48 records – page 1 of 3.

50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18879
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
29 Sep. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (94 min., 55 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Program Education Coordinator Ashley Jones and presented by Museum Interpreter and blacksmiths, Eric Damer ad Lorne Gray. The webinar is titled "50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM". The webinar is the sixth in …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series
Subseries
Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2022 subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (94 min., 55 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Material Details
Host: Ashely Jones
Presenters: Eric Damer; Lorne Gray
Videographer: Peter Rogier
Editor of video content footage: Peter Rogier
Date of Presentation: Tuesday, September 29, 2022. 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 94 min., 55 sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Original recording of 94 min., 55 sec.was edited to 89 min., 21 sec. for viewing on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Program Education Coordinator Ashley Jones and presented by Museum Interpreter and blacksmiths, Eric Damer ad Lorne Gray. The webinar is titled "50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM". The webinar is the sixth in a series of six webinars presented in partnership by Burnaby Village Museum and Burnaby Public Library. The live webinar was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. Community members were invited to participate by bringing questions during the interactive online sessions. The session opens with the host Ashley Jones, providing introductions. Following the introduction, the presentation begins with Eric Damer and Lorne Gray’s slide presentation titled “50 years of Blacksmithing at Burnaby Village Museum”. The presentation is an historical exploration of the blacksmith shop through images and commentary from these two long-standing museum blacksmiths. Eric and Lorne's presentation is organized into themes beginning with “The Age of Nostalgia” where they discuss the implementation of the original Burnaby Village Museum blacksmithing shop and live exhibit with a working blacksmith when the museum opened in November 1971. They comment on the original design of the forge and other components implemented into the design of the blacksmith shop, stereotypes of blacksmiths and various items that were forged on site in the blacksmith shop. “The Age of Accuracy” looks at changes to the Burnaby Village Museum’s programming and exhibits in the 1980s which included focusing more on the history of Burnaby and upgrading some of the components in the blacksmith shop including blowers, tools, forge design and costuming. Eric and Lorne comment on the history of Burnaby blacksmith, Frank Wagner who operated as a blacksmith in Burnaby “Wagner & Son” on Kingsway. Frank was a trained machinist, farrier and an automotive blacksmith who patented and manufactured the “Wagner Triple Spring Bumper”. With this information, the Burnaby Village Museum changed the name of the blacksmith shop to reflect the history of Burnaby blacksmith Frank Wagner. In “The Age of Diversity” Eric and Lorne talk about a shift in the 1990s when the staffing of the blacksmith shop was diversified to include women and people from diverse cultural backgrounds. These changes as well as an increased interest in artistic blacksmithing also lead to updates in Burnaby Village Museum’s blacksmith training procedures and interpretation, increased course offerings in blacksmithing and a renovated blacksmith shop which included new forges and equipment as well as an improved viewing area. Eric and Lorne talk about specifics regarding blacksmithing techniques and equipment and improvements to make this exhibit more accessible. Their presentation is followed by a short video highlighing Burnaby Village Museum interpreters who have worked as blacksmiths at Burnaby Village Museum. Each person shares their own perspectives on their experiences working as a blacksmith and interacting with the public. In the last part of the webinar, Eric and Lorne answer questions from attendees and further reflect and comment on their own experiences working as blacksmiths, various tools and techniques used and blacksmithing course offerings at Burnaby Village Museum.
History
Host biography: Ashley Jones is the Burnaby Village Museum Education Programmer, responsible for the development and administration of school and public programs at BVM. She has a Master of Arts degree in History and is passionate about creating hands-on programming that promotes historical and environmental literacy. Presenters 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. Lorne Gray has a BA with a major in the History of Science and Technology. He took up blacksmithing as a hobby when he was promoted to middle management and had to start hitting things. He was hired by Burnaby Village Museum as a blacksmith to fill in during the Christmas season of 2001. He has attended several blacksmithing conferences and taken classes with both an artist blacksmith and a journeyman blacksmith. On the weekends, you’ll find him teaching many of the museum’s public blacksmithing courses. He also has a steam ticket that permits him to run the museum’s steam boiler and stationery steam engines.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Occupations - Blacksmiths
Names
Wagner, Frank
Burnaby Village Museum
Damer, Eric
Gray, Lorne
Responsibility
Jones, Ashley
Accession Code
BV022.27.6
Date
29 Sep. 2022
Media Type
Moving Images
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Images
Video

50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM, 29 Sep. 2022

Less detail

Are we really changing? Reflections on Reconciliation

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15669
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
12 May 2021
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (91 min., 26 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke. The webinar is titled "Are We Really Changing? Reflections on Reconciliation" and is presented by Brandon Gabriel, visual arts from the Kwantlen First Nation. The Zoom webinar is the sixt…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series
Subseries
Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Spring 2021 subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (91 min., 26 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Material Details
Presenter: Brandon Gabriel
Host: Jane Lemke
Date of Presentation: Wednesday, May 12, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: min., sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Recording Note: Film was edited from it's original recorded version (92 min., 31 sec.) to edited version (91 min., 26 sec.) for public viewing on Heritage Burnaby.
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke. The webinar is titled "Are We Really Changing? Reflections on Reconciliation" and is presented by Brandon Gabriel, visual arts from the Kwantlen First Nation. The Zoom webinar is the sixth in a series of six "Neighbourhood Speaker Series" webinars exploring a range of topics shared by Indigenous speakers and knowledge keepers that were presented and made available to the public between April 27 and May 12, 2021. The live webinar was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. Community members were invited to participate by bringing questions and comments during the interactive online sessions. In this webinar, Brandon supports his presentation with slides and explores the following questions; If we have not changed the way we introduce ourselves to each other and this land then what are we reconciling?" and "If resource exploitation, racism and colonization continue today, how can we change?" Brandon Gabriel, mixed-media artist and activist, looks back at some highlights of his twenty seven year artistic journey and shares what you can do to tackle reconciliation in your own life. Brandon presents counter narratives speaking to the importance of: Land; Languages; Colonial Annihilation and Indigenous Resurgence. Brandon pauses half way through his presentation to ask and reflect on the question "How far back do you know your ancestors on your mother's side?". While listeners are reflecting, Brandon shares a recording of Dennis Leon of Kwantlen First Nation performing the song “True Love”. Following this, Brandon takes questions from the audience and comments on the importance of matriarchal lineage in indigenous culture. In the second half of the presentation, Brandon talks about his own art and shares examples of Indigenous artists work including: Bill Reid, Zacharias Kunuk, Marianne Nicholson; Brian Jungan and Rebecca Bellmore. Following the presentation, Brandon Gabriel takes questions from the audience that are moderated by the host, Jane Lemke.
History
Brandon Gabriel is an award winning, and Internationally recognized visual artist from the Kwantlen First Nation, in unceded Fort Langley B.C. Brandon was educated at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (1999-2003) and at Emily Carr University of Art and Design (2003-2006). Brandon has over twenty seven years of professional experience as a designer, wood carver, mixed media sculptor, graphic designer, illustrator, and educator. He has exhibited works in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, South America, the USA, and across Canada.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Indigenous peoples - British Columbia
Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Art
Indigenous peoples - Canada - Government relations
Indigenous peoples - Canada - , Treatment of
Names
Kwantlen First Nation
Gabriel, Brandon
Leon, Dennis
Responsibility
Lemke, Jane
Accession Code
BV021.17.6
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
12 May 2021
Media Type
Moving Images
Notes
Title based on content of video recording The following link was shared at the end of the presentation: Kwantlen First Nation: https://www.kwantlenfn.ca/
Images
Video

Are we really changing? Reflections on Reconciliation, 12 May 2021

Are we really changing? Reflections on Reconciliation, 12 May 2021

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0017_0006_002.mp4
Less detail

Bringing Visibility to the Land: A Tsleil-Waututh Perspective on Community Building

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15665
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
27 Apr. 2021
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (47 min., 39 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke. The webinar is titled "Bringing Visibility to the Land: A Tsleil-Waututh Perspective on Community Building" and is presented by Michelle George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Cultural and Technic…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series
Subseries
Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Spring 2021 subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (47 min., 39 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Material Details
Presenters: Michelle George
Host: Jane Lemke
Date of Presentation: Tuesday, April 27, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 47 min., 39 sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Recording Note: Film was edited from it's original recorded version (63 min., 29 sec.) to edited version (47 min., 39 sec.) for public viewing on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke. The webinar is titled "Bringing Visibility to the Land: A Tsleil-Waututh Perspective on Community Building" and is presented by Michelle George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation Cultural and Technical Specialist. The Zoom webinar is the first in a series of six "Neighbourhood Speaker series" webinars exploring a range of topics shared by Indigenous speakers and knowledge keepers that were presented and made available to the public between April 27 and May 12, 2021. The live webinar was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. Community members were invited to participate by bringing questions during the interactive online sessions. In this webinar, Michelle George explores the importance of bringing Tsleil-Waututh ways of knowing/knowledge of the land to Burnaby. She grounds her talk with her experience of working with the Burnaby Village Museum on producing the Indigenous History of Burnaby Resource Guide, an award-winning illustrated educational guide. Michelle also speaks to some of the devastating experiences that the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Indigenous Peoples have suffered since Colonial Settlement and how her Nation has begun to grow in a changing environment. In segments of her talk, Michelle refers to a map titled "Tsleil-Waututh Nation Consultation Area". Following the presentation, Michelle George answers questions from the audience that are moderated by the host, Jane Lemke.
History
Michelle George is a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) and currently works as a Tsleil-Waututh Nation Cultural and Technical Specialist for the Treaty, Lands and Resources (TLR) Department. She participates in various projects for the TWN government and community, focusing on Tsleil-Waututh Governance and Community. The goals that she carries in her work are to make sure Tsleil-Waututh culture is included and considered in these Nation-level projects, as well as within the reviews done on external projects within the TWN Consultation area. She has been a member of both the Tsleil-Waututh Land Code Committee and Land Use Planning group. Michelle is also a First Nations Health Authority Traditional Knowledge Keeper, and a past-Elected Councilor for Tsleil-Waututh Nation. Michelle also provides guest lectures at Simon Fraser University, Langara College, and the BC Institute of Technology.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Indigenous peoples - British Columbia
Indigenous peoples - Canada - Government relations
Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Languages
Indigenous peoples - Canada - , Treatment of
Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - First contact with Europeans
Names
Burnaby Village Museum
Burnaby Public Library
George, Michelle
Tsleil-Waututh Nation
George, Chief Daniel "Dan"
Responsibility
Lemke, Jane
Geographic Access
Burrard Inlet
Accession Code
BV021.17.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
27 Apr. 2021
Media Type
Moving Images
Notes
Title based on contents of video recording
Images
Video

Bringing Visibility to the Land: A Tsleil-Waututh Perspective on Community Building, 27 Apr. 2021

Bringing Visibility to the Land: A Tsleil-Waututh Perspective on Community Building, 27 Apr. 2021

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0017_0001_002.mp4
Less detail

Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14763
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
2017-2022, predominant 2020-2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Series
Physical Description
2 video recordings (m4v) + 22 video recordings (mp4)
Scope and Content
Series consists of recordings of presentations and webinars presented as part of the Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker series, presented in partnership by the Burnaby Public Library and Burnaby Village Museum. Presentations that took place in the Fall of 2017 were recorded on film at the Metrotown br…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series
Description Level
Series
Physical Description
2 video recordings (m4v) + 22 video recordings (mp4)
Scope and Content
Series consists of recordings of presentations and webinars presented as part of the Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker series, presented in partnership by the Burnaby Public Library and Burnaby Village Museum. Presentations that took place in the Fall of 2017 were recorded on film at the Metrotown branch of the Burnaby Public Library. These two presentations were presented by Julie Lee and Ken Yip and speak about their Chinese Canadian heritage while growing in Burnaby. Webinars created in the Fall of 2020, Spring of 2021, Fall of 2021 and Fall of 2022 were presented live on zoom and the Burnaby Village Museum’s Facebook page. The webinars that took place in 2020-2022 cover various topics and were hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa; Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke; Burnaby Public Library Reference Librarian, Mariah Gastaldo; Stewardship Program Manager with Still Moon Arts Society, Adrian Avendaño; Burnaby Village Museum Community Engagement Coordinator, Christina Froschauer; Burnaby Village Museum Indigenous Education Programmer Nicole Preissl and Burnaby Village Museum Education Programmer Ashley Jones. Speakers in the webinars include: Burnaby Village Museum Registrar Catharine McPherson and Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator Kate Petrusa; Kamala Todd; City of Burnaby Heritage Planner Lisa Codd; UBC Students - Debbie Liang; Joty Gill; Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong; Nathan Lee; Denise Fong; Michelle George; City of Burnaby Indigenous Relations Manager Fancy Poitras and City of Burnaby Social Planner Rebekah Mahaffey; John Preissl; Xwalacktun; Nicole Preissl and Brandon Gabriel; Raymond Nakamura; Debra Sloan; Tim Nishibata of the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association; Burnaby Village Museum Curator Jane Lemke; Richard Lott; Deirdre Norman Lott; John Adams; Jim Wolf; Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) member and elder Carleen Thomas; Meagan Innes; Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra; Museum Conservator Elizabeth Czerwinski; Michael DesMazes; Carly Bouwman; Eric Damer and Lorne Gray. The fonds is arranged in the following subseries: 1) Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2020 subseries 2) Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Spring 2021 subseries 3) Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2021 subseries 4) Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2017 subseries 5) Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2022 subseries
History
The Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series is a public programming series which began in 2014. The series is presented in partnership between the Burnaby Public Library and the Burnaby Village Museum. Presentations regarding a range of historical, cultural and contemporary topics related to Burnaby are provided at various Burnaby Public Library locations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2020-2021, these talks became available virtually utilizing the cloud based Zoom video communications platform and Facebook live platforms. This format has continued into 2022 to reach a broader audience.
Accession Code
BV018.6
BV020.29
BV021.17
BV021.31
BV022.27
Date
2017-2022, predominant 2020-2022
Media Type
Moving Images
Related Material
See also: Chinese Canadian History in Burnaby Research Project fonds
Notes
Title based on contents of series
For details on topics of presentations see subseries and item level descriptions
Further accruals are expected
Less detail

Celebrations of Life & Love: Ceramic Works of Thomas Kakinuma

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17536
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
12 Oct. 2021
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (66 min., 9 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar. The webinar was presented on the Zoom webinar platform and also presented live on the Burnaby Village Museum Facebook page on October 12, 2021. The webinar was hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Community Engagement Coordinator, Christina Fr…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series
Subseries
Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2021 subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (66 min., 9 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Material Details
Presenter: Debra Sloan
Host: Christina Froschauer
Date of Presentation: October 12, 2021
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 66 min., 9 sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication and Facebook platforms
Recording Note: Film was edited from it's original recorded version (71 min., 36 sec.) to edited version (66 min., 9 sec.) for public viewing on Heritage Burnaby.
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar. The webinar was presented on the Zoom webinar platform and also presented live on the Burnaby Village Museum Facebook page on October 12, 2021. The webinar was hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Community Engagement Coordinator, Christina Froschauer and presented by Debra Sloan. The webinar is titled "Celebrations of Life & Love: Ceramic Works of Thomas Kakinuma". In this webinar, Debra Sloan talks about the life and work of UBC professor and Burnaby resident, Thomas Kakinuma who was a celebrated award winning and internationally recognized ceramicist known for his intriguing mid-century pieces, charismatic animal sculptures and return to Japanese aesthetics through his post-war practice. Debra supports her presentation with archival, personal and exhibit photographs showcasing Thomas Kakinuma's life and works. During breaks in the presentation, Christina and Debra take questions from webinar participants on zoom as well as viewers from the live recording on Burnaby Village Museum's Facebook page. Resource links shared during the presentation include: Debra Sloan www.debrasloan.com North-West Ceramics Foundation www.nwcf.ca Potters Guild of BC www.bcpotters.com Fraser Valley Potters Guild www.fraservalleypottersguild.com Craft Council of British Columbia www.craftcouncilbc.ca Thomas Kakinuma’s work in collections: West Vancouver Art Museum Collection www.westvancouverartmuseum.ca/collections Museum of Anthropology – BC Ceramic Collection www.moa.ubc.ca/collections
History
Vancouverite, Debra Sloan gained an interest in ceramics early, in her teen years, and her passion for the practice has remained with her throughout her life. Her education in ceramics is a mix of self-taught informal learning, as well as formal learning, including studying at the Vancouver School of Art in the early 80s and later receiving a Bachelor of Fine Art from Emily Carr University in the early 2000s. Her work has been exhibited regionally, nationally, and internationally and she has participated in numerous artist residencies, and is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, with projects funded by British Columbia Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts. Closer to home, Debra instructed sculpture classes at the Burnaby Shadbolt Center for the Arts, where she worked for over two decades. Over the years, Debra also took to researching, writing and publishing about the history of ceramics in British Columbia and has worked with colleagues to build a Registry of B.C. ceramicists. Recently, in 2017 and 2018, she was involved in the West Vancouver Museum’s retrospective exhibition of Thomas Kakinuma’s work, writing the catalogue, “The Ceramic Art of Thomas Kakinuma.”
Subjects
Persons - Japanese Canadians
Names
Kakinuma, Thomas
Froschauer , Christina
Sloan, Debra
Accession Code
BV021.31.2
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
12 Oct. 2021
Media Type
Moving Images
Notes
Title based on contents of video recording
Historical biography of Debra Sloan is taken from recording of presentation
Images
Video

Celebrations of Life & Love: Ceramic Works of Thomas Kakinuma, 12 Oct. 2021

Celebrations of Life & Love: Ceramic Works of Thomas Kakinuma, 12 Oct. 2021

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0031_0002_002.mp4
Less detail

Chinese Canadian history in Burnaby resource guide

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7608
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
[2022]
Call Number
971.1 CHI
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Digital Reference Collection
Material Type
Digital Resource
Accession Code
BV022.8.1
Call Number
971.1 CHI
Contributor
City of Burnaby
Place of Publication
Burnaby, BC
Publisher
City of Burnaby
Publication Date
[2022]
Physical Description
36 p. ; ill. (some col.), maps, ports
Library Subject (LOC)
Burnaby (B.C.)--History
Burnaby (B.C.)--Social Life and Customs
Chinese Canadians--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
Chinese--British Columbia--History
Pharmacy--Canada
Pharmacy--United States
Pharmaceutical museums
Directories
Object History
Chinese Canadians have contributed to Burnaby’s growth for over a century. The long and intertwining histories between Chinese Canadians, Indigenous people and other communities have shaped the founding of Burnaby and British Columbia. This resource guide was created because their life experiences and important contributions to Burnaby’s development are not widely known.
Images
Digital Books
Less detail

Curating the Museum's Artifact Collection: A Rare Behind the Scene's Look

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18875
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
15 Sep. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (71 min., 11 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar presented and hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa and co-hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Education Programmer Ashley Jones.The webinar is titled "Curating the Museum's Artifact Collection: A Rare Behind the Scen…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series
Subseries
Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2022 subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (71 min., 11 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Material Details
Presenter and Host: Kate Petrusa
Co-host: Ashley Jones
Videographer: Francis Santos
Editor of video content footage: Francis Santos
Date of Presentation: Thursday, September 15, 2022. 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 71 min., 11 sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Original recording of 71 min., 11 sec. was edited to 60 min., 5 sec. for viewing on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar presented and hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa and co-hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Education Programmer Ashley Jones.The webinar is titled "Curating the Museum's Artifact Collection: A Rare Behind the Scene's Look". The webinar is the second in a series of six webinars presented in partnership by Burnaby Village Museum and Burnaby Public Library. The live webinar was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. Community members were invited to participate by bringing questions during the interactive online sessions. In this interactive session Kate Petrusa provides a tour of the Burnaby Village Museum's diverse collection, the storage facilities, the tools used to maintain and preserve items and how to access the collection online on Heritage Burnaby. During the presentation Kate answers questions from the attendees.
History
Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013. Ashley Jones is the Burnaby Village Museum Education Programmer, responsible for the development and administration of school and public programs at BVM. She has a Master of Arts degree in History and is passionate about creating hands-on programming that promotes historical and environmental literacy.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Artifacts
Buildings - Civic - Museums
Names
Burnaby Village Museum
Petrusa, Kate
Responsibility
Jones, Ashley
Accession Code
BV022.27.2
Date
15 Sep. 2022
Media Type
Moving Images
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Images
Video

Curating the Museum's Artifact Collection: A Rare Behind the Scene's Look, 15 Sep. 2022

Curating the Museum's Artifact Collection: A Rare Behind the Scene's Look, 15 Sep. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2022_0027_0002_002.mp4
Less detail

Harry Toy fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20339
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[197-]-2023
Collection/Fonds
Harry Toy fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
.5 cm of textual records + 6 photographs + 2 photographs (jpg)
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of business records and photographs relating to Harry Toy's store the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants' Association and his family.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Harry Toy fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
.5 cm of textual records + 6 photographs + 2 photographs (jpg)
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of business records and photographs relating to Harry Toy's store the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants' Association and his family.
History
Harry Wee Koon Toy was born in February 9, 1936 in Taikong, Toisan county, Guangdong, China. Harry's father William Toy came to Canada in the early 1920s when he was ten years old. Harry arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 9, 1950. After staying in Vancouver for one night, he joined his father in Neepawa, Manitoba where the family operated a cafe business (Royal Cafe). Harry grew up in Neepawa and graduated from the University of Manitoba and teacher's college. He became a high school teacher and worked at schools in Minnedosa and Gladstone, Manitoba teaching various subjects including, science, business, geography, history and physical education. Harry and his wife, had three daughters, Melinda, Beverley and Christina who were all born in Neepawa. When the family decided to move to the west coast, Harry was introduced to the grocery store business through an uncle who was a store operator. Around 1970, Harry purchased a grocery store at 4694 Canada Way in Burnaby which he named "Canada Way Food Market" and Harry and his daughters made their home at the back of the store. Harry owned and operated the store for approximately 40 years between 1970 and 2010. Around 1986, Harry purchased the butcher shop next door (4692 Canada Way) which was no longer in operation, expanding his store and adding a second storey to use as a residence. Harry's children helped him operate the store throughout their childhood. In the early 1970s, corner stores were threatened by the spread of small chain-operated convenience stories from Eastern Canada to Vancouver. Formed in April 1972, the Fraser Merchants’ Association was established to protect the rights of corner store operators. With no paid legal help, the association was incorporated in Victoria, BC for the cost of 56 cents. The benefits of being a member of the association included warehouse and group purchasing, common advertising and other advantages of being part of an association. Founded by Gary Lee Ling and five others, Fraser Merchants’ Association’s first member was Graham Grocery. By 1978, the association represented over 200 corner stores in the Lower Mainland (Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, and New Westminster) and Fraser Valley. The association remained active into the 1980s and 1990s. Harry has served as President of the Fraser Merchants' Association from 1992 to present.
Creator
Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"
Names
Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"
Fraser Merchants' Association
Canada Way Food Market
Accession Code
BV023.25
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[197-]-2023
Media Type
Photograph
Textual Record
Related Material
See also BV023.16.19 - Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy
For associated artifacts from Canada Way Food Market see Accession BV023.17
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Inkwells to Internet: A History of Burnaby Schools

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7551
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Carter, David
Cooke, Rosemary
Pride, Harry, 1925-
White, Janet
Yip, Gail
Publication Date
2020
Call Number
371 CAR
. CBA 204-025 (BOTTOM LEFT) Windsor School, 2008. COURTESY OF BURNABY SCHOOL BOARD (BOTTOM RIGHT) Burnaby Central Secondary School. COURTESY OF BURNABY SCHOOL BOARD �Inkwells to Internet: A History of Burnaby Schools i With funding support from Burnaby Board of Education INKWELLS TO INTERNET A H I S T O
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Reference Collection
Digital Reference Collection
Material Type
Book
ISBN
978-0-9781979-2-6
Call Number
371 CAR
Author
Carter, David
Cooke, Rosemary
Pride, Harry, 1925-
White, Janet
Yip, Gail
Place of Publication
Burnaby
Publisher
City of Burnaby
Publication Date
2020
Physical Description
vii, 35 p. : ill. ; 29 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Burnaby (B.C.)--History
Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby
Subjects
Education
Notes
"Includes index"
A history of the Burnaby school district and individual school buildings in Burnaby, BC, between 1893 and 2013.
The “First Nations cemetery” described on page 109 in Mary Johnson’s recollections was originally written as “Indian” and may refer to the Khalsa Diwan Society’s Sikh cremations at the Vancouver Cemetery.
Images
Digital Books
Less detail

Inkwells to Internet book launch

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15277
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
18 Feb 2021
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (50 min., 14 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a virtual book launch titled "Inkwells to Internet: A History of Burnaby Schools" presented by Heritage Planner, Lisa Codd, co-author Janet White, and hosted by Museum Curator Jane Lemke. The book launch took place utilizing the Zoom video communication platfor…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum film collection series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (50 min., 14 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Material Details
Presenters: Lisa Codd; Janet White
Host: Jane Lemke
Technical support: Kate Petrusa
Date of Presentation: February 18, 2021
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 50 min., 14 sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a virtual book launch titled "Inkwells to Internet: A History of Burnaby Schools" presented by Heritage Planner, Lisa Codd, co-author Janet White, and hosted by Museum Curator Jane Lemke. The book launch took place utilizing the Zoom video communication platform on February 18, 2021 and the live video recording was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. During the book launch event, Lisa Codd provides an overview of the history of Burnaby schools using six photographs from the book. Janet White shares ancedotes and stories from her and other co-authors experiences at Burnaby schools.
History
"Inkwells to Internet: A History of Burnaby Schools" was written by a group of authors including Janet White, David Carter, Rosemary Cooke, Harry Pride and Gail Yip. Publication of the book was supported by the City of Burnaby Heritage Commission, the Burnaby Board of Education and the B.C. Retired Teachers Association Heritage Committee.
Subjects
Buildings - Schools
Education
Names
Codd, Lisa
White, Janet
Responsibility
Lemke, Jane
Accession Code
BV021.7.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
18 Feb 2021
Media Type
Moving Images
Notes
Title based on contents of video recording
Images
Video

Inkwells to Internet book launch, 18 Feb 2021

Less detail

Interview with Bill Gruenthal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19636
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (74 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (74 min., 37 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on July 31 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:27:01 Bill Gruenthal provides details on his family background, his early life experiences, how he got into the insurance business,…
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
2 sound recordings (wav) (74 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (74 min., 37 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Bill Gruenthal Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 31, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:14:37 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on July 31 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:27:01 Bill Gruenthal provides details on his family background, his early life experiences, how he got into the insurance business, his knowledge and interest in Judaism, places that he and his wife lived before moving to Burnaby, family life in Burnaby and his political involvement in running for the Burnaby school board. 00:27:02 – 00:42:50 Bill Gruenthal talks about the Burquest Jewish Community Association, it’s background and his involvement, experiences of discrimination in his career, a brief history of the Jewish people and some cultural traditions. 00:42:51 – 00:56:04 Bill Gruenthal mentions some of the charities that he supports including Burnaby Hospital, his volunteer work within the community and community organizations including the Nikkei Place Foundation and shares more details on his insurance career. 00:56:05 – 01:14:37 Bill Gruenthal shares information about his Burnaby neighbourhood and Jewish funeral customs and provides his impressions of new development at Brentwood, Burnaby Council and other development projects in Burnaby.
History
Interviewee biography: Bill Gruenthal was born in the British Mandate of Palestine, now Israel, in 1935 after his parents had fled Germany in advance of the then worsening political situation. Bill’s father died in 1942; some years later his mother remarried to an Irish-born senior civil servant in that government. He had a difficult and somewhat dangerous job. Soon after marriage, the family, including Bill’s older brother, Martin, immigrated to Canada in January 1947 on the strength of his step-father’s British Passport. They traveled via New York, where Bill’s uncle and his family resided and who put up the family. Later that month, the parents travelled by CP rail from Montreal to Vancouver, followed by Bill and his brother in March 1947 who travelled from New York to White Rock on an American railroad. While passing through the Fraser Valley Bill’s parents took an interest in Silverdale, a small hamlet west of Mission where the four eventually settled. Bill finished High School in Mission and soon joined the insurance industry. Bill connected with the Jewish Community in Vancouver where he met his soon-to-be wife. Upon marriage they were transferred to Calgary; after five years suffering its cold weather they were transferred back to Vancouver. They settled in Burnaby in 1966 as an affordable neighbourhood with easy access to his office downtown Vancouver. Outside work, Bill helped raise his family of three daughters who all graduated Burnaby High School (Alpha). They joined Temple Sholom in Vancouver, and he volunteered and still volunteers for a number of non-profits, including The Jewish Museum and Archives and Nikkei Place Foundation (Burnaby). He was an early long-term supporter and a past president of Burquest Jewish Community Association, mostly involving persons from Burnaby, New Westminster, and the Tri-Cities area (hence the name). He ran for political office in Burnaby in 1976 but was not elected. He delivers food in Burnaby for the Food Bank and is a donor to many worthy causes including Burnaby General Hospital. 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
Migration
Persons - Jewish Canadians
Transportation
Transportation - Rail
Religions - Judaism
Cemeteries
Organizations
Elections
Names
Gruenthal, Bill
Gruenthal, Noemi Yadlow
O'Connor, Herta Ingrid Gruenthal
O'Connor, John
Burquest
Jacobson, Max Alec
Temple Shalom
Brentwood Shopping Centre
Brentwood Park School
Alpha Secondary School
Burnaby School Board
Responsibility
Damer, Eric
Accession Code
BV023.16.14
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Planning Study Area
Brentwood Area
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Bill Gruenthal, [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

Interview with Bill Gruenthal, [1950-2023] (interview content), interviewed 31 Jul. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0014_003.mp3
Less detail

Interview with David Skulski

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19606
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (80 min., 38 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (80 min., 38 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Murray "David" Skulski conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00:00 – 00:22:22 David Skulski provides biographical information about himself. He talks about his childhood experiences growing up, at…
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
2 sound recordings (wav) (80 min., 38 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (80 min., 38 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: David Skulski Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 6 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 80 min., 38 sec. Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Murray "David" Skulski conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00:00 – 00:22:22 David Skulski provides biographical information about himself. He talks about his childhood experiences growing up, attending school in New Westminster and Burnaby and Hebrew school in Vancouver. David recalls his early experiences in music, instruments that he played and describes some of his Jewish family traditions. 00:22:23 – 00:49:57 David talks about his experiences studying music at university and following his passion as a musician and oboist. He recalls his experiences of working with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the CBC Orchestra, Vancouver Society for Early Music, the Burnaby Symphony Orchestra, other musical ensembles and venues where he’s performed. 00:49:58 – 01:00:00 David talks about living in Burnaby in the Deer Lake neighbourhood. David describes some his experiences playing traditional music from different countries. 01:01:01 – 01:14:15 David comments on the changes that he’s seen in Burnaby over the years, some of his favourite places, activities, cultural amenities and development on the Fraser River. David talks about the Jewish community in Burnaby, his involvement with the Peretz Centre and examples of Jewish cuisine. 01:14:16 – 01:20:38 David talks about Yiddish being his first language, his language studies in Lithuania, the roots of the language and provides some examples of speaking Yiddish.
History
Interviewee biography: Murray "David" Skulski was born in 1942 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and moved to British Columbia with his parents in 1948. Skulski and his family settled in New Westminster before moving to Burnaby in the late 1950's. Skulski took piano lessons at an early age and began playing obo while attending junior high school in New Westminster. In 1960 at the age of 17 years, Skulski began performing with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as solo English horn and is the youngest player to ever be employed with the VSO. In 1991, Skulski started playing with the Vancouver Folk Orchestra and was the conductor between 1997 and 2004. Skulski has been the principal oboe player in many orchestras. In 1968, Skulski founded the Hortulani Musicae; in 1970, he founded the Vancouver Society for Early Music and in 1983 he founded Harmonie, an ensemble concentrating in classical wind music. In 2003, Skulski became president of the Pertez Centre for Secular Jewish Culture. In 2005, Skulski became principal oboist of the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Burnaby Symphony Orchestra and between 2009 and 2019 he was the principal oboist for the Pilgrim Orchestra under Pilwon Suk. David has served as president of the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture and since 2022, he’s served on the board of the Vancouver Chamber Music Society. Skulski has taught summer courses in Renaissance music in Austria (1972-1979), has been a music resident at Simon Fraser University (1973-1976), has lectured on the history of musical instruments at SFU and UBC and in 2008 began teaching at the Pacific Coast School of Music, Richmond School of Music and Oakridge Music Studios. 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
Education
Foods
Music
Musical Instruments
Occupations - Musicians
Performances - Concerts
Persons - Jewish Canadians
Religions - Judaism
Names
Burnaby Symphony Orchestra
Burnaby South High School
Burquest
Skulski, Murray "David"
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Society for Early Music
Peretz Centre
Responsibility
Damer, Eric
Geographic Access
Deer Lake
Deer Lake Park
Accession Code
BV023.16.10
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with David Skulski, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023

Interview with David Skulski, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0010_003.mp3
Less detail

Interview with Dr. John Yang by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14277
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
August 2020
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (66 min., 57 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a Zoom interview with Dr, John Yang conducted by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, UBC students in the UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems. The interview was conducted with Dr. Yang as part of the students' research for "Chinese Herbalist Shops and TCM", part three i…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
UBC Partnership series
Subseries
Back to the Roots Podcast series - 2020 subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (66 min., 57 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo
Material Details
Interviewers: Rose Wu; Wei Yan Yeong Interviewee: Dr. John Yang Interview Date: August 2020 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all tracks: 01:06:57 Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a Zoom interview with Dr, John Yang conducted by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, UBC students in the UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems. The interview was conducted with Dr. Yang as part of the students' research for "Chinese Herbalist Shops and TCM", part three in a series of "Back to the Roots" podcasts. The podcast series explores the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. In this series the students connected their knowledge of food systems to their shared Chinese heritage in order to discover how Chinese Canadian history is rooted in their local food systems. The majority of the interview was conducted in english with occasional comments spoken in mandarin by Wei Yan Yeong and Dr. John Yang. 00:00 – 15:13 The video interview opens with Wei Yan Yeong providing a brief synopsis of the project that she is working on in partnership with Rose Wu. She explains to Dr. John Yang that the content from this interview will help inform podcast episode number three “Chinse Herbalist Shops and TCM”. Dr. Yang responds to questions asked by Wei Yan and Rose. Dr. Yang explains why he first came to Canada from China more than thirty years ago and provides information on his educational background. He describes how he first earned a degree in western medicine in China and became an assistant professor at a medical school before turning to study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by completing a PHD from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. When he immigrated to Canada with his wife more than thirty years ago, he decided to continue to practice TCM . 15:14 – 21:53 In this segment of the interview, Rose Wu asks if he joined an existing TCM business or whether he started his own practice. Dr. Yang explains that he practiced on his own and that TCM wasn’t licensed in Canada until 1996. He further explains how Western medicine was the only regulated medical practice used in Canada and it took a long time to lobby the government to recognize the benefits of TCM and why it should be a licensed profession. 21:58 – 25:00 In this segment of the interview Dr. Yang speaks about his experience as a doctor of TCM in Burnaby, his role as the president of the Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Colleges of Canada and how they lobbied the government for more recognition and his professional work as a dean and clinical director of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Traditional Chinese Medicine program. 27:36 – 47:07 In this segment Dr. Yang explains how Traditional Chinese Medicine is ingrained in the Chinese culture and part of daily life which is why many Chinese immigrants rely on TCM to protect their immune system. He explains how TCM is based on four different energies (cold, hot, warm and cool) and different from traditional western medicine. He provides examples of different energies from certain foods. 47:08 – 52:13 In this segment, Dr. Yang speaks about his experience as a practitioner of TCM in the treatment of patients, how many of his patients are not Chinese and how he treats many of his patients with acupuncture. Dr. Yang provides an example of a patient being treated with acupuncture for a frozen shoulder. 52:14 – 56:43 In this segment, Dr. Yang is asked if he also uses Western medicine. Dr. Yang shares his positive experiences treating fever with acupuncture and how growing up in China that there was no access to western medicine – no antibiotics or penicillin until the last 50 years or so. He explains that this is why Chinese people have always relied on TCM. 56:44 - 1:06:57 Dr. Yang provides information on the education required to become a registered acupuncturist and a licensed TCM practitioner. He explains that herbs used in TCM can be purchased from herbalist shops in Chinatown or you can purchase concentrations of the herbs directly from your TCM doctor. He clarifies how animal products that are restricted (including shark fins) are no longer included for treatments in TCM, all TCM herbs are regulated in Canada by the FDA whereas herbs that you buy in Chinatown are treated as food and not drugs.
History
Interviewer biographies: Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong are University of British Columbia students in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. Interviewee biography: Dr. John Yang is a chairperson and program director of Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Traditional Chinese Medicine program. Dr. John Yang graduated from Hainan University Medical School, Haikou, China. He received his TCM training at Hainan Provincial Hospital of TCM, Haikou, China and a PhD from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, China. For the past 11 years, John has been the Dean and Clinic Director at the PCU College of Holistic Medicine, Burnaby. As an expert in the field, John has given many national and international presentations and lectures on TCM. Dr. Yang is the current Vice-President at the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture of British Columbia (ATCMA). He is also the Chair of the Academic/Educational Committee of ATCMA. Dr. Yang is the current President of the Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Colleges of Canada and a committee member on the Standards Council of Canada, Canadian Advisory Committees for International Organization for Standardization for TCM. John was elected as professional board member at the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA). He was also a member of the Audit Team (Topic Specialist) for the Private Career Training Institution Agency of British Columbia (PCTIA), along with numerous past appointments to other TCM provincial, national and international committees.
Subjects
Persons - Chinese Canadians
Social Issues - Discrimination
Social Issues - Racism
Public Services - Health Services
Regulations
Names
Yang, Dr. John
Yeong, Wei Yan
Wu, Rose
Accession Code
BV020.28.1
Access Restriction
Restricted access
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
August 2020
Media Type
Moving Images
Related Material
BV020.28.5
Notes
Title based on contents of video recording
For recording of podcast "Chinese Herbalist Shops and TCM" - see BV020.28.5
Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view content
Images
Less detail

Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19348
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Anushay Malik Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Dr. Sadhu Binning Location of Interview: Love farmhouse at Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 25, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 3 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:15:57) Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto three separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future exhibits and for researchers to learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby. During the interview, Dr. Binning shares his ancestral background along with his relatives' and his own personal experiences as a South Asian immigrant living and working in British Columbia and Burnaby. Dr. Binning conveys that he’s a Burnaby resident who’s lived in Burnaby since 1973 and that his children were born here. Binning shares his ancestral heritage beginning with his uncle Dhana Singh who emigrated from Punjab to British Columbia in 1931 and began working in the forest industry. He explains how Dhana Singh and another partner owned, operated and worked in small sawmills in the vicinity of Kamloops, Williams Lake and also on Vancouver Island. Binning conveys that in the beginning Dhana Singh and many other South Asian immigrants were not legal residents until 1938. In 1938, about 350 South Asian immigrants (mainly Punjabi) gathered resources to hire a lawyer to obtain permanent residency. Binning mentions that one of the notable South Asians in the group who was also a close friend of his uncle, was Darshan Singh Sangha, a trade unionist who was a founding member of the International Woodworkers of America (IWA) union and an active member of the Communist Party of Canada. Binning conveys how Darshan Singh Sangha returned to India in 1947 to be a part of the revolution, how he was very active in the communist movement in India. While in India, Darshan Singh Sangha, was known as Canadian and thereby adopted “Canadian” as his surname, becoming “Darshan Singh Canadian”. Binning further explains that his uncle Dhana Singh Sangha returned to India in 1951, married and came back to B.C. in 1957 bringing with him, his wife and children. In 1960, with the support of his uncle, Binning’s father, Jit Singh Binning immigrated to British Columbia and began working in sawmills in the lower mainland, Kamloops, Quesnel and on Vancouver Island. Binning clarifies that his uncle, Dhana Singh was able to immigrate to Canada with the support of his cousins from the Tarker Singh Bains family. Binning further describes Darshan Singh Sangha’s involvement with the Communist party and the IWA and how the majority of the members were from the forest industry. As an active and prominent member of the labour movement, Darshan Singh Sangha fought for the rights of South Asians and Chinese who working in the industry and facing racism, unfair wages and discriminatory practices. Binning describes how Darshan Singh Sangha wrote a book in English in 1943, titled “Rise of the New Asia”. Binning conveys how immigrants of Chinese and South Asian decent didn’t have the right to vote in British Columbia and how Darshan Singh Sangha was instrumental in obtaining the right to vote in British Columbia, although he was never given the credit. Binning describes his uncle Dhana Singh as a likeable guy with many friends, first living in Kamloops before moving to Vancouver. Binning imparts how the sport of wrestling is a popular Punjabi sport along with Punjabi kabaddi. He conveys that his uncle became involved in wrestling while working in sawmills. South Asian immigrants had to do physical labour working in sawmills, the work could be tough and could often lead to physical fights. A number of South Asian immigrants working in the mills already had experience as wrestlers from back home. Dhana Singh later left the lumber industry to work in the agriculture sector. Binning explains how immigration rules changed in the 1960s which lead to larger numbers of South Asians immigrating to Canada. Many of these new immigrants were educated and politically conscious. All of these new immigrants faced racism but being politically conscious from an independent India and with the ability to speak English they organized themselves to fight for their rights. Binning imagines the items that his uncle and his father may have brought with them in their suitcase when immigrating to Canada. Binning describes three items, including a rajai (a blanket with cotton inside that is sewn together), a bistra (small attaché case or trunk) and a piece of cloth to lie on. Binning further describes the roles in Indian society as caste divisions and that it was usually women’s work in making the rajais. Binning recollects the locations that his father and his family lived after coming to Vancouver. Binning explains that a few years after living together in Vancouver, he and his family moved to Burnaby in 1973 to be closer to his Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish Binning’s family. Dr. Binning and family lived in a house in Burnaby located on Irmin Street near Royal Oak between 1973 and 1987. While living at this house their children attended McPherson Park Junior High School and later Burnaby South Secondary School. Binning reflects on some of the racism that he and his family have faced while living in Burnaby which led him to write a poem that he published in 1994 titled “No More Watno Dur”. Binning explains the meaning of the title “Watan” meaning “country and everybody” “a country far way from the motherland”. Binning explains the origins of the magazine “Watan” that was started by a friend in 1973. The magazine got its roots in Vancouver in 1973 from an organization called the “Punjabi Literary Association”. Binning became the editor of the magazine in 1976 and his friend joined him as assistant editor in 1978. Binning continued to work as editor until 1983 or 1984 when he returned to school to complete his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. Binning describes the origins of the “Vancouver Sath” that was formed by a small group of South Asians around 1982. Binning was a founding member of the organization and held meetings and rehearsals at his house in Burnaby. Vancouver Sath first started out as an informal discussion forum by a group of politically conscious Punjabi writers and activists. Binning talks about issues and problems that Vancouver Sath addressed including; racism as well as domestic violence in the South Asian community. Binning explains how he and Sukhwant Hundal wrote articles on these issues and others that were happening in the South Asian community in Canada. Binning talks about how in 1983, the group was inspired to begin performing theatrical works after consulting with Gursharan Singh who was from a well known theatrical group from Punjab who were performing in Vancouver. In the beginning the Vancouver Sath’s plays were focused on the problems in Punjab but they soon decided to address social issues in their own South Asian community here in Canada. Binning summarizes and draws attention to, some of the plays that Vancouver Sath has written and performed including; “Picket Line”, about Punjabi women farmworkers’ rights; “Lattan de Bhoot”, about domestic abuse; “A Crop of Poison”; “Kihda Viah” (English translation- “Whose Marriage”) about arranged marriage and others about social issues in the South Asian community. The plays were performed in public schools and community centres in Vancouver and Richmond, Simon Fraser University and some were also performed in Toronto, Calgary and Williams Lake. Binning mentions some of the traditional foods that he likes to eat and where he and his family have shopped to find ingredients. He recalls how his mother, Gurmaje Kaur Binning did all of the cooking and was often cooking all day long. In the sixties, the Binning family address on 13th Avenue in Vancouver was also used as a postal address for many friends and family who’d recently immigrated. When these friends dropped by to pick up their mail, his mother often provided them with tea and food. After Binning and his wife, Jagdish moved to their own home in 1973, he shared in some of the shopping and cooking but his wife did the majority of the work due to his busy schedule. The interview closes with Binning providing an explanation of how “Watno Dur” magazine changed it’s name to “Watan” magazine. Binning reflects on how this came to be, when he made the decision to get an education in Canada and to stay here, not just as a “Canadian” but as a “Punjabi Canadian.
History
Interviewee biography: Dr. Sadhu Binning was born on May 10, 1947 to mother Gurmej Kaur and father Jeet Singh Binning. Due to lack of proper records management in India at the time of his birth, it is believed that he was actually born sometime in December of 1947. He grew up alongside two brothers and one sister in a village located in Kapurthala, Punjab. Dr. Binning attended secondary school in the nearby city of Phagwara, Punjab although he did not complete his education here. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed reading both Punjabi and Hindi novels and learned how to read Urdu as well. Dr. Binning’s uncle, Dhana Singh immigrated to Canada in 1933 and returned to India in 1953. When Dhana Singh returned to Canada in 1957, he sponsored Dr. Binning’s father, Jeet Singh Binning to immigrate. Dhana Singh co-owned a few saw mills in British Columbia and also worked in the truck driving industry. Dr. Binning remembers that some people who had lived in Canada would visit their village and that they appeared to be strong and healthy and looked happy. He also noticed that they would eat meat, so whenever they would visit there would be meat available. In 1967, when he was nineteen and a half years old, Dr. Binning immigrated Canada to join his father. He recalls his father and uncle and a friend arriving at the airport to pick him up. During his first few days, Dr. Binning made the decision to remove his turban and beard upon receiving advice from his uncle. Dr. Binning first obtained work on a farm in Abbotsford, working alongside his mother. While working, Dr. Binning also attended English classes in Vancouver. Dr. Binning’s Uncle Dhana Singh worked in a Vancouver saw mill and tried to help find work for his nephew but was unsuccessful. Dr. Binning soon found work at a saw mill in Avola and worked there until the end of the summer until a friend helped find him work in a saw mill in North Vancouver. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with friends. In 1970, Dr. Binning left the saw mill after obtaining a job at the post office. The post office offered lower wages than working at the mill but Dr. Binning believed that he would become more educated working here. While working as a postman, Dr. Binning recalls facing a lot of discrimination and racism and was often referred to as a ‘Paki’ multiple times a day. In 1973, Dr. Binning married Jagish Sihota. Sadhu and Jagdish originated from nearby villages in India and met each other in Canada. Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish worked at the Royal Bank of Canada for thirty years until her retirement. While working, she also looked after the household and their son and daughter. Jagdish also handwrote a magazine, “Watno Dur’ (English translation: ‘away from homeland’) which was distributed in the community. In 1976, Dr. Binning became the editor of the magazine and the name was later changed to “Watan’ as they had accepted their new homeland of Canada. While working at the post office, Dr. Binning also attended night school starting in eighth grade. After receiving his high school diploma, he was accepted to Simon Fraser University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology and in 1986 he obtained a Masters degree from Simon Fraser University. While attending university, Dr. Binning was very active within the community and wanted to work to improve society. He first thought that he would return to India to contribute and improve rights in his homeland but upon seeing the prevalence of the movements in Canada, he realized that work needed to be done here too. In 1983, Dr. Binning became a founding member and contributor to a theatrical collective known as “Vancouver Sath”. The theatrical group produced plays that represented societal issues and were invited to perform at multiple conferences throughout British Columbia and Canada. The group focused and acknowledged the many issues in Punjab and in Canada. One of the plays that the group produced focused on the exploitation of Punjabi women who worked on farms in Canada. Dr. Binning continued to be involved as an integral member of Vancouver Sath until 1995. Over the years, Dr. Binning has strongly lobbied for Punjabi language education and between 1988 and 2008 he worked as Punjabi instructor at the University of British Columbia. He first worked as a teaching assistant at UBC under Dr. Harjot Oberoi and due to low wages, he simultaneously worked at the Post Office. In 2019, Dr. Binning received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UBC in recognition of his work. Since 1973, Dr. Binning has lived in Burnaby and has resided in the same home that he and his wife Jagdish purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Industries - Logging/lumber
Industries - Forestry
Foods
Migration
Organizations - Societies and Clubs
Organizations - Unions
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Performances
Performances - Dramatic Performances
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Names
Binning, Dr. Sadhu
Binning, Gurmaje Kaur
Binning, Jit Singh
Binning, Jagdish
Sangha, Darshan Singh
Canadian Farmworkers Union
Hundal, Sukhwant
Sangra, Harjinder
Singh, Dhana
Vancouver Sath
Responsibility
Petrusa, Kate
Malik, Anushay
Accession Code
BV022.29.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022

Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0003_004.mp3
Less detail

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19602
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pe…
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
2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewees: Ellen and Bill Schwartz Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: May 15, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:08:52 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph information: Bill and Ellen Schwartz.
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pennsylvania the 1970s. Bill and Ellen explain how in the 1970s, they were discouraged about the current politics in the United States under the Nixon administration and how they were inspired by the “back to the land” ideals, rejecting materialism and wanting an alternative lifestyle. With these ideals in mind, they recall how in 1972 they and a few other friends decided to leave the United States, move to British Columbia with the goal of buying land in the Okanagan or Kootenay region and starting a new lifestyle for themselves. Bill and Ellen recollect how they purchased 20 acres of land in Galena Bay in the Kootenays and how they lived in the area off and on until the early 1980s. They describe how they cleared three acres of land, built a cabin, put in a garden, chicken coop and honey bees. With the challenges of the isolated location and no access to electricity they explain how they decided that they had to live elsewhere in order to make a living. Ellen talks about working as a special education teacher in Revelstoke and Slocan and how Bill obtained his teaching certificate while they lived in Nelson. Bill and Ellen describe themselves as environmentalists and of how they both became active Provincial environmentalists during the construction of the Revelstoke Dam. Bill talks about getting work with the “Energy Van” program talking about energy conservation, renewable energy and recycling. They explain how after their first child was born in 1980, they returned to Galena Bay for about a year and a half until Bill was offered a job with the Department of Energy Conservation which lead them to move to Vancouver. 16:48 – 22:46 Bill and Ellen describe their first few years of living in Vancouver and at University of British Columbia while Ellen completed her master’s degree in creative writing. During this time, they had their second child. They recall how in 1988 how they purchased a house in Burnaby, selecting to live in the Deer Lake neighbourhood. They talk about the benefits of the neighbourhood including; a French immersion school for their children, proximity to the trails around Deer Lake and having transit close by. 22:47 – 33:55 Bill and Ellen talk about their consulting business “Polestar Communications”. A Burnaby based communications consulting firm composed of three people, Ellen and Bill and colleague Richard Banner. They describe how their business got started and some of the projects that they’ve worked on including; BC Hydro’s Power Smart Program, financial literacy curriculum that was introduced in B.C. schools and reports for the Province of British Columbia. Ellen and Bill convey how Bill has been a very active member with the City of Burnaby Environment Committee, the Steering Committee to develop a sustainable environmental strategy for Burnaby, how he’s been awarded for his contributions in coaching youth sports and other areas in which they have both volunteered. 33:56 – 43:07 Ellen describes how she got started in writing educational resources about the environment and how since she completed grad school in 1984, she’s published nineteen books. Ellen conveys how her first book was published and sold to the Province of British Columbia as part of the B.C. educational curriculum on the environment. Ellen talks about some of the children’s books that she’s written and published with themes including; social justice, the labour movement and racism in sports. Ellen describes some of her books and the research that she’s done. 43:08 – 51:04 Ellen and Bill Schwartz reflect on what they like about living in Burnaby. They talk about the benefits of their neighbourhood including; performances at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival, the Burnaby Art Gallery and Deer Lake as well as having access to parks and community centres in Burnaby. 51:05-56:36 Bill and Ellen reflect on their involvement in the Jewish community, considering themselves non-secular Jews. Ellen talks about how they were involved with “Burquest” a Jewish Community Association and how they often observe some of the Jewish holidays including Hanukah and traditions including the Jewish coming of age ritual, bar mitzvah (masc.) and bat mistvah (fem.). Ellen mentions her involvement with the “Jone Betty Stuchner Oy Vey! Funniest Children’s book Award” where she acts a judge and her involvement with the Jewish Book festival and that she is a recipient of the Jewish Book award. 56:37 – 1:08:53 Bill and Ellen reflect on their 35 years living in Burnaby and how they’ve seen it change. They talk about the increased development and density in the city, how they are troubled by a lack of low income housing, the benefits and importance of public transportation and preservation of green space including Burnaby parks.
History
Interviewees' biographies: Ellen Schwartz was born in Washington, DC, (1950) but grew up in New Jersey. She attended the Universities of Chicago and Wisconsin before moving to a farm in Pennsylvania, where she met her future husband Bill Schwartz. Bill Schwartz grew up in and around Philadelphia (b. 1947), and attended Pennsylvania State University. After travelling, and discouraged with life in eastern America, he and Ellen decided that British Columbia held better prospects. Bill and Ellen quit their jobs in 1972 and moved to the Kootenay region where they adopted a “back to the land” lifestyle, a very new experience for both of them. After eight years of modest success, and occasional work in nearby towns, they opted to return to Vancouver where Bill had work and where they could raise a family more easily. They rented in Vancouver for a few years before moving to family housing at UBC, while Ellen studied creative writing. Bill founded a communications and writing company, and in 1988 they purchased a home in Burnaby. Ellen launched a new career as a writer, mainly for children young adults. Both were active in their careers, raising a family, and participating in local social and political activities. 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
Education
Environmental Issues
Environmental Issues - Environmental Protection
Geographic Features
Geographic Features - Parks
Housing
Occupations
Occupations - Entrepreneurs
Occupations - Writers
Persons - Volunteers
Persons - Jewish Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Religions
Religions - Judaism
Names
Schwartz, William "Bill"
Schwartz, Ellen
City of Burnaby
Polestar Communications
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Responsibility
Damer, Eric
Accession Code
BV023.16.6
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Burnaby Lake Area
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_003.mp3
Less detail

Interview with Harman Pandher

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19609
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1968- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jan. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (105 min., 23 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (101 min., 39 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harman Pandher conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. 00:00 - 37:38 Interview opens with Harman Pandher sharing information on his oldest living relative, Kirpal Singh Pandher who immigrated to Canada arou…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (105 min., 23 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (101 min., 39 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Harman Pandher Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: January 5, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks:1:45:23 min Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 format for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harman Pandher conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. 00:00 - 37:38 Interview opens with Harman Pandher sharing information on his oldest living relative, Kirpal Singh Pandher who immigrated to Canada around 1968. The interview continues with Harman Pandher providing details about his childhood in Burnaby while occasionally sharing photographs with the interviewer. He provides detailed descriptions of the homes and neighbourhoods while living on Second Street and 15th Avenue and shares his experiences as a South Asian Sikh attending Second Street elementary school, Cariboo Hill Secondary School and Kahlsa School. Pandher recalls some of his family and childhood experiences including, family events and gatherings; participation in school clubs and sports; playing basketball, ball hockey and street hockey with his Punjabi friends and other Burnaby kids; racism that he faced as a Sikh wearing a turban and delivering newspapers for the Vancouver Sun. 37:39 – 52:54 Pandher talks about family and cultural celebrations and traditions within the Sikh community including Vaisakhi, Diwali and celebrations of the birth of Guru Ravidas and Guru Nanak. Pandher conveys that while he was growing up many of these events took place in Vancouver but now they are also celebrated in Burnaby. He recalls events that took place in school while growing up in Burnaby including; his sister wearing a Sari to a fashion show; a visit to a Sikh temple; celebrating the birthday of Guru Nanak and outreach to teachers to learn about South Asian culture, games, food and traditions. Pandher also shares his experiences working as a student teacher at Capital Hill Elementary in North Burnaby where he took his class on a tour of the Sikh temple in 2001 and reflects on learning that it is his responsibility to be proactive in educating the public in his own culture while also learning about other communities. 52:55 - 1:19:56 Pandher shares personal experiences of racism and his experiences as a teacher and author. He recalls and reflects on a traumatic experience where he was physically assaulted while shopping at Lougheed Mall and recollects his father carrying around his field hockey stick in his car to defend himself. Pandher reflects on the lack of representation of racialized people like himself within the school curriculum while he was growing up which lead him to become a teacher and an author of children’s literature. Pander provides detailed information on his education and training in becoming a teacher, his love of poetry and literature and how he became an author. Pandher describes some of the works of poetry and literature that he’s written about the Sikh religion, history and culture, growing up as a Sikh Canadian and a non-fiction work about the history of Paldi titled "Welcome to Paldi: A Place for Everyone". Pandher also talks about beginning to record some of his own family stories from relatives. 1:19:57 - 1:29:58 Pandher talks about raising his own family in Burnaby, living as an extended family with his parents, his son’s education and Pandher's experience on the Burnaby School Board (2011-2018) . Pandher shares locations of residences that he and his family have lived before living at their current home on 17th Avenue. Pandher explains that since he was a teacher in Surrey, his son attended Khalsa School as well as public elementary and high school in Surrey but did his extracurricular activities in Burnaby where the family lived. 1:29:56 – 1:41:39 In closing, Harman Pandher reflects and shares what he hopes for younger generations of South Asian Canadians and future generations. Pandher articulates “be who you are, stay true to who you are, maintain your family’s traditions, learn their stories, learn their story and how they got to Burnaby”. He conveys that even though there’s more work to be done eliminating racism completely he sees the importance in volunteering, teaching others about yourself and making an effort to learn all parts of Burnaby and other cultures represented here. Pandher speaks about his concerns of youths falling victim to a lifestyle of drugs and gangs and how it’s important to remove the stigma around mental health issues.
History
Interviewee biography: Harman Pandher was born in Vancouver in 1976 to parents, Rajinder and Raj Pandher who immigrated to Canada in 1973. A few weeks later after Harman was born, the family moved to Burnaby. While living in Burnaby, Harman Pandher and his sister attended Second Street Elementary School and Cariboo Hill Secondary School. Pandher obtained a master's degree in education from the University of British Columbia and has worked as an elementary school teacher for over 20 years. Pandher has been recognized for his efforts in building bridges across communities as the recipient of the 2021 B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Award. Pandher has served on the Board of the Burnaby Multicultural Society and is co-founder of two noon-profit organizations; “Through SONG” (Seeking Oneness for the Next Generation) “About bringing youth together form diverse backgrounds and using their talent in the community for good causes” and "SACH" (South Asian Community Hub) providing one-stop services for those impacted by alchohol and substance use and mental health issues. Harman Pandher is also the author of two children's books titled, "Gurpreet Goes to Gurdwara: Understanding the Sikh Place of Worship" and "Once Upon the Golden Temple: A Journey to Sri Harmandir Sahib". Interviewer biography: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Education
Occupations - Teachers
Occupations - Writers
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Religions
Religions - Sikhism
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Sports - Basketball
Sports
Names
Pandher, Harman
Second Street School
Cariboo Hill Secondary School
Responsibility
Petrusa, Kate
Geographic Access
2nd Street
15th Avenue
Accession Code
BV023.1.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1968- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jan. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Second Street Area
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcript available upon request
Audio Tracks

Interview with Harman Pandher, [1968- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jan. 2023

Interview with Harman Pandher, [1968- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jan. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0001_0001_003.mp3
Less detail

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20285
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser M…
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 recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewees: Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy Location of Interview: Residence of Harry Toy Interview Date: September 25, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 02:01:13 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 Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants’ Association and Harry's daughters, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy's memories of growing up in Burnaby. 00:00:00 – 00:23:53 Harry Toy shares biographical information about himself and his ancestors. Harry provides information about his migration to Canada and his life in Manitoba, attending school, working at the family restaurant and teaching high school. 00:23:53 – 00:41:16 Harry talks about moving his family to Burnaby and his experiences owning and operating the Canada Way Food Market. 00:41:17 – 00:54:19 Harry talks about his involvement with the Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) and provides some history about the organization. 00:54:20 – 1:22:44 Harry talks about running the Canada Way Food Market and the alterations that he made to the store over the years. Harry and his daughters comment as they look through photographs of Harry and his store and the Fraser Merchants Association. 1:22:45 – 2:01:14 Beverley and Christina talk about their early childhood in Manitoba and growing up in Burnaby. They recall what it was like growing up and working in the family owned store.
History
Interviewee biography: Harry Wee Koon Toy was born in February 9, 1936 in Taikong, Toisan county, Guangdong, China. Harry's father William Toy came to Canada in the early 1920s when he was ten years old. Harry arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 9, 1950. After staying in Vancouver for one night, he joined his father in Neepawa, Manitoba where the family operated a cafe business (Royal Cafe). Harry grew up in Neepawa and graduated from the University of Manitoba and teacher's college. He became a high school teacher and worked at schools in Minnedosa and Gladstone, Manitoba teaching various subjects including, science, business, geography, history and physical education. Harry and his wife, had three daughters, Melinda, Beverley and Christina who were all born in Neepawa. When the family decided to move to the west coast, Harry was introduced to the grocery store business through an uncle who was a store operator. Around 1970, Harry purchased a grocery store at 4694 Canada Way in Burnaby which he named "Canada Way Food Market" and Harry and his daughters made their home at the back of the store. Harry owned and operated the store for approximately 40 years between 1970 and 2010. Around 1986, Harry purchased the butcher shop next door (4692 Canada Way) which was no longer in operation, expanding his store and adding a second storey to use a residence. Harry's children helped him operate the store throughout their childhood. In the early 1970s, corner stores were threatened by the spread of small chain-operated convenience stories from Eastern Canada to Vancouver. Formed in April 1972, the Fraser Merchants’ Association was established to protect the rights of corner store operators. With no paid legal help, the association was incorporated in Victoria, BC for the cost of 56 cents. The benefits of being a member of the association included warehouse and group purchasing, common advertising and other advantages of being part of an association. Founded by Gary Lee Ling and five others, Fraser Merchants’ Association’s first member was Graham Grocery. By 1978, the association represented over 200 corner stores in the Lower Mainland (Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, and New Westminster) and Fraser Valley. The association remained active into the 1980s and 1990s. Harry has served as President of the Fraser Merchants' Association from 1992 to present. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Education
Migration
Occupations - Teachers
Occupations - Grocers
Organizations
Organizations - Business Associations
Persons - Chinese Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Names
Toy, Christina
Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"
Babey, Beverley
Canada Way Food Market
Fraser Merchants' Association
Responsibility
Fong, Denise
Geographic Access
Canada Way
Street Address
4694 Canada Way
Accession Code
BV023.16.19
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Related Material
See also: BV023.25 - Harry Toy fonds
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0019_002.mp3
Less detail

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19349
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Honourable Raj Chouhan Location of Interview: Residence of Honourable Raj Chouhan Interview Date: December 2, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (00:49:21) Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant and the organizations that he became involved with. Honourable Raj Chouhan recalls how he arrived in Burnaby with his family in 1973 and that his family worked in farming. Chouhan imparts his first hand experiences as a new immigrant working as a labourer in the farming industry and describes the unsafe and unfair working conditions that he and migrant workers faced. Chouhan conveys how this experience lead him to become an activist for better working conditions for migrant workers. This lead Chouhan and others to form the Canadian Farm Workers Union in 1980. Chouhan recollects his experiences flying from India to Canada with his wife, his first impressions after arriving in Vancouver and driving to Burnaby and what he brought with him. Chouhan explains his connections to Burnaby. Members of Chouhan's wife's family immgrated to Canada in 1957 and his wife and her three brothers joined them in 1970. Chouhan's father in law, Hardial Singh Grewal immigrated in 1957 and became president of the Sikh temple in New Westminster. Hardial Singh Grewal worked in a lumber mill in Vancouver and eventually bought a house in Burnaby. Chouhan married to his wife at the Sikh temple in New Westminster and lived in Burnaby for a period before moving to New Westminster where they could find more affordable housing. Chouhan shares that he first worked as a farm labourer in Abbotsford and then found a job in the sawmill which paid more. Chouhan describes the extreme racism and discrimination that he and other immigrants faced which lead to the formation of the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma. Chouhan describes this organization that he was a part of and the Canadian Farm Workers Union that were both formed in Burnaby. Chouhan shares that he moved to Victoria in 1988 to serve on the Hospital Employee's Union and moved back to the mainland in 1993 and returned to Burnaby in 2001. Chouhan reflects on the history of South Asian immigration in Canada, how many of the migrants settled in the lower mainland including Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver establishing temples in Vancouver and New Westminster which became the centre for the South Asian community. He conveys how earlier occupations were limited to farming and millwork and how over time employment opportunities and education have broadened but there is still work to do. He imparts how second generation Canadians’ experiences differ from first generations providing examples of his own daughters’ and the occupations that they are working in. Chouhan provides his insights into the South Asian Canadian experience imparting “We make history every day and that history needs to be recorded and learned from.."... “People from different communities, different backgrounds who lived in Burnaby have contributed so much and South Asians are just like another community and participated in all aspects of social life, cultural, religious, economy. I'm so proud of our community, our forefathers who had that vision to fight for our rights. I'm inspired by people who struggled so much to gain basic rights, like the right to vote". Chouhan refers to these first immigrants as “Gadri Babbas” “revolutionary old people” who were also the main motivation that lead to India becoming a free country in 1947 and for fighting for basic rights here in Canada and how they made their contributions for future generations. Chouhan expresses what he imparts to students “Do not forget your past... if you remember your past then you are much more knowledgeable. Then we know what we need for the future. If we don't know the past, we don't know what the future is going to be like. To make a better future, you have to learn from the past and improve".
History
Interviewee biography: Honourable Raj Chouhan was born in the city of Ludhiana in the Province of Punjab in India and immigrated to Canada in 1973. After arriving in Canada, Raj's family settled in Burnaby. Raj grew up in Burnaby and attended schoool. Honourable Raj Chouhan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020. He was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on December 7, 2020. Honourable Chouhan is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism and has served as a director of the Hospital Employees' Union, the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. Honourable Chouhan has also served as the Vice President of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003 and has taught courses in Human Rights, the B.C. Labour Code and Collective Bargaining since 1987. Interviewer biography: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Occupations - Agricultural Labourers
Migration
Organizations - Unions
Rights
Rights - Human Rights
Agriculture
Agriculture - Farms
Government - Provincial Government
Government
Names
Chouhan, Raj
British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism
Sharma, Dr. Hari Prakash
Grewal, Hardial Singh
Canadian Farmworkers Union
Hospital Employees Union
Khalsa Diwan Society
Responsibility
Petrusa, Kate
Accession Code
BV022.29.4
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0004_002.mp3
Less detail

Interview with Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19605
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1984-2023 (interview content), interviewed 5 Jun. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) (47 min., 26 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (47 min., 27 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra interviewed by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 – 00:04:31 The interview opens with introductions and biographical details about Jag Nagra. The interviewer shares information about Jag Nagra…
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) (47 min., 26 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (47 min., 27 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: James Binks Interviewee: Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: June 5, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 47:27
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra interviewed by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 – 00:04:31 The interview opens with introductions and biographical details about Jag Nagra. The interviewer shares information about Jag Nagra’s art career and the many art projects and commissions that Jag has worked on. Jag shares information about her parents, providing details about their immigration to British Columbia from Punjab and the places that Jag and her family have lived over the years. 00:04:32 – 00:12:38 Jag talks about what inspired her to become interested in art, her art education and how her artistic practice and expression have developed over time. Jag describes how she first started in graphic design, how she’s become more involved in public art and her experience working in design. Jag touches on her experiences of being a South Asian growing up and living in a predominantly white neighbourhood and provides information about her parents, Avatar Singh Nagra and Rajwant Kaur Nagra and their migration to Canada. 00:12:39 – 00:20:03 Jag talks about her inspiration in creating her work, her involvement with the revitalization of the Punjabi Market in Vancouver, the Punjabi Market Collective and other public art projects that she’s been involved with focusing on the South Asian community and LGBTQ+ issues. 00:20:04 – 00:41:09 Jag talks about her involvement with the Burnaby Village Museum’s exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. The interviewer and Jag take a walk throughout the exhibit while Jag describes the art work that she created for the exhibit and her creative process. Jag reflects on her own experiences being involved in the exhibit. 00:41:10 – 00:47:27 Jag talks about her own experiences as a South Asian Queer artist reflecting on her experiences within the art community. In closing Jag reflects on the impacts of the exhibit that celebrates South Asian culture in Burnaby.
History
Interviewee biography: Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra is a queer Panjabi Visual Artist passionate about community development, making art accessible and ending stigma against LGBTQ+ people within the South Asian community. Nagra has worked with clients such as the Vancouver Canucks, Tim Hortons and Microsoft and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Punjabi Market Collective. She is featured in the internationally acclaimed, award wining LGBTQ documentary Emergence: Out of the Shadows. Her artworks are part of the Museum of Vancouver’s permanent collection and have been commissioned for the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit "Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby". Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Migration
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Persons - LGBTQ+
Occupations - Artists
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Social Issues - Discrimination
Names
Nagra, Jagandeep "Jag"
Responsibility
Binks, James
Accession Code
BV023.16.9
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
1984-2023 (interview content), interviewed 5 Jun. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks
Less detail

Interview with Joanne Smith

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19601
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1986-2023] (interview content), interviewed 11 May 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) (24 min., 55 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (24 min., 55 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Joanne Smith conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 0:00 - 04:04 Joanne Smith provides a brief overview of her immigration story and how she and her husband Stanis came to emigrate from South Africa t…
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) (24 min., 55 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (24 min., 55 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Joanne Smith Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: May 11, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 24:55 Photograph information: Joanne and Stanis Smith cycling on the Salt Flats, Argentina Digital master recording (m4a) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Joanne Smith conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 0:00 - 04:04 Joanne Smith provides a brief overview of her immigration story and how she and her husband Stanis came to emigrate from South Africa to Canada in 1986. Joanne explains that they decided to leave South Africa during the Apartheid era and applied to several countries with Canada being their top choice. Joanne relates that they were accepted to Canada based on her professional skills as an occupational therapist. Joanne talks about what she liked about living in South Africa and how she especially loved walking in the game reserves. 04:05 - 11:44 Joanne provides background on her ancestors migration, her life in South Africa and details on her profession. Joanne imparts that her ancestors immigrated to South Africa from Latvia at the turn of the century to avoid conscription and for increased opportunities. Joanne provides a brief overview of her life in South Africa, places that she lived and her education. Joanne provides details and background regarding her practice as an occupational therapist. Joanne explains how she specializes in hand therapy but also works with animals and other varied treatments. 11:45 - 19:29 Joanne talks about her life in Burnaby. Joanne recollects how her family ended up living in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood and provides a brief overview of her community involvement including the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) and the Community Advisory Committee. Joanne shares some of her interests including; riding her tandem bicycle with her husband Stanis, thier love of opera and the symphony, attending concerts in Deer Lake Park and visiting Confederation with her grandchild. Joanne conveys that they like to support the local arts and that they commissioned a twig sculpture for their garden from local artist, Nickie Lewis. 19:30 - 24:55 Joanne shares that ten years after immigrating that they were able to bring family relations including Stanis' parents and brother. Joanne describes the benefits of having Stanis' parents residing with them and provides details on Stanis' parents community involvement in Burnaby. Joanne reflects on her association with her Jewish heritage. Joanne conveys that they aren’t religious but have maintained a few cultural aspects of their Jewish heritage including celebrating bat mitzvahs for both of their daughters and the importance of the Yiddish language. Joanne reflects on what she likes about living in Burnaby and how it’s changed over the 30 years that she’s lived here.
History
Interviewee biography: Joanne was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1958 and also spent some time in Klerksdorp and Johannesburg. Her formal education led to a career in occupational therapy, specializing in hand therapy. Uncomfortable with the social and political climate of South Africa at the time, she and her husband Stanis left for Canada in 1986. They soon settled in North Burnaby, where Joanne had a long-time friend, to pursue their respective careers and raise a family. The Smiths brought Stanis’s parents to Burnaby about 1996 and together built a new home. Joanne has been involved in school and community activities, enjoys Burnaby’s parks, and supports local fine arts, particularly music and performing arts. 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
Persons - Jewish Canadians
Migration
Religions - Judaism
Geographic Features - Parks
Arts
Performances
Performances - Concerts
Sports - Cycling
Names
Smith, Joanne
Smith, Stanis
Responsibility
Damer, Eric
Geographic Access
Deer Lake Park
Confederation Park
Accession Code
BV023.16.5
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1986-2023] (interview content), interviewed 11 May 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Joanne Smith, [1986-2023] (interview content), interviewed 11 May 2023

Interview with Joanne Smith, [1986-2023] (interview content), interviewed 11 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0005_003.mp3
Less detail

48 records – page 1 of 3.