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Interview with Norman Dowad
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19638
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (wav) (61 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (61 min., 37 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Norman Dowad conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on August 14, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:14:38 Norm shares biographical information about himself and background information on the Dowad family. Norm conveys information …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (wav) (61 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (61 min., 37 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Norman Dowad Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: August 14, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:14:37 Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Norman Dowad conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on August 14, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:14:38 Norm shares biographical information about himself and background information on the Dowad family. Norm conveys information about his grandfather Samuel Dowad's immigration to Canada and his father Wilfred Dowad's military service and successes as a property developer. 00:14:39 – 00:17:26 Norm provides background information on his mother’s side of the family. 00:17:27 – 00:31:36 Norm talks about his childhood, growing up in the Deer Lake neighbourhood, his early education in Burnaby and sports that he played. 00:31:37 – 00:39:59 Norm talks about his educational experiences attending Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and Osgoode Hall law school and information regarding his law career. 00:40:00 – 00:45:03 Norm reflects on his childhood growing up in Burnaby and on his experiences and relationships as a student and in his career as a lawyer. 00:45:04 – 01:01:37 Norm talks about his siblings and shares information about family property development projects as well as career and business successes. In closing he talks about research that he’s done through Archives Canada on his grandfather Sam Dowad and father Wilfred Dowad.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Norm Dowad was born in Burnaby, December 1948 to parents Wilfred “Wilf” (1925-2011) and Cherry Dowad. His father, Wilfred (1925-2011) was born in Winnipeg to parents Samuel “Sam” (Salim in Arabic) Esper Dowad (1895-1969) and Martha (Shaheen) Dowad (1894-1955). Sam and Martha Dowad were both born in a province of the Ottoman Empire which is now present day Lebanon. In 1912, while trying to immigrate to Canada, several of Sam’s relatives including his mother died tragically as steerage passengers on the ill fated Titanic. In 1913, at the age of 18 years, Sam immigrated to Canada to join other family members who'd already arrived here safely. As a new immigrant in Canada, Sam worked with other Labanese immigrants in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the United States. In December 1921, Sam's wife, Martha immigrated to Canada arriving by ship in St. John, New Brunswick. Sam and Martha established their home in Winnipeg where they began to start a family. Their first two children died in infancy and son Wilfred was born in 1925 and daughter Kathleen was born in 1926. While living in Winnipeg, Sam worked as a grocer and in the 1930’s he got work as a farmer in a nearby town. In 1943, Wilf joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCVNR) and served as a gunner on merchant ships during World War II. In 1945, while Wilf was away serving, his parents, Sam and Martha moved to Burnaby. After discharge in 1945, Wilf joined his parents in Burnaby, began working at Fraser Mills and commenced his studies in construction and drafting. In 1949, with his father’s help Wilf acquired a lot next door to his parents’ home and built his first apartment block. After Martha died in 1954, Sam moved to Kelowna where he bought an orchard. Sam remarried in 1957 to Naomi “Mamie” (David) Dowad (1899-1978) who was also from a Lebanese family. Sam and Mamie lived in Kelowna until the mid 1960s when they moved to White Rock. While living in Burnaby, Wilf met and married Cherry Piggott and the couple had six children; Norm, Bruce, Michael, Kathie, Phil and Tom. In 1955, Wilfred Dowad established "W. Dowad Ltd." and over the years he was successful in developing and subdividing land to build housing and commercial developments in Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver. Wilf was the first president of the Burnaby Winter club and was an active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce holding office at the local, provincial and national level. In 1970, Wilf purchased 238 acres of land bordering the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh River and relocated there the following year. While living in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Wilf became actively engaged in local business and community affairs. Wilf was later remarried to Grethe Dowad and he died in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh in 2011.Wilf's six children are the sole owners of "W.Dowad Ltd." and his daughter, Kathie Smillie is the president and CEO. While growing up in Burnaby, Norm Dowad attended Schou Street School, Douglas Road School, Kensington School and graduated from Burnaby Central Secondary School. Following graduation from high school, Norm attended Simon Fraser University for one year, travelled in Europe, attended University of British Columbia and obtained his law degree from Osgoode Hall at York University. Norman has been practicing law for 49 years and has his own law practice that he operates out of Vancouver. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Farms
- Education
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Migration
- Sports
- Sports - Football
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Dowad, Norman W. "Norm"
- Dowad, Samuel Esper "Sam"
- Dowad, Wilfred "Wilf"
- Dowad, Naomi "Mamie" David
- Dowad, Martha Elias Shaheen
- Dowad, Kathleen "Kay"
- Rideout, Dr. John Anthony
- Burnaby Central Secondary School
- Douglas Road School
- W. Dowad Limited
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Geographic Access
- Buckingham Avenue
- Deer Lake
- Street Address
- 5533 Buckingham Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.16
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Norman Dowad, [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
Interview with Norman Dowad, [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0016_002.mp3![Survey and Subdivision plans in New Westminster District Group 1 – Burnaby
, [1908] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Cartographic_Material/1977/1977_0093_0004a_001.jpg?width=280)
Survey and Subdivision plans in New Westminster District Group 1 – Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription6973
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1908]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Map collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 10 plans : blueprint ink on paper mounted on 2 sides of cardboard ; 76 cm x 102 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a large board of four New Westminster District Gp 1 - subdivision plans mounted on one side and six New Westminster District Gp 1 - subdivision plans mounted on the other side. Side A: 1. Blueprint "Plan / of - ReSubdivision / of / Lots 1-18 inclusive / Blocks 20 and 21 / in Sub…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Map collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 10 plans : blueprint ink on paper mounted on 2 sides of cardboard ; 76 cm x 102 cm
- Material Details
- Scales [between 1:792 and 1:4752]
- Index number on edge of board reads: "4"
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a large board of four New Westminster District Gp 1 - subdivision plans mounted on one side and six New Westminster District Gp 1 - subdivision plans mounted on the other side. Side A: 1. Blueprint "Plan / of - ReSubdivision / of / Lots 1-18 inclusive / Blocks 20 and 21 / in Subdivision / of / Lot 53 -Gr.1 / New Westminster District" / "Subdivision Lot Numbers - Shown in Red". Plan is bordered by First Street / Jorgenson's Line / Fourth Avenue and Second Street with Fifith Avenue running through the centre. There is an index in the upper right corner of the plan. Planned is signed by "Peter Byrne" and "William R. Phillips" and dated July 28, 1908. (Geographic location: Burnaby) 2. Blueprint "Plan / of Subdivision / of / Lot 159 / and a Portion of Lot 158 / Group One / New Westminster District". Plan is bordered by Lots 96 and 97; South Wilson Street; North Arm Road and Lot 160 / Power House Road (Lot 155 A). B.C.E.R. Gilley Station is identified in the upper right corner of the plan. (Geographic location: Burnaby) 3. Blueprint plan identified as "Subdvs 10, L 88 and Lot 25, G. 1" Plan identifies Cumberland Street running from top to the bottom and a Ravine running alongside with the Jensen house, stable and barn. (Geographic location: Burnaby) 4. Blueprint Plan of "Lot 153. G. 1 /New Westminster District". Plan identifies the "New Westminster & Vancouver Tramway" and the "New Westminster and Vancouver Road" running through the plan of Lot 53. (Geographic location: Burnaby) Side B: 1. Blueprint plan of "Profile on Proposed North Rd. Diversion". 2. Blueprint plan (no title) showing wood lots north of Burnaby Lake and Brunette River and west of North Road. Various lots are identified as "Heavily Timbered" (Lot 57); "Splendid Fir and Cedar / Heavy Fir etc. / Fine Cedar" (Lots 143, 148); "Rough Light Timber," (Lot 56); "Some Fir and Cedar" (Lot 40). (Geographic location: Burnaby) 3. Blueprint "Plan / of Subdivision / of a Portion / of Lot 87, Gr.1 / New Westminster District". Plan is bordered by Burnaby Lake at the top and Hastings Road / Lot 86 at the bottom and Lot 90 to the east. "Albert J. Hill B.C.LotS." Annotation in ink reads: " J.A. Brownlee, B.C.L.S. / Subdivision / Map 1494 / Bd. 248". Plan is signed by "Peter Byrne, Reeve" (Geographic location: Burnaby) 4. Blueprint plan of Subdivisions along either side of Douglas Road including Lots 117; 119; 74; 80; 79 and 77. (Geographic location: Burnaby) 5. Blueprint "Plan / of / Subdivision of / Lot 27 / in Subdivision / of / Lot 30 / Group One / New Westminster District" Plan is bordered by Lot 26, Lot 28 and Hastings Rd. Lot 27 runs north of Edmonds Street. , "Albert J. Hill, B.C.LotS." (Geographic location: Burnaby) 6. Blueprint plan identified as a "Cultivated Orchard" including the names "W. Grace" and "G. Mead" located north of the North Arm Fraser River and west of "Twentieth Street_ City Boundary". Handwritten annotation in coloured pencil reads: "Portion of Lot 172" (Geographic location: Burnaby)
- Subjects
- Geographic Features - Forests
- Geographic Access
- Cumberland Street
- North Road
- Hastings Street
- Douglas Road
- Accession Code
- HV977.93.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1908]
- Media Type
- Cartographic Material
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Burnaby Lake Area
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scale
- 72
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Scale is measured in chains. (One chain equals 792 inches)
- The term "Lot" can also refer to a "District Lot”-
Images
![Survey and Subdivision plans in New Westminster District Group 1 – Burnaby
, [1908] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Cartographic_Material/1977/1977_0093_0004a_001.jpg)
