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Subject
- Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores 2
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores 2
- Buildings - Recreational - Bowling Alleys 2
- Education 1
- Holidays - Christmas 1
- Migration 1
- Occupations - Grocers 1
- Occupations - Teachers 1
- Organizations 1
- Organizations - Business Associations 1
- Persons - Chinese Canadians 1
- Social Issues 1
Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20285
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser M…
- 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 recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewees: Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy Location of Interview: Residence of Harry Toy Interview Date: September 25, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 02:01:13 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 Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants’ Association and Harry's daughters, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy's memories of growing up in Burnaby. 00:00:00 – 00:23:53 Harry Toy shares biographical information about himself and his ancestors. Harry provides information about his migration to Canada and his life in Manitoba, attending school, working at the family restaurant and teaching high school. 00:23:53 – 00:41:16 Harry talks about moving his family to Burnaby and his experiences owning and operating the Canada Way Food Market. 00:41:17 – 00:54:19 Harry talks about his involvement with the Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) and provides some history about the organization. 00:54:20 – 1:22:44 Harry talks about running the Canada Way Food Market and the alterations that he made to the store over the years. Harry and his daughters comment as they look through photographs of Harry and his store and the Fraser Merchants Association. 1:22:45 – 2:01:14 Beverley and Christina talk about their early childhood in Manitoba and growing up in Burnaby. They recall what it was like growing up and working in the family owned store.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Harry Wee Koon Toy was born in February 9, 1936 in Taikong, Toisan county, Guangdong, China. Harry's father William Toy came to Canada in the early 1920s when he was ten years old. Harry arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 9, 1950. After staying in Vancouver for one night, he joined his father in Neepawa, Manitoba where the family operated a cafe business (Royal Cafe). Harry grew up in Neepawa and graduated from the University of Manitoba and teacher's college. He became a high school teacher and worked at schools in Minnedosa and Gladstone, Manitoba teaching various subjects including, science, business, geography, history and physical education. Harry and his wife, had three daughters, Melinda, Beverley and Christina who were all born in Neepawa. When the family decided to move to the west coast, Harry was introduced to the grocery store business through an uncle who was a store operator. Around 1970, Harry purchased a grocery store at 4694 Canada Way in Burnaby which he named "Canada Way Food Market" and Harry and his daughters made their home at the back of the store. Harry owned and operated the store for approximately 40 years between 1970 and 2010. Around 1986, Harry purchased the butcher shop next door (4692 Canada Way) which was no longer in operation, expanding his store and adding a second storey to use a residence. Harry's children helped him operate the store throughout their childhood. In the early 1970s, corner stores were threatened by the spread of small chain-operated convenience stories from Eastern Canada to Vancouver. Formed in April 1972, the Fraser Merchants’ Association was established to protect the rights of corner store operators. With no paid legal help, the association was incorporated in Victoria, BC for the cost of 56 cents. The benefits of being a member of the association included warehouse and group purchasing, common advertising and other advantages of being part of an association. Founded by Gary Lee Ling and five others, Fraser Merchants’ Association’s first member was Graham Grocery. By 1978, the association represented over 200 corner stores in the Lower Mainland (Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, and New Westminster) and Fraser Valley. The association remained active into the 1980s and 1990s. Harry has served as President of the Fraser Merchants' Association from 1992 to present. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Migration
- Occupations - Teachers
- Occupations - Grocers
- Organizations
- Organizations - Business Associations
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
- Names
- Toy, Christina
- Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"
- Babey, Beverley
- Canada Way Food Market
- Fraser Merchants' Association
- Responsibility
- Fong, Denise
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4694 Canada Way
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.19
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- See also: BV023.25 - Harry Toy fonds
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023
Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0019_002.mp3Interview with Janet White May 10, 2005 - Track 7
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4473
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1950-1959] (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:03:25 min)
- Scope and Content
- Track 7: This portion of the recording pertains to changes in Burnaby since Janet’s childhood, and her continuing connection to the community and its values. She also describes her family’s shopping routines from the 1940s and 1950s, which centred on the Super Value at Canada Way and Smith St., and…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Growing Up in Burnaby subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:03:25 min)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Janet White Date of interview: May 10, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 8 Total length of all Tracks: 0:31:34
- Scope and Content
- Track 7: This portion of the recording pertains to changes in Burnaby since Janet’s childhood, and her continuing connection to the community and its values. She also describes her family’s shopping routines from the 1940s and 1950s, which centred on the Super Value at Canada Way and Smith St., and the Hudson’s Bay store downtown. When Woodward’s and Sears opened, the family also shopped there occasionally.
- History
- Recording of an interview with Janet White recording by Tom Gooden on May 10 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1950s.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Names
- Gooden, Tom
- White, Janet
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Smith Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV017.45.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1950-1959] (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Interview with Janet White May 10, 2005 - Track 7, [1950-1959] (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Interview with Janet White May 10, 2005 - Track 7, [1950-1959] (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0001_007.mp3Digney film 1 - Digney family in Burnaby, Okanagan, Vancouver, Victoria, California and Seattle
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10593
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1954 and 1965] (date of original), copied 2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (23 min., 34 sec.) : digital, 16 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a film compliation created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. The film footage is a compilation of twenty eight short segments taken at different times in various locations. The film footage documents family events, gatherings and vacations. The film opens with an outd…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (23 min., 34 sec.) : digital, 16 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a film compliation created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. The film footage is a compilation of twenty eight short segments taken at different times in various locations. The film footage documents family events, gatherings and vacations. The film opens with an outdoor Christmas display and is followed by several other film segments taking place in Burnaby at 7749 Kaymur Drive; 6521 Bonsor Street and Brentwood Mall as well as Okanagon Lake Resort; California; Seattle; Vancouver and Victoria.
- Subjects
- Holidays - Christmas
- Names
- Digney, Andy
- Geographic Access
- Bonsor Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [between 1954 and 1965] (date of original), copied 2019
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Photographer
- Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
- Digney, Andy
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
- Digitized film is a copy from original 8 mm film
- 12 film segments from this compilation with Burnaby content are described at item level and available for viewing on Heritage Burnaby
- Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view entire content
Digney film 2 - Family in Burnaby, Construction of Simpsons-Sears building and wedding
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10598
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1954 and 1964] (date of original), copied 2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (26 min., 51 sec.) : digital, 16 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Film compilation created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. The film opens with scenes of different dogs playing outside; exterior of Andy and Alice Digney’s house on Kaymar Drive; interior of the Digney bowling alley with pins being reset; interior of Andy Digney’s greenhouse at his h…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (26 min., 51 sec.) : digital, 16 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Film compilation created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. The film opens with scenes of different dogs playing outside; exterior of Andy and Alice Digney’s house on Kaymar Drive; interior of the Digney bowling alley with pins being reset; interior of Andy Digney’s greenhouse at his house on Kaymar Drive; construction of the Simpsons-Sears building in 1954 behind the Digney home at 3698 Bonsor Street; unidentified outdoor wedding attended by the Digney's and Swans; Campbell family gathering in Victoria; gathering of friends and family inside Alice and Andy Digney’s home on Kaymar Drive before they leave for their World tour in 1964.
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Geographic Access
- Bonsor Avenue
- Kaymar Drive
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [between 1954 and 1964] (date of original), copied 2019
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Photographer
- Digney, Andy
- Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
- Digitized film is a copy from original 8 mm film
- 9 film clips from this compilation are described at item level and available for viewing on Heritage Burnaby
- Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view entire content
Digney Film 3 - Construction and opening of Digney bowling Alley, visit to Stanley Park and summer vacations
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10678
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1955 and 1979] (date of original), copied 2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (20 min., 30 sec.) : digital, 16 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a film compliation of short clips created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. Film compilation documents the construction, opening and a tournament of the Digney Bowling Alley located at 6521 Bonsor Avenue in Burnaby along with Digney family outings at Stanley Park in V…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (20 min., 30 sec.) : digital, 16 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a film compliation of short clips created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. Film compilation documents the construction, opening and a tournament of the Digney Bowling Alley located at 6521 Bonsor Avenue in Burnaby along with Digney family outings at Stanley Park in Vancouver and vacations at Birch Bay, Washington State and Okanagan Lake.
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Names
- Digney, Andy
- Swan, Sydney
- Digney Bowling Alley
- Digney, Drew
- Digney, Joyce
- Digney, Bruce
- Digney, Paul
- Geographic Access
- Bonsor Avenue
- Street Address
- 6521 Bonsor Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [between 1955 and 1979] (date of original), copied 2019
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film compilation
- 4 film segments from this compilation are described at item level and available for viewing on Heritage Burnaby.
- Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view entire content