert Killer, Gordon Monk and Wendell Walyer, [1942] (date of original) thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199800310017.jpg)
![Burnaby Fire Department truck no. 1, [after 1942] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550008.jpg?width=280)
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
![Burnaby Fire Department truck no. 1, [after 1942] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550008.jpg)
![Burnaby Fire Department fire truck no. 1, [after 1942] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550015.jpg?width=280)
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 fire truck no. 1, [after 1942] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199900550015.jpg)
Fred Blake subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65815
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1942- [1997]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of an essay written by Fred Blake entitled "Growing Up in North Burnaby," a hand-drawn map of Gilmore School, an RCAF pamphlet, an Emergency Rescue Training Pocket Manual and a Handbook for Auxiliary Firemen.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1942- [1997]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Fred Blake subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS2003-15
- BHS2005-01
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of an essay written by Fred Blake entitled "Growing Up in North Burnaby," a hand-drawn map of Gilmore School, an RCAF pamphlet, an Emergency Rescue Training Pocket Manual and a Handbook for Auxiliary Firemen.
- History
- Thomas Blake and his wife Gertrude came to Burnaby in 1921 with their three children: Thomas "Tom", Susie and Frederick "Fred" (b. 1912). They lived at 4456 Pandora street, owning that lot and the adjoining 66 foot lot on the west. The Municipality cleared a trail, later putting down a one-plank sidewalk and bringing in a half-inch water line for the family. The Blake family lived in two wall tents for a few years while they cleared their land and built their house. In 1921 at the age of nine, Fred Blake attended Gilmore School where he learned about different woods and how to use hand tools. In 1927, he attended North Burnaby High School in a commercial course were he learned typing, shorthand, book-keeping a commercial law. Throughout his teenage years, Fred worked at Armour Photo Finishing, developing rolls of film and collecting and delivering the films and finished prints. Thomas Blake worked part-time for the Burnaby Advertiser and part-time for the Vancouver Sun to pay his way through university and become a Burnaby school teacher. In 1927, at the age of sixteen, Fred began his firefighting career as a volunteer, with the first major fire of his career taking place December 31, 1927 at the 4600 block of Albert Street. He continued as a volunteer until 1934 when he went to the logging camps as a steam fireman in the Queen Charlotte Islands and on the coast. In the early 1930s, Fred was a member of the Army of the Common Good, and with the falling crew cut second growth timber on Capitol Hill for firewood to be shared with other members. The Army also produced over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth who were near starvation from lack of adequate relief funds from the municipality. The Army was in operations for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. During this time, while on Relief (now welfare) Fred also worked for the municipality on the two projects of the clearing of Confederation Park and the clearing of Lougheed Highway. Fred re-joined the Burnaby fire department on April 1, 1939, as a paid member at No. 1 Hall. 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. He retired from service March 1, 1972.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- Blake, Fredrick "Fred"
- Notes
- MSS150
- Title based on contents and creator of subseries
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
Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory467
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1945-1990
- Length
- 00:06:11
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the inhalator equipment used by the department starting in 1945. Al Nixon describes 50% of the calls received by the department as "pre-hospital care", and that the department is an emergency service rather than just a fire department. He also describes the 19…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the inhalator equipment used by the department starting in 1945. Al Nixon describes 50% of the calls received by the department as "pre-hospital care", and that the department is an emergency service rather than just a fire department. He also describes the 1990 department staffing and equipment level.
- Date Range
- 1945-1990
- Length
- 00:06:11
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track four of interview with Al Nixon
Track four of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_4.mp3