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Adjustment in Cost of Child Maintenance
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport46284
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 45745
- Meeting Date
- 4-May-1953
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 45745
- Meeting Date
- 4-May-1953
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Child Health Centre at the Oddfellows Hall, Corner Albert and Ingleton Streets
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport43776
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 43532
- Meeting Date
- 30-Jul-1956
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 43532
- Meeting Date
- 30-Jul-1956
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Child lying on pile of rugs
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17272
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 May 1954
- Collection/Fonds
- Simpsons-Sears Limited Burnaby fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 20.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified child lying on a display pile of "Loop Cotton Rugs" inside of the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day. Signage on stand for "Loop Cotton Rugs" is visible next to the child and a group of people are visible behind.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Simpsons-Sears Limited Burnaby fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 20.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified child lying on a display pile of "Loop Cotton Rugs" inside of the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day. Signage on stand for "Loop Cotton Rugs" is visible next to the child and a group of people are visible behind.
- Names
- Simpsons-Sears Limited
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4750 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV021.26.22
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 5 May 1954
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Photographer
- Diack, George
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photograph was removed from original scrapbook with newspaper clippings, photographs and ephemera
- Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "-PHOTO BY - / GEORGE DIACK"
Images
Child on a tricycle
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9546
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [ca. 1940]
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; hand-coloured ; 16.5 cm x 11.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Studio portrait of an unidentified toddler-age child of Chinese descent. The child is wearing a yellow, collared, two-piece pant suit and brown, closed-toe shoes. The child is seated on a red and white tricycle in front of a green riser and sky blue backdrop. The flooring has a gray and white patte…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; hand-coloured ; 16.5 cm x 11.5 cm
- Material Details
- On the front lower right corner of the photograph is an embossed print in Chinese characters "[…]" and "MING NGAD"
- Scope and Content
- Studio portrait of an unidentified toddler-age child of Chinese descent. The child is wearing a yellow, collared, two-piece pant suit and brown, closed-toe shoes. The child is seated on a red and white tricycle in front of a green riser and sky blue backdrop. The flooring has a gray and white pattern.
- Accession Code
- BV017.7.356
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [ca. 1940]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 17-Apr-2018
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Child with bicycle and crowd
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17383
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Simpsons-Sears Limited Burnaby fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified child, holding a bicycle and crowd gathered outside of the Simpsons-Sears store at 3660 Kingsway (after 1959, 4750 Kingsway) Burnaby. The crowd is gathered around a Ford Model A [ca. 1930] automobile.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Simpsons-Sears Limited Burnaby fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 9 cm
- Material Details
- perforated right edge of photo with two holes punched
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified child, holding a bicycle and crowd gathered outside of the Simpsons-Sears store at 3660 Kingsway (after 1959, 4750 Kingsway) Burnaby. The crowd is gathered around a Ford Model A [ca. 1930] automobile.
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4750 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV021.26.132
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1958]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2021-09-21
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photograph was removed small paper album titled "Album Prints" pasted within original scrapbook with newspaper clippings, photographs and ephemera
- Stamp in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "A_860"
Images
Clown with child on opening day
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17270
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 May 1954
- Collection/Fonds
- Simpsons-Sears Limited Burnaby fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 23 x 19.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a clown with an unidentified child inside the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day. The clown is holding a bunch of balloons printed with "Simpsons-Sears".
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Simpsons-Sears Limited Burnaby fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 23 x 19.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a clown with an unidentified child inside the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day. The clown is holding a bunch of balloons printed with "Simpsons-Sears".
- Names
- Simpsons-Sears Limited
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4750 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV021.26.20
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 5 May 1954
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Photographer
- Diack, George
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photograph was removed from original scrapbook with newspaper clippings, photographs and ephemera
- Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "-PHOTO BY - / GEORGE DIACK"
Images
Hong family and neighbour child at Hop-On Farm
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4257
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1952 or 1953] (date of original), copied 2017
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 600 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Hong family and neighbour child at Hop-On Farm. From L-R: Neighbour child, Gay Tim Hong, Sui Ha Hong, Pauline Hong, Chan Kow Hong. Farm buildings evident in background.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 600 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Hong family and neighbour child at Hop-On Farm. From L-R: Neighbour child, Gay Tim Hong, Sui Ha Hong, Pauline Hong, Chan Kow Hong. Farm buildings evident in background.
- History
- Josephine Hong was born to Sui Ha Hong and Chan Kow Hong. The Hong Family had seven children, oldest to youngest: Pauline, Josephine, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene, and Marlene. The family runs Hop-On Farm on Marine Drive in Burnaby. Many Hong family members worked on the farm including Josephine Hong's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong, and uncles. Her great-grandfather was Sui Wing Hong
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Names
- Hop On Farms
- Geographic Access
- Byrne Road
- Accession Code
- BV017.36.8
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1952 or 1953] (date of original), copied 2017
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Related Material
- See Oral History Interview-BV020.6.1
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 12/3/2017
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph.
Images
Is Your Child Ready for School?
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription63760
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- August 1953
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 booklet
- Scope and Content
- Item is a booklet entitled "Is Your Child Ready for School?" written by Primary Supervisor Kathleen E. Collins of the Burnaby School Board.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- August 1953
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Kathleen Collins subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 booklet
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- MSS109-008
- Access Restriction
- Open access
- Accession Number
- BHS2004-04
- Scope and Content
- Item is a booklet entitled "Is Your Child Ready for School?" written by Primary Supervisor Kathleen E. Collins of the Burnaby School Board.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Small child sitting on the grass
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4390
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1940 and 1960]
- Collection/Fonds
- Rhoda Jeffers fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 6.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified young child sitting on the grass beside a small wheelbarrow. The child is wearing polka dot shorts, a white top and is barefoot. There is a wooden fence behind with some flowering plants along the bottom.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Rhoda Jeffers fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 6.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified young child sitting on the grass beside a small wheelbarrow. The child is wearing polka dot shorts, a white top and is barefoot. There is a wooden fence behind with some flowering plants along the bottom.
- Accession Code
- BV007.20.13
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [between 1940 and 1960]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 24/04/2018
- Notes
- Title based on content of photograph
Images
T. Boyd Haskell shaking hands with child
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17382
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Simpsons-Sears Limited Burnaby fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of T. Boyd Haskell, Manager of Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby shaking hands with an unidentified child outside of the Simpsons-Sears store at 3660 Kingsway (after 1959, 4750 Kingsway) Burnaby.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Simpsons-Sears Limited Burnaby fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 9 cm
- Material Details
- perforated right edge of photo with two holes punched
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of T. Boyd Haskell, Manager of Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby shaking hands with an unidentified child outside of the Simpsons-Sears store at 3660 Kingsway (after 1959, 4750 Kingsway) Burnaby.
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4750 Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV021.26.131
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1958]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2021-09-21
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photograph was removed from small paper album titled "Album Prints" pasted within original scrapbook. Handwritten inscription on small album reads "Back to school / 1958?"
- Stamp in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "A_860"
Images
Woman and child sitting on easy chair
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4384
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 16 Oct. 1951
- Collection/Fonds
- Rhoda Jeffers fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a woman identified as "Peggy" holding a small child identified as "Donald John".
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Rhoda Jeffers fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a woman identified as "Peggy" holding a small child identified as "Donald John".
- Accession Code
- BV007.20.7
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 16 Oct. 1951
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 24/04/2018
- Notes
- Title based on content of photograph
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "Peggy & Donald John[?] / Oct 16/51 "
Images
Hill family and Vidal family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82116
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1850-1983]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hill family and Vidal family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 255 photographs : b&w and sepia and 9.5 cm of textual records : ill. (some col.)
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs and textual records from the Vidal and Hill family. Textual records include handwritten family trees, typed and handwritten biographical information of the Jones, Wright, Hyde, Vidal, and Hill families, copies of photographic prints, published works by J. H. Vidal and …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1850-1983]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hill family and Vidal family fonds
- Physical Description
- 255 photographs : b&w and sepia and 9.5 cm of textual records : ill. (some col.)
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2013-03
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs and textual records from the Vidal and Hill family. Textual records include handwritten family trees, typed and handwritten biographical information of the Jones, Wright, Hyde, Vidal, and Hill families, copies of photographic prints, published works by J. H. Vidal and William Cowper, newspaper clippings, and a New Testament.
- History
- Minard Gerald “Gerry” Hill was born in Burnaby on July 31, 1893, to Marian (nee Berkeley) and Bernard Richard Hill. Marian was born in London, England. Bernard Hill, born in Bengal, India, in 1858 to Sir Richard Hill and Jane Ann (nee Rollinson) where his father worked for the East Indian Railway, was one of the early inhabitants of Burnaby. Despite their years of training as engineers, Bernard, along with his brother, Louis Claude Hill, became strawberry farmers and owned all the land between Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake where Deer Creek runs, and halfway around Deer Lake. Bernard built his family home at Douglas Road near Deer Lake in 1892. After the decline in the strawberry industry, Bernard worked as a surveyor for the municipality. Bernard also served as a Burnaby trustee and as councilor of Burnaby in 1904, 1905, 1906, and 1909. Bernard and Marian had four children: A. Claude (born in England around 1885, married Marion “Mamie”), Frank L., Winnifred “Winnie” L., and Gerry. Gerry attended Miss Harriet Woodward’s kindergarten class, and went on to Edmonds School with Miss Ellen Lister as his teacher. He later went to Central High School in New Westminster, often on horseback. Gerry served in World War I, signing his recruitment papers on November 9, 1914. When he returned home, he worked felling trees, then as an apprentice surveyor and finally as a carpenter. His father, Bernard, died in Burnaby on March 27, 1939, at the age of 80. Bernard's brother, Louis, was one of the first members elected to the Burnaby council and served in 1892, 1893, 1894, and again from 1909-1910. Louis, born in 1860, married Annie Sarah Kendrick (born in 1896) and they moved to the Burnaby Lake area in the early 1890s. Together they had one child, Katherine “Kitty” Maude, born in 1898. The first Hill family home, “Brookfield,” was sold around 1907 and the family moved to their new home, “Broadview,” which was also built in the vicinity of Deer Lake. Kitty, their only child, married William “Bob” John Peers in 1925 and they went on to have three children: Robert C.K., Barbara (later Barbara Jeffrey), and Anne (later Anne Latham). Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal was born in 1897 in the United States to Louisa Sophia (nee Jones) and Herbert P. Vidal. Louisa Vidal (1871-1943) was a descendent of Jones of Exeter of England and the House of Llanio Cardigan of Wales. Herbert Vidal (1868-1934)’s father was Alexander Vidal (1819-1906). Alexander Vidal, born in Brocknell, England, immigrated to Upper Canada in 1835 and later served as a senator of Canada from 1873 to 1906. He married Catherine Louisa Wright, the daughter of Capt. William Elliot Wright. Both of Charlotte’s parents, Louisa and Herbert, were born in Ontario. Charlotte Vidal was sister to Dorothy Kate and Alexander E. E. Vidal. Gerry Hill (aged 27) and Charlotte E. Vidal (aged 23) married on September 28, 1920, in Vancouver. Gerry built a house for him and his wife about a thousand feet from his parents’ home. He also bought property at Yellow Point on Vancouver Island around this time. By the early 1930s, Gerry had moved to Yellow Point permanently and begun building the Yellow Point Lodge. Gerry and Charlotte bore three children: David, Lesley C. (born in 1929), and Gerald. Gerry was later remarried to Elizabeth (nee Holen) and had one child: Richard Grant McEwan Hill, born in Ladysmith. Lesley married M. Clarke and had two boys: Roy and Graham. She later married B. Durban and had four boys: Patrick, Michael, Gary, and Grant. Charlotte died on February 11, 1984, at the age of 87. Gerry died on January 30, 1988, in Ladysmith at the age of 93.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Creator
- Hill Family
- Vidal family
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- Photo catalogue 550, MSS176
Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19347
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share the…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Interviewees: Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill Location of Interview: Gill family residence on Warwick Avenue in Burnaby Interview Date: November 11, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:58:39) Digital master recording (m4a) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share their ancestral background, their personal experiences immigrating to Canada, living in Burnaby and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants. 00:00 – 27:34 Santokh “Gurmail” Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill share their migration stories and experiences living and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants and their eldest child, Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences as a child of South Asian immigrants and growing up in British Columbia as a South Asian Canadian. Gurmail Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar and Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in Hoshiapur of the Indian state of Punjab. Gurmail describes how he moved from India to England with his family in 1957, immigrated to Canada from England in 1966, married his wife Mohinder in England in 1968 and brought his family (parents and two siblings) to Canada from England in 1970 and other relatives including his wife’s family in the 1970s and 1980s. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill recollect their arranged marriage in England in 1968, their immigration process and explain how they arrived in Burnaby residing with a cousin at 4649 Georgia Street until they were able to purchase their own home after a few years. Gurmail shares names and connections to the relatives that came to British Columbia before him. Gurmail and Mohinder tell how they lived in the basement of the house and rented out the upper floor to save money. The couple recall what they brought with them when they immigrated to Canada and Mohinder Kaur Gill tells of how before leaving India, she and her mother made a special rajai for her to take with her. Mohinder describes the process of making a rajai (a quilted blanket that was made by hand). Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about the challenges that they’ve experienced as new immigrants including not being fluent in English, the cold weather and not having very many family or friends nearby to provide support. They attended the Gurdwara on Ross Street or Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara on Skeena in Vancouver. They explain how there was limited access to grocery stores that supplied Punjabi and Indian spices and other cooking supplies. They talk about how they used a food mill and mortar and pestle to grind their own spices and flour and how Mohinder often made traditional sweets like barfi and laddo and pakoras using pea flour when they couldn’t get Besan flour. 27:35 – 36:11 Gurmail provides more details on his family’s immigration story, including names of relatives, how his six siblings and parents all immigrated to British Columbia in 1970 and how in the early 1970s and mid 1980’s Gurmail and his family sponsored approximately 70 friends and relations from India (including Mohinder’s family) to immigrate to Canada. When Mohinder’s family arrived they lived with them in their house until they were able to purchase property next door and build their own home. Children in the families all attended elementary and high school in Burnaby which now amounts to three generations. 36:12 – 59:28 Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about their experiences of racial discrimination. Gurmail recalls members of the South Asian community, Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma, Harinder Mahil and Charan Gill starting the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism. Gurmail tells of how he got involved contributing some of his union dues as a member of CAIMAW (Canadian Association of Industrial Mechanical and Allied Workers Union- Local 15) and as a friend of Charan Gill and Raj Chouhan of the Canadian Farm Workers Union. Gurmail Gill explains how he was a founding member of CAIMAW and treasurer until the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (in 1991). Mohinder and Gurmail tell of how people from the South Asian community were discouraged from wearing Punjabi dresses or head coverings for fear of being yelled at with racial slurs and how it was often scary to go outside. Many from their community often avoided attending the Akali Singh Gurdwara since a head covering was required and people were afraid of being a target. Gurmail provides details about his work with A1 Steel, how different unions were formed pertaining to various skillsets and jobs per company and how he became a member of CAIMAW Local 15 (foundry workers). Mohinder recollects her experiences as a mother, the daily tasks involved and friends that she made who’d also emigrated from Punjab. Mohinder describes how she designed and sewed many Punjabi dresses using her electric sewing machine and how she learned English by attending adult classes at a church on Commercial Drive. Mohinder and her mother attended the classes for two hours per day for six years at a cost of twelve dollars for ten weeks. Once Mohinder could speak a little English, she started working and was able to practice more. 59:29 – 1:06:08 Mohinder, Gurmail and Prem talk about some of their favourite traditional foods including corn roti and spinach curry and how they grow many of their own vegetables including peppers, eggplant, saag (spinach), onions, garlic, cilantro, zucchini, squash and fenugreek. Mohinder reflects on how access to Punjabi clothing and fabric stores in Vancouver has changed and that ready made food is now more available. Traditional foods were previously made from scratch with women gathering together and cooking for hours and now it’s gotten easier but more expensive and less of a community feel. 1:06:09- 1:55:20 Mohinder and Gurmail Gill discuss and share their perspectives and experiences on raising a family in the past versus today. Gurmail imparts that all of his siblings became educated and secured professional careers while he continued to work in the trades. Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences growing up and attending school in Burnaby. Gurmail and Mohinder Gill recall the type of suitcase that they brought with them when they immigrated and how they recently they got rid of it. Gurmail and the group reflect and discuss the confusion with racial identity terms that have been used in this country. They comment that South Asians were referred to as “Hindu” and “East Indian” and Indigenous peoples were referred to as “Indian” and the controversy and racism behind some of these terms. The group discusses the impact of the caste system and other discriminatory experiences and compare their experiences of living in England to living in Canada. Prem comments on how it’s just recently that South Asian customs, celebrations and practices have been recognized and celebrated here in Canada, like Diwali and yoga. They comment on how much of the language, culture and customs have been retained in Surrey where many can still communicate in Punjabi and don’t need to be fluent in English. The group discusses how many South Asians immigrants first lived and worked in Vancouver but with rising property prices many moved to Surrey expanding and establishing a much larger South Asian community with resources. The group discusses and compares the differing travel routes that many of them and their relatives took when immigrating and travelling between India and Canada. The group talks about Rajdeep’s ancestral village in India which is near the Gill village of Firozpur. Gurmail explains the origins and details behind his family name that was changed from “Shergill” to “Gill” and the name “Santokh” from his maternal side.
- History
- Interviewees' biographies: Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar in Punjab, India. Gurmail moved to England with his family in 1957 and immigrated to British Columbia in 1966. Gurmail married his wife, Mohinder Kaur Gill in England in 1968 and she immigrated to British Columbia from England soon after. Gurmail first lived with a cousin in Burnaby before purchasing a home of his own in Burnaby where he raised his family. Gurmail worked in the steel industry and was a member and treasurer of the CAIMAW before the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in the Hoshiapur in Punjab, India. She married her husband Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill in England in 1968 and immigrated to Burnaby, British Columbia to join her husband. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill have four children, all born in Burnaby. Prem Kaur Gill was born in Burnaby in 1969 and is the eldest child of Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill. Prem grew up and attended school in Burnaby. Interviewers' biographies: 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”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Foods
- Indigenous peoples
- Buildings - Religious - Temples
- Food Processing Tools and Equipment
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Migration
- Occupations
- Organizations - Unions
- Responsibility
- Rajdeep
- Malik, Anushay
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcript available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum
- Indian Family System Reference notes: Baba = informal way to say grandfather; old man Bibi = informal way to say grandmother; old woman Dada= paternal grandfather Dadi= paternal grandmother Dadke= paternal family members; paternal side (Various spellings might exist for the following terms) Thaiyya= father’s elder brother (uncle) Thaiyyi= father’s elder brother’s wife (aunt) Chacha= father’s younger brother (uncle) Chachi= father’s younger brother’s wife (aunt) Bua= father’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Phuphar= father’s sister’s husband (uncle) Nana= maternal grandfather Nani= maternal grandmother Nanke/nanka= maternal family members; maternal side Mama= mom’s brother (older or younger) (uncle) Mami= mom’s brother’s wife (aunt) Maasi= mom’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Maasard= mom’s sister’s husband (uncle)
Audio Tracks
Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022
Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0002_002.mp3Robert Leonard Love fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20335
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1922-1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Robert Leonard Love fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 13 cm of textual records + 29 photographs
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of Robert Leonard Love's Royal Canadian Air Force records and vital stats records relating to himself and his wife Margaret along with family photographs. Records are arranged in series: 1) Robert Leonard Love RCAF records series 2) Robert and Margaret Love personal records series 3)…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Robert Leonard Love fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 13 cm of textual records + 29 photographs
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of Robert Leonard Love's Royal Canadian Air Force records and vital stats records relating to himself and his wife Margaret along with family photographs. Records are arranged in series: 1) Robert Leonard Love RCAF records series 2) Robert and Margaret Love personal records series 3) Robert and Margaret Love family photographs series
- History
- Robert Leonard Love was born in Burnaby in 1922 to parents John "Leonard" Love (1899-1978) and Jenny (Kennedy) Love (1900-1986). Robert was the eldest child of Leonard and Jenny Love and had three younger siblings Catherine "Ruth" (Love) Boruck, Alice (Love) Buckle and Gordon Love. Robert grew up in Burnaby at his family home located at 3205 George Street (later became 6112 Sussex Ave.). Robert joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served as a Pilot Officer during World War II. In 1945, after the war, he married Margaret Giles at Lorne Park Anglican Church, Missauga, Ontario. After marrying, Robert and Margaret first lived in Burnaby on Edna Street before moving to East 52nd Street in Vancouver. Between 1940 and 1951, Robert worked as a banker with the Bank of Nova Scotia (except while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II). In 1949, Robert and Margaret welcomed their first child, Robert Mathew "Bob". In 1951, Robert and family moved to Oregon after Robert got work with the First National Bank. Soon after moving to Oregon, Robert and Margaret welcomed their second child Donald Leonard "Don". In 1969 Robert was appointed as Adminstrative Assistant of the First National Bank in Oregon (later became Sea-First National Bank) and moved his family to Port Angeles, Oregon. Robert was later appointed vice president of the Sea-First National Bank. Robert was an active member of the Port Angeles Rotary Club, Downtown Business Association, The Eagles Aerie No. 483, BPOE No. 353 and a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church . Robert died at the age of 60 in Port Angeles in 1983.
- Creator
- Love, Robert Leonard "Bob"
- Responsibility
- Love, Robert Leonard "Bob"
- Accession Code
- BV023.24
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 1922-1986
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Child's birthday party
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4383
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1940 and 1960]
- Collection/Fonds
- Rhoda Jeffers fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 8.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of ten chidren sitting at a table wearing paper party hats. There is a cake with five candles on it in the middle of the table. The birthday celebration was for a child named "Gail" (seated near the birthday cake). A child to the left of "Gail" is identified as "Derek". Some small kitche…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Rhoda Jeffers fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 8.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of ten chidren sitting at a table wearing paper party hats. There is a cake with five candles on it in the middle of the table. The birthday celebration was for a child named "Gail" (seated near the birthday cake). A child to the left of "Gail" is identified as "Derek". Some small kitchen appliances are visible in the background.
- Subjects
- Celebrations - Birthdays
- Accession Code
- BV007.20.6
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [between 1940 and 1960]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 24/04/2018
- Notes
- title based on content of photograph
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "Gail. / x Derek / This was Gail's birthday / taken last April"
Images
Earl and Adell Philips family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18927
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939-1969
- Collection/Fonds
- Earl and Adell Philips family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 22 photographs + 2 p. of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs of Earl Gene and Adell Philips and family along with realestate listing slips for homes on Barker Avenue and Spruce Street in Burnaby.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Earl and Adell Philips family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 22 photographs + 2 p. of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs of Earl Gene and Adell Philips and family along with realestate listing slips for homes on Barker Avenue and Spruce Street in Burnaby.
- History
- Earl Gene Philips (1915-1968) was born, Eugene William Phillips in Kamloops, British Columbia and Adell Philips (1915-2022) was born, Lilian Odell Greenwood in Jaffray, British Columbia. The couple met at Mac & Mac Hardware in New Westminster where Earl was working as a salesman and Adell was working as a secretary and bookkeeper. Earl and Adell were married on May 15, 1942 in New Westminster. The couple lived briefly in Mission while Earl was working for the Mackie Brothers and returned to New Westminster where they lived on Queens Avenue while Earl worked for the Nelson Brothers Fisheries. In 1943, their first child, Cory (Linda Anne Phillips) was born followed by; Lorayne (Donna Elaine Phillips) in 1944 and Judith (Diane Elizabeth Phillips) in 1949. In 1949, the family moved to 5877 Barker Avenue, Burnaby and Adell worked for MacDonald Realty as a legal secretary. In 1952, Earl became involved in numerology and changed his name from Eugene William Phillips to Earl Gene Philips (with one “l”). The names of his wife and children were also changed from; Lilian Odell Phillips to Adell Philips, Linda Anne Phillips to Cory Philips, Donna Elaine Phillips to Lorayne Philips and Diane Elizabeth Phillips to Judith Philips. In 1955, their fourth child Lea Philips was born. All four children attended schools in Burnaby including; Nelson Elementary, Kingsway West School, Suncrest Elementary School, Maywood Elementary School, Burnaby South High School, Moscrop Junior High School, Burnaby Central Secondary School and BCIT. In 1969, following the death of Earl (in 1968), Adell and her son, Lea moved from their home on Barker Avenue to a house located at 4085 Spruce Street. Lea lived with his mother Adell until 1978 when he was married. Adell continued to live on Spruce Street until 2021 when she moved to a care home at the age of 106. Adell died in 2022, just 3 weeks shy of her 107th birthday.
- Accession Code
- BV022.11
- Date
- 1939-1969
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Arrangement
- Family records within fonds were compiled and arranged by Lea, Cora and Judith Philips and arranged and described at item level in the order in which they were donated to Burnaby Village Museum.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Field family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65767
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1915] - [1969]
- Collection/Fonds
- Field family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 31 photographs : tiffs ; 600 ppi + 0.5 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs of the Field family and their relatives, including the Sandersons, as well as notes used by Thomas Sanderson in preparation of an address he gave in 1934 titled "The Early Development of Our Lumber Industry with Historical Sketches."
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1915] - [1969]
- Collection/Fonds
- Field family fonds
- Physical Description
- 31 photographs : tiffs ; 600 ppi + 0.5 cm of textual records
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Accession Number
- 2010-14
- 2012-24
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs of the Field family and their relatives, including the Sandersons, as well as notes used by Thomas Sanderson in preparation of an address he gave in 1934 titled "The Early Development of Our Lumber Industry with Historical Sketches."
- History
- William “Willie“ James Field was born to William and Rebecca (Chambers) December of 1881 in England. Laura Tonkin was born to John Charles and Amelia (Johns) February of 1887 in Wales. Her brother, Charles Henry “Harry” was born in 1888. In 1907, Laura Tonkin married Willie James Field. Their first child, Phyllis Laura, was born in 1910. In 1912, the young family of three immigrated to Canada, arriving firstly in Hamilton, Ontario, where Willie James ran a welding business. Both Willie’s youngest brother, Arthur Pearcy, and Laura’s only brother, Charles Henry “Harry”, joined them soon after. The extended family of five then moved west to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. But Arthur Percy soon returned to Hamilton, married Sara Umbach, and had their two children, Arthur and June. Laura and Willie returned to Wales with Phyllis to have their second child, William John “John”, in 1914. War broke out and they were stranded until 1919. Within that time, Harry also returned to England with his bride, Ethyl “Em.” In 1919, the Field and Tonkin families returned to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, before heading out west. Willie James Field or Harry Tonkin owned the Model T-Ford convertible that the extended family travelled west in, arriving in Central Park, Burnaby, around 1921. Amelia and John Charles Tonkin purchased a home on Wilson Avenue where they lived out the rest of their lives. Amelia died on March 6, 1944, at the age of 82. Harry and Em Tonkin bought property on Nelson Avenue and began their family with a son, Roy, who unfortunately, did not survive infancy. He had a sister, Marjorie, born 1927. Willie James and Laura bought property on Patterson Avenue and had two more children: Dorothy, born October 10, 1925, and Robert George, born September 6, 1927. In 1929, June Field was brought out from Ontario as tuberculosis had claimed both her parents. The Mackenzies of Central Park adopted her and she became June Mackenzie at the age of three. Her older brother Arthur stayed in a foster home in Ontario. When June lost both her adoptive parents, Arthur came to Burnaby and he and his sister became a members of the Patterson Avenue Field family. In 1937, Phyllis Field married Gordon John Sanderson, the son of Ellen Jane Garvin and former Burnaby Reeve Thomas Sanderson. William James Field died March 17, 1965, at the age of 83, his wife Laura died in 1968 at the age of 81. William John “John” and Margaret (Begg) Field had their daughter Lorraine in 1941 and Joyce shortly after. Robert George married Edna Schilthelm of Mandy Avenue in Burnaby, and had William George “Bill”, Elizabeth “Betty” Gorrie, Joan Katherine Nash and Susan Carol Hanniford. All live locally, except Joan who lives in Royston.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Creator
- Field family
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- Photo catalogue 521, MSS168
Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19611
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby sin…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewers: Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik Interviewees: Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta Location of Interview: Spice Radio, Norland Avenue, Burnaby Interview Date: January 20, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:30:21 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 Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby since immigrating in 1972 and her arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada. Datt provides detailed information about her family background in Kenya and her parent’s decision to move their family from Kenya to India in the 1960s and then to England in the 1965. Datt describes her family’s experiences living in Kenya and India in the 1960s and provides some context on the political unrest that happened in Kenya which lead her family to leave. 12:48 - 28:07 Datt talks about her time living in England and shares information on her family life and her employment experiences. Datt conveys an experience from her childhood that inspired her to become a broadcaster and shares her experiences working for the BBC oversees service in England (1965-1972). Datt describes some of the articles that she's written for various publications and the people that she's interviewed. Datt highlights a particular experience about writing a critical review about the controversial design on Jimi Hendrix’s album “Axis: Bold as Love” that depicted Hindu religious iconography. 28:09 – 34:47 Datt and Datta provide further details about Datt's arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada in 1972 and to work as a broadcaster in Canada. Datt recalls her experiences working as a radio station operator for CHQM, a radio broadcaster for CJVB and starting her own South Asian radio station Rim Jhim in 1987. 34:48 – 40:01 Datt and Datta share information on where they’ve lived in Vancouver and Burnaby. Datt and Datta recall pivotal family life events that impacted their lives in 1974. 40:02 – 45:53 Datt recalls the travel trunks and contents that she and her family brought with them when they left Nairobi. Datt describes the letters that her parents wrote. Datt and Datta describe photos of their family and convey the impacts to their family after two of Datt’s brothers died at 24 years of age. 45:54 – 50:56 Interview continues chronologically from 1974, after Datt’s son, Sudhir Datta was born. Datt describes how she had to work hard to help pay her bills and support her family. Datta describes his childhood growing up as a South Asian child living and attending school in Burnaby (1979-1992). Datt and Datta recall Datt’s graduation ceremony and Datta’s Order of British Columbia awards ceremony. 50:57 – 58:03 Datt and Datta talk about food and cooking and where they’ve shopped for traditional food supplies. Datta explains her family lineage as Hindus who eat meat and how she’s been a vegetarian for over 30 years. Datt and Datta share stories about Datt’s mother Leela Datta. 58:04 – 1:05:38 Both Datt and Datta reflect on what’s it’s been like living as South Asians in Burnaby. Datt conveys the message that she got from her mom, Leela Datta "not to assimilate but to integrate". They both reflect on how the ethnic and cultural diversity of neighbourhoods has changed over time and Datt describes his experiences as a student in Burnaby. 1:05:39 – 1:16:51 Datt and Datta talk about the role of religion in their lives, describe the purpose of Radio Rim Jhim and reflect on how the South Asian community has grown in Metro Vancouver and the disparities created within. They both recall how their lives were threatened and impacted in 1984 following an interview that Datt did with Indira Ghandhi. Datt talks about the origins of her and her son’s surnames. 1:16:52 – 1:26:11 Datt and Datta talk about and reflect on their own experiences of racism and discrimination. Datt talks about Spice Radio’s annual campaign “Raise your hands against Racism”. Datt and Datta provide background on the radio stations Rim Jhim and Spice Radio including; how they got started, their unbiased approach to broadcast content and their experiences in the complex realm of broadcasting a multi-cultural radio station. 1:26:12 – 1:30:04 In closing, Datt and Datta convey what they think that younger generations of South Asian Canadians should understand about the South Asian Community in British Columbia.
- History
- Interviewees biographies: Shushma Datt was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1946 and is the second eldest of six children. In the 1960s during the unrest in Kenya, her family moved to India. After about nine months of living in India, Datt's family decided to return to Kenya, leaving Datt and her brother to complete their education in India. While living in India, Datt studied at Delhi University and worked at the Indian newspaper. In 1965, Datt, her parents and five siblings decided to leave Kenya and immigrated to England. While living in England, Datt got work as a broadcaster with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) overseas service, producing her first program in 1969. During her time with the BBC, Datt has interviewed many influential artists including Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles as well as the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. In 1972, Datt immigrated to Canada and settled in Burnaby. In late 1973, Datt sponsored her mother who joined her in Burnaby. Datt joined the CJVB radio station in Vancouver working as the Punjabi and Hindi language broadcaster. Datt worked here until 1978 when she started her own radio station, Radio Rim Jhim. In 2005, Datt obtained her own AM radio band license for a multicultural radio station RJ1200 which was later rebranded "Spice Radio". In 2015, Datt launched Spice Radio's annual "Hands Against Racism" campaign which has won awards from the Government of British Columbia and the B.C. Association of Broadcasters. Datt has also been a producer for Omni TV and Shaw TV and was the first woman to obtain a broadcasting license from the Canadian Radio- Television Telecommunications Commission. In 1992, Shushma Datt was awarded the Order of British Columbia and is also the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. Datt has been listed by the Vancouver Sun newspaper as among the 100 "most influential Indo-Canadians" and has been recognized by the Royal British Columbia Museum as one of the 150 "most influential British Columbians". Sudhir Datta is the only child of Sushma Datt and was born in Burnaby. Datta graduated with a computer science degree from Capilano University in 1995. Datta is the Vice President of Media Broadcasting (founded in 1984) creating television and radio programming for Canada's South Asian Community and has been the General Manager and Program Director of Spice Radio since 2006. Datta is also the author of many articles highlighting the South Asian community in Vancouver. Interviewers biographies: 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”. Jane Lemke has worked in various museums in the Lower Mainland and has been the Curator at Burnaby Village Museum since 2019. Her educational background includes a Master of Arts degree in History and a Master of Museum Studies degree. Her research focus has been on trauma and memory and its role in shaping Canadian identity. She loves sharing memories and stories of Burnaby with the public. Jane sits on the Council of the BC Museums Association and is the Chair of the BC Museums Association Professional Development and Education Committee.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Migration
- Occupations - Broadcasters
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Occupations - Journalists
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Radio Stations
- Religions
- Religions - Hinduism
- Religions - Sikhism
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Responsibility
- Malik, Anushay
- Lemke, Jane
- Accession Code
- BV023.1.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcript available upon request
Audio Tracks
Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0001_0003_003.mp3Interview 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.mp3Joseph H.C. Corsbie fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20275
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1941-1988]
- Collection/Fonds
- Joseph H.C. Corsbie fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 35 photographs + 1.5 cm textual records + 1 map + 1 book
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs and documents relating to Joseph (Joe) Hardcastle Cumberland Corsbie during his service with the RCAF during World War II (1942-1945) along with photographs and docments relating to his personal and professional life (. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Joseph H.C. Co…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Joseph H.C. Corsbie fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 35 photographs + 1.5 cm textual records + 1 map + 1 book
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs and documents relating to Joseph (Joe) Hardcastle Cumberland Corsbie during his service with the RCAF during World War II (1942-1945) along with photographs and docments relating to his personal and professional life (. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Joseph H.C. Corsbie RCAF records series 2) Joseph H.C. Corsbie personal and professional records series
- History
- Joseph “Joe” Hardcastle Cumberland Corsbie was born in 1913 in Peace River (Doe River) to parents Joseph Hardcastle Cumberland Corsbie and Winnifred Ann Mapleton Corsbie. As an adult Joe trained and served with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator between 1942 and 1945. In 1945, while serving with the RCAF during World War II, Joe was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After World War II, Joe returned to Peace River where he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly serving as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MLA for one term between 1945 and 1948. In April 1948, Joe Corsbie married Margaret Carr in the Metropolitan United Church in Victoria followed by a reception held at the B.C. Legislature buildings. On their wedding day, the couple were honoured with a hand painted congratulatory certificate signed by members of the B.C. Legislature. In late, 1948, Joe lost the election and moved with his wife Margaret to Black Creek, B.C. to manage a co-op store. In 1949, the couple welcome their first child who they named Margaret after her mother. In 1950, Joe, Margaret and their daughter moved to a home on Charles Street in Burnaby and Joe began working as the General Manager of the Gulf and Fraser Fishermen’s Credit Union. In 1951, Joe and Margaret welcomed their second child, named Josesph after his father and in 1952, Joe, Margaret and family moved to 84 Springer Avenue, Burnaby where they lived until 1989. Between 1959 and 1976, Joe worked as a General Manager for the CU & C Health Services Society (later became Pacific Blue Cross). While working there, he focused on organizing both extended healthcare benefits and dental coverage for employee groups. In 1964, Joe Corsbie was elected to Burnaby Municipal Council and served one term between 1964 and 1968. Joe also served on the Burnaby Parks Commission (after 1968); served on the Board of Directors for Heritage Village, worked for a short period as a temporary curator for Heritage Village, represented the United Church in organizing and building St. Michael’s Care Centre and served on the Board of Director's. Joe Corsbie died in 1992 and his wife Margaret Corsbie died in 2004.
- Accession Code
- BV020.31
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1941-1988]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Cartographic Material
- Arrangement
- Arrangement of fonds is based on the original arrangement by donor.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds