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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
Mayor's address re COVID-19
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15398
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 23 Mar. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (3 min., 14 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley delivering an online address to the citizens of Burnaby. The Mayor is seated at his desk at Burnaby City Hall. The Mayor provides his comments and concerns regarding the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the City of Burnaby and it's citizens. He speaks…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (3 min., 14 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley delivering an online address to the citizens of Burnaby. The Mayor is seated at his desk at Burnaby City Hall. The Mayor provides his comments and concerns regarding the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the City of Burnaby and it's citizens. He speaks about facility and community event closures as well as the financial concerns for home and business owners, renters and the unemployed.
- History
- Video taken by the City of Burnaby Marketing Department in 2020. The original intent of the clip was to produce communications about the pandemic and changes throughout the City that residents needed to be aware of.
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4949 Canada Way
- Accession Code
- BV021.2.11
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 23 Mar. 2020
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
Images
Video
Mayor's address re COVID-19, 23 Mar. 2020
Mayor's address re COVID-19, 23 Mar. 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0002_0011_001.mp4
Thank you from City of Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15400
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 9 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (58 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and Burnaby City staff showing their appreciation to frontline workers, first responders and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnaby City Hall and other city facilities have decorated windows with colourful hearts and staff members are standin…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (58 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip of Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and Burnaby City staff showing their appreciation to frontline workers, first responders and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnaby City Hall and other city facilities have decorated windows with colourful hearts and staff members are standing outside buildings holding hearts of appreciation. The film closes with people holding hearts and conveying words of thanks in multiple languages.
- History
- Video taken by the City of Burnaby Marketing Department in 2020. The original intent of the clip was to produce communications about the pandemic and changes throughout the City that residents needed to be aware of.
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Subjects
- Officials - Mayors and Reeves
- Public Services - Health Services
- Public Services - Municipal Services
- Pandemics - COVID-19
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4949 Canada Way
- Accession Code
- BV021.2.14
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 9 Apr. 2020
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
Images
Video
Thank you from City of Burnaby, 9 Apr. 2020
Thank you from City of Burnaby, 9 Apr. 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0002_0014_001.mp4
Thank you to citizens of Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15399
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- May 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (1 min., 37 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip from the City of Burnaby thanking it's citizens for helping to flatten the curve of the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Mayor Mike Hurley and narrator communicate that commitments made by citizens have helped set the stage for less restrictions whereby some facilities can be reopened…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (1 min., 37 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Film clip from the City of Burnaby thanking it's citizens for helping to flatten the curve of the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Mayor Mike Hurley and narrator communicate that commitments made by citizens have helped set the stage for less restrictions whereby some facilities can be reopened in a safe manner by following the guidelines from the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry. Film clip includes a compilation of footage taken by the City's marketing department between March and May 2020. Background music "We're all in this together"is written and performed by Joe Keithley and Mayor Mike Hurley.
- History
- Video taken by the City of Burnaby Marketing Department in 2020. The original intent of the clip was to produce communications about the pandemic and changes throughout the City that residents needed to be aware of.
- Creator
- City of Burnaby
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4949 Canada Way
- Accession Code
- BV021.2.13
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- May 2020
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
Images
Video
Thank you to citizens of Burnaby, May 2020
Thank you to citizens of Burnaby, May 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0002_0013_001.mp4