37 records – page 1 of 2.

Annie Ellis in Burnaby Players costume

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37772
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1963 (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.6 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 26.2 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Annie Ellis, in a Burnaby Players costume, at the back of 6113 Silver Avenue, the Ellis family home.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1963 (date of original), copied 1991
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Image Bank subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.6 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 26.2 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-360
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of Annie Ellis, in a Burnaby Players costume, at the back of 6113 Silver Avenue, the Ellis family home.
Subjects
Occupations - Actors
Clothing - Costumes
Names
Burnaby Players
Ellis, Annie King
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w copy negative accompanying
Negative has a pink cast
Geographic Access
Silver Avenue
Street Address
6113 Silver Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Images
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Arthur W. Mawbey

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46259
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1959 and 1964]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 13.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of World War I veteran Arthur W. Mawbey sitting in front of the Union Jack in uniform during a Remembrance Day observance ceremony. He is smoking a pipe, with one hand resting on his cane, and the other hand holding a white wooden cross with maple leaf resting on it.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1959 and 1964]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 13.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
480-1147
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2003-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of World War I veteran Arthur W. Mawbey sitting in front of the Union Jack in uniform during a Remembrance Day observance ceremony. He is smoking a pipe, with one hand resting on his cane, and the other hand holding a white wooden cross with maple leaf resting on it.
Subjects
Persons - Veterans
Wars - World War, 1914-1918
Symbols - Flags
Clothing - Military Uniforms
Names
Mawbey, Arthur W.
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Bob Prittie with Cheryl Manning and Faure Girgrich

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46024
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1969, published February 21, 1969
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 14 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie visiting the rehearsal of "Man in the Moon" put on by the Burnaby players. Bob Prittie is sitting next to Cheryl Manning who is dressed as a Phoenix, and holding a "rejuvenation egg" up for him to look at. Faure Girgrich is at his shoulder, dressed as "Moon Tree."
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1969, published February 21, 1969
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20 x 14 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
480-912
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2003-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie visiting the rehearsal of "Man in the Moon" put on by the Burnaby players. Bob Prittie is sitting next to Cheryl Manning who is dressed as a Phoenix, and holding a "rejuvenation egg" up for him to look at. Faure Girgrich is at his shoulder, dressed as "Moon Tree."
Subjects
Officials - Mayors and Reeves
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Clothing - Costumes
Names
Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
Manning, Cheryl
Girgrich, Faure
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
King, Basil
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Bruce Northorp and Robert Prittie

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46210
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1969 and 1973]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 24.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Royal Canadian Mounted Police staff-sergeant Bruce Northorp in uniform, shaking hands with Burnaby Mayor Robert Prittie, as the Mayor presents him with the RCMP's 20-year long-service metal at a ceremony at city hall.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1969 and 1973]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 24.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
480-1098
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2003-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of Royal Canadian Mounted Police staff-sergeant Bruce Northorp in uniform, shaking hands with Burnaby Mayor Robert Prittie, as the Mayor presents him with the RCMP's 20-year long-service metal at a ceremony at city hall.
Subjects
Clothing - Uniforms
Public Services - Policing
Ceremonies - Awards
Personal Symbols - Certificates
Officials - Mayors and Reeves
Names
Northorp, Bruce
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Canada Way
Street Address
4949 Canada Way
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
Less detail

Burnaby-Hastings Rotary Club's Minor League Baseball team

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1689
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1967 or 1968]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16.5 cm (sight), mounted in folder 19 x 45.5 cm, folded to 19 x 22.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby-Hastings Rotary Club's Minor League Baseball team sitting and standing in two rows with their coach.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16.5 cm (sight), mounted in folder 19 x 45.5 cm, folded to 19 x 22.5 cm
Material Details
Window mat and folder are glued together
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby-Hastings Rotary Club's Minor League Baseball team sitting and standing in two rows with their coach.
Subjects
Sports - Baseball
Sports - Team Sports
Clothing - Uniforms
Accession Code
BV003.68.115
Access Restriction
Restricted access
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[1967 or 1968]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
09-Jun-09
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Note on inside cover of folder (that houses photograph) reads: "Burnaby - Hastings Rotary/ 1967-68"
Images
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Burnaby-Hastings Rotary Club's Minor League Baseball team

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1690
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
June 1965
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16.5 cm (sight), mounted in folder 19 x 45.5 cm, folded to 19 x 22.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby-Hastings Rotary Club's Minor League Baseball team standing in two rows with their coach.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16.5 cm (sight), mounted in folder 19 x 45.5 cm, folded to 19 x 22.5 cm
Material Details
Window mat and folder are glued together
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby-Hastings Rotary Club's Minor League Baseball team standing in two rows with their coach.
Subjects
Sports - Baseball
Sports - Team Sports
Clothing - Uniforms
Accession Code
BV003.68.116
Access Restriction
Restricted access
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
June 1965
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
09-Jun-09
Scale
100
Images
Less detail

Diane Ouston

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46198
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1960 and 1979]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Diane Ouston, Public Health Nurse, and head of the home care project at the Simon Fraser Health Unit.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1960 and 1979]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
480-1086
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2003-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of Diane Ouston, Public Health Nurse, and head of the home care project at the Simon Fraser Health Unit.
Subjects
Occupations - Nurses
Clothing - Uniforms
Names
Ouston, Diane
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Note on verso of photograph reads: "Mrs. Diane Ouston,P.H.N., head, home care project, SFHU / SAVE PICTURE AND FILE!! / Mrs. Diane Oustin / 1 x 3" p.3 FRIDAY"
Images
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Fire Chief William Menzies

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46268
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1954 and 1964]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby Fire Chief William Menzies in uniform.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1954 and 1964]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
480-1156
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2003-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby Fire Chief William Menzies in uniform.
Subjects
Occupations - Fire Fighters
Clothing - Uniforms
Names
Menzies, William "Bill"
Burnaby Fire Department
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Firefighters Ken Gurr, Norman Brooke, Warren Evans and Fred Blake

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1539
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[196-] (date of original)
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of Firefighters Ken Gurr, Norman Brooke, Warren Evans and Chief Training Officer Fred Blake in uniform, standing in front of a fire truck, with a sign in the background that reads "Be Fire-Wise/ Save Lives/ Join The/ Channel 8 [illegible]."
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm print
Material Details
Copy print is of poor quality
Scope and Content
Photograph of Firefighters Ken Gurr, Norman Brooke, Warren Evans and Chief Training Officer Fred Blake in uniform, standing in front of a fire truck, with a sign in the background that reads "Be Fire-Wise/ Save Lives/ Join The/ Channel 8 [illegible]."
Subjects
Occupations - Fire Fighters
Clothing - Uniforms
Names
Burnaby Fire Department
Accession Code
BV998.31.21
Access Restriction
Restricted access
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[196-] (date of original)
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
02-Jun-09
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "(L to R)/ Ken Gurr, Norman Brooke,/ Warren Evans, Chief Train-/ ing Officer Fred Blake."
Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 Pandora Street Burnaby BC Canada V5C 2B2"
Images
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Governor General presents the Silver Cross

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46308
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
December 3, 1968
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 20.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener presenting the Silver Cross for Gallantry to Boy Scout Randall Annett of Burnaby for his attempt to save his younger brother from a fire earlier that year. In the background is the Governor General's Aid-de-camp Brigadier General E. G. Eakins in unifor…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
December 3, 1968
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 20.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
480-1196
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2003-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener presenting the Silver Cross for Gallantry to Boy Scout Randall Annett of Burnaby for his attempt to save his younger brother from a fire earlier that year. In the background is the Governor General's Aid-de-camp Brigadier General E. G. Eakins in uniform.
Subjects
Ceremonies - Awards
Officials - Governor Generals
Clothing - Uniforms
Names
Michener, Daniel Roland "Roland"
Annett, Randall
Boy Scouts of Canada
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "Governor-General Roland Michener presents the silver cross for gallantry to Boy Scout Randall Annett of Burnaby for his attempt to save his younger brother from a fire earlier this year. Randall broke down a door, dragged his brother from the house and extinguished his burning clothes. The award is made to scouts who show considerable courage. In background is the governor-general's aid-de-camp Brig.-Gen. E. G. Eakins. The presentation was made during the governor-general's visit to Burnaby on Monday afternoon."
Images
Less detail

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
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.mp3
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Model T Four Barber Shop Quartet

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45808
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1967 or 1968]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 24 x 19.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Model T Four Barber Shop Quartet, consisting of; Bob Wall (tenor), Wayne Halstrom (lead), Gordon Cousins (Bass) and Abie Klassen (Baritone). They are standing in a row in costumes which include goggles and gauntlets, with a painted prop - a model T ford - in front of them.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1967 or 1968]
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 24 x 19.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
480-702
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2003-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Model T Four Barber Shop Quartet, consisting of; Bob Wall (tenor), Wayne Halstrom (lead), Gordon Cousins (Bass) and Abie Klassen (Baritone). They are standing in a row in costumes which include goggles and gauntlets, with a painted prop - a model T ford - in front of them.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Occupations - Musicians
Names
Model T Four Barber Shop Quartet
Wall, Bob
Halstrom, Wayne
Cousins, Gordon
Klassen, Abie
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
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Nurses' skit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65515
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1968
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 11.5 x 8 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Betty-Lou Sundquist, Bing Bakkan and Pat Whalen participating in the nurses’ skit, "The Baby Visit," at a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) annual meeting.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1968
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 11.5 x 8 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
153-053
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2010-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of Betty-Lou Sundquist, Bing Bakkan and Pat Whalen participating in the nurses’ skit, "The Baby Visit," at a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) annual meeting.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Names
Victorian Order of Nurses
Whalen, Pat
Bakkan, M.W. "Bing"
Sundquist, Betty-Lou
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Note on verso of photograph reads: “1968 / Nurses skit at VON annual mtg. / Betty-Lou Sundquist / Bing Bakkan / Pat Whalen / “The Baby Visit”
Images
Less detail

Nurses' skit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65522
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
153-060
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2010-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Names
Victorian Order of Nurses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Nurses' skit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65523
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
153-061
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2010-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Names
Victorian Order of Nurses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Nurses' skit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65524
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
153-062
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2010-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Names
Victorian Order of Nurses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Nurses' skit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65525
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
153-063
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2010-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Names
Victorian Order of Nurses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Nurses' skit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65526
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
153-064
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2010-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Names
Victorian Order of Nurses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Nurses' skit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65527
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
153-065
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2010-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Names
Victorian Order of Nurses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Nurses' skit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65528
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
153-066
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2010-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a scene in a skit performed at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
Subjects
Clothing - Costumes
Recreational Activities - Theatre
Names
Victorian Order of Nurses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

37 records – page 1 of 2.