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![St. Alban's Anglican Church, [1909] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/126/171-024.jpg?width=280)
St. Alban's Anglican Church
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35003
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1909] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8.5 x 11.8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph on a postcard of the exterior of St. Alban's Anglican Church at 7717 19th Avenue, near Douglas Road (now Canada Way) and Edmonds Street.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1909] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Patterson family subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8.5 x 11.8 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 171-024
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1986-20
- Scope and Content
- Photograph on a postcard of the exterior of St. Alban's Anglican Church at 7717 19th Avenue, near Douglas Road (now Canada Way) and Edmonds Street.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- 19th Avenue
- Street Address
- 7717 19th Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Edmonds Area
Images
![St. Alban's Anglican Church, [1909] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/126/171-024.jpg)
![Charles Boyer Brown, by photographer Nicholas Rossmo [1950]. Item no. 307-008 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/251/307-008.jpg?width=280)
Interview with Charles B. Brown May 21, 1975 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory27
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1909-1938
- Length
- 00:07:15
- Summary
- This portion of the interview pertains to Charles Boyer Brown's early days working at Burnaby's Municipal Hall, first as an office boy.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview pertains to Charles Boyer Brown's early days working at Burnaby's Municipal Hall, first as an office boy.
- Date Range
- 1909-1938
- Photo Info
- Charles Boyer Brown, by photographer Nicholas Rossmo [1950]. Item no. 307-008
- Length
- 00:07:15
- Subjects
- Occupations - Civic Workers
- Interviewer
- Bradbury, Dr. Bettina
- Interview Date
- May 21, 1975
- Scope and Content
- Recording is a taped interview with Charles B. Brown by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury May 21, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression, the Commissioner and municipal politics in general. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".
- Biographical Notes
- Charles Boyer Brown was born on June 16, 1894 in the town of Ongar, Essex, England. He came to Canada as a young child with his parents Jean and Percy Brown. In 1903, the family settled in New Westminster and by 1911, Charles had joined the Burnaby municipal staff working as an office boy. The outbreak of World War One interrupted Charlie’s career as he immediately enlisted with the Royal Engineers and served from 1915 to 1918. While overseas he met and married Lillian Bernice Bryan and they returned to Canada together after the war and Charles resumed his position in municipal administration. For a short time, Charles was appointed as the Municipal Assessor, but in 1927 he became the Assistant Municipal Clerk. In 1933, Charles was made Municipal Clerk, a post he held until he retired in 1959. Charles has also been credited with playing a significant role in administering the city while it was under the rule of the provincial commission from 1932-1942. Recognized for his expertise in civic affairs, Charles was appointed by the provincial government to a committee formed to review and revise the Municipal Act. He was also a member of the BC Municipal Officers’ Association from its formation in 1936 and was made its chair in 1953. While these civic duties occupied much of his time, Charles still managed to participate as a volunteer on many sport and youth clubs in the city and served as the secretary for the Kingsway Rotary Club. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Burnaby, both paid and volunteer, Charles was presented with the Gold Key award in 1959, the same year he finally retired from municipal administration. During Charles’ lifetime, many changes took place in the Municipality that he loved. He saw Burnaby grow in population and progress and he could be proud of the significant part he played in that growth and development. Charles Brown died on August 11, 1981.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:58:01
- Interviewee Name
- Brown, Charles B. "Charlie"
- Interview Location
- Walker Avenue
- Interviewer Bio
- Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Oral history subseries
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Images
![Charles Boyer Brown, by photographer Nicholas Rossmo [1950]. Item no. 307-008 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/251/307-008.jpg)
Audio Tracks
Track one of interview with Charles B. Brown
Track one of interview with Charles B. Brown
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-06/100-13-06_Track_1.mp3![Looking down north Poleline Hill, [1908] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1976/1976_0139_0047_001.jpg?width=280)
Looking down north Poleline Hill
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription796
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1908]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.32 x 25.4 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph looking north along the Pole Line Road (later Sperling Avenue). To the far left is Deer Lake and at the top right is Burnaby Lake. The smoke and debris from land clearing is a result of logging operations being carried out by the Doran Brothers logging company, the Deer Lake Mill Company…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.32 x 25.4 cm print
- Material Details
- inscribed in pencil, verso, l.l. "Looking down north Poleline Hill (now Sperling) Deer Lake at left. "
- Scope and Content
- Photograph looking north along the Pole Line Road (later Sperling Avenue). To the far left is Deer Lake and at the top right is Burnaby Lake. The smoke and debris from land clearing is a result of logging operations being carried out by the Doran Brothers logging company, the Deer Lake Mill Company. Above Deer Lake, Douglas Road is visible with Claude Hill's Brookfield property (later 6501 Deer Lake Avenue) on the south side of the road and Bernard Hill's home on the north side (later 4990 Canada Way). Just northeast of Brookfield is the George Every-Clayton farm (amongst the trees) on what would later become the Henry and Grace Ceperley estate grounds known as Fairacres. The house in the centre of the picture is the Walker house (later 5255 Sperling Avenue). Mountains can be seen to the north.
- Subjects
- Land Clearing
- Geographic Features - Roads
- Industries - Forestry
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Geographic Access
- Sperling Avenue
- Deer Lake
- Douglas Road
- Canada Way
- Accession Code
- HV976.139.47
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1908]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-06-27
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Looking down north Poleline Hill, [1908] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1976/1976_0139_0047_001.jpg)
Sketch map of the Province of British Columbia showing mining divisions
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18946
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1907
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Map collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 map : col. lithographic print on paper ; 52 x 59 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a map titled "Sketch map of the Province of / British Columbia / Showing Mining Divisions"; "Department of Mines, / Victoria, 1907". Map includes wagon roads and trails and geographic disticts.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Map collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 map : col. lithographic print on paper ; 52 x 59 cm
- Material Details
- Scale not determinable
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a map titled "Sketch map of the Province of / British Columbia / Showing Mining Divisions"; "Department of Mines, / Victoria, 1907". Map includes wagon roads and trails and geographic disticts.
- Accession Code
- HV977.37.172
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1907
- Media Type
- Cartographic Material
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-08-17
- Notes
- Title based on contents of map
- Stamp on verso of map reads: "Compliments of Vancouver Tourist Bureau"
Zoomable Images
![Rowe - Hill wedding, [1906] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-051.jpg?width=280)
Rowe - Hill wedding
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38732
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1906]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 10 x 14.5 cm on mat 11 x 15.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken of the wedding party showing (l to r, standing): Arthur Rowe, Winnie Hill Rowe, Trevor Rowe, and Miss Lister. Kitty Hill, the flower girl, is seated. Winnie Rowe was the daughter of Bernard R. Hill who, with his brother L. Claude Hill, was an early settler of the Burnaby Lake area…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1906]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 10 x 14.5 cm on mat 11 x 15.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-051
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken of the wedding party showing (l to r, standing): Arthur Rowe, Winnie Hill Rowe, Trevor Rowe, and Miss Lister. Kitty Hill, the flower girl, is seated. Winnie Rowe was the daughter of Bernard R. Hill who, with his brother L. Claude Hill, was an early settler of the Burnaby Lake area. The flower girl, Kitty Hill, was Claude's daughter. This photograph may have been taken in front of Bernard Hill's home on Douglas Road.
- Subjects
- Ceremonies - Weddings
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4990 Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
![Rowe - Hill wedding, [1906] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-051.jpg)
Looking south from Bernard Hill's house
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39527
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1906
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.8 x 17 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the fields and farmland looking southeast from the home of Bernard Hill down Douglas Road towards Deer Lake Brook. In the foreground view can be seen what is the present-day Kensington Avenue freeway entrance and No. 1 Firehall site on Sperling Avenue. The cabin that can be seen to …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1906
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.8 x 17 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-846
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the fields and farmland looking southeast from the home of Bernard Hill down Douglas Road towards Deer Lake Brook. In the foreground view can be seen what is the present-day Kensington Avenue freeway entrance and No. 1 Firehall site on Sperling Avenue. The cabin that can be seen to the left in the background is an unknown residence further along Douglas Road near Rayside Drive and the cabin that is just visible in the centre background of the photograph (between treeline split) belonged to Mr. Nicholson. It was later torn down when Bernard Hill's brother Claude Hill built his home, Broadview at that location. To the extreme right of the picture on the opposite side of Douglas Road is the property of Claude Hill's first Burnaby home also known as Brookfield (the current location of the Burnaby Village Museum).
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Farms
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on caption accompanying photograph
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Canada Way
- Deer Lake Brook
- Street Address
- 4990 Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
![Mowing at Gaines' Farm, Burnaby, [1906] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-867.jpg?width=280)
Mowing at Gaines' Farm, Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39548
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1906]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 17 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a farmer driving a team of two horses mowing hay in a field. The photograph bears the caption "Mowing at Gaines' farm" and is accompanied by a notation in the album indicating that the field was across Douglas Road from Brookfield, the home of Claude Hill. This property belonged to …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1906]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 17 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-867
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a farmer driving a team of two horses mowing hay in a field. The photograph bears the caption "Mowing at Gaines' farm" and is accompanied by a notation in the album indicating that the field was across Douglas Road from Brookfield, the home of Claude Hill. This property belonged to Claude's brother Bernard Hill and was later known as 4990 Canada Way. The man is unidentified. In the background to the west can be seen Burnaby Lake and to the left the Pole Line Road (later Sperling Avenue) and to the right, Douglas Road and an unidentified house. This is the current location of the Kensington Avenue freeway interchange.
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Crops
- Agricultural Tools and Equipment
- Animals - Horses
- Occupations - Farmers
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Cooksley, William Thomas
- Notes
- Title based on caption accompanying photograph
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Canada Way
- Douglas Road
- Street Address
- 4990 Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
![Mowing at Gaines' Farm, Burnaby, [1906] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-867.jpg)
Interview with Maureen Olofson by Kathy Bossort October 14, 2015 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory569
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1906-1950
- Length
- 0:09:08
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Maureen Olofson’s parents immigration to Saskatchewan, her mother Kerstin in 1912 and father Axel in 1928, Maureen’s birth on a trip to Sweden in 1938, and her family’s move to Burnaby in 1942 and the start of their mink ranch, the GAK Fur Farm, near Curtis Av…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Maureen Olofson’s parents immigration to Saskatchewan, her mother Kerstin in 1912 and father Axel in 1928, Maureen’s birth on a trip to Sweden in 1938, and her family’s move to Burnaby in 1942 and the start of their mink ranch, the GAK Fur Farm, near Curtis Avenue in the old Hastings Grove subdivision on Burnaby Mountain.
- Date Range
- 1906-1950
- Length
- 0:09:08
- Subjects
- Agriculture
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Westridge Area
- Interviewer
- Bossort, Kathy
- Interview Date
- October 14, 2015
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Maureen Olofson conducted by Kathy Bossort. Maureen Olofson was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about Maureen Olofson’s memories of growing up on her parent’s Burnaby Mountain mink ranch between 1942 and 1950 and about the operation of the farm. She also talks about her parents’ history, her teaching career, and her thoughts about the beauty and value of Burnaby Mountain’s natural area.
- Biographical Notes
- Maureen Olofson was born 1938 in Glote, Harjedalen, Sweden, to Axel (1906-1998) and Kerstin Margareta (1906-1980). Axel and Kerstin Olofson, who had separately immigrated to Canada in 1928 and 1913 respectively, married in Canada and then returned to Sweden where Maureen was born. They moved to Burnaby in 1942 with their daughters Maureen and Anita Lea, and bought land and a mink ranch on Burnaby Mountain with their partners Gus Skofteby and Karin Ericksson (Kerstin’s sister). The GAK Fur Farm, located in the old Hastings Grove subdivision on 4th Avenue near Curtis Street, was one of the largest mink ranches in BC, an award winning operation with over 1200 mink animals. In 1950 the partners sold the land and the Olofson family moved to rented homes on Sperling Avenue. In 1952 Axel sold the last of his minks and opened a sporting goods store on Hastings Street. In 1954 the family moved to North Vancouver where Axel Olofson reestablished his sports business. Maureen attended Sperling Avenue School from Gr. 1 to Gr. 8 and Burnaby North High School to Gr. 11, completing school in North Vancouver, before going to UBC where she trained as a teacher. She returned to Burnaby in 1977 to teach, retiring in 1997. She is a volunteer with the Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association and the Dania Homes Society. Maureen continues to enjoy activities on Burnaby Mountain and works toward preserving the natural beauty of the mountain.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 1:19:04
- Interviewee Name
- Olofson, B. Maureen
- Interview Location
- Maureen Olofson's home in Burnaby
- Interviewer Bio
- Kathy Bossort is a retired archivist living in Ladner, BC. She worked at the Delta Museum and Archives after graduating from SLAIS (UBC) in 2001 with Masters degrees in library science and archival studies. Kathy grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and, prior to this career change, she lived in the West Kootenays, earning her living as a cook for BC tourist lodges and work camps. She continues to be interested in oral histories as a way to fill the gaps in the written record and bring richer meaning to history.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track one of interview with Maureen Olofson
Track one of interview with Maureen Olofson
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-004/MSS196-004_Track_1.mp3![Douglas Road, Burnaby, [1908] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/371/449-009.jpg?width=280)
Douglas Road, Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38514
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1908]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia postcard ; 8.8 x 14 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photographic postcard taken looking northwest along Douglas Road (now Canada Way) near Stanley Street. Two unidentified people are standing next to a wooden fence running alongside the road (above Lubbock's Creek) and a number of houses (including the Sprott house) are visible in the background. To…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1908]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Photographs subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia postcard ; 8.8 x 14 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 449-009
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- Photographic postcard taken looking northwest along Douglas Road (now Canada Way) near Stanley Street. Two unidentified people are standing next to a wooden fence running alongside the road (above Lubbock's Creek) and a number of houses (including the Sprott house) are visible in the background. To the right is Burnaby Lake. Stamped at the top of the postcard is "Douglas Road, Burnaby / New Westminster BC."
- Subjects
- Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds
- Documentary Artifacts - Postcards
- Geographic Features - Roads
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Stanley Street
- Canada Way
- Deer Lake
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lakeview-Mayfield Area
Images
![Douglas Road, Burnaby, [1908] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/371/449-009.jpg)
Kitty, M. Sprott and Mr. Nicholson
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39433
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1905
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8.1 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of (l t r): Muriel Sprott, Kitty Hill and Malcolm Nicholson. This photograph was likely taken at the home of Mr. Nicholson, on Douglas Road (now Canada Way).
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1905
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8.1 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-752
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of (l t r): Muriel Sprott, Kitty Hill and Malcolm Nicholson. This photograph was likely taken at the home of Mr. Nicholson, on Douglas Road (now Canada Way).
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Farms
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on caption accompanying photograph
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
![Bernard Hill's home, [1905] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-863.jpg?width=280)
Bernard Hill's home
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39544
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1905]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 10 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the house belonging to Bernard Hill in the Burnaby Lake area on what is now Canada Way. Douglas Road runs through the foreground.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1905]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 10 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-863
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the house belonging to Bernard Hill in the Burnaby Lake area on what is now Canada Way. Douglas Road runs through the foreground.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on caption accompanying photograph
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4990 Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
![Bernard Hill's home, [1905] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-863.jpg)
![Farm workers, [1905] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-175.jpg?width=280)
Farm workers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38856
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1905]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.5 cm on page 14 x 17.5 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of workers in the field picking crops on the farm belonging to F.J. Hart. The property was on the corner of Douglas Road (later Canada Way) and Sperling Avenue although the Hart House was located at 6664 Deer Lake Avenue.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1905]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.5 cm on page 14 x 17.5 cm (pasted in album)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-175
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of workers in the field picking crops on the farm belonging to F.J. Hart. The property was on the corner of Douglas Road (later Canada Way) and Sperling Avenue although the Hart House was located at 6664 Deer Lake Avenue.
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Crops
- Occupations - Agricultural Labourers
- Agriculture - Farms
- Agriculture - Fruit and Berries
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Sperling Avenue
- Canada Way
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
![Farm workers, [1905] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-175.jpg)
![Crowd gathered at Sperling Avenue and Douglas Road, [1905] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-176.jpg?width=280)
Crowd gathered at Sperling Avenue and Douglas Road
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38857
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1905]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 10.5 cm on page 14 x 17.5 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a crowd of people gathered near the corner of Sperling Avenue and Douglas Road (later Canada Way). A sign in the background reads: "Burnaby By the Lakes Business Sites."
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1905]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 10.5 cm on page 14 x 17.5 cm (pasted in album)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-176
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a crowd of people gathered near the corner of Sperling Avenue and Douglas Road (later Canada Way). A sign in the background reads: "Burnaby By the Lakes Business Sites."
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Sperling Avenue
- Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
![Crowd gathered at Sperling Avenue and Douglas Road, [1905] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-176.jpg)
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
- Clothing
- Crafts
- Employment
- Migration
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Occupations - Labourers
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Names
- Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
- Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
- Manhas, Ghania Singh
- Singh, Mayo
- Manhas, Kashmir Singh
- Manhas, Sher Singh
- Manhas, Budhan Kaur
- Manhas, Lashman Singh
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep
- Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby
- Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3Interview 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.mp3![Miss Harry and Kitty Off to Get the Mail, [1904] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-862.jpg?width=280)
Miss Harry and Kitty Off to Get the Mail
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39543
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1904]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph ; sepia ; 7.2 x 10 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Harriet Woodward with Kitty sitting in a horse drawn cart on the Hill family property known as Brookfield. The photograph is taken looking towards the northeast and Douglas Road can be seen in the background along with Bernard Hill's house (later 4990 Canada Way). In the foreground …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1904]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph ; sepia ; 7.2 x 10 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-862
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Harriet Woodward with Kitty sitting in a horse drawn cart on the Hill family property known as Brookfield. The photograph is taken looking towards the northeast and Douglas Road can be seen in the background along with Bernard Hill's house (later 4990 Canada Way). In the foreground to the left, a box camera is visible sitting on the ground.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on caption accompanying photograph
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- 4990 Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
![Miss Harry and Kitty Off to Get the Mail, [1904] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-862.jpg)
Interview with Charles A. Purdon and May E. Purdon July 9, 1975 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory91
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1904-1932
- Length
- 0:08:08
- Summary
- This portion of the interview pertains to Charles A. Purdon's employment history and first years of marriage to May E. Purdon.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview pertains to Charles A. Purdon's employment history and first years of marriage to May E. Purdon.
- Date Range
- 1904-1932
- Length
- 0:08:08
- Subjects
- Transportation - Rail
- Interviewer
- Bradbury, Dr. Bettina
- Interview Date
- July 9, 1975
- Scope and Content
- Recording is a taped interview with Charles A. Purdon and May E. Purdon by SFU graduate student Bettina Bradbury July 9, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression and Canadian politics. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".
- Biographical Notes
- May Eliza was born in London, England in 1907. She came out to Regina with her family when she was eleven. Charles A. Purdon was born February 28, 1904 in London, England. He came to Canada in 1925 from China where he had been working as an accountant for the previous three years. Charles first came to Vancouver and joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) but within a week he was sent to Regina. This is where he met May. May and Charles got married in 1926 and Charles began working as an accountant for the Saskatchewan Wheat Growers, then for the Canadian Wool Growers before being laid off. In October of 1930, Charles and May left Regina for Vancouver Island. Charles drove himself out and May rode the train with her children; twin boys and a daughter, only one year apart. They settled at May’s parent’s second house in Coombs. The Purdons arrived in Burnaby in December of 1932 and rented a house on Edmonds Street. Charles was unable to do road work and instead found work through the Liberal Party and also with the Municipal engineers indoors on a number of projects. In 1938 the Purdons were able to get into a reverted house built by Ernie Winch at Maple Avenue (then Jubilee) and Nelson Avenue that had nine bedrooms. They paid ten dollars a month to the municipality for use of this property. May Eliza Purdon died April 6, 1983 at the age of seventy-six.
- Total Length
- 1:40:03
- Interviewee Name
- Purdon, Charles A.
- Purdon, May Eliza
- Interviewer Bio
- Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Oral history subseries
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Audio Tracks
Track one of interview with Charles A. Purdon and May E. Purdon
Track one of interview with Charles A. Purdon and May E. Purdon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-19/100-13-19_Track_1.mp3Interview with Reidun Seim by Kathy Bossort January 13, 2016 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory650
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1904-1940
- Length
- 0:11:22
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Reidun Seim talking about her father’s immigration to the USA in 1904 at age 16, his return to Norway and marrying Martine, her parents emigration from Norway to Vancouver in 1930, her father’s purchase of an acre of land on Curtis Street and building a two ro…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Reidun Seim talking about her father’s immigration to the USA in 1904 at age 16, his return to Norway and marrying Martine, her parents emigration from Norway to Vancouver in 1930, her father’s purchase of an acre of land on Curtis Street and building a two room house for the family, Reidun’s birth in 1931, and the family’s move to Curtis Street in 1932. She talks about her childhood memories of playing on a big stump and cedar log in the yard.
- Date Range
- 1904-1940
- Length
- 0:11:22
- Names
- Seim, Sjur
- Seim, Martine
- Geographic Access
- Curtis Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lochdale Area
- Interviewer
- Bossort, Kathy
- Interview Date
- January 13, 2016
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Reidun Seim conducted by Kathy Bossort. Reidun Seim was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about Reidun Seim’s memories about her parent’s farm on Curtis Street, events in her childhood, and the people who lived in or visited her neighborhood. She takes us on a tour of her neighborhood in the 1940s, telling us stories about families who lived on Curtis Street on and east of 7300 block, including people who lived on Burnaby Mountain in the old Hastings Grove subdivision above the end of municipal water service at Philips Avenue. She describes changes to Curtis Street, particularly after it provided access to Simon Fraser University in 1965. She also talks about her teaching career, and about how she values the green space and conservation area on Burnaby Mountain.
- Biographical Notes
- Reidun Seim was born in 1931 in Vancouver B.C. to Sjur and Martine Seim. Sjur and Martine Seim emigrated to Canada from Norway in 1930, and after settling in Vancouver, moved to an acre of land and a new home at the base of Burnaby Mountain in 1932. Sjur attended UBC to learn about poultry farming and began his own chicken and egg business in 1935. The farm animals and large garden also contributed to the family’s livelihood and self-sufficiency. The Curtis Street neighborhood was a lively place and extended well up Curtis Street on the west slope of Burnaby Mountain, where Reidun would babysit for families. Reidun attended Sperling Avenue Elementary School (Gr. 1-8), Burnaby North High School, and Vancouver Normal School for teacher training in 1950-1951. She began teaching primary grades in Port Coquitlam at James Park School. Most of her career was spent in North Delta, teaching at Kennedy and Annieville schools from 1954-1958, appointed Primary Consultant (1958-1960) and Primary Supervisor (1960-1985), before retiring in 1986. Reidun lived at home with her parents on Curtis Street, commuting to Delta, and continues to live in the original farmhouse.
- Total Tracks
- 14
- Total Length
- 2:35:58
- Interviewee Name
- Seim, Reidun
- Interview Location
- Burnaby City Hall in the Law Library
- Interviewer Bio
- Kathy Bossort is a retired archivist living in Ladner, BC. She worked at the Delta Museum and Archives after graduating from SLAIS (UBC) in 2001 with Masters degrees in library science and archival studies. Kathy grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and, prior to this career change, she lived in the West Kootenays, earning her living as a cook for BC tourist lodges and work camps. She continues to be interested in oral histories as a way to fill the gaps in the written record and bring richer meaning to history.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track one of interview with Reidun Seim
Track one of interview with Reidun Seim
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-017/MSS196-017_Track_1.mp3![From Brookfield, [1904] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-152.jpg?width=280)
From Brookfield
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38833
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1904]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 5.5 cm on page 11.5 x 14 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken looking north from the home of Claude Hill (known as Brookfield). Claude can be seen at the far right of the photograph. A road (probably Douglas Road) can be seen in the background. This property is currently the site of the Burnaby Village Museum.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1904]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 5.5 cm on page 11.5 x 14 cm (pasted in album)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-152
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken looking north from the home of Claude Hill (known as Brookfield). Claude can be seen at the far right of the photograph. A road (probably Douglas Road) can be seen in the background. This property is currently the site of the Burnaby Village Museum.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
![From Brookfield, [1904] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-152.jpg)
![From Brookfield, [1904] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-164.jpg?width=280)
From Brookfield
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38845
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1904]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 5 x 7.5 cm on page 11.5 x 14 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken looking north from the home of Claude Hill. This house, known as Brookfield, was in the Burnaby Lake area and was home to the Hill family until about 1906. The property is the current site of the Burnaby Village Museum. To the right can be seen a road which is most likely Douglas R…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1904]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 5 x 7.5 cm on page 11.5 x 14 cm (pasted in album)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 477-164
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2007-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken looking north from the home of Claude Hill. This house, known as Brookfield, was in the Burnaby Lake area and was home to the Hill family until about 1906. The property is the current site of the Burnaby Village Museum. To the right can be seen a road which is most likely Douglas Road (later Canada Way).
- Subjects
- Plants - Trees
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
![From Brookfield, [1904] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/477/477-164.jpg)