Narrow Results By
bodice and underskirt
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact25323
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.55.2
- Description
- Bodice and underskirt, c.1895. Black wool bodice, black silk taffeta underskirt. Black satin trim, leg o' mutton sleeves, standing collar, embroidery on bodice. At the back of the standing collar there is a bow in satin ribbon. At the front of the bodice, there is a section of gathered fabric at either side of the centre front closure decorated with black floral embroidery. At the edge of the right front there is a pleated ruffle of satin ribbon. The embroidered section is also bordered by a satin ribbon on each side. The sleeves are heavily gathered at the sleeve cap, creating large leg o' mutton sleeves. They taper down to the wrists, which also have some of the same embroidery as the centre front bodice, just before the cuffs. The cuffs do not have an opening. At the back of the bodice, there is no decoration. The waistband consists of a twisted satin ribbon with a bow at centre front and centre back. Inside, the bodice is lined with beige linen. It has eight bones one the front and back. The underskirt is made of undecorated lightweight silk taffeta, and may be a petticoat instead of an underskirt. It has a grosgrain waistband with built in stays, five gores, and one dart for shaping. It does not close at its regular opening, but rather folds over to close via a snap further along the waistband.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact37841
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV995.20.502
- Description
- Dress, c.1925-1929. Navy satin rayon. Straight cut, long sleeves, round neckline, belt, and embroidery applique. Slightly flared knee length skirt, straps hang from shoulders. There is no collar on the rounded neckline. There is a small placket closure with a snap at the left shoulder. Coming from each shoulder seam is a one inch hanging strap. It extends to the dropped waist where there is a band of art deco style embroidery appliqued to the dress. It is brightly coloured in brown, orange, yellow, blue, and navy blue. The straps are tacked down here, with three pleats hanging from the ends. A few inches above the embroidery there are thin waistband sashes sewn into the side seams. The sleeves are gathered into cuffs trimmed with embroidered ribbon in blue, pink and white on a black velvet background. It does not match the design of the band across the front. There are self fabric ties on the sleeve ends, tied at their base, but no opening in the cuff. Attached at the dropped waistline, the skirt is flared slightly in one panel, using a semi-circular flounce. The back of the dress is all one piece, without any shaping and without a break at the waistline. There is a six inch hem at the back and a small double fold at the front. Most seams are finished with pinking. A price tag on tie on left sleeve reads on one side: "18 / 139[or 137]" and on the other side: "fgg / 14.00[crossed out] / $12.00/8." This may mean it is a size eight, selling for $12.00 (marked down from $14.00).
- Object History
- This dress was part of a collection of dresses acquired from a dry goods store in the Okanagan. The dresses were mainly "new" old stock from the 1920s, from two Rand’s Dry Goods stores in Penticton and Summerland, B.C. The stores closed down in 1930. The dresses are estimated to date from circa 1925 to 1930.
- Maker
- Deckelbaum & Eisenberg
- Site/City Made
- Montreal
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
Woman's suit
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact45531
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.6055.1
- Description
- Woman's suit, c.1920. Copper coloured cotton twill with blue silk crepe chiffon. Long sleeved cardigan, a-line calf length skirt, blue buttons and blue embroidery. The suit consists of a cardigan style jacket with a false shirt panel, and a skirt. The cardigan has a collar that extends to its hem past the hips. Here there is a round weight on each side to help the jacket hold its shape. Halfway down the jacket, on each side of the 'collar' there are two sets of four chiffon covered buttons. Under the collar, it is lined with blue chiffon. The back of the jacket has four small pleats secured with some tacks. There is a belt loop on either side of the waist, but no belt currently. The sleeves are also lined with blue chiffon in the cuffs, and hand embroidered on the outside in an abstract pattern with blue floss. There is also embroidery in lines down the centre front panel that joins each side of the cardigan. It closes with snaps on the left side, and is lined with white silk striped with blue. The skirt has an grosgrain waistband that closes with three hooks and eyes, and three snaps in the closure below. There are two slightly flared panels, one in front and one in the back. The whole waist is gathered, the back more so. The front has a large abstract blue embroidery motif. The skirt extends to calf length. Seams are finished with pinking, and huge seam allowances.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
booklet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact86296
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV014.38.17
- Description
- Style book of the New Bucilla - booklet -- [1925]. Booklet titled "Style Book of the New Bucilla Embroidery Packages". The booklet includes information, pictures, and illustrations of the latest embroidery from Bucilla. The booklet has 32 pages.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Pamphlet
- Measurements
- 8.5 cm x 15.5 cm
Images
dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact27017
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV974.69.12
- Description
- Dress, c.1925-1929. Green silk chiffon. Straight cut, button trim, lace collar and cuffs with embroidery, long sleeves, yoke above pleated and ruched knee length skirt. This dress is good example of the ever shorter and more transparent clothing that was being worn by rebellious young women toward the end of the 1920s. The round neckline has a rolled collar of beige lace that ends a few inches over the shoulders. At the front, it has abstract floral embroidery in blue, green, pink, and black. At the centre front of the neckline there is a bound slit with three self bound round buttons on either side. They close with thread loops from the right side that go around each left button. The sleeves flare out slightly into a bishop sleeve gathered to the cuff. They have the same type of embroidered lace on the cuff as on the collar. At the centre front of the bodice, there is a rectangular panel appliquéd with gold top stitching. Directly beneath, there is a yoke that circles around the back and comes up to a point at centre front. On either side of a dropped waist, there is a vertical row of three self covered round buttons with three thread eyes, creating a small fold in the fabric. The skirt is a plain tube with a front and back panel, and another panel that hangs on top extending to the side backs. This top panel is ruched with three lines of gathering at the centre front, and it is permanently pleated on either side of the ruching to the side backs. The ruched panel dips down slightly in a curve, and the whole panel is finished with a zig-zag stitch.
- Object History
- The donor donated the dress and other items after the death of her mother in West Vancouver. The items had been stored in the donor's basement since she was young. The bodice belonged to her grandmother, who lived in Edmonton until about 1905, and was used by the donor to play dress-up.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact31799
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV972.57.7
- Description
- Dress, c.1916-1917. White cotton voile. Long gathered sleeves, sailor collar, V neck with revers, calf length skirt with horizontal tucks. The sailor collar hangs in the back as a large square and extends around the front V neck in wide revers. It has two rows of wide tucks, each topped with drawn thread embroidery. At each front shoulder, there are eleven tiny pin tucks; there are seven of the same at each side back that extend to the waist. The sleeves have a corded seam at the armscye and where they connect to the cuff. Each has eleven tiny pin tucks coming from the cuff, as well as gathering. The cuff itself has a base covered by the same shape as the collar with the same embroidery. There are three thread covered ball buttons to close the cuff. At the waist, the bodice is gathered and the skirt is heavily gathered. The skirt is made on one front panel and two back panels, with four large horizontal tucks past knee level and a large turned up hem. There is no lining, but there is a grosgrain belt inside the waistline that closes with hooks and eyes The dress closes with snaps along the front centre and left waist and one hook and eye at the left side seam. There are also snaps on the left side seam down to the hip.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
evening bodice
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact29988
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV973.73.147
- Description
- Evening bodice, c.1910. Black satin silk. V shaped panels over shoulders to centre front and back, half length sleeves with white ruffle cuff, pleated waistband, embroidery. There are two pleated panels that go over each shoulder and angle down to meet at centre front and cross over at centre back. They have three knife pleats, and on the half closest to the centre they are covered with floral embroidered net. At the back the opening left by the crossover panels is filled with a plain black piece; at the front, it is filled with a black piece covered in embroidered net. The sleeves are unlined, with a dress shield at each underarm. There is a bound hole above each elbow. The hole is 'closed' with a false self bound button. The cuff is ivory chiffon with mini pleats and drawn thread embroidery at its edge. At the bottom of the bodice, which is round at the back and pointed down slightly in the front, there is a waistband with four pleats. At the centre front, five self covered buttons are aligned in a vertical line, one to each pleat section. The bodice is lined with purple cotton and eleven bones. Attached to the centre back at waist level, there is also a grosgrain ribbon belt. The belt has an embroidered label that reads: "James Spence Co. Ltd., 75 to 79 St. Pauls Churchyard Churchyard, London, EC. Ball & Dinner Dresses, Ladies' Tailor." The bodice lining and waistband closes at centre front with hooks and eyes (the waistbands also over laps and connects with hooks and eyes to the left). The front embroidered panel connects with snaps underneath the left pleated panel.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
Pioneer tales of Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5860
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 096928280x
- Call Number
- 971.133 SON COPY 4
- Contributor
- Sone, Michael
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- Corporation of the District of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- c1987
- Physical Description
- 495 p. : ill. ; 31 cm.
- Inscription
- "TR687 - Bryburgh" / handprinted in pencil on frontend page
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Pioneers--British Columbia--Burnaby
- Frontier and pioneer life
- Biography
- Object History
- Early Burnaby as recalled by the settlers themselves who arrived from every corner of the world between 1888 and 1930, some witnessing incorporation of the district in 1892, all seeking a better life for themselves and especially for their children, all helping transform the wilderness into the modern municipality of today.
- Notes
- "Editor Michael Sone".
- Includes index.
- 4 copies held: copy 4
Images
Digital Books
slip
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact19460
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV977.37.112
- Description
- Slip, white cotton with white floral embroidery in yoke area and lower skirt; long narrow piece of embroidery hangs down from yoke at centre front; knee length; 1920s.
- Object History
- From the family home of Thomas Seaborn McNair and Mary Vida (nee McMillan) McNair who lived on West 33rd Avenue in Vancouver. Thomas McNair ran Edwards, McNair and Russell, an established estate agent business.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
tea dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact11624
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.3512.1
- Description
- Tea dress, c.1908. White cotton lawn, lace embroidery. High stand collar, three quarter length sleeves, floor length skirt with more fullness towards the bottom. Slight puff at bodice from gathering at waist. The high stand collar is made of lace. On either side of the centre back, there are vertical bands in a pattern: lawn with tiny pin tucks halfway down, lace, eyelet lawn, lace, pin tucked lawn. There are also the same vertical bands on the front, but they are interrupted at various points by horizontal and triangle shapes of lace and lawn embroidered with abstract patterns. The sleeves are lawn on the inside, and covered in bands of lace and eyelet lawn on the outside. The cuffs are made with ruffled bands of lace. The bodice is gathered on all sides at the waist, which is defined by a horizontal band of eyelet lawn bordered by two bands of lace. The skirt extends from the waist with vertical bands of lace and lawn. Just below the hips there is a horizontal band of eyelet lawn, and the next section is pleated to that. It is made with two panels, with floral embroidery. The bottom is scalloped and embroidered, but there is still a separate hem attached beneath it. The bodice closes up the centre back from the neck to the hips with pearl ball buttons.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
wedding dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact4388
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV988.48.63
- Description
- Wedding dress, c.1900-1906. Cream lace net lined with white china silk. High collar, pouter pigeon front, puffed sleeves. Comes with a long sash and matching skirt. The collar is made of several bands of lace. The bodice is also lace, with embroidery. On the front there is a pin tucked yoke, and bordering this on the front and back are circles of lace with line embroidery inside. Below this there are more pin tucks and bands of lace. The front puffs out creating a pouter pigeon bodice, and there is a gathered flounce below the waistline. It closes with hooks and eyes at centre back. The sash, a long yellowish-cream piece of silk fabric, would go overtop of the waist. The sleeves are gathered at the cap and again at the cuff. There are bands of lace at the lower forearm, and they end with lace flounce cuffs of the same embroidered circles seen on the bodice. The skirt has a lace top layer and a white china silk lining that is attached at the small waistband. There are tiny pin tucks in the lace layer at the waistband. Halfway down, there is a band of embroidered circles, the same as those on the bodice. They are separated by two bands of lace. There are two more of the same bands of lace near the hem. The net layer has three gores, and the lining has five. There are also two ruffles at the lining hem.
- Object History
- Donor acquired object in 1951 from the estate of her mother-in-law, Flora Isabell (McArthur) McOuat.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
apron
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact6509
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.73.1
- Description
- Pinafore, black with woven-in stripe; black embroidery on chest; skirt is sewn up the back and does up at waist with hooks and eyes; possibly a jumper dress.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
bodice
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact11642
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.3531.1
- Description
- Bodice, c.1900. Black silk taffeta. Trimmed with velvet, net, sequins, beads, and embroidered applique. Leg o' mutton sleeves, high collar. Skirt: BV985.3515.1. The entire bodice is black, and the net seems to come pre-embroidered with sequins and beads. The high collar is covered with the embroidered net, and edged with velvet on the top. On the centre front of the bodice, there is a different net with strips of velvet that run horizontally at intervals. The lace is gathered at the neckline and at the waistline to create a puff at the bodice front. Hanging from each shoulder with the corner pointing to the elbow is a square of sequin and bead embroidered net, edged with a strip of velvet. Another strip of velvet attaches to that one with a faggoted stitch. The sleeves are set in at the armscye, but gradually come out to huge pleated puffs at the elbows. They then taper back to the wrists, where there is a small split. Here a flounce of net hangs, trimmed with a ruffle of black taffeta. On the outside of the cuffs, there is an applique of maple leaf embroidery. At the waist, which comes to a slight point at the centre front, there is a belt of three velvet strips. At the centre back, there are three triangle shaped formations of bead on a metal frame, one on each velvet strip. There are six of these at centre front (one on each side of the hook and eye closure) and there are two on each side, where the strips are gathered slightly on top of each other. Inside, the bodice is lined with brown, white, and green striped taffeta. There are fifteen feather bones on the sides and back. The bodice closes up the centre front with hooks and eyes, and the collar wraps around the back to close there with two hooks and eyes.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
child's dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact10927
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.2977.1
- Description
- Dress; white cotton with embroidery and lace.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact11636
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.3524.1
- Description
- Dress, c.1913-1914. Cream china silk skirt, silk chiffon sleeves, white cotton lawn bodice, ivory lace trim. High directoire waistline, long sleeves, full length skirt. The neckline is a boat neck, trimmed with a small band of ivory lace with an abstract design. The bodice of white lawn is unshaped except for a dart under each bust, and there is also a tuck near the waist. Each sleeve attaches onto the bodice side fronts, and the bodice is hemmed within. The chiffon sleeves extend in a kimono cut to a gathered wrist with a china silk cuff attached by chain stitch embroidery. It closes with two snaps. The china silk skirt attaches at a high waist. It has gathers all around except for the centre front. Just past the knee, it has three large tucks that go around the circumference of the skirt and a fourth that is actually a hem. The dress has snap closures up the centre back, from the neckline to just past the hips.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
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dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact18028
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV978.35.1
- Description
- Dress, c.1910. Black satin silk, ivory lace yoke. High collar, three quarter length sleeves, black lace, embroidery, and ruffle trim, floor length with an overskirt. The high lace collar has stays, and it continues into a yoke on the front and back. The centre front and back bodice beneath this have gathered panels, in a V shape on the back. Beneath this on the front, there are two rectangles joined by a faggoting stitch. On either side there are four round black velvet buttons, and on either side of that there is a black ruffle that extends over the shoulders to the back waist. Attached to the ruffle is a band of black lace, and on centre front below the rectangles there is a large appliquéd piece of black embroidered lace. The sleeves are fairly fitted. They are ruched and taper down to a slightly more fitted cuff, edged with gathered ribbon and a band of lace. The waist is at natural height, without any cinching. It is defined by a black ruffle on either side and a band of lace at the front and back. At centre back there is a black appliqué that is the same as the one on top of the waist at centre front. There are also three pin tucks at either side of the centre back, extending from the appliqué on the overskirt. At the centre front of the overskirt, there is a black ruffle that extends to its hem. At the hem, the ruffle curves down on either side front and angles into two square shapes at either side back. The underskirt has six gores; at calf level, the main dress fabric is attached. The bodice closes up the centre back with hooks and eyes. Beneath there is also a lining that closes separately with hooks and eyes at the centre back. It has seven featherbones encircling the top of the waist. The overskirt, underskirt, and waistband close separately with hooks and eyes at the back left.
- Object History
- The donor believes the dress originated with a long time resident of New Westminster.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
Images
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dress
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact46565
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV004.21.8
- Description
- Dress, c.1910-1913. Cotton lawn print in floral and checkered, with chiffon yoke, lace, and mauve satin silk waistband. Long tiered skirt, long sleeves, round neckline. The cotton lawn fabric has a white background with vertical stripes of black and white checkers; purple flowers with green stems intertwine around the vertical checkers. The neckline rounds into a slight V shape with a yoke of ivory chiffon on top of lace, which extends to the waistband. On the front and back right and left side of the bodice, there is a tab extending over the waistband from the bodice fabric, edged in lace. The bottom of the bodice is gathered to add some volume. The bodice is also open around the shoulders, edged with lace. There is a section of the main fabric underneath that connects to the lining. The sleeves are full length, with some volume. The cuff begins halfway down the forearm with a gathered lace ruffle. The cuff section is narrower, and ends with three snaps at the wrist and another lace ruffle. At the waist, there is a gathered mauve satin silk waistband, tacked on to the dress. The skirt is attached underneath in two tiers. The overskirt, attached to the bodice, has two somewhat flared gores and one godet on the right side seam from just above the knee to the calf. It also ends at the calf, and just above the hem there is a tiny band of drawn thread work embroidery. The bottom tier is attached to the skirt lining under the top hem; it is made up of four gores, all gathered. The lining to the dress is done in ivory china silk, and it extends into the sleeves. In the bodice lining, there are four bones to hold its shape: on in the centre front and back, and one on each side. There are six panels in the back and four in the front, all finished with flat felled seams. The centre front closes with hook and eyes, and the waistband is secured on top with snaps and a hook and eye; the left bodice tab is secured to the waistband with two snaps. The skirt lining is also china silk, closing down the left side front with snaps. The skirt also has a left side opening that closes with snaps. In each underarm there is a dress shield to protect the dress from perspiration. They each read: "Style 100 Trade Mark OMO. E. Y. 2. Odorless. No Rubber. Soak in cold soap suds, using good soap, scrub with a stiff brush, and rinse in clear cold water, shape carefully while wet, and dry thoroughly. Do not iron."
- Object History
- Object was inherited by the donor ca. 1974. She was given it by her mother, who had inherited it from her own mother, Elizabeth (Babb) Heaney.
- Subjects
- Clothing
- Clothing - Costumes
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
epaulettes
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact41613
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV001.6.36
- Description
- Pair of epaulette slip-ons; red; yellow embroidery of Scout symbol, 'Canada' in arc, and 'R' 'S' (Rover Scout) on badge; buttonhole on underside is an elastic strip at outer end
- Names
- Boy Scouts of Canada
Images
epaulettes
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact41614
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV001.6.37
- Description
- Pair of epaulette slip-ons; red; yellow embroidery of Scout symbol, 'Canada' in arc, and 'R' 'S' (Rover Scout) on badge; buttonhole on underside is an elastic strip at outer end
- Names
- Boy Scouts of Canada
Images
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
- Clothing
- Crafts
- Employment
- Migration
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Occupations - Labourers
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Names
- Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
- Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
- Manhas, Ghania Singh
- Singh, Mayo
- Manhas, Kashmir Singh
- Manhas, Sher Singh
- Manhas, Budhan Kaur
- Manhas, Lashman Singh
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep
- Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby
- Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3