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Interview with Norman Dowad
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19638
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (wav) (61 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (61 min., 37 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Norman Dowad conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on August 14, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:14:38 Norm shares biographical information about himself and background information on the Dowad family. Norm conveys information …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (wav) (61 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (61 min., 37 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Norman Dowad Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: August 14, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:14:37 Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Norman Dowad conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on August 14, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:14:38 Norm shares biographical information about himself and background information on the Dowad family. Norm conveys information about his grandfather Samuel Dowad's immigration to Canada and his father Wilfred Dowad's military service and successes as a property developer. 00:14:39 – 00:17:26 Norm provides background information on his mother’s side of the family. 00:17:27 – 00:31:36 Norm talks about his childhood, growing up in the Deer Lake neighbourhood, his early education in Burnaby and sports that he played. 00:31:37 – 00:39:59 Norm talks about his educational experiences attending Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and Osgoode Hall law school and information regarding his law career. 00:40:00 – 00:45:03 Norm reflects on his childhood growing up in Burnaby and on his experiences and relationships as a student and in his career as a lawyer. 00:45:04 – 01:01:37 Norm talks about his siblings and shares information about family property development projects as well as career and business successes. In closing he talks about research that he’s done through Archives Canada on his grandfather Sam Dowad and father Wilfred Dowad.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Norm Dowad was born in Burnaby, December 1948 to parents Wilfred “Wilf” (1925-2011) and Cherry Dowad. His father, Wilfred (1925-2011) was born in Winnipeg to parents Samuel “Sam” (Salim in Arabic) Esper Dowad (1895-1969) and Martha (Shaheen) Dowad (1894-1955). Sam and Martha Dowad were both born in a province of the Ottoman Empire which is now present day Lebanon. In 1912, while trying to immigrate to Canada, several of Sam’s relatives including his mother died tragically as steerage passengers on the ill fated Titanic. In 1913, at the age of 18 years, Sam immigrated to Canada to join other family members who'd already arrived here safely. As a new immigrant in Canada, Sam worked with other Labanese immigrants in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the United States. In December 1921, Sam's wife, Martha immigrated to Canada arriving by ship in St. John, New Brunswick. Sam and Martha established their home in Winnipeg where they began to start a family. Their first two children died in infancy and son Wilfred was born in 1925 and daughter Kathleen was born in 1926. While living in Winnipeg, Sam worked as a grocer and in the 1930’s he got work as a farmer in a nearby town. In 1943, Wilf joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCVNR) and served as a gunner on merchant ships during World War II. In 1945, while Wilf was away serving, his parents, Sam and Martha moved to Burnaby. After discharge in 1945, Wilf joined his parents in Burnaby, began working at Fraser Mills and commenced his studies in construction and drafting. In 1949, with his father’s help Wilf acquired a lot next door to his parents’ home and built his first apartment block. After Martha died in 1954, Sam moved to Kelowna where he bought an orchard. Sam remarried in 1957 to Naomi “Mamie” (David) Dowad (1899-1978) who was also from a Lebanese family. Sam and Mamie lived in Kelowna until the mid 1960s when they moved to White Rock. While living in Burnaby, Wilf met and married Cherry Piggott and the couple had six children; Norm, Bruce, Michael, Kathie, Phil and Tom. In 1955, Wilfred Dowad established "W. Dowad Ltd." and over the years he was successful in developing and subdividing land to build housing and commercial developments in Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver. Wilf was the first president of the Burnaby Winter club and was an active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce holding office at the local, provincial and national level. In 1970, Wilf purchased 238 acres of land bordering the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh River and relocated there the following year. While living in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Wilf became actively engaged in local business and community affairs. Wilf was later remarried to Grethe Dowad and he died in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh in 2011.Wilf's six children are the sole owners of "W.Dowad Ltd." and his daughter, Kathie Smillie is the president and CEO. While growing up in Burnaby, Norm Dowad attended Schou Street School, Douglas Road School, Kensington School and graduated from Burnaby Central Secondary School. Following graduation from high school, Norm attended Simon Fraser University for one year, travelled in Europe, attended University of British Columbia and obtained his law degree from Osgoode Hall at York University. Norman has been practicing law for 49 years and has his own law practice that he operates out of Vancouver. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Farms
- Education
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Migration
- Sports
- Sports - Football
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Dowad, Norman W. "Norm"
- Dowad, Samuel Esper "Sam"
- Dowad, Wilfred "Wilf"
- Dowad, Naomi "Mamie" David
- Dowad, Martha Elias Shaheen
- Dowad, Kathleen "Kay"
- Rideout, Dr. John Anthony
- Burnaby Central Secondary School
- Douglas Road School
- W. Dowad Limited
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Geographic Access
- Buckingham Avenue
- Deer Lake
- Street Address
- 5533 Buckingham Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.16
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Norman Dowad, [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
Interview with Norman Dowad, [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0016_002.mp3
Interview with Diane Stiglish by Eric Damer December 4, 2012 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory409
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1942-1960
- Length
- 0:08:37
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Diane Stiglish's memories of her family's mushroom farm. Diane describes how her parents met, married and bought a mushroom farm. She also provides a physical description of the farm and how the work was organized.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Diane Stiglish's memories of her family's mushroom farm. Diane describes how her parents met, married and bought a mushroom farm. She also provides a physical description of the farm and how the work was organized.
- Date Range
- 1942-1960
- Photo Info
- Diane Stiglish with her parents and older brother in New Westminster, 1955. Item no. 549-067.
- Length
- 0:08:37
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- December 4, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Diane Stiglish conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, December 4, 2012. Major theme discussed: mushroom farming.
- Biographical Notes
- F.J. "Jack" Stiglish (originally spelt Stiglich) and his wife bought a Burnaby home in 1943 at Keswick Street, just south of the Lougheed Highway, and took up mushroom farming. By the time their daughter Diane was born five years later in New Westminster, the F.J. Stiglish mushroom farm was an established business. Mushrooms grown at the F.J. Stiglish farm were sent off to Money’s Mushrooms to be packaged and retailed. Later, mushroom growers bought out Money’s to form the Fraser Valley Mushroom Growers Co-op and nominated Jack Stiglish as their first president. Jack then entered a float in the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) parade and set up a mushroom booth at the fair. In 1969 Jack Stiglish sold the mushroom farm and he and his wife moved next to their trailer court business just down the road. Diane’s brother Allan Stiglich (his family name returned to the original spelling) moved to Langley to open a large mushroom farm of his own which he established with the help of his father. Diane Stiglish began a career with BC Tel.
- Total Tracks
- 5
- Total Length
- 0:46:06
- Interviewee Name
- Stiglish, Diane
- Interview Location
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks
Track one of recording of interview with Diane Stiglish
Track one of recording of interview with Diane Stiglish
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-026/MSS171-026_Track_1.mp3
Interview with Diane Stiglish by Eric Damer December 4, 2012 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory410
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1947-1960
- Length
- 0:09:40
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Diane Stiglish's memories of her family's mushroom farm. Diane describes how compost was created on the farm, how the mushrooms were dealt with and what chores she was responsible for as a child. She also tells stories of inspectors coming to the farm.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Diane Stiglish's memories of her family's mushroom farm. Diane describes how compost was created on the farm, how the mushrooms were dealt with and what chores she was responsible for as a child. She also tells stories of inspectors coming to the farm.
- Date Range
- 1947-1960
- Photo Info
- Diane Stiglish with her parents and older brother in New Westminster, 1955. Item no. 549-067.
- Length
- 0:09:40
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- December 4, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Diane Stiglish conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, December 4, 2012. Major theme discussed: mushroom farming.
- Biographical Notes
- F.J. "Jack" Stiglish (originally spelt Stiglich) and his wife bought a Burnaby home in 1943 at Keswick Street, just south of the Lougheed Highway, and took up mushroom farming. By the time their daughter Diane was born five years later in New Westminster, the F.J. Stiglish mushroom farm was an established business. Mushrooms grown at the F.J. Stiglish farm were sent off to Money’s Mushrooms to be packaged and retailed. Later, mushroom growers bought out Money’s to form the Fraser Valley Mushroom Growers Co-op and nominated Jack Stiglish as their first president. Jack then entered a float in the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) parade and set up a mushroom booth at the fair. In 1969 Jack Stiglish sold the mushroom farm and he and his wife moved next to their trailer court business just down the road. Diane’s brother Allan Stiglich (his family name returned to the original spelling) moved to Langley to open a large mushroom farm of his own which he established with the help of his father. Diane Stiglish began a career with BC Tel.
- Total Tracks
- 5
- Total Length
- 0:46:06
- Interviewee Name
- Stiglish, Diane
- Interview Location
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks
Track two of recording of interview with Diane Stiglish
Track two of recording of interview with Diane Stiglish
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-026/MSS171-026_Track_2.mp3
Interview with Diane Stiglish by Eric Damer December 4, 2012 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory412
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1943-1967
- Length
- 0:09:52
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Diane Stiglish's parents. Diane tells a story of her mother being suspected of a crime. She also mentions other mushroom growers in Burnaby and goes on to describe various activities undertaken by her parents (by sharing a number of photographs with the int…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Diane Stiglish's parents. Diane tells a story of her mother being suspected of a crime. She also mentions other mushroom growers in Burnaby and goes on to describe various activities undertaken by her parents (by sharing a number of photographs with the interviewer).
- Date Range
- 1943-1967
- Photo Info
- Diane Stiglish with her parents and older brother in New Westminster, 1955. Item no. 549-067.
- Length
- 0:09:52
- Subjects
- Agriculture - Farms
- Occupations - Farmers
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- December 4, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Diane Stiglish conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, December 4, 2012. Major theme discussed: mushroom farming.
- Biographical Notes
- F.J. "Jack" Stiglish (originally spelt Stiglich) and his wife bought a Burnaby home in 1943 at Keswick Street, just south of the Lougheed Highway, and took up mushroom farming. By the time their daughter Diane was born five years later in New Westminster, the F.J. Stiglish mushroom farm was an established business. Mushrooms grown at the F.J. Stiglish farm were sent off to Money’s Mushrooms to be packaged and retailed. Later, mushroom growers bought out Money’s to form the Fraser Valley Mushroom Growers Co-op and nominated Jack Stiglish as their first president. Jack then entered a float in the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) parade and set up a mushroom booth at the fair. In 1969 Jack Stiglish sold the mushroom farm and he and his wife moved next to their trailer court business just down the road. Diane’s brother Allan Stiglich (his family name returned to the original spelling) moved to Langley to open a large mushroom farm of his own which he established with the help of his father. Diane Stiglish began a career with BC Tel.
- Total Tracks
- 5
- Total Length
- 0:46:06
- Interviewee Name
- Stiglish, Diane
- Interview Location
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks
Track four of recording of interview with Diane Stiglish
Track four of recording of interview with Diane Stiglish
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-026/MSS171-026_Track_4.mp3
Interview with Robert Lowe by Eric Damer November 5, 2012 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory354
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1939-2012
- Length
- 0:09:13
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Robert "Bob" Lowe's memories of the development of property Burnaby. He discusses houses being built by his father, grandfather and himself; this includes the property that he and his wife bought in 1961. Bob also discusses the rise of the automobile.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Robert "Bob" Lowe's memories of the development of property Burnaby. He discusses houses being built by his father, grandfather and himself; this includes the property that he and his wife bought in 1961. Bob also discusses the rise of the automobile.
- Date Range
- 1939-2012
- Photo Info
- Robert "Bob" Lowe (at center) and friends riding soap box race cars, [1939]. Item no. 549-041.
- Length
- 0:09:13
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- November 5, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Robert "Bob" Lowe conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 5, 2012. Major theme discussed: the rise of the automobile and its effect on development in Burnaby.
- Biographical Notes
- Robert "Bob" Lowe has lived his entire life in Burnaby. During his childhood, Bob’s family lived at several addresses near Royal Oak and what is now Canada Way. He attended Douglas Road Elementary and South Burnaby High Schools. After graduating, Bob worked for a few years before enrolling in Normal School for a teaching certificate. He began teaching in Vancouver, married in 1952, and started a family. The Lowes moved to Government Road in 1961 and began a hobby farm, while Bob upgraded his formal education and became an administrator in the new college system.
- Total Tracks
- 4
- Total Length
- 0:36:54
- Interviewee Name
- Lowe, Robert "Bob"
- Interview Location
- Interviewee's residence
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks
Track two of recording of interview with Bob Lowe
Track two of recording of interview with Bob Lowe
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-016/MSS171-016_Track_2.mp3
Interview with Robert Lowe by Eric Damer November 5, 2012 - Track 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory355
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1939-1972
- Length
- 0:10:04
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Robert "Bob" Lowe's memories of growing up in Burnaby. He discusses transportation in Burnaby, including the first cars in his family. Bob talks about recreational activities available to Burnaby residents in the late nineteen-thirties and early nineteen-fo…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Robert "Bob" Lowe's memories of growing up in Burnaby. He discusses transportation in Burnaby, including the first cars in his family. Bob talks about recreational activities available to Burnaby residents in the late nineteen-thirties and early nineteen-forties, as well as changes that he has seen from his time growing up to the time of raising his own children.
- Date Range
- 1939-1972
- Photo Info
- Robert "Bob" Lowe (at center) and friends riding soap box race cars, [1939]. Item no. 549-041.
- Length
- 0:10:04
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- November 5, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Robert "Bob" Lowe conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 5, 2012. Major theme discussed: the rise of the automobile and its effect on development in Burnaby.
- Biographical Notes
- Robert "Bob" Lowe has lived his entire life in Burnaby. During his childhood, Bob’s family lived at several addresses near Royal Oak and what is now Canada Way. He attended Douglas Road Elementary and South Burnaby High Schools. After graduating, Bob worked for a few years before enrolling in Normal School for a teaching certificate. He began teaching in Vancouver, married in 1952, and started a family. The Lowes moved to Government Road in 1961 and began a hobby farm, while Bob upgraded his formal education and became an administrator in the new college system.
- Total Tracks
- 4
- Total Length
- 0:36:54
- Interviewee Name
- Lowe, Robert "Bob"
- Interview Location
- Interviewee's residence
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks
Track three of recording of interview with Bob Lowe
Track three of recording of interview with Bob Lowe
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-016/MSS171-016_Track_3.mp3