"Burnaby Fire Department" found 22 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

Series: Community Archives Collection series

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 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.

1 image

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.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Transportation - Fire Trucks; Clothing - Uniforms

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Burnaby Public 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

Burnaby firemen display new uniforms, 1939 thumbnail

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…

1 image

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.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Clothing - Uniforms; Animals - Dogs

Names: Waddell, Gordon; Burnaby Fire Department

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 Gordon Waddell and Pal, [before July 1939] (date of original) thumbnail

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall - 1927-1930

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2256

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927-1930

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: Textual record

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1927-1930.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927-1930

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Series: Fire General and Administration series

Physical Description: Textual record

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 4151

Accession Number: 2001-02

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about a Fire Hall (likely #2 or #3) of the Burnaby Fire Department - such as who was on duty, calls/runs made, and notes about equipment - was recorded daily for the years 1927-1930.

Media Type: Textual Record

Daily record book for Burnaby #2 Fire Hall 1931-1936

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2263

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1930-1936

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: Textual record

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about the calls of the [#2?] Fire Hall of the Burnaby Fire Department was recorded for the years 1930-1936.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1930-1936

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Series: Fire General and Administration series

Physical Description: Textual record

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 4158

Accession Number: 2001-02

Scope and Content: Item is a black record book with dark red spine and corners (untitled) in which information about the calls of the [#2?] Fire Hall of the Burnaby Fire Department was recorded for the years 1930-1936.

Media Type: Textual Record

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.

1 image

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.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Transportation - Fire Trucks; Occupations - Mechanics

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Banks, William "Bill"

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

District Chief Bill Banks, [between 1935 and 1937] thumbnail

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.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1934 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

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

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Burnaby City Hall

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

Fire Department at Fire Hall No. 2, 1934 (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Fire 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.

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.

1 image

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.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Transportation - Fire Trucks

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Blake, Frederick "Fred"

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

Firefighter Fred Blake beside fire truck no. 3, 1939 (date of original) thumbnail

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.

1 image

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.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Clothing - Uniforms; Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Blake, Frederick "Fred"; Killer, Albert "Abe"

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 and Fred Blake, 1939 (date of original) thumbnail

Fireman Lewis Auvache and Captain Ernie Ledger

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35332

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1937] (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 Fireman Lewis Auvache (left) and Ernie Ledger, Burnaby Fire Department Captain. This photograph was taken in front of No. 2 fire hall on Kingsway in South Burnaby. Lewis Auvache would later go on to marry Sylvia Murley and would become Fire Chief in Burnaby between 1964 and 1972.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1937] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-189

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Fireman Lewis Auvache (left) and Ernie Ledger, Burnaby Fire Department Captain. This photograph was taken in front of No. 2 fire hall on Kingsway in South Burnaby. Lewis Auvache would later go on to marry Sylvia Murley and would become Fire Chief in Burnaby between 1964 and 1972.

Subjects: Transportation - Fire Trucks; Occupations - Fire Fighters

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Auvache, Lewis; Ledger, Ernie

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Fireman Lewis Auvache and Captain Ernie Ledger, [1937] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

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…

1 audio

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

Subjects: Public Services - Fire Protection; Documentary Artifacts - Photographs

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

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_1.mp3

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…

1 audio

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

Names: Blake, Fred; Auvache, Lewis; Chapman, Henry H.

Subjects: Public Services - Fire Protection; Buildings - Civic

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

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_2.mp3

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.

1 audio

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

Subjects: Public Services - Fire Protection; Buildings - Civic; Transportation - Fire Trucks

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

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_3.mp3

Interview 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.

1 audio

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

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - Archives; Buildings - Civic - Museums

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

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_7.mp3

Interview 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…

1 audio

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

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_8.mp3

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…

1 image

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

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

Series: Community Archives Collection series

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

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Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1

Audio Tracks

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 2

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Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 3

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Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 7

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Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 8

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Massey residence

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North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries