Narrow Results By
Subject
- Agriculture - Farms 2
- Animals - Dogs 1
- Arts 1
- Buildings - Commercial - Service Stations 1
- Buildings - Industrial - Mills 1
- Buildings - Schools 1
- Ceremonies - Weddings 1
- Construction - Road Construction 1
- Documentary Artifacts - Letters and Envelopes 1
- Education 1
- Events - May Day 1
- Geographic Features - Parks 1
Disbursements ledger (works)
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2023
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1942-1944
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1942-1944
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 3885
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Contains an index.
Greeting card
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66110
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1942 and 1966]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 card
- Scope and Content
- Item is a greeting card containing a black and white photograph of the H.M.C.S. Cornwallis naval base. The interior of the card reads "With Best Wishes/ for Christmas / and the New Year / from / John"
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1942 and 1966]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Ephemera subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 card
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 42712
- Accession Number
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- Item is a greeting card containing a black and white photograph of the H.M.C.S. Cornwallis naval base. The interior of the card reads "With Best Wishes/ for Christmas / and the New Year / from / John"
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Newspapers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66383
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1942-1964
- Collection/Fonds
- Grieve family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records (newsprint)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of newspapers containing articles on William Ewart "Bill" Grieve or that were collected by the Grieve family due to their interests.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1942-1964
- Collection/Fonds
- Grieve family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records (newsprint)
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS155-009
- Accession Number
- 2011-04
- Scope and Content
- File consists of newspapers containing articles on William Ewart "Bill" Grieve or that were collected by the Grieve family due to their interests.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Interview with Toki Miyashita by Rod Fowler February 27, 1990 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory517
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1942-1969
- Length
- 00:07:41
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Toki Miyashita’s growing interest in Japanese culture and arts, studying the Japanese language after she was 22 in Montreal. She talks about how she learned paper-folding (origami), to make silk dolls, flower-arranging (Ikebana), and how to wear a kimono, and …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Toki Miyashita’s growing interest in Japanese culture and arts, studying the Japanese language after she was 22 in Montreal. She talks about how she learned paper-folding (origami), to make silk dolls, flower-arranging (Ikebana), and how to wear a kimono, and then began to teach others these skills in Montreal .
- Date Range
- 1942-1969
- Length
- 00:07:41
- Subjects
- Education
- Arts
- Persons - Japanese Canadians
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 27, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Toki Miyashita, conducted by Rod Fowler. Toki Miyashita 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 Toki Miyashita’s family’s internment during WWII, her awakening interest in Japanese culture after the war, her subsequent interest in teaching others about Japanese crafts and arts, and becoming a helpful intermediary between Burnaby and visitors from Japan. The interview explores her interest in the Ainu of Japan and their possible link to the aboriginals of BC, her impressions of the Ainu carver Nuburi Toko, and her involvement in the events surrounding the creation of the sculpture “Playground of the Gods” for Burnaby Mountain. The interview also contains interesting details about the art of Japanese flower-arranging. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Toki Miyashita was born in Richmond B.C., ca. 1935, at the Nelson Brothers “fishery”, a second generation Canadian descended from the Oikawa family who settled on Don and Lion Islands (Oikawa-shima). In 1942 the Japanese Canadians in BC were forcibly moved from the coast and their belongings confiscated. Toki Miyashita, her parents, two brothers, and grandparents were first taken to Hastings Park where her father was separated from the family to work in road camps, and the rest of the family were interned in New Denver. Her resourceful grandmother moved the family to land outside the internment camp, growing a large garden from seeds brought with her. In 1946 the family moved to Kamloops and in 1958, after finishing high school, Toki Miyashita moved to Montreal to be with relatives and a small Japanese community. At this time she became interested in Japanese culture and took a Japanese language course at age 22. She learned about Japanese flower-arranging (Ikebana), paper folding (Origami), silk doll making (from a Russian Jew), and how to wear a kimono. She began demonstrating these arts in schools and to other groups, which she continued doing when she, her husband and two young children moved to Burnaby in 1969. Toki Miyashita has been called an unpaid “ambassador” of Japanese culture to the Lower Mainland. She has acted as liaison between Burnaby and her sister city Kushiro in Japan, which involved her in the creation of the Ainu sculpture “Playground of the Gods” on Burnaby Mountain for Burnaby’s Centennial. Toki Miyashita is a recognized Master in Ikebana Sogetsu, a school of flower-arranging, and has served on the board of the Vancouver Ikebana Association. She also served on Burnaby’s Family Court in the 1980s.
- Total Tracks
- 11
- Total Length
- 01:34:10
- Interviewee Name
- Miyashita, Toki
- 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.
Audio Tracks
Track two of interview with Toki Miyashita
Track two of interview with Toki Miyashita
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-017/MSS187-017_Track_2.mp3Modern home medical adviser
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7507
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Author
- Fishbein, Morris, 1889-1976
- Publication Date
- 1942
- Call Number
- 610 BEI
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- Accession Code
- BV020.14.1
- Call Number
- 610 BEI
- Author
- Fishbein, Morris, 1889-1976
- Place of Publication
- Chicago, IL
- Publisher
- JG Ferguson and Associates
- Publication Date
- 1942
- Printer
- Doubleday, Doarn & Company, Inc.
- Physical Description
- 5 cm thick. ill.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Medicine
- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
- Object History
- This book is to believed to have been used in a Burnaby family home in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Notes
- Contains a table of contents and index.
BC Electric Railway Pole Plan on Lane South of Trinity Street and East of Boundary Road
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilreport80014
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 84121
- Meeting Date
- 4-Jun-1941
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Report ID
- 84121
- Meeting Date
- 4-Jun-1941
- Format
- Council - Mayor/Councillor/Staff Report
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
General ledger
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2047
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1941-1946
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1941-1946
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 3916
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Contains an index.
South Burnaby Horticultural Association correspondence
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription57877
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1941-1948
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File contains of correspondence between the South Burnaby Horticultural Association and Farmers Institute and the Corporation of the District of Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1941-1948
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- South Burnaby Garden Club subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS028-023
- Accession Number
- BHS1986-36
- Scope and Content
- File contains of correspondence between the South Burnaby Horticultural Association and Farmers Institute and the Corporation of the District of Burnaby.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
John Shaw Military records
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription55520
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1941-1945
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual record and other material
- Scope and Content
- File contains the military records of Jack Shaw. In 1941, Jack volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and this file contains all of the records related to his service including enlistment papers, medical certificates, reviews, appraisals, last will and testament and discharge papers. …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1941-1945
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- Textual record and other material
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 39422
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- File contains the military records of Jack Shaw. In 1941, Jack volunteered for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and this file contains all of the records related to his service including enlistment papers, medical certificates, reviews, appraisals, last will and testament and discharge papers. Also included in this file are pieces of correspondence received by Jack from his family while in service including birthday and Christmas cards.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file.
George Green's scrapbook
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription57750
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1940-1951
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook
- Scope and Content
- Item is a scrapbook created by George Green, containing clippings of newspaper articles concerning Burnaby's history, along with his annotated corrections. Sitting loosely inside the cover of the scrapbook are five newspaper clippings as well as two type-written letters and an envelope.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1940-1951
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- George Green subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook
- Material Details
- Cardboard cover, rag paper pages, bound with rope
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- MSS014-001
- Accession Number
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- Item is a scrapbook created by George Green, containing clippings of newspaper articles concerning Burnaby's history, along with his annotated corrections. Sitting loosely inside the cover of the scrapbook are five newspaper clippings as well as two type-written letters and an envelope.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Creator
- Green, George
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
John and Lillian Yanko album
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription74509
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1940-2010
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook : 31 x 34 cm, 41 p.
- Scope and Content
- Item is a scrapbook documenting the lives of husband and wife John Ivan Yanko and Leida Doria "Lillian Doris" (Carman) Yanko. The scrapbook consists of ca. 250 black and white photographs from the family, with captions that identify the subjects and locations of the photographs. Also included in th…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1940-2010
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook : 31 x 34 cm, 41 p.
- Material Details
- Hardcover scrapbook album with clear plastic page covers and a metal binding. Three-dimensional scrapbooking embellishments are affixed to some of the pages.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- MSS170-007
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Item is a scrapbook documenting the lives of husband and wife John Ivan Yanko and Leida Doria "Lillian Doris" (Carman) Yanko. The scrapbook consists of ca. 250 black and white photographs from the family, with captions that identify the subjects and locations of the photographs. Also included in the album are plastic sleeves housing textual records including: a tile setters union agreement; dues books and receipts; tax forms; payroll stubs; picture ID; correspondence; a newspaper clipping; and insurance policies.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Printed in green writing on front cover of photographic album: "J & L Yanko"
- Photographs are dated 1940-1982; textual records included in album are dated 1948-2010
- Envelope pasted into scrapbook titled "5 September 1949 / Dupelicates [sic] : Lemon Creek Camping" contains 7 additional prints.
Dog Tax Register
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription6473
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1939-1942
- Collection/Fonds
- Finance Department fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- One bound volume containing the register of dog licenses between 1939 and 1942 - arranged chronologically. Each entry includes date license was issued, name of applicant, fee paid, and breed of dog licensed.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1939-1942
- Collection/Fonds
- Finance Department fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 9426
- Accession Number
- 2003-06
- Scope and Content
- One bound volume containing the register of dog licenses between 1939 and 1942 - arranged chronologically. Each entry includes date license was issued, name of applicant, fee paid, and breed of dog licensed.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Drs Blythe and Violet Eagles papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription57955
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1939] -1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File contains records pertaining to Blythe and Violet Eagles including correspondence from the Burnaby Historical Society, pamphlets on Burnaby and various conferences, notes on the Eagle's visit to Robert Burnaby's grave and ration books from World War II.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1939] -1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Eagles family subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS032-001
- Accession Number
- BHS1987-07
- Scope and Content
- File contains records pertaining to Blythe and Violet Eagles including correspondence from the Burnaby Historical Society, pamphlets on Burnaby and various conferences, notes on the Eagle's visit to Robert Burnaby's grave and ration books from World War II.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Girl Guiding
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4588
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939-1951
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook album (99 photographs+ textual records + other material)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of 18 loose pages of a scrapbook created by Ivy McGeachie (nee Ivy Oldham) who was involved in guiding in Burnaby between 1942 -1948. The front page of the scrapbook is titled “Girl / Guiding” and has a wood-burnt image of a camp fire and a singed photo of a flag pole. The scrapbook …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook album (99 photographs+ textual records + other material)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of 18 loose pages of a scrapbook created by Ivy McGeachie (nee Ivy Oldham) who was involved in guiding in Burnaby between 1942 -1948. The front page of the scrapbook is titled “Girl / Guiding” and has a wood-burnt image of a camp fire and a singed photo of a flag pole. The scrapbook contains photographs along with bits and pieces of ephemera. Included in the material is a four page, type-written diary of a Girl Guide camp held at Aldergrove Beach in August of 1963. Many of the photographs document the activities of the 2nd Burnaby Girl Guide Company and include photos of Ivy and Margaret McGeachie in uniform on roller skates; Burnaby District Camp (Aldergrove, BC) / 1948; Hiking; Canadian Girl Guide Golden Jubilee; Open House at St. Alban’s church hall; a hand tinted photo of Ivy McGeachie 1939 and the 2nd Kamloops Folk Dance – Yale Cariboo Musical festival 1951.
- Creator
- McGeachie, Ivy Ashliegh
- Accession Code
- BV015.35.160
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1939-1951
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on content of file
- Some photographs within scrapbook have been described at item level (BV015.35.191 to BV015.35.210)
Images
Documents
Pilot's flying log book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15039
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1939-1940
- Collection/Fonds
- Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 book
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a Royal Canadian Air Force, Pilot's Flying Log Book belonging to Elmer Wilson Martin (Can. C522). Book contains entries between June 29 and December 23, 1939 and January 13 and July 31, 1940 and Sept. 1940. Pilot training took place at Camp Borden where training for pilots, navigat…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 book
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a Royal Canadian Air Force, Pilot's Flying Log Book belonging to Elmer Wilson Martin (Can. C522). Book contains entries between June 29 and December 23, 1939 and January 13 and July 31, 1940 and Sept. 1940. Pilot training took place at Camp Borden where training for pilots, navigators, air gunners, air bombers and flight engineers for the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces. According to the log book, Elmer Martin was trained on various aircraft at this location. Canadian Forces Base Borden is located in Ontario.
- Accession Code
- BV019.37.10
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1939-1940
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- February 4, 2021
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Images
Documents
Fire Department Scrapbook
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription5783
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1938-1963
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual records and graphic material
- Scope and Content
- Scrapbook contains hundreds of newspaper clippings taped onto pages, along with a few black and white photographs. Many pages have come loose and the book is in generally very poor condition because of the tape used to affix the clippings. The book has been bound together by a wooden spine that i…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1938-1963
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual records and graphic material
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 8734
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- Scrapbook contains hundreds of newspaper clippings taped onto pages, along with a few black and white photographs. Many pages have come loose and the book is in generally very poor condition because of the tape used to affix the clippings. The book has been bound together by a wooden spine that is attached with four screws. On the cover in blue ink is written "B.F.D. #2" with the years "1938-1963" written in red ink.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Burnaby Firefighters Association Local 323 - Bank Book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription5787
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1938-1942
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- One hardcover black book, untitled except for "Burnaby Firefighters Association Local 323" written on first page. Subsequent page has, in pencil, "Bank Book Number B580/Bank Book 1942 #51" written on it. The book contains the lists of expenditures and receipts of Local 323 for the years 1938-1942.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1938-1942
- Collection/Fonds
- Fire Department fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 8738
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- One hardcover black book, untitled except for "Burnaby Firefighters Association Local 323" written on first page. Subsequent page has, in pencil, "Bank Book Number B580/Bank Book 1942 #51" written on it. The book contains the lists of expenditures and receipts of Local 323 for the years 1938-1942.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Property owners' complaints and repairs
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription1996
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1936-1941
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- Book contains list of names and addresses of individuals and the complaints they had with their property/buildings etc.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1936-1941
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 3855
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- Book contains list of names and addresses of individuals and the complaints they had with their property/buildings etc.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Corporation of Burnaby tax sale register 1936-1942
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription2238
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1936-1944
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Scope and Content
- A very large register containing a record of municipal tax sales.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1936-1944
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Physical Description
- Textual record
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 4128
- Accession Number
- 2001-02
- Scope and Content
- A very large register containing a record of municipal tax sales.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
Digney Family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85415
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1936-19[61]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w + 1 film reel : col. ; 16mm + 7 optical discs (DVDs) + 1 portable drive
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of a reel of film (digitized into four segments) created by Andy Digney; a panorama photograph of the Digney Pee-Wee Bowling League from 1958 or 1959; and 18 film segments on DVD that were originally created by Andy Digney between 1934 and 1961 and digitized by his grandson Paul Dign…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1936-19[61]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w + 1 film reel : col. ; 16mm + 7 optical discs (DVDs) + 1 portable drive
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of a reel of film (digitized into four segments) created by Andy Digney; a panorama photograph of the Digney Pee-Wee Bowling League from 1958 or 1959; and 18 film segments on DVD that were originally created by Andy Digney between 1934 and 1961 and digitized by his grandson Paul Digney in 2012. The 16mm film is divided into the following segments: the Oak Theatre in 1936 (construction and opening); the Royal Visit (from the King and Queen) in 1939; Burnaby Sports and May Day events (ca. 1937); and the Labour parade (ca. 1935). The 18 film segments contain footage of the Digney family at their home in Brandon, Manitoba, and Burnaby; views of the Oak Theatre and Digney Speedway in operation; and their travels throughout British Columbia and abroad. The 18 film segments are described at the item level and titled: Andy's first film; Brandon, Manitoba; Burnaby and Digney recreational events; Trip to Kamloops; Burnaby; Burnaby, Vancouver and the north shore; Galiano Island, Oak Theatre and Calgary; Travels to Ontario, Quebec and England; Travels to England #2; Travels to England #3; Parades; Digney family in Burnaby; Paul Digney and family; Digney family and the Oak Theatre gardens; Digney family at Bonsor Avenue and family outings; Building and opening the Digney Speedway; Digney family travel the praries; and San Francisco Trip.
- History
- Andy Digney was born in London, England, on July 27, 1886. His given names were Andrew Charles. In 1905, he immigrated with his elder brother to Raymore, Saskatchewan, and worked on a farm. In 1914, he met and married Alice Swan and in 1920 they had their one and only child, Ernest ('Dig'). The young family lived in Beatty, Saskatchewan, where they ran a small general store with a pool hall over the top. Andy sold the store and they moved to Carberry, Manitoba, where Andy worked selling lightning rods and hanging wallpaper. At this time, he met and formed a partnership with someone who owned a hand cranked move projector and in the evenings, he and his wife traveled to church halls in neighbouring towns, showing movies. Eventually, Digney purchased his own movie projector and opened a small theatre in Carberry. He worked odd jobs during the daytime and projected movies in his small theatre at night. Eventually he made enough money to move to Brandon, Manitoba, where he purchased a restaurant, which he turned into a theatre with living quarters above. Andy called the theatre 'The Oak' since the mighty oak was strong and stood forever. After starting the first Oak Theatre in Brandon, Manitoba, when talking pictures came along, Andy Digney, his wife Alice and son Ernest ('Dig') moved to Burnaby in 1935 and chose the site of their new theatre and home at the corner of Kingsway and Marlborough. The Oak Theatre - which opened on August 4, 1937 - was hailed as an artistic masterpiece for its ultra modern white stucco exterior, floodlights and pink-and-green neon marquee. The interior featured a mirrored ceiling, fireplace, and aquarium and had a colour scheme of orchid, royal blue, silver and black. Andy was a very involved member of the Burnaby community, becoming the founding president of the Lion's club and the chairman of the committee raising money for war bonds during World War II. In 1944, Andy suffered a severe heart attack, forcing him to retire, so in 1945, he sold the theatre to Odeon Theatres of Canada who continued to operate at this location until 1968 when competition forced its closure and demolition. Andy and his family relocated to a home on Bonsor Avenue on 3/4 acres where he spent much of his time cultivating a lovely garden. In about 1946, Andy was approached by the B.C. Midget Auto Racing Association [original name retained for historical accuracy], who were looking for a good location to race the smaller racing cars popular at the time. Andy was interested and purchased 10 acres of property located near the corner of Irmin Street and MacPherson Avenue and built a race track. The Digney Speedway opened on July 8, 1948, with stands that had capacity of holding 4500 people. In 1949, when the popularity of this kind of racing declined, Digney started racing roadsters. However, he struggled to find local drivers, and it was expensive to bring in drivers from elsewhere. In 1951, Digney found a winner: jalopy racing. Local men would buy 1930s cars and strip them down, remove the glass, and weld the doors shut. By early 1952 over 40 cars were showing up for jalopy races. By the early 1950s, the Speedway was well established, with coverage in the sports pages and on radio. Andy's son Dig worked at the race track but moved away with his wife in 1951 to work in Seattle. Dig and his wife Joyce, along with their two young sons, Paul and Bruce, returned to Burnaby in 1953, moving into a 550-square-foot apartment located above the Digney Speedway restrooms. In 1954, Simpson Sears built a large store on Kingsway and their parking lot came up to the back garden of the family home on Bonsor Avenue. Andy thought of building small stores on his property but in the end decided to build a bowling alley, clearing out his beautiful garden. The Digney Bowl opened on August 19, 1955, and Andy, Alice, Dig, and Joyce all worked at both the Speedway and the bowling alley. In 1956, Andy decided to finally retire and sold the bowling alley and home to his son Dig, which he paid for over time. Dig and his family moved into the house on Bonsor Avenue and ran the bowling alley until their son Bruce took over in 1980. Andy Digney died in 1964 while travelling with his wife in England. Alice died on June 3, 1982, and Dig died on November 27, 2009.
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Photographer
- Digney, Andy
- Creator
- Digney family
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
- Photo/MI catalogue 562