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LaFavor Family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription72548
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [191-]; 1953-1955
- Collection/Fonds
- LaFavor Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 0.5 cm. of textual records (newsprint) and 59 photographs : sepia postcards ; 8 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographic postcards (some are duplications) depicting the village of Barnet in Burnaby along with newspaper clippings pertaining to Barnet Village from the 1950s.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [191-]; 1953-1955
- Collection/Fonds
- LaFavor Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 0.5 cm. of textual records (newsprint) and 59 photographs : sepia postcards ; 8 x 13 cm
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Accession Number
- 2007-03
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographic postcards (some are duplications) depicting the village of Barnet in Burnaby along with newspaper clippings pertaining to Barnet Village from the 1950s.
- History
- Orville Glen LaFavor was born in Willow City, North Dakota, on May 31, 1903, to Harvey M. LaFavor. On April 20, 1924, Orville married Cathryn Arlou "Kate" Lewis. In that same year, Orville and Kate moved to Barnet Village to join Harvey and his wife. Orville and Kate had five children who were all born in Barnet: Lewis in September 1925, Irene in December 1927, Clyde Martin in July 1930, Florence Alice in March 1933 and Cathryn Bernice on April 24, 1934. Orville worked as a trimmer for the Barnet Lumber Company. He and his family lived at Number 10 on the Barnet property. In 1924, he began working at the mills and retired in 1960. During the war, he made blackout blinds and worked as a warden or home guard in Vancouver. Kate LaFavor stayed at home to look after the five children. All of the children went to Barnet School until grade five, when they had to bus up to Capitol Hill in North Burnaby. Once evictions began in Barnet in 1953, Orville bought the house from the municipality and moved it to Port Coquitlam. Orville's brother, Vern Victor LaFavor, married Irene Winnifred "Winnie" Warner on August 6, 1928. Clyde and Lou LaFavor also worked in the mill. Fred Marshall and his brother Roy Marshall lived and worked at the mill and were uncles to the LaFavor children. Harvey, the grandfather of the children, worked as a millwright and had a section in the village for gardening, which he tended to regularly. He had horses that worked with him at the mill and later on the construction of Barnet Road, allowing him to make money during the Depression. During a strike for higher wages at the Barnet Sawmill, Harvey was badly beaten. Murray Glen "Bud" LaFavor was born on December 13, 1944, in New Westminster. He had four sisters: Irene, Catherine, Carol, and Rene. He worked as a volunteer fireman for 25 years and was employed by the District of 100 Mile House. He died in 2009. Lewis LaFavor, son of Orville and Kate, joined the navy and survied World War II. Catherine Bernice (LaFavor) Nelson, daughter of Orville and Kate, died July 7, 2011, in Nelson, British Columbia.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- LaFavor family
- Notes
- Photo catalogue 540, MSS166
Norah Code collection
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97227
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1904] - 1994
- Collection/Fonds
- Norah Code collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 3 photographs (1 b&w , 7.5 x 7.5 cm ; 2 b&w ; 11 x 8.5 cm)
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of photographs of Tom Irvine taken and collected by Norah Code during the course of her work for the newspaper. The images were taken in 1958 at the opening of the Burnaby Centennial Pavillion, Burnaby's B.C. Centennial Project.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1904] - 1994
- Collection/Fonds
- Norah Code collection
- Physical Description
- 3 photographs (1 b&w , 7.5 x 7.5 cm ; 2 b&w ; 11 x 8.5 cm)
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of photographs of Tom Irvine taken and collected by Norah Code during the course of her work for the newspaper. The images were taken in 1958 at the opening of the Burnaby Centennial Pavillion, Burnaby's B.C. Centennial Project.
- History
- Norah Code was the editor-publisher of the "Burnaby Courier" newspaper at the time these images were taken.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of collection.
Oakalla Prison fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription100561
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911-1953
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 cm. of textual records.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records created by the Oakalla Prison Farm, including administrative correspondence related to staff appointments and wages, and a staff shortage when employees left to fight in World War I. The records pertain only to staffmembers of the prison and are not directly related to any…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1911-1953
- Collection/Fonds
- Oakalla Prison fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 cm. of textual records.
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Record No.
- 66669
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2022-13
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records created by the Oakalla Prison Farm, including administrative correspondence related to staff appointments and wages, and a staff shortage when employees left to fight in World War I. The records pertain only to staffmembers of the prison and are not directly related to any prison inmates.
- History
- The Oakalla Prison Farm was a model prison farm on 185 acres (75 ha) of land next to Deer Lake, Burnaby. The Oakalla Prison Farm was a full-service facility that originally opened on September 2, 1912, and was initially designed to hold 150 men and women. The first inmate was William Daley, sentenced on July 31, 1912 to serve a year of hard labor for stealing some fountain pens valued at over $10. By April 30, 1913, some 328 prisoners had passed through the jail's doors. In 1916, the women's section officially opened, and in 1942, the women's unit opened on the grounds as a separate facility. It was renamed as the "Lakeside Correctional Centre for Women" in 1979. The original women's unit was expanded in 1953, and consisted of two cottage-style buildings. By the 1950s, the population was well over 1000. As a working farm, the prison had its own dairy, vegetable gardens, and livestock. Executions in British Columbia were primarily carried out in Oakalla; after 1919, it was the sole penitentiary where executions took place. The first execution was that of 25 year-old Alex Ignace on August 29, 1919. 44 prisoners were executed by hanging at Oakalla from 1919 until the death penalty was abolished in 1959. In 1959, the last execution in British Columbia took place at Oakalla, with the hanging of former sailor Leo Mantha, aged 33. Oakalla was also one of the locations that undertook the experiment of performing cosmetic surgery on inmates to remove deformities that made prisoners "more likely to offend". The experiment was led by Dr. Edward Lewison, and continued into the mid-1960s. Procedures were conducted on 450 inmates, voluntarily. In 1970, the prison was renamed as the Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre (LMRCC) The farm portion of the prison, providing work for the inmates and food in the prison, closed in 1979 and 64 acres of land were transferred to the City of Burnaby. This land was included in the existing Deer Lake Park that was adjacent to the prison. Originally designed to house a maximum of 484 prisoners, Oakalla's population peaked in 1962-1963 at 1,269 inmates. With population averages of over 600, overcrowding was always a problem. In the institution's final years, two nationally-spotlighted events occurred. 13 maximum security prisoners escaped on New Year's Day, 1988, following an uprising on December 27, 1987, and on November 22, 1983, a violent and costly riot took place. Rioters caused more than $150,000 damage in a two-day spree. Oakalla was closed down on June 30, 1991, and was developed into a new residential housing development and an expansion of the park. Prisoners from Oakalla were then moved to various other Correctional Facilities in British Columbia, including but not limited to the Vancouver Pretrial Services Centre (VPSC), the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre (FRCC), and the Alouette Regional Correctional Centre (ARCC), later Alouette Correctional Centre for Women. Source: https://wikimapia.org/8004045/Former-site-Lower-Mainland-Correctional-Centre-Oakalla-Prison-Farm Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakalla_Prison
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Robinson-Surgenor collection
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18746
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-1931] (date of originals), copied 2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Robinson-Surgenor collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 15 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of photographs of train locomotive "Old Curly" along with photographs of other locomotives. Photographs of "Old Curly" were taken during it's early logging days and when it was moved back to Vancouver. Photographs were maintained and collected by William F. Surgenor and later by…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Robinson-Surgenor collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 15 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of photographs of train locomotive "Old Curly" along with photographs of other locomotives. Photographs of "Old Curly" were taken during it's early logging days and when it was moved back to Vancouver. Photographs were maintained and collected by William F. Surgenor and later by his grandson Bill Robinson.
- History
- William F. Surgenor was born in Ireland in 1877 and in 1905 William Surgenor immigrated to British Columbia. In 1912, William Surgenor married Bessie Duncan in Vancouver. William worked as a railway locomotive engineer and was toted in the Vancouver Sun as a legend among railroaders in British Columbia. His first railway job as train engineer in British Columbia was aboard the locomotive named "Old Curly". William Surgenor worked on the engine during it's logging service up Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast and before it was moved back to Vancouver around 1927. William and Bessie Surgenor had four children; William George "Tyke", Earl Almer, Alice Margrete (Robinson) and Robert. William and Bessie Surgenor's eldest son William "Tyke" Surgenor also worked on the railway as a fireman and brakeman. William William F. Surgenor died in 1965. The locomotive engine "Old Curly" was built in San Francisco in 1879 and was used during the building of the harbour sea wall. It was likley built by Marshutz & Cantrell. It was acquired by Andrew Onderdonk in 1881 to use during construction of the Fraser Canyon section of the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR). The locomotive was the first logging locomotive in this area. It was later used on the section from Savona Ferry to Kamloops. The locomotive was layed up in 1887 and not used for several years until it was purchased by the British Columbia Timber and Trading Company (BCTTC) for use on their logging railway in Surrey. In the early 1900s the engine was shifted from Surrey to the company operations north of Powell River and was a familiar sight carrying logs from Hastings Mill. It was brought back to Vancouver, in a damaged condition and stored on BCTTC property around 1927, was acquired by the CPR and restored as a 50th Anniversary Project in 1930. It was displayed at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds until the 1973 when it was brought to Heritage Village (later Burnaby Village Museum) and restored again.
- Creator
- Surgenor, William F.
- Accession Code
- BV016.52
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1905-1931] (date of originals), copied 2016
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Arrangement
- A selection of 15 photographs (negatives and prints) with a common subject were loaned for reproduction purposes (three of the photographs were prints from negatives). Photographs are arranged and described at item level. Low resolution copies of each photograph have been made available on Heritage Burnaby.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97234
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912-1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 143 cm of textual records (14 boxes) and 74 photographs (23 med. sepia prints; 15 small sepia prints; 6 small b&w prints; 7 med b&w print; 21 med. col. prints).
- Scope and Content
- Records consist of newspaper clippings, photographs, reports, minute books, correspondence, financial records, newsletters, promotional materials, membership lists, bylaws and scrapbooks related to the history and work of the VON (Victorian Order of Nurses) in Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912-1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 143 cm of textual records (14 boxes) and 74 photographs (23 med. sepia prints; 15 small sepia prints; 6 small b&w prints; 7 med b&w print; 21 med. col. prints).
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- Records consist of newspaper clippings, photographs, reports, minute books, correspondence, financial records, newsletters, promotional materials, membership lists, bylaws and scrapbooks related to the history and work of the VON (Victorian Order of Nurses) in Burnaby.
- History
- The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) for Canada is a non-profit charitable organization created for the purposes of home care and social services established in 1898 to perpetuate the memory of Victoria the Good. Lady Aberdeen, founding president of the National Council of Women (and wife of Canadian Governor General Lord Aberdeen) was a great believer in the need for a nursing service in Canada, particularly for the less fortunate and recommended the organization be established. The Burnaby Branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses was established in 1912 with Miss Colhoun as its first nurse.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
Disney Family collection
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97178
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1914-1963]
- Collection/Fonds
- Disney Family collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 architectural drawings : pencil and ink on paper ; 52 cm x 77 cm and smaller + 1 p. of textual records (40 cm. x 31 cm.) + 1 plan : col. ; 55 cm x 75 cm folded to 28 cm x 10 cm + 1 map : diazo print ; 39 cm x 28 cm.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of maps and plans created and collected by Jack Disney.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1914-1963]
- Collection/Fonds
- Disney Family collection
- Physical Description
- 6 architectural drawings : pencil and ink on paper ; 52 cm x 77 cm and smaller + 1 p. of textual records (40 cm. x 31 cm.) + 1 plan : col. ; 55 cm x 75 cm folded to 28 cm x 10 cm + 1 map : diazo print ; 39 cm x 28 cm.
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2016-03
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of maps and plans created and collected by Jack Disney.
- History
- John Howard "Jack" Disney served as Burnaby Surveyor from 1911 to 1919.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of collection
- MSS199
Gordon Presbyterian Church fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97220
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912-1950 (date of originals); 2012
- Collection/Fonds
- Gordon Presbyterian Church fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 9 photograph : col ; 10 x 15 cm.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs created by members of the Gordon Presbyterian Church that depict the Church and district as well as events and activities undertaken by or for church groups. Included in the fonds are photographs taken at the Church's one hundredth anniversary event.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912-1950 (date of originals); 2012
- Collection/Fonds
- Gordon Presbyterian Church fonds
- Physical Description
- 9 photograph : col ; 10 x 15 cm.
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2013-12
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs created by members of the Gordon Presbyterian Church that depict the Church and district as well as events and activities undertaken by or for church groups. Included in the fonds are photographs taken at the Church's one hundredth anniversary event.
- History
- In November 1911, a small group of people met at Morton Hall on Edmonds Street, Burnaby, to organize a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. David J. Gordon, a student from Westminster Hall Theological College, was in charge. By 1912, a building was erected on two lots and named the Gordon Presbyterian Church. A new sanctuary was built in 1956 and, due to the increase in the congregation, a Christan Education Centre was added in 1974. The longest minister to serve the congregation was Reverend George Philps and his wife Margaret. After 21 years, he retired in 1987. In April of 1988, Reverend Charles Scott began serving. Six months later, a fire broke out in the centre portion of the complex. For many months, while reconstruction continued, worship services were held at the Edmonds Community Centre for the Retired. In 2001, Reverend Cal MacLeod and his wife Robin joined the congregation. Mrs. Marie Douglas, wife of retired minister Reverend R. J. Douglas and mother of missionary to India, Ellen Douglas, started the first Women’s Missionary Auxiliary in 1932. The Ladies Aid Societies were an active force in the Gordon Presbyterian Church. In 1957, the original Ladies Aid became known as the Margaret Hall Circle, named after Margaret Philps’ mother, who had been an active member. For many years, the COC, Explorers and CGIT were very active and Sunday School classes have been in operation since the beginning.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Creator
- Gordon Presbyterian Church
- Notes
- Title based on content of fonds
- PC 555
Harry Toy fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20339
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [197-]-2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Harry Toy fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- .5 cm of textual records + 6 photographs + 2 photographs (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of business records and photographs relating to Harry Toy's store the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants' Association and his family.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Harry Toy fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- .5 cm of textual records + 6 photographs + 2 photographs (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of business records and photographs relating to Harry Toy's store the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants' Association and his family.
- History
- 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 as 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.
- Creator
- Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"
- Accession Code
- BV023.25
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [197-]-2023
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Related Material
- See also BV023.16.19 - Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy
- For associated artifacts from Canada Way Food Market see Accession BV023.17
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Rhoda Jeffers fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4146
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1910-1960]
- Collection/Fonds
- Rhoda Jeffers fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- .5 cm of textual records + 31 photographs
- Scope and Content
- The fonds consists of a collection of family photographs and a small collection of personal records, correspondence and education records belonging to Rhoda Jeffers during her work as a teacher. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Jeffers family photographs series 2) Education and personal records s…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Rhoda Jeffers fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- .5 cm of textual records + 31 photographs
- Scope and Content
- The fonds consists of a collection of family photographs and a small collection of personal records, correspondence and education records belonging to Rhoda Jeffers during her work as a teacher. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Jeffers family photographs series 2) Education and personal records series
- History
- Rhoda Maie Jeffers (middle name also spelled Mae) was born in July 1, 1904 in River Hebert, Nova Scotia to Albert Clifford Jeffers (1877 - 1967) and Eldora McAloney (1879 - 1978). The family moved to British Columbia in 1912, living in Vancouver at various addresses before moving to Burnaby around 1950 residing at 4254 Charles Street. Albert and Eldora Jeffers had three children; Rhoda Maie (Mae), Sarah Etta "Muriel" (later Webster) and Charles Kenneth Leroy (1906-1970). Rhoda began teaching in Grand Forks in 1922 and one of her early teaching posts included Eriksdale, Manitoba. Rhoda divided her teaching career between Alberta, Lake Cowichan, Agassiz and North Delta. In 1952, Rhoda worked as an exchange teacher in England and in 1957, Rhoda graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Education (secondary specialization). Due to a severe injury in 1969, Rhoda was forced to retire and sometime after, she moved in with her parents at 4254 Charles Street. Rhoda continued to reside at this address until a year before her death in 1990.
- Creator
- Jeffers, Rhoda Mae
- Accession Code
- BV007.20
- Date
- [1910-1960]
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- See also portrait of Rhoda Jeffers [c. 1915] BV077.20.2
St. Helen's Parish fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription77922
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1992-2012
- Collection/Fonds
- St. Helen's Parish fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1.5 cm. of textual records + 1 medallion
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of posters, cards, anniversary programs, a pictorial photo directory, a calendar, a book and a medallion related to St. Helen's Parish. Items in this fonds depict its Centennial Celebrations.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1992-2012
- Collection/Fonds
- St. Helen's Parish fonds
- Physical Description
- 1.5 cm. of textual records + 1 medallion
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Accession Number
- 2013-10
- 2013-11
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of posters, cards, anniversary programs, a pictorial photo directory, a calendar, a book and a medallion related to St. Helen's Parish. Items in this fonds depict its Centennial Celebrations.
- History
- In the first years of the 20th century, the hill overlooking the city of Vancouver was barely developed. This area, known as Vancouver Heights, commands a magnificent view of the city, the north shore mountains, and the sea. During the first decade, there was just a handful of people willing to brave the inconvenience of living in a remote area to dwell in such splendour. Among them were 10 Catholic families. They dreamt about establishing a Catholic community, a church, and perhaps even a school of their own. They knew it would take hard work and sacrifice to realize their dream. In 1912, the Second Narrows Bridge and several industrial plants were built in this area. Archbishop Neil McNeil, recognizing the potential for greater development, requested aid from Toronto's Catholic Extension Society, to help purchase property at the corner of Pandora and Ingleton to build a small church and home for the priest. The $6000 construction expense was donated by Mr. Justice Kelly, who requested that the church be named Saint Helen in memory of his daughter, Helen. On August 11, 1912, Saint Helen's church was blessed. 12 years later, in 1923, a second dream was realized with the construction of Saint Helen's School. The Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul would staff the school for over 50 years, dedicating their lives to the education of thousands of children. 1936 began an era of unprecedented growth under the leadership of Msgr. Daniel Carey. In 1948, despite post-war hardships, he was able to inspire his community to build a new school. He then turned his attention to the over-crowded church and, in 1956, to the delight of the parishioners, the new Saint Helen's Church was blessed. By 1973, the demographics of Saint Helen's Parish had experienced a dramatic change. From the Anglo-Irish parishioners of the early years, Saint Helen's was experiencing a huge increase in parishioners of Italian descent. Archbishop James Carney, realizing the need to better serve these immigrants, asked the Scalabrinian Congregation to take the parish under its care. The second era of physical growth and development in the parish would come under the direction of these missionary priests. The 1970s, with Father Joseph Ponti as pastor, would see the construction of a new rectory, a state-of-the-art hall/gymnasium, and a fully renovated school. Father Joe's dream was the construction of a church, with this in mind, he began to purchase the necessary land. Succeeding pastors Father Angelo Calandra and Father Peter Sordi continued to work towards this dream, accumulating land and initiating the process. Father Claudio Holzer, upon assuming the responsibilities of pastor, took a firm hold of the dreams of his predecessors and shaped them into the reality of the new Saint Helen's Church. From the beginning, St. Helen's Parish has been an active community participant in this area of Burnaby and continues to enjoy this participation not only here but in Metro Vancouver as well. On August 11, 2012, St. Helen's Catholic Church and Parish celebrated its 100th anniversary. -Information contributed by M. Tesan has been combined with information from the official website of the church.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- St. Helen's Catholic Church
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- MSS174
William Holmes fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10416
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1841]-1994
- Collection/Fonds
- William Holmes fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (calotype) + 1 photograph : b&w + 6 photographs : col. + 5 p. textual records + 1 newspaper clipping
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs pertaining to the William Holmes family, family grave markers in cemetery in Ireland along with original correspondence, land title certificates and a newspaper clipping. Fonds is arranged in series: 1) William Holmes family photographs series 2) William Holmes family…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- William Holmes fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (calotype) + 1 photograph : b&w + 6 photographs : col. + 5 p. textual records + 1 newspaper clipping
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs pertaining to the William Holmes family, family grave markers in cemetery in Ireland along with original correspondence, land title certificates and a newspaper clipping. Fonds is arranged in series: 1) William Holmes family photographs series 2) William Holmes family records series 3) Holmes family cemetery photographs series
- History
- William Holmes was the first non-Indigenous resident of Burnaby and was born in Kilkenny Ireland January 4, 1812. In 1833, at the age of 20 yrs, William Holmes immigrated to Canada from Ireland in with his parents, Joseph and Jane (McCullough) Holmes and ten other family members including two of his married brothers and their wives, two sisters with their husbands and two unmarried brothers. This was the first group of thirteen to leave Ireland and set up homesteads in Canada near the shores of Lake Huron. The family settled on land concessions in Huron County, Ontario about 14 km southeast of Goderich. The area in Huron County was first founded in 1832 by John and Samuel Holmes and the community was known as Holmes Hill before becoming Holmesville [ca. 1850]. In 1837, William Holmes is noted as owning Lot 23, Concession IX, Goderich Twp. Much of the village of Holmesville grew up around the five road concession near the border of his brother’s farm so William decided to open a store. The Holmesville post office opened on March 1, 1855 and William was appointed the first post master which he operated until May 1857. William met and married Mary Richardson in 1841 and the couple had three daughters: Jane (1844-1926) (married Charles Studdert Finlaison in New Westminster in 1863); Anne Maria (Annie) (1846-192?) (married John Gunther Jennings in New Westminster in 1865 and married Robert Johnson in New Westminster in 1877) and Elizabeth (1848-1934) (married Thomas Carrington of Lakes District in 1867). William’s wife, Mary (Richardson) Holmes died in Holmesville sometime between 1848 and 1853. Following the death of his first wife, Mary, William married Charlotte McCullough (McCulloch). The couple had four daughters; Arabella Charlotte Amelia (1854-1943) (married Arthur Robert Green in 1887); Laura (1855-1867); Arabella Henrietta (1857-1929) (married Clark Wesley Gillanders in 1880) and Mary (1863-1864). During the late 1850s, William became aware of the gold rush and opportunities opening up in British Columbia so left for the west coast in 1858 at the age of 46 yrs. In preparation for his move to the west coast of Canada, William obtained a letter of introduction from top government officials of Canada. William Holmes arrived in British Columbia in 1859. Upon arriving, he first worked running pack trains from Harrison Mills to Lillooet. After earning some money, he decided to re-invest it in land. His first pre-emption of land occurred on January 21, 1860 for 160 acres situated on North Road from the Military Camp to Burrard Inlet and distancing 25 chains south of the Brunette River and 20 chains south of the river with the land extending in a westerly direction. On March 17, 1860, Holmes received a Crown Grant for this and other land in the immediate area totalling 415 acres of which was known as Lot No. 1, Group 1, Rural Land, New Westminster District. The balance of land was situated on the east side of the Brunette River – Lot 13, with 344 2/3 acres of which he made an application to purchase on June 26, 1860, and a Crown Grant dated March 16, 1861 covering 86 acres. Holmes also pre-empted land in Port Moody and Pitt Meadows in 1860 and 1861. The name of “Brunette River” is officially attributed to William Holmes who referred to the river as “Brunette” due to it’s dark colour originating from the peat lands above the lake. Following his purchase of property, he sent for his wife Charlotte, their three daughters and her three step daughters (from William’s first marriage). Charlotte and the six children made the long trip to B.C. by ship and rail, crossing the Isthmus of Darien at Panama. They arrived in B.C. in October 1861 and moved into a one room log cabin built by William. The cabin stood on the North Road at the foot of Sapperton, on a bluff overlooking the Brunette River. Eventually the family moved to a larger dwelling but the original cabin remained on the site until the 1890s when it was burned after being used as a sick house. Mr. Holmes was instrumental in organizing the first Orange Lodge in British Columbia. He was a prominent Orangeman who joined the order in 1840 and was the first master in the order of the City of New Westminster when the Lodge No. 1150 was established there. Charlotte Holmes died in New Westminster in 1893 at the age of 70 years and William Holmes died in New Westminster September 11, 1907 at the age of 95 years.
- Responsibility
- Holmes, William
- Accession Code
- HV971.46
- BV997.50
- Date
- [1841]-1994
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Related Material
- See also: Reference file: Persons - Holmes, William
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds