Narrow Results By
Subject
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards 1
- Documentary Artifacts - Photographs 1
- Documentary Artifacts - Portraits 1
- Education 1
- Events - Fundraising 1
- Occupations 1
- Officials - Aldermen and Councillors 1
- Organizations 1
- Persons - Volunteers 4
- Planning 1
- Public Services - Municipal Services 1
- Sports - Soccer 2
Person / Organization
- Burnaby Chamber of Commerce 2
- Burnaby Historical Society 1
- Burnaby Junior Chamber of Commerce 1
- Burnaby Mountain Centennial Rose Garden 1
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 1
- Cliff Avenue United Football Club 1
- Emmott, Alan H 1
- Fowler, Rod 5
- Gordon, Merrill 5
- Hansen, Nancy 1
- Harris, R.A. Ivor 1
- Stockdale, Mark 1
Advertisement - Trade and Commerce Journal
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport41667
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 37426
- Meeting Date
- 2-Mar-1959
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 9
- Item No.
- 10
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 37426
- Meeting Date
- 2-Mar-1959
- Format
- Council - Manager's Report
- Manager's Report No.
- 9
- Item No.
- 10
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Board of Trade and Burnaby Chamber of Commerce papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58138
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1959-1963
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of meeting minutes pertaining to the Burnaby Board of Trade and the Burnaby Chamber of Commerce.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1959-1963
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Burnaby Chamber of Commerce subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS057-009
- Accession Number
- BHS1991-20
- Scope and Content
- File consists of meeting minutes pertaining to the Burnaby Board of Trade and the Burnaby Chamber of Commerce.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
![Burnaby Chamber of Commerce, [1959] thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/001/115-001.jpg?width=280)
Burnaby Chamber of Commerce
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34711
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.1 x 21.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the "Yesterday and Today" display, Burnaby Chamber of Commerce. Signs on either side of the display read, "Burnaby has ten miles of Fraser River frontage" and "Burnaby has ten miles of deepsea frontage." In the centre is a display of photographs. Signs on both sides of the display …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Photographs subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.1 x 21.9 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 115-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the "Yesterday and Today" display, Burnaby Chamber of Commerce. Signs on either side of the display read, "Burnaby has ten miles of Fraser River frontage" and "Burnaby has ten miles of deepsea frontage." In the centre is a display of photographs. Signs on both sides of the display read, "'Burnaby Yesterday and Today!' / Photo display by Burnaby Historical Society."
- Subjects
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Organizations
- Documentary Artifacts - Photographs
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bower, Ralph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Stamped on back of photograph, "Photography by Ralph Bower"
Images
![Burnaby Chamber of Commerce, [1959] thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/001/115-001.jpg)
Burnaby Chamber of Commerce Film "Burnaby Heart"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport43926
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 43412
- Meeting Date
- 4-Jun-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
- 43412
- Meeting Date
- 4-Jun-1956
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Burnaby Chamber of Commerce subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription15
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910-1985
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Photographs and textual records
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of records held by the Burnaby Chamber of Commerce, including meeting minutes, correspondence, and photographs, and records related to incorporation.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910-1985
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Burnaby Chamber of Commerce subseries
- Physical Description
- Photographs and textual records
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS1991-20
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of records held by the Burnaby Chamber of Commerce, including meeting minutes, correspondence, and photographs, and records related to incorporation.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- Burnaby Chamber of Commerce
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- PC257 and MSS057
Burnaby Junior Chamber of Commerce Proposed Film Advertising Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport46812
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 46212
- Meeting Date
- 24-Mar-1952
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 46212
- Meeting Date
- 24-Mar-1952
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Canadian Bank of Commerce Branch at 3643 Kingsway
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport45682
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 45074
- Meeting Date
- 10-May-1954
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 45074
- Meeting Date
- 10-May-1954
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Commerce and Industry series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription168
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1951-1990
- Collection/Fonds
- Planning Department fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records related to the development of commercial and industrial sites in the City of Burnaby. These records include: maps, plans, architectural and technical material, reports, surveys, studies, applications, correspondence, and memoranda.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1951-1990
- Collection/Fonds
- Planning Department fonds
- Series
- Commerce and Industry series
- Description Level
- Series
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records related to the development of commercial and industrial sites in the City of Burnaby. These records include: maps, plans, architectural and technical material, reports, surveys, studies, applications, correspondence, and memoranda.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
![Nancy Hansen for the Burnaby Junior Chamber of Commerce, [1954 or 1955] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-134.jpg?width=280)
Nancy Hansen for the Burnaby Junior Chamber of Commerce
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45238
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1954 or 1955]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 14.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Nancy Hansen, winner of both Miss Burnaby and Miss PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) 1954, in an act of publicity, showing how to attach a "legend plate" put out by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, which sold for $1 at service stations, their proceeds going to Burnaby Junior Chamber of…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1954 or 1955]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 14.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 480-134
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- 2003-02
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Nancy Hansen, winner of both Miss Burnaby and Miss PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) 1954, in an act of publicity, showing how to attach a "legend plate" put out by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, which sold for $1 at service stations, their proceeds going to Burnaby Junior Chamber of Commerce projects.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Atlee, Bob
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "Burnaby's Beauties are being ably promoted by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in offering these legend plates at attach to car licenses. Above is Miss Burnaby and Miss PNE, pretty Nancy Hansen, who joins in the publicity by showing how it is done. The $1 plates are sold at serivce stations, with proceeds for JCC Burnaby projects. Photo by Bob Atlee."
Images
![Nancy Hansen for the Burnaby Junior Chamber of Commerce, [1954 or 1955] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-134.jpg)
R. A. Ivor Harris
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45207
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1954, published April 13, 1954
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 11 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of R.A. Ivor Harris at the time that he was appointed manager of the South Burnaby Branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce. The Canadian Bank of Commerce merged with the Imperial Bank of Canada to become the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) in 1961.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1954, published April 13, 1954
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 11 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 480-103
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- 2003-02
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of R.A. Ivor Harris at the time that he was appointed manager of the South Burnaby Branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce. The Canadian Bank of Commerce merged with the Imperial Bank of Canada to become the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) in 1961.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Victor Wiebe, [1959 or 1960] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/251/257-001.jpg?width=280)
Victor Wiebe
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36379
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1959 or 1960]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 24 x 19 cm (sight) in mat 33 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Chamber of Commerce President, Victor Wiebe, taken in a photographic studio. He served as President for the 1959 - 1960 term.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1959 or 1960]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Burnaby Chamber of Commerce subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 24 x 19 cm (sight) in mat 33 x 25 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 257-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1991-20
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Chamber of Commerce President, Victor Wiebe, taken in a photographic studio. He served as President for the 1959 - 1960 term.
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts - Portraits
- Media Type
- Photograph
Images
![Victor Wiebe, [1959 or 1960] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/251/257-001.jpg)
Burnaby Newspapers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription1726
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1949-1955
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- File includes various 1950s newspaper clippings regarding Charlie Brown, a former Burnaby Clerk. File contains: November 2, 1949 "BC Journal of Commerce"; and October 22, 1955 issue of the "Tabloid," with the headline "Burnaby Graft, Secrets Bared! Concealed Documents."
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1949-1955
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 3546
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- File includes various 1950s newspaper clippings regarding Charlie Brown, a former Burnaby Clerk. File contains: November 2, 1949 "BC Journal of Commerce"; and October 22, 1955 issue of the "Tabloid," with the headline "Burnaby Graft, Secrets Bared! Concealed Documents."
- History
- This file of clippings was donated by Charlie Brown, former Clerk of Burnaby.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory475
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1946-1987
- Length
- 00:06:32
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s career at Canadian Industries Inc (CIL) for a few years and then for Fleck Brothers until 1965, when he started his own business, Blaze Industries, which manufactured fire places and wood burning heaters. He also describes his short retirement…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s career at Canadian Industries Inc (CIL) for a few years and then for Fleck Brothers until 1965, when he started his own business, Blaze Industries, which manufactured fire places and wood burning heaters. He also describes his short retirement in 1980 and going back to work for a solar panel manufacturing company, which led to building a plant in India.
- Date Range
- 1946-1987
- Photo Info
- Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263
- Length
- 00:06:32
- Subjects
- Occupations
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- March 19, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.
- Total Tracks
- 11
- Total Length
- 1:31:44
- Interviewee Name
- Gordon, Merrill
- Interview Location
- unknown
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track four of interview with Merrill Gordon
Track four of interview with Merrill Gordon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_4.mp3
Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 5
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory476
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1935-1956
- Length
- 00:04:56
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s marriage and move to Burnaby in 1953, and settling at the house near Cliff Avenue United Church in 1956. He talks about his first encounters with volunteering at Ratepayer meetings attended by his father, and in dance and drama activities at s…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s marriage and move to Burnaby in 1953, and settling at the house near Cliff Avenue United Church in 1956. He talks about his first encounters with volunteering at Ratepayer meetings attended by his father, and in dance and drama activities at school.
- Date Range
- 1935-1956
- Photo Info
- Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263
- Length
- 00:04:56
- Subjects
- Persons - Volunteers
- Education
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lochdale Area
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- March 19, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.
- Total Tracks
- 11
- Total Length
- 1:31:44
- Interviewee Name
- Gordon, Merrill
- Interview Location
- unknown
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track five of interview with Merrill Gordon
Track five of interview with Merrill Gordon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_5.mp3
Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 6
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory477
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1956-1990
- Length
- 00:13:27
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the circumstances behind Merrill Gordon’s founding of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club in 1956, his subsequent involvement and role as President of the club for 15 years, and the growth and history of soccer clubs in Burnaby. He also talks about his frien…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the circumstances behind Merrill Gordon’s founding of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club in 1956, his subsequent involvement and role as President of the club for 15 years, and the growth and history of soccer clubs in Burnaby. He also talks about his friend Mark Stockdale who was second president of the club for 16 years and creator of the rose garden on Burnaby Mountain.
- Date Range
- 1956-1990
- Photo Info
- Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263
- Length
- 00:13:27
- Subjects
- Persons - Volunteers
- Sports - Soccer
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- March 19, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.
- Total Tracks
- 11
- Total Length
- 1:31:44
- Interviewee Name
- Gordon, Merrill
- Interview Location
- unknown
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track six of interview with Merrill Gordon
Track six of interview with Merrill Gordon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_6.mp3
Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 7
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory478
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1956-1990
- Length
- 00:07:05
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s political career and his volunteer work with Cliff Avenue soccer, the Burnaby Mental Health Association, the library board, and the New Vista Society. He talks about his association with Alan Emmott and the founding of the Better Burnaby Commi…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s political career and his volunteer work with Cliff Avenue soccer, the Burnaby Mental Health Association, the library board, and the New Vista Society. He talks about his association with Alan Emmott and the founding of the Better Burnaby Committee (BBC), his election to Burnaby Council in 1972 with BVA, and his membership in and work for the federal NDP
- Date Range
- 1956-1990
- Photo Info
- Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263
- Length
- 00:07:05
- Names
- Emmott, Alan H
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- March 19, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.
- Total Tracks
- 11
- Total Length
- 1:31:44
- Interviewee Name
- Gordon, Merrill
- Interview Location
- unknown
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track seven of interview with Merrill Gordon
Track seven of interview with Merrill Gordon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_7.mp3
Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 8
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory479
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1956-1990
- Length
- 00:10:17
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s founding and operation of the youth soccer exchange with Washington State, and the importance of soccer to the community. He discusses the problem of isolation between north and south Burnaby, planned development in Burnaby, and the contributi…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s founding and operation of the youth soccer exchange with Washington State, and the importance of soccer to the community. He discusses the problem of isolation between north and south Burnaby, planned development in Burnaby, and the contributions of Ratepayer groups and volunteers
- Date Range
- 1956-1990
- Photo Info
- Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263
- Length
- 00:10:17
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- March 19, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.
- Total Tracks
- 11
- Total Length
- 1:31:44
- Interviewee Name
- Gordon, Merrill
- Interview Location
- unknown
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track eight of interview with Merrill Gordon
Track eight of interview with Merrill Gordon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_8.mp3North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription124
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1920]-[1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of documents related to the North Burnaby Board of Trade (previously Burnaby Board of Trade), including its certificate of formation, reports and bylaws pertaining to both the Burnaby Fire Department and Barnet Park, correspondence, District of Burnaby financial reports, annual r…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1920]-[1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- North Burnaby Board of Trade subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS2005-08
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of documents related to the North Burnaby Board of Trade (previously Burnaby Board of Trade), including its certificate of formation, reports and bylaws pertaining to both the Burnaby Fire Department and Barnet Park, correspondence, District of Burnaby financial reports, annual reports, a map, and photographs of Burnaby parks, schools and neighbourhoods.
- History
- The Burnaby Board of Trade formed on September 4, 1926 and registered with the province December 14, 1926. George Conway Brown was elected as Secretary. On May 30, 1927, The Governor General officially granted the Board to change its name to the North Burnaby Board of Trade. The Board's boundaries, under Secretary Thomas B. Blake, were changed from "the Municipality of Burnaby" to "that portion of the Municipality of Burnaby which lies north of Still Creek, Burnaby Lake and Brunette River" British Columbia. On April 26, 1932, the North Burnaby Board of Trade Constitution and Bylaws were adopted with A.G. Kidd as Secretary. Membership was open to all persons directly or indirectly engaged or interested in the trade and commerce or the economic welfare of the district of North Burnaby. The Secretary was the executive officer of the Board, ordered to keep the books, conduct the correspondence, preserve official documents, take minutes at all meetings, have custody of the seal and be in charge of all funds and accounts held by the Board. The North Burnaby Board of Trade was involved in many historic municipal decisions including the development of Barnet Park and establishing a unified Fire Department under one Fire Chief.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- North Burnaby Board of Trade
- Notes
- PC476, MSS118
- Title based on contents of subseries
Pitman family subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription100
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1913-1961
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records and 13 photographs
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of photographs and textual records collected by Gwen Pitman. Photographs depict the Pitman family and the Phillips-Hoyt Lumber Company horse team, truck, office and sled and the Patterson Avenue Station.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1913-1961
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pitman family subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records and 13 photographs
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1986-35
- BHS1992-29
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of photographs and textual records collected by Gwen Pitman. Photographs depict the Pitman family and the Phillips-Hoyt Lumber Company horse team, truck, office and sled and the Patterson Avenue Station.
- History
- Ernest Pitman owned a men’s furnishings store in Weston-super-Mare, England. He and Mary Jane “Jean” Gill were married in Cardiff, Wales and their children Clifford, Dorothy, Marjorie and Gwendolyn were all born in Weston-super-Mare, England. Ernest was the brother-in-law of Willard H. Hoyt of Phillips-Hoyt Lumber Company on McKay Avenue. The family of six came to Canada in 1912 and settled in Burnaby in 1914. Ernest Pitman had to clear the lot at 2766 Cassie Avenue of tree stumps before Mr. Mansell could build their wooden four room house. The family moved to Victoria in 1920, renting out the house on Cassie Avenue, and returning to it in 1922. The Pitman children attended Kingsway West School and Burnaby South High School. Ernest Pitman bought a dry goods store near the corner of McKay and Kingsway and renamed it McKay Dry Goods Store in 1926. He expanded the store when Lloyd’s Studio closed to include a post-office, ladies and menswear, children and babywear. His older children, Dorothy and Gwen, were the first employees, working at the store after school and on Saturdays. Clifford and Marge also served through the years. McKay Dry Goods closed in the late 1950s but the structure still stands. Ernest Pitman opened his second shop, Jubilee Dry Goods and Men’s Furnishings, in 1930 in the area then known as Shacktown. In 1935, he expanded the store to include the old Wray shoe store and post office. Jubilee was first managed by Dorothy, but when she married Dave Howat Gwen took over as manageress. In 1961, Gwen Pitman won the Show Window Contest in the small retail outlets category, receiving a $100 prize from the Burnaby Chamber of Commerce. She continued to run the store until she closed it for the last time in 1971 and retired. The other children also lived their adult lives in Burnaby: Clifford Pitman and his wife raised two boys on Rumble Street and Marjorie Pitman Everett and her husband raised three children in the Grange-Willingdon area.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- Pitman, Gwendolyn "Gwen"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- PC186, MSS075, PC292