Narrow Results By
City of Burnaby Archives
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark783
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Albert Street
- Associated Dates
- 2001
- Heritage Value
- The City of Burnaby Archives officially opened on Saturday, November 10, 2001. The Archives is Burnaby's first municipal archives, and is located in the McGill Branch Library. The City Archives functions as a branch of the Office of the City Clerk and operates as the official repository of Burnaby's municipal records, containing records dating back to Burnaby's incorporation in 1892. In 2007, the City of Burnaby Archives expanded its collection mandate to include private as well as public records. On February 14, 2007 an agreement was signed with the Burnaby Historical Society and, as a result, the Archives accepted into its custody the collection of community records that had been maintained and managed by the Historical Society since the 1950s. In the Spring of 2007, these records were transferred from the Burnaby Village Museum to their permanent home in the Archives facility.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Capitol Hill Area
- Street Address
- 4595 Albert Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Images
BHS Community Archives collection and transfer to City of Burnaby Archives
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98413
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1985-2006
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File contains records related to the establishment of a City Archives and transfer of the Burnaby Historical Society's community archives collection to the City Archives, including the signed and sealed agreement between the Society and City of Burnaby. File also includes a Burnaby Historical Soci…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1985-2006
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Series
- Administration series
- Physical Description
- 1 cm of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS205-081
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2020-06
- Scope and Content
- File contains records related to the establishment of a City Archives and transfer of the Burnaby Historical Society's community archives collection to the City Archives, including the signed and sealed agreement between the Society and City of Burnaby. File also includes a Burnaby Historical Society Archives Report 1984-1985, compiled by Society Archivist Jim Wolf in October 1985.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Title transcribed from original file folder
City of Burnaby Archives
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription62664
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- August 27, 2009
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col. ; 600ppi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the City of Burnaby Archives.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- August 27, 2009
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col. ; 600ppi
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 503-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2009-10
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the City of Burnaby Archives.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Civic - Archives
- Names
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Pasch, Rebecca
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Albert Street
- Street Address
- 4595 Albert Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Capitol Hill Area
Images
City of Burnaby Archives Mandate and Acquisition Policy
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport3556
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 63603
- Meeting Date
- 13-Aug-2001
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 20
- Item No.
- 16
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 63603
- Meeting Date
- 13-Aug-2001
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 20
- Item No.
- 16
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
City of Burnaby Archives - Project 2002
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport3558
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 63601
- Meeting Date
- 13-Aug-2001
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 63601
- Meeting Date
- 13-Aug-2001
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Update on the City of Burnaby Archives
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport2814
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 64357
- Meeting Date
- 25-Nov-2002
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 64357
- Meeting Date
- 25-Nov-2002
- Format
- Council - Committee Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
![Archivist Arilea Sill with council minutes, [2005] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1951.jpg?width=280)
Archivist Arilea Sill with council minutes
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96268
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2005]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of City of Burnaby archivist Arilea Sill holding up restored pages of City council minutes from 1895-1898. Sill stands in the council chambers of Burnaby's City Hall.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2005]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 535-1951
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of City of Burnaby archivist Arilea Sill holding up restored pages of City council minutes from 1895-1898. Sill stands in the council chambers of Burnaby's City Hall.
- Names
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Medig, Kari
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a February 2005 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata: "Arilea Sill, the City of Burnaby's archivist, displays restored pages of city council minutes from 1895-1898, which were recently found in Victoria. The pages were officially presented to council, to be stored in the city's archives, at Monday's council meeting."
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4949 Canada Way
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
![Archivist Arilea Sill with council minutes, [2005] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1951.jpg)
![Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.JPG?width=280)
Through the Lens of Andy Digney
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10099
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (12 min., 17 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a short film featuring a compilation of film footage created by Andy Digney that was edited and narrated by the Burnaby Village Museum. Burnaby resident Andy Digney captured footage of Burnaby and beyond from 1934 to 1964. Highlights within this film compilaton include the constru…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (12 min., 17 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Material Details
- Research and Narration: Lisa Codd
- Editing and Audio Recording: Matthew Ball
- Special thanks to Paul Digney
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a short film featuring a compilation of film footage created by Andy Digney that was edited and narrated by the Burnaby Village Museum. Burnaby resident Andy Digney captured footage of Burnaby and beyond from 1934 to 1964. Highlights within this film compilaton include the construction and events held at the Oak Theatre; Royal visit motorcade of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; Sports Day at Central Park; Gymcana event at Burnaby Lake Riding Stables; lawn bowling at Central Park; a Depression-era May Day workers’ parade in 1936; May Day celebrations in Burnaby; visits to locations throughout the Lower Mainland, including Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain and boat trip up Burrard Inlet; the Digney Speedway; the Digney family at their home on Bonsor Avenue and the Digney Bowling Alley.
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Names
- Digney, Andy
- Digney Bowling Alley
- Digney Speedway
- Codd, Lisa
- Oak Theatre
- Burnaby Lawn Bowling Club
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Central Park
- Street Address
- 6521 Bonsor Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Related Material
- See also the City of Burnaby Archives "Digney Family fonds" MI catalogue 562.003 for film masters
- Notes
- Title based on contents
- City of Burnaby Archives holds the original Digney film masters (562.003) that this narrated segment was disseminated from. See Digney family fonds
Images
![Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.JPG)
Video
Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.mp4In the shadow by the sea : recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5173
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Publication Date
- c2004
- Call Number
- 971.133 PRI Copy 2
an exceptional job in pulling the project together. Both Bianka Zein-
abova, of the Clerk's Department, and Therese Nielsen of the Planning Department assisted in
word processing and mailing. Michelle Barroca, Records and Information Officer andArilea Sill,
Archivist, retrieved documents from the City of Burnaby
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 0969282885
- Call Number
- 971.133 PRI Copy 2
- Contributor
- Wolf, Jim
- Pride, Harry, 1925-
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- c2004
- Physical Description
- 246 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby (B.C.)--History
- Industries--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
- Barnet Marine Park--Burnaby, B.C.
- Geographic Access
- Barnet Road
- Burrard Inlet
- Notes
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 246) and index.
- "edited by Harry Pride and Jim Wolf"
- Copy 2 of 2
Digital Books
BHS minutes 2007
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98327
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 2007
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 0.5 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File contains Burnaby Historical Society regular meeting minutes and agendas, as well as the minutes of the annual general meeting. File also includes ephemera items related to Burnaby heritage projects and a copy of agreement between the Society and City of Burnaby to donate the Society's Communi…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 2007
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Series
- Administration series
- Physical Description
- 0.5 cm of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS205-051
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2020-06
- Scope and Content
- File contains Burnaby Historical Society regular meeting minutes and agendas, as well as the minutes of the annual general meeting. File also includes ephemera items related to Burnaby heritage projects and a copy of agreement between the Society and City of Burnaby to donate the Society's Community Archives to the City of Burnaby Archives.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97124
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1892-2018
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- ca. 130 linear feet of textual records 30 linear feet of graphic and other material
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of the Burnaby Historical Society's administrative records and community archives collection.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1892-2018
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Physical Description
- ca. 130 linear feet of textual records 30 linear feet of graphic and other material
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of the Burnaby Historical Society's administrative records and community archives collection.
- History
- The Burnaby Historical Society was founded in 1957. The Historical Society developed a community archives by collecting, compiling and preserving various materials with historical value to the City of Burnaby. It gathered miscellaneous documents, photographs and other items while also soliciting and acquiring entire collections or groups of archival records. In 1991, the Historical Society was provided a permanent space to house their growing collection at the Burnaby Village Museum and they continued to collect and expand their holdings. After the creation of the City of Burnaby Archives in 2001, the Burnaby Historical Society and the City of Burnaby began discussing the possibility of uniting the two collections. In February 2007, an agreement was signed between the two institutions which resulted in the merger of the Society's Community Archives with the City Archives. All records and photographs that had been collected by the Historical Society were transferred into the custody of the City and were moved from the Burnaby Village Museum to the City Archives in the McGill Branch of the Burnaby Public Library. The Burnaby Historical Society disbanded in 2018.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Sound Recording
- Creator
- Burnaby Historical Society
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Charting Change project series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription74547
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 2009
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 43 photographs (tiff) : col. ; 600ppi
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of digital photographs taken by City of Burnaby Archives staff as part of the Charting Change Project: An Interactive Atlas of Burnaby's Heritage project under the direction of the Community Heritage Commission.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 2009
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Physical Description
- 43 photographs (tiff) : col. ; 600ppi
- Description Level
- Series
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2012-30
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of digital photographs taken by City of Burnaby Archives staff as part of the Charting Change Project: An Interactive Atlas of Burnaby's Heritage project under the direction of the Community Heritage Commission.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of series
E.W. Bateman family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15157
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1857]-[195-]
- Collection/Fonds
- E.W. Bateman family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 63 photographs + 6 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs of the family of Edwin Wettenhall Bateman and residences including Elworth house, along with letters written by Colin Rhodes Fox during World War II. Fonds is arranged into the following series: 1) Bateman family photographs series 2) Bateman family World War II lette…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- E.W. Bateman family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 63 photographs + 6 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs of the family of Edwin Wettenhall Bateman and residences including Elworth house, along with letters written by Colin Rhodes Fox during World War II. Fonds is arranged into the following series: 1) Bateman family photographs series 2) Bateman family World War II letters series
- History
- Edwin Wettenhall "E.W." Bateman was born in 1859 in Sandbach, Cheshire, to James and Caroline Mary Wettenhall Bateman (their home in Sandbach was called Elworth Cottage). When he was twenty-one, E.W. Bateman immigrated to Manitoba, Canada where he met Catherine “Cassie” Dale, daughter of George and Sarah Gillon Dale. They were married in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba on November 9, 1886. Edwin and Cassie had seven children, the eldest Edna Caroline Annie (Corner) (1889-1969); George Edwin (1890-? ); Mamie (McWilliams) (1892-1979); Marianne “May” Bateman (1894-1990); Warren Stafford (1896-1954); Jessie (Fox Kemp) (1899-1978) and John Carey (1901-1945). Catherine “Cassie” (Dale) Bateman died in Portage La Prairie in 1909. After Cassie's death, Edwin was transferred to Vancouver by the Canadian Pacific Railway where he married Cassie’s younger sister Mary Dale (1896-1935). Edwin moved his six of his seven children to Vancouver (not including George). Edwin and Mary (Dale) Bateman first lived at 7th and Balsam Street in Vancouver and in 1920, they decided to move to the quieter atmosphere of the Burnaby Lake- Deer Lake area. By this time Edwin Wettenhall Bateman was a retired CPR executive. He moved his wife and daughter Marianne “May” Bateman to Deer Lake and commissioned architect, Enoch Evans to build 'Elworth' house (named after Edwin’s family home in Sandbach, Chesire). The house was completed by contractor William Dodson in 1922 and located at the site of what would become Heritage Village and later, Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Avenue. The Batemans lived at this location for thirteen years before moving back to Vancouver in May of 1935. Mary Dale Bateman died in July 1935 and sometime after, Edwin W. Bateman married Dora Coulton. Edwin W. Bateman died in 1957 at the age of 98. Edna Caroline Bateman married Raymond Westley Corner in 1920 and had a daughter named Catherine Mary (Levins). Edna and Raymond lived in Kelowna. George Bateman married Louise Agness Birss in January 1910 and continued to live in Manitoba. Mamie Dale Bateman married George Lloyd McWilliams in 1915. The couple had two children, Warren Finley McWilliams and Bruce McWilliams. Mamie and George McWilliams lived with their family on Douglas Road across the road from Elworth house in Burnaby. Warren McWilliams was on North Atlantic convoy duty during World War I from 1942 to 1944. Warren McWilliams died in 2004. Warren Stafford Bateman married Norah Withington in Burnaby in 1924; Winifred Dare Webster in Burnaby in 1932 and Dorothy Margaret Buchanan in New Westminster in 1949. Warren and Winnifred “Winnie” Webster celebrated their marriage at Elworth house in 1932. Warren served in World War I. Jessie Madeline Bateman married Ernest Denby Fox (1900-1945) in 1921. Jessie and Ernest Fox had three children, Colin Rhodes Fox (1921-2005); Mary “Betty” (Gludo) and Allan Fox. Jessie and Ernest Fox operated a small logging company near Powell River, B.C. Sometime after the death of her first husband, Ernest Denby Fox, Jessie married James Kemp. The youngest child of Edwin and Cassie, John “Carey” Bateman married Sophia Spak (1899-1977) in 1925. On September 10, 1939, the day that Canada declared war on Germany, Colin Rhodes Fox (eldest son of Jessie and Ernest Fox) enlisted in the army at the age of 18 years. Colin initially served in an anti-aircraft unit, but was soon transferred to the Field Artillery. During his service overseas, Colin wrote letters to family members including his aunt May Bateman who was living in Burnaby. Colin went through basic artillery training in Edmonton before heading overseas to the United Kingdom with his unit, the 13th Field Regiment , 44th Canadian Field Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery and later the 78th Canadian Field Battery in Germany and Holland . Colin was wounded on June 8, 1944 (two days after D-Day) but returned to serve in Holland and Germany until the war ended. Colin suffered bullet and shrapnel wounds while laying communication cable from the Normandy beachhead. In 1946, Colin married Susan Streika (Striha) of Pitt Meadows and he began a thirty five year career in the B.C. Telephone Company on Vancouver Island. Colin and Susan had three children; Gary, Elaine and Irene. Colin Rhodes Fox died in 2005. The E.W. Bateman house, "Elworth" is a heritage building on the site of the Burnaby Village Museum. The site is an important cultural feature for the interpretation of Burnaby’s heritage to the public. The E.W. Bateman House was purchased by Burnaby in 1970 and became the focal point for the development of the Museum. Both the interior and exterior of the house have been restored and interpreted to the date of original construction, including recreated room interiors and period furnishings.
- Accession Code
- HV974.22
- HV974.90
- HV975.120
- HV976.37
- HV979.32
- BV985.1003
- BV986.21
- BV992.29
- BV994.22
- BV004.28
- BV004.84
- BV020.27
- Date
- [1857]-[195-]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Related Material
- See also: Interview with Marianne May Bateman February 22, 1978 - Tracks 1-4. City of Burnaby Archives Item No. MSS137-014-1
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Library files - Burnaby libraries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66570
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1974-2006
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records (newsprint)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of newspaper clippings and newsletters pertaining to various Burnaby libraries. Included in the file is an invitation to the opening of the then new McGill Branch Library and the City of Burnaby Archives.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1974-2006
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Ephemera subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records (newsprint)
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 43057
- Accession Number
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- File consists of newspaper clippings and newsletters pertaining to various Burnaby libraries. Included in the file is an invitation to the opening of the then new McGill Branch Library and the City of Burnaby Archives.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Mary Forsyth fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription87823
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1893] (date of original) -2004
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual records, graphic material and cartographic material
- Scope and Content
- Records consist of material created and collected by Mary Forsyth. Records include correspondence, photographs, a map, presentation notes, and reviews along with research for historical and biographical essays pertaining to pioneering families, organizations, and the geographical area of South Burn…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1893] (date of original) -2004
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual records, graphic material and cartographic material
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2014-27
- Scope and Content
- Records consist of material created and collected by Mary Forsyth. Records include correspondence, photographs, a map, presentation notes, and reviews along with research for historical and biographical essays pertaining to pioneering families, organizations, and the geographical area of South Burnaby. One of her major research projects consists of "A Walking Environment for South Burnaby," which also became a proposal to The Corporation of the District of Burnaby. Historical information and photographs pertaining to South Burnaby pioneer families and organizations were compiled from interviews with the intention of publishing a book.
- History
- Mary Gertrude (Bolton) Forsyth was born at her parents' home in Burnaby on March 5, 1923, and was the daughter of Richard Bolton and Gertrude (nee Hern). Mary's father, Richard, immigrated to Canada from Sunderland, England, in 1911. He lived with his brother George in New Westminster prior to purchasing property in South Burnaby in 1916 and built a bungalow located at 859 Marine Drive. Richard Bolton was employed as the municipal treasurer for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby and, in 1919, he returned to Sunderland with three months leave of absence to marry Mary Gertrude Hern, daughter of Captain and Mrs. John Hern. Mary grew up with her parents and sister Nancy in the house that her father built on Marine Drive. She married Lloyd Forsyth in 1946 and they had two children, Diane and Robert. Mary and her husband raised their family in Burnaby and built a house at 855 Marine Drive, on the lot originally purchased by her father, and moved later to a house located at 6457 Marine Drive. In 1964, after her children were grown, Mary completed her teaching degree at Simon Fraser University and went on to teach kindergarten at Nelson Elementary School. While a teacher within the Burnaby School District, Mary was instrumental in adopting ballet as part of the school curriculum. Mary was an active member of the Burnaby Historical Society, participating and leading local events and seminars. She was inspired by the idea of the 'Housewives Holiday', originally initiated by the Vancouver "Y’ S". In February 1960, she was integral in forming a committee in South Burnaby, working alongside Ruth Turner, Faye Treagh, and Dorothy Turnbull. The "Housewives Holiday" committee (a branch of the Clinton-Glenwood Recreation Association) planned several events at Bonsor Hall for Burnaby housewives from October 6 to December 8, 1960. After her retirement from teaching, Mary returned to Simon Fraser University to do further studies and, in 1983, she wrote an essay for an Environmental Education course, titled "A Walking Environment for South Burnaby". The essay was conducted as a feasibility study to provide a walking environment in her community and included a formal essay, a media book, a map, and a slide presentation which was presented to a variety of local community groups. In 1984, Mary was the recipient of the North Fraser Harbour Commission Award to further her work on this project. In October 1986, her essay was adapted as a proposal to The Corporation of the District of Burnaby for a walking and cycling trail system for South Burnaby. Her proposal was taken into consideration by council and was later adopted by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mary was very much interested in the history of South Burnaby and spent time between 1990 to 2004 conducting research through the Burnaby Historical Society, The City of Burnaby Archives, and several pioneering families who agreed to share their family records and be interviewed. Mary compiled her research into short historical and biographical essays by geographical area, family name, and organization. Mary (Bolton) Forsyth lived her whole life in South Burnaby and was an active and committed member of her community. She died on November 10, 2010.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Cartographic Material
- Creator
- Forsyth, Mary
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- Photo catalogue 572, MSS185