106 records – page 1 of 6.

Interview with Lachman Singh Gill and Gill family members

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19600
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
2023 (interview content), interviewed 6 May 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (124 min., 8 sec.) + 1 sound recording (m4a) 1:15:54
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Lachman Singh Gill and family members conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. The first part of the interview was conducted with Lachman Singh Gill in Punjabi with some English and the second part of the interview (15 mi…
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) (124 min., 8 sec.) + 1 sound recording (m4a) 1:15:54
Material Details
Interviewer: Rajdeep Interviewees: Lachman Singh Gill and family members - Santokh Singh Gill, Mohinder Kaur Gill and Prem Kaur Gill Location of Interview: Gill family residence Interview Date: June 12, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks:124 min., 8 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 Lachman Singh Gill and family members conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. The first part of the interview was conducted with Lachman Singh Gill in Punjabi with some English and the second part of the interview (15 min.) was conducted in English with family members, Santokh Singh Gill, Mohinder Kaur Gill and Prem Kaur Gill. 00:00:00 - 00:05:35 This interview starts abruptly, and the interviewer was unable to introduce the interviewees and themself. There were also technical difficulties in the beginning, which led to the recording starting mid-sentence. Discussion begins with Lachman Singh Gill providing details on his spiritual practices and background. 00:05:35 - 00:13:38 Discussion continues with Lachman providing details on his birthplace in Punjab, his family home, family names and languages spoken while living in India (Punjabi and Urdu). Family members chime in to help with details. 00:13:39 - 00:18:00 Lachman Gill imparts information on his migration story from England to British Columbia and his experiences when he first came to England from India. Lachman shares his employment history in Vancouver and India. 00:18:01 - 00:23:34 Lachman talks about his marriage to Surjit Kaur (Ark) Gill in India in 1943 and shares the names of their seven children, including his youngest daughter Sarbjit who died tragically at a young age. Lachman shares the details of his daily routine at the age of 95 years old. 00:23:35 - 00:25:48 Lachman shares information on the Gurdwaras that he visits for prayers, weddings and events. 00:25:49 - 00:35:49 Lachman recalls his experience living in India at the time of Partition in 1947 including details on his family’s experiences of how they helped protect a Muslim family. 00:35:50 - 00:39:49 Lachman comments on his experiences of living in Burnaby from when he first arrived here. Lachman, Santokh, Prem and the interviewer recount the names and locations of gurdwaras in the lower mainland and how they’ve changed over time. 00:39:50 - 00:43:15 Lachman shares his employment history working in a foundry and driving a taxi. Santokh, Mohinder and Prem Gill provide information about Lachman’s wife Surjeet Kaur Gill. The group describes their family home in Burnaby which they've lived in since 1973 and their first home on Georgia Street in Burnaby. 00:43:16 - 00:49:19 Lachman, Mohinder and Santokh recall their experiences obtaining citizenship as British subjects and how they were able to buy a home in a year. Santokh Gill recalls how he and his brother took over his father’s taxi after he retired and later sold it for a profit. 00:49:20 - 01:04:19 Lachman describes in detail his daily routine as a 95 year old. The group shares some of their favourite types of roti and Lachman talks about using his hearing aid. The interviewer and group convey to Lachman how the information will be used. Lachman describes how his wife made oatmeal. 01:04:20 - 01:15:54 In this portion of the interview, Santokh and Prem Gill show the interviewer a book by Henry Bromley titled “Fire in the Blood: A History of British Columbia and Alberta Foundries”. The book was given to the Santokh when he was working at the foundry and contains photographs of Lachman Gill and the foundries they worked at. Santokh describes photographs within the book and the metal casting processes.
History
Interviewees' biographies: Lachman Singh Gill was born in 1928 in the village of Ferozepur near Lakhpur, Punjab. In 1943, Lachman married his wife Surjit Kaur Ark who was from the village of Malpur. Sometime after Partition in 1947, Lachman and his wife Surjeet immigrated to England. Lachman and Surjit had seven children, four sons and three daughters. Around 1973, Lachman's son, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill sponsored his father and mother and they immigrated to Canada joining him and his family in Burnaby, British Columbia. After arriving in British Columbia, Lachman worked as a steel worker at a foundry and drove his own taxi. Lachman retired in his ffities and continues to live with his son and family in Burnaby. Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar in Punjab, India. Gurmail moved to England with his family in 1957 and immigrated to British Columbia in 1966. Gurmail married Mohinder Kaur Gill in England in 1968 and she immigrated to British Columbia from England soon after. Gurmail first lived with a cousin in Burnaby before purchasing a home of his own in Burnaby where he raised his family. Gurmail worked in the steel industry and was a member and treasurer of the CAIMAW before the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in the Hoshiapur in Punjab, India. She married her husband Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill in England in 1968 and immigrated to Burnaby, British Columbia to join her husband. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill have four children, all born in Burnaby. Prem Kaur Gill was born in Burnaby in 1969 and is the eldest child of Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill. Prem grew up and attended school in Burnaby. Interviewer biography: Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Migration
Foods
Industries
Persons - Seniors
Religions - Sikhism
Transportation - Taxicabs
Names
Gill, Lachman Singh
Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh
Gill, Prem Kaur
Gill, Mohinder Kaur
Gill, Surjit Kaur Ark
Gill, Sarbjit Kaur
Responsibility
Rajdeep
Accession Code
BV023.16.4
Date
2023 (interview content), interviewed 6 May 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcript for master recordings available upon request - Contact Burnaby Village Museum
Images
Audio Tracks

Interview with Lachman Singh Gill and Gill family members, 2023 (interview content), interviewed 6 May 2023

Interview with Lachman Singh Gill and Gill family members, 2023 (interview content), interviewed 6 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0004_003.m4a
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Interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19346
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1600-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Oct. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (111 min., 51 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (111 min., 51 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar discusses and provides in…
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) (111 min., 51 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (111 min., 51 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Nadeem Parmar Location of Interview: Residence of Nadeem Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: October 7, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:51:51 min 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 Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar discusses and provides information on; his ancestral background, his education, his employment background, his experiences of racial discrimmination as a South Asian immigrant, saw mills established by South Asian relations in Paldi (Vancouver Island), in North Vancouver and Burnaby, family relations in the South Asian Canadian community and in regions in Punjab, the caste system, his literary works, locations of family homes in Burnaby, the architectural design of his house, personal stories and anecdotal information as a South Asian Canadian living and working in Canada. 00:00 – 01:45 The framework and purpose of the interview is explained to interviewee Nadeem Parmar by interviewers Rajdeep and Anushay Malik. The interviewers explain how the information from this interview can be drawn on for Burnaby Village Museum’s future exhibits and also how researchers will learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby through residents’ stories. Interview begins with Nadeem providing his full name "Kulwant Singh Parmar". He clarifies that his name was given to him by his grandfather who was a civil engineer and that his father also worked as a civil engineer. Nadeem expresses that he was born with a “silver spoon in his mouth” as a descendent of his maternal grandfather who was a successful landlord. Nadeem explains that when the Partition of India came into effect, (1947) he was 11 years old. He and his family left the partitioned side, his native village was located in Punjab and his forefathers were located in Rajasthan. 3:20 – 4:57 Nadeem explains further about his forefathers who came from Rajasthan. He shares information about his ancestor on his father’s side, named Vijay Singh who was friends with Emperor Jahangir. When fighting began against Jahangir he left the area to head to the middle of central India, then to the Punjab area with small states. As a clan, as a Parmar, he conveys there were about eleven or twelve villages with the same name. Interviewer, Anushay helps Nadeem to clarify the time period of this information. Nadeem refers to the time period being similar to the epic historical film “Moghal-e-Azam” and Anushay confirms the time period being the 1600s when they left Rajasthan. 4:58 – 10:59 Interviewer Anushay asks Nadeem to about his migration to Canada. Nadeem conveys that his first ancestor on his in-laws side of the family migrated around 1889. Further discussion ensues about reading Punjabi and how interviewer Rajdeep can read Punjabi and that she comes from the village of "Lakhpur" in Punjab. Rajdeep notes that “Lakhpur” is near "Phagwara". Nadeem clarifies that his village is "Panchat" and this family used to live in "Phagwara". and Nadeem and Rajdeep compare their familiarity and memories of the area. Nadeem conveys some of his comments in Punjabi and then changes to English. Nadeem recollects when the Japanese bombarded Shillong, he was around seven years old and attended missionary school. The only languages that were taught were English and Persian. Nadeem conveys that his mother had hopes of Nadeem becoming an army officer and moving up the ranks but Nadeem wasn’t interested. Nadeem attended college, graduated with a Bachelor of Science, BSC with Physics and Chemistry, followed by another Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and finally a degree in his favourite subject in the language of Urdu. He completed these degrees in Punjab in Doaba College, Jalandher. Nadeem recollects how he started teaching but wasn’t getting paid very well. When he was at college, with encouragement from his professor, Veer Pankalia [sic] he began writing poetry and short plays. His professor also introduced him to a famous poet of Punjab, Mila Ram Offa [sic] and he gave him the name of Nadeem. Nadeem explains the meaning of the name “Nadeem” “…the one who know about it, inside out…” even though we generally think of the meaning being “friend” it’s not just about friend. 11:00 -24:48 Nadeem provides background information on how he ended up marrying his future wife who was born in India and immigrated to Canada with her family. Nadeem explains how the marriage was arranged through family relations that were already established in Punjab over a century ago. One of his wife’s ancestors, head of the family called “baniye” (traders) immigrated to Canada in [1899]. This relation returned to Punjab where he had nephews, the youngest of the nephews was Nadeem’s father (Lashman Singh Manhas) in law’s father (Sher Singh Manhas). He expresses that his wife’s ancestor couldn’t bring Nadeem’s father in law’s father since he was only 12 or 13 years old but he brought three of the nephews back to Canada with him. The nephews were named, Pola Singh, Ginaya Singh and Doman Singh (also named Dolmans). He describes how the group left India but it took them two to three years before they arrived in Canada. The group travelled to Burma, Indonesia and Hong Kong before landing in San Francisco. From San Francisco they walked and worked on the rail line before entering Canada and arriving in Grand Forks. The men got work on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and eventually made their way to the lower mainland. Nadeem conveys that the younger brother of Ginaya Singh, Maya Singh joined the others in Canada taking the same route, arriving in Bridal Falls where they were working at a saw mill and in CP rail construction. He describes Maya Singh as business minded and since he was too young to work in the mill, he began working as a cook and then began growing potatoes on land that he leased from a Dutch land owner. The local mill at Bridal Falls was facing bankruptcy and Maya Singh arranged to lease the mill, eventually buying it. From there the group moved their business to Strawberry Hill in Surrey and when the sale of logs declined, they moved over to Vancouver Island and established a sawmill with Doman Singh in the community of Paldi (originally known as Mayo Lumber) near Duncan. He explains further how the South Asian community helped each other like they did back home. He clarifies that his father in law’s father is the youngest cousin of Ginaya and Doman Singh and when he died, his father in law’s younger brother started Kashmir Lumber. Eventually his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) and the rest of the whole family including cousins and nephews were sponsored by their relations and immigrated to Canada. Nadeem explains how in 1959, his brother in law returned home to Punjab to get married, bringing his family with him. He tells of how during this time period, a marriage was arranged by his parents for him to marry his future wife. Nadeem recollects how this came to be. Nadeem and his wife Surjeet married in Punjab in December 1960, Nadeem was 24 years old and his wife was 18 years old. 24:49 – 39:42 Nadeem describes how he obtained his teaching degree from Ramgarhia College in Phagwara (located in the Kapurhtala district of Punjab) and after a disagreement with a teacher at home, he decided to go to England. He explains how he joined his brother who had moved to England and was working as a labourer. Nadeem tells of the difficulties he faced applying for a teaching job in England and how he had to go back to school to help with his English pronunciation. Nadeem explains that after taking this course, he got work teaching Grade two students which he felt was below his qualifications (he mentions that while living in Punjab, he was a Secondary School teacher) and the pay was very low. He discovered that his brother was making more money working as a labourer so Nadeem became discouraged and quit. When Nadeem couldn’t find work as a labourer, his brother advised him to shave off his beard. Nadeem conveys how difficult it was for him to shave off his beard and how once he was clean shaven he got work as a sweeper in a factory. He shares his experience of working in the factory and of how with his former education he got himself promoted to a more technical position. With encouragement from his employer, Nadeem enrolled in technical courses which lead to him obtaining an HNC Engineering Degree. He completed the course work in two years, obtaining skills in microwave communication becoming the senior test engineer at the factory. While working in this position, Nadeem shares how he suffered discrimination when he was passed over for a senior chief engineer position at the factory by a less educated and experienced employee. 39:43 – 53:38 Nadeem recollects how things changed for him in the 1970s. It began with his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) passing away in 1970 while he and his family were living on 18th Street in Burnaby. His father in law had been working at the saw mill, Kashmir Lumber Company in North Vancouver that was owned by his father in law’s younger brother (Kashmir Singh Manhas). The mill had burnt down and many of the workers lost everything. Nadeem confides that during this time, his wife was suffering from depression and wanted to be with her mother back in Canada now that her father had passed away. Nadeem emphasizes how his wife’s family (over 300 relatives) in Canada often get together every year on July 1st in Paldi near Duncan. In 1972, Nadeem arrived in Canada on his own to find work but was unsuccessful so he and his wife made plans to move to Uganda where he was offered a job. In 1973, when his visa didn’t come through for Uganda, Nadeem, his wife and two children decided to come to Canada. Nadeem describes that after several unsuccessful experiences to find skilled work in Canada, he eventually found work at Canadian National Telecommunications. During this time, Nadeem and his family lived with his father in law’s family at 5216 Pandora Street in Burnaby and in 1974, Nadeem purchased a house at 131 Fell Avenue in Burnaby. Nadeem provides further details of when the families lived at these different addresses and how in 1983 he had a house built on Woodsworth Street where he is still living now. He conveys some of the history of the lot where his current house resides including details on the lot subdivision, lot ownership and the cost of building his new house. Nadeem tells of how he designed his home with help from his son who was working as an apprentice with architect Arthur Erikson at the time. He describes the architectural interior as an open concept design, in an “L” shape in honour of his father “Lakhmir Singh”. Nadeem shares information on his mother’s name which was Jamna (prior to her marriage) and became Davinder Kaur after she was married. (Note: Jamna was her name before marriage. Traditionally after a woman is married, her husband’s family changes her first name because she is now considered a part of a new family). 53:39 – 58:56 Nadeem provides information on his career working as CNCP technician working with CPIC systems and how he was promoted to a new position. Nadeem inserts a quote from a Punjabi poem which he translates to English as “Somebody asked the blind people. What do you need? He said, do you need two eyes?, he said, what else do I need?”. Nadeem conveys how in 1986 his mother passed away so he went back home to the village of Lakhpur where his father and younger brother were living. His father and younger brother were on their own and in 1986 they decided to demolish the family home. He explains that there’s a college there now and that a library was built at this location in the name of his grandfather. 58:57 – 1:04:38 Nadeem shares how he suffered a heart attack in 1990 during the marriage ceremony of his son in Williams Lake. Nadeem talks about the complicated relations of the South Asian families and the saw mill owners in Paldi and comments on the problems with the caste system that provokes discrimination within the South Asian community. Nadeem refers to disputes that arose amongst mill owners and investors that included Kapoor Singh Siddoo, Mayo Singh, Gurdial Singh Teja and Ginaya Singh which caused problems amongst his family and also lead to Kapoor Singh selling his portion of the mill. Nadeem spells “Ginaya” Singh’s name and explains that this name is the nickname for “Krishna”. Nadeem provides his insight into the joint ownership of the saw mills located in Paldi and how the the joint ownership was dissolved in 1952. Nadeem clarifies that Ginaya Singh also left Paldi and that Ginaya Singh’s wife is his mother in law’s aunt and that he also moved to Burnaby. Nadeem explains the proper name spelling of mill owner “Mayo Singh” and that the correct spelling is actually “Mayan Singh” but he changed it to “Mayo” when it was mis-pronounced. Nadeem also comments on the problems that he encountered in 1970 on the pronunciation of his own name while living in England and at one point his employer referred to him as “Paul”. 1:04:39 – 1:18:50 Nadeem relays that when he emigrated from India and to Canada that he carried his personal possessions in a small suitcase made from cardboard since the weight limit on the airplane was just three pounds. He conveys that many of his relations have all suffered from heart problems including Ginaya Singh and his children. Nadeem shares that Ginaya Singh’s three sons all lived in Burnaby. Nadeem conveys that many South Asians lived in Burnaby and many worked at saw mills in North Vancouver and in the L&K sawmill near Pemberton. Nadeem explains further about the how the disagreements came to be between Mayo Singh and Kapoor Singh. He describes how each had a different business strategy in harvesting lumber and that there were feuds amongst the families. Nadeem provides further details on the root of the family feuds. Nadeem provides definitions for certain Punjabi terms that he’s using including “Mehta”(meaning lowest class of farmers, foreigner as well head as a title given to people of a clan living in the area) and ‘Panchat”, the name of his family village that was built and founded by five brothers and one nephew (Panj- meaning five and the sound “cht” meaning six). Nadeem explains that these terms were given to people from his own clan living in the area because it was small. Nadeem explains further about status that is based on money and the Punjabi terms “Parsu”, “Parsa” and “Pasaram” that are often used to describe a person. When you are poor the term “Parsu” is used and when you become rich the term “Pasaram” is used. Nadeem refers to Mayo Singh as a Pasaram as the second most successful millner in British Columbia, second to Frederick John Hart. Nadeem mentions that Ginaya Singh, elder brother to Mayo Singh helped provide the finances to start the mill and when there was a disagreement, Ginaya Singh left the mill business, moved his family to Burnaby and began working in insurance. Nadeem shares the sad story of Ginaya Singh’s sudden death (in 1953). Nadeem states that many of the people who left the mills at Paldi went to work at the Kapoor Mill in Burnaby and some relocated to the Interior of British Columbia. Nadeem mentions that his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) was able to purchase a house on 18th Street in along with other residences that he bought with his hard earned money working in the farms and mills, 16 hours per day, seven days a week. 1:18:51 – 1:32:04 Nadeem explains why he thinks that most South Asian people worked in the mills in the earlier days. Nadeem conveys that since Sikh men wore beards and turbans they encountered discrimination and were unable to get work in the business community. Nadeem shares his own personal experiences of wearing a turban and the discrimination he’s encountered while living in Scotland and Canada. Nadeem mentions that a defense committee was formed to protect the Gurdwaras and people’s homes from being vandalized due to racial discrimination. Nadeem describes some of the troubles that he’s encountered in his own neighbourhood when he had to call the police. Nadeem shares a personal experience just after 9/11 where he was the target of racial discrimination in the parking lot of Burnaby Lake. Nadeem emphasizes that he has experienced many incidents of racial discrimination, especially in the workplace and that this was not unusual for him. 1:32:05 – 1:36:19 Nadeem talks about his interest in writing and his many literary works including 12 novels that he’s written in Punjabi. Nadeem highlights a few books that he’s written including a book titled “Rape” and another one titled “Sponsorship” which conveys the complex nature of people immigrating to Canada. Nadeem mentions a particular book about AIDS, titled “Wide Net” that he’s been trying to get published. Nadeem speaks to the challenges and high costs of trying to get his works published. Nadeem provides a brief synopsis of his book “Wide Net”. Nadeem relays that this is a personal account of a gay couple that he knew where one of the partners died of AIDS and that the couple gave Nadeem permission to tell their tragic story. 1:36:20 – 1:51:51 Nadeem talks about his children and compares their experiences to his own as a South Asian immigrant. Nadeems talks about the accomplishments of his son, his daughter and grandchildren including their education and careers. Nadeem says that his children are well educated and well established in their careers. Nadeem’s children attended Capitol Hill Elementary School and North Burnaby High School in Burnaby. Nadeem shares specifics of his son’s career history. Nadeem expresses that he still considers Canada to be the best country for opportunities and that he prefers to live in Burnaby rather than Surrey and shares some personal anecdotes. Nadeem lists some local places that he’s shopped for South Asian groceries and spices rather than travelling to Surrey. He mentions shopping at Kelly Douglas, stores in Chinatown, small grocers on Capitol Hill, Patel’s on Commercial Drive and Main Street. As an aside Nadeem mentions that he worked as a security guard and the wages that he earned. Nadeem comments that he has been awarded various certificates and certifications from his education and career over the years, including a Bachelor of Science. The interviewers further express their interest in seeing the cardboard case that Nadeem brought with him when immigrating to Canada. In closing Nadeem states that his favourite food from back home was kheer (rice pudding).
History
Interviewee biography: Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar was born June 9, 1936, Chuck 138 in Lyalpur (India before 1947) to parents Lakhmir Singh Parmar and Davinder Kaur Jamana Parmar. Nadeem grew up in the village of Panchat in the northern region of Punjab, India. Nadeem married his wife Surjeet in Punjab in 1960. After marrying the couple immigrated to England where Nadeem was already working. While living in England, Nadeem and Surjeet had two children. After Surjeet's father died in Canada in 1972, Nadeem, Surjeet and their two children immgrated to Canada, joining Surjeet's family who were living in Burnaby. After Nadeem immigrated to Burnaby in 1973 he worked various jobs before working with CN/CP Telecommunications. Nadeem holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Teaching from Punjab University and a diploma from the London Board of Education (L.B.E.) and a P.Eng. from Lancaster. He has seven books published in Punjabi, three in Urdu and is published in eight anthologies. He is fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi. Interviewers' biographies: 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”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
Buildings - Industrial - Factories
Education
Employment
Industries - Logging/lumber
Migration
Occupations - Engineers
Occupations - Millworkers
Occupations - Teachers
Occupations - Writers
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Names
Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
Kapoor Sawmills Limited
Siddoo, Kapoor Singh
Teja, Gurdial Singh
Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
Manhas, Ghania Singh
Singh, Mayo
Manhas, Kashmir Singh
Manhas, Sher Singh
Manhas, Budhan Kaur
Manhas, Lashman Singh
Responsibility
Malik, Anushay
Rajdeep
Geographic Access
Woodsworth Street
Accession Code
BV022.29.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1600-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Oct. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Capitol Hill Area
Related Material
See also BV022.29.5 - Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Interview is conducted in English with various segments of discussion in Punjabi
Transcript of interview available upon request
Audio Tracks
Less detail

Kirner Henry Hammett

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription897
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1870]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 14.2 x 10.2 cm mounted on cardboard 16.7 x 10.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a baby in a white dress seated on a fur lined chair at a photographic studio. According to the gift form signed by the donor and the acquisition record, the baby in the picture is Kirner Henry Hammett, born 1869. Mr. Hammett came to North Vancouver from England in 1913. The dress he i…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 14.2 x 10.2 cm mounted on cardboard 16.7 x 10.7 cm
Material Details
printed on the card, recto, l.l. , l.r. "STONEHOUSE/ PLYMOUTH.", verso, u.r. "Hill & Wakeling/ 61 UNION ST./ STONEHOUSE PLYMOUTH./ COPIES CAN ALWAYS BE HAD/ SEND No. 27997."
Scope and Content
Photograph of a baby in a white dress seated on a fur lined chair at a photographic studio. According to the gift form signed by the donor and the acquisition record, the baby in the picture is Kirner Henry Hammett, born 1869. Mr. Hammett came to North Vancouver from England in 1913. The dress he is wearing is in Burnaby Village Museum collections. Printed on the bottom front of the card: ""Hill & Wakeling / Stonehouse, Plymouth." Printed on the back of the card: "Hill & Wakeling / 61 Union St. / Stonehouse Plymouth. / Copies can always be had / Send No. 27997."
Subjects
Persons - Children
Names
Hammett, Kirner Henry
Accession Code
HV975.21.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1870]
Media Type
Photograph
Related Material
The dress worn by Mr. Hammet in the photograph is in BVM collections, 71.142 and 72.177.
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-06-06
Photographer
Hill and Wakeling Studio
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w copy negative accompanying
Images
Less detail

Marriage certificate for Jesse and Martha Love

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16920
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1879-1879
Collection/Fonds
Love family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 p. : 24 x 30 cm
Scope and Content
Item consists of a marriage certificate issued to Jesse Love and Martha Love nee Leonard on May 5, 1879. The certificate is presumed to be removed from a bible, potentially the Love family bible (BV992.26.1). The information on the obverse reads "WHAT GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER LET NOT MAN PUT ASUNDE…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Love family fonds
Series
Love family vital events and correspondence series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 p. : 24 x 30 cm
Scope and Content
Item consists of a marriage certificate issued to Jesse Love and Martha Love nee Leonard on May 5, 1879. The certificate is presumed to be removed from a bible, potentially the Love family bible (BV992.26.1). The information on the obverse reads "WHAT GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER LET NOT MAN PUT ASUNDER / (image of wedding) / This Certifies / THAT THE RITE OF / HOLY MATRIMONY / WAS CELEBRATED BETWEEN / Jesse Love formerly of South Marston, Wiltshire, England / and Martha Leonard formerly of Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England / on the 5th day of may 1879 at Little Trinity Church, Toronto, Canada / by The Rev. Saunders / Witness: ___ Francis / Tom Barry". printed and hand written on the obverse of the certificate. The reverse has a printed border and two columns under the heading of "Marriages". There is no hand written information on the reverse side.
Subjects
Ceremonies - Weddings
Accession Code
BV008.20.2
Date
1879-1879
Media Type
Textual Record
Notes
Title based on the content of the page
Images
Less detail

Edwin Wettenhall Bateman

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription906
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1881]
Collection/Fonds
E.W. Bateman family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 8.9 x 6.1 cm mounted on card 10.4 x 6.3 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Edwin Wettenhall Bateman, about age twenty-two, taken in 1881 according to the inscription on the back. Edwin Bateman is wearing his hair short and parted down the middle, with sideburns and a moustache. His dark coat is buttoned high with one button and his tie is a band that fits on…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
E.W. Bateman family fonds
Series
Bateman family photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 8.9 x 6.1 cm mounted on card 10.4 x 6.3 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Edwin Wettenhall Bateman, about age twenty-two, taken in 1881 according to the inscription on the back. Edwin Bateman is wearing his hair short and parted down the middle, with sideburns and a moustache. His dark coat is buttoned high with one button and his tie is a band that fits only under the collar and does not hang down below it. This photograph was probably taken shortly before E.W. Bateman left England for Manitoba. E.W. Bateman built the house "Elworth" at the Burnaby Village Museum.
Names
Bateman, Edwin W.
Accession Code
HV975.120.8
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1881]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-06-13
Photographer
Leech, B.R.
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Printed on the bottom front of the photograph: "B.R. Leech. Photo. / Macclesfield." P
Printed inscription on veso of card reads: "B.R. Leech / 30, Roe Street. Macclesfield."
Annotations on verso of card reads: "EW Bateman / About 1881 / Age 22 / E.W. / B."
Images
Less detail

Studio portrait of George

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription2952
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1900]
Collection/Fonds
Harry Royle fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w oval ; 12.5 x 7.5 mounted on matt 23 x 14.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph studio portrait of young boy identified as George (Royle) taken at a photographic studio in Portsmith, United Kingdom. The boy is seated on a decorative railing with scenic background behind.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Harry Royle fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w oval ; 12.5 x 7.5 mounted on matt 23 x 14.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph studio portrait of young boy identified as George (Royle) taken at a photographic studio in Portsmith, United Kingdom. The boy is seated on a decorative railing with scenic background behind.
Names
Royle, George V.
Accession Code
BV006.39.4
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1900]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2024-01-08
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Front of matt includes studio insignia in gold that reads: "London. W.E. / Provincial.../ Branches... / U.S.A. Studios"
The back of the card displays locations for U.S.A. Studios in England
Studio photograph identifier on verso of card reads:"Neg. No. 5411_Branch_PORTSMITH"
Handwritten note on verso of matt reads: "To Dad / from George / 25/7/10 / xxx / x"
Images
Less detail

Community along the bank of a creek

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3080
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1900 and 1915]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w glass negative
Scope and Content
Photograph of a stream with banks on both sides. There are power poles running along both sides of the stream and along the horizon. There are many houses forming a community to the left side of the stream in the photograph. On the right side of the photograph, there is a cabin with a large sign th…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w glass negative
Scope and Content
Photograph of a stream with banks on both sides. There are power poles running along both sides of the stream and along the horizon. There are many houses forming a community to the left side of the stream in the photograph. On the right side of the photograph, there is a cabin with a large sign that reads, "NEW ENGLAND GRANITE & MARBLE CO."
Subjects
Geographic Features - Creeks
Names
New England Granite and Marble Comapny
Accession Code
HV973.110.11
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[between 1900 and 1915]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
300
Scan Date
16/8/2006
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
1 b&w contact print accompanying negative
Images
Less detail

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
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
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
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Lozells Post Office in Burnaby

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription898
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1910 and 1913]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.2 x 13.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Lozells Post Office, on the north shore of Burnaby Lake. This two storey house stood at the north eastern corner of the Great Northern tracks and Piper Road. Around the house is a low picket fence, and a large sign that read, "LOZELLS." In 1908, Col. James Ward and his wife, Mrs. War…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.2 x 13.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Lozells Post Office, on the north shore of Burnaby Lake. This two storey house stood at the north eastern corner of the Great Northern tracks and Piper Road. Around the house is a low picket fence, and a large sign that read, "LOZELLS." In 1908, Col. James Ward and his wife, Mrs. Ward, came to Lozells and opened a post office. Mrs. Ward named the place Lozells because when she lived in Birmingham England, she was a parishioner in the Anglican Parish of Lozells. (Reference: George Green's "History of Burnaby" p147).
History
Mrs. Lozells had lived in Birmingham, England, was a parishoner in the Anglican parish of Lozells in the city. The Graeat Northern Railway laid its tracks through this district [ ] and hwne this rail route was completed the Royal City Mills built a sawmill of considerable size near the foot of Piper Avenue. C.T.W. Pyper and Alfred Wiggs built a small mill nearby and a shipping siding was installed and called Pyper's Siding. (Reference from HIstory of Burnaby by George Green.)
Subjects
Buildings - Public - Post Offices
Accession Code
HV975.32.2
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[between 1910 and 1913]
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Government Road Area
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-06-06
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Hastings Grove Store

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4780
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1912
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.7 x 8.9 cm ; copy print
Scope and Content
Photograph of group of eight men and women and dog beside bus on boardwalk in front of Hastings Grove Store building. Boardwalk continues into the distance with forest on either side on the left hand side of the photograph.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8.7 x 8.9 cm ; copy print
Material Details
"Columbian files 1971" written on verso in black pen. "The Hastings Grove store and 'bus terminal, showing garage. Built in 1912. Shows the first / bus. Photo taken July, 1912, by James William Phillips. Lady in white: Mrs […]ers Jane / Leghead, first store-keeper, lady with white blouse and black skirt, Mrs. J. Vicary then of / Sperling Avenue, now of London, England. At front of car, J. Vicary sales agent for the / Hastings Grove property, at steering-wheel. Jack Holmes 'bus driver, now of Vancouver Heights, / lady with dog and man at left, landseekers, and at extreme right Samuel Frederick [...]. / (Planking of Curtis Street done in 1912.)" on typewritten label on front of photograph.
Scope and Content
Photograph of group of eight men and women and dog beside bus on boardwalk in front of Hastings Grove Store building. Boardwalk continues into the distance with forest on either side on the left hand side of the photograph.
History
Part of a set of photographs from the Columbian Newspaper, which operated out of New Westminster under this name starting in 1900 until its dissolution in 1988. Photographs found in the collection of the Burnaby Village are dated 1971.
Names
Hastings Grove Store
Accession Code
BV018.19.6
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
1912
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
24-04-2018
Photographer
Phillips, James William "Jim"
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

World War One nurse

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription609
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1914 and 1918] (date of original), copied 1977
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 25.2 x 20.2 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of a woman in a World War One nursing uniform, taken in a photographic studio. She is holding the back of a chair, and the painted backdrop shows arches. An accompanying note in the accession file identifies this photograph as Winnie (Winnie Hill Rowe, daughter of Bernard Hill) when she …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 25.2 x 20.2 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of a woman in a World War One nursing uniform, taken in a photographic studio. She is holding the back of a chair, and the painted backdrop shows arches. An accompanying note in the accession file identifies this photograph as Winnie (Winnie Hill Rowe, daughter of Bernard Hill) when she went to England as a nurse during WWI.
Subjects
Occupations - Nurses
Clothing - Uniforms
Wars - World War, 1914-1918
Names
Rowe, Winnifred L. "Winnie" Hill
Accession Code
HV977.123.15
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[between 1914 and 1918] (date of original), copied 1977
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-07-18
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Mary England and dog

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12231
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1915] (date of original) , copied 2020
Collection/Fonds
Mary England fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : b&w ; 600 dpi
Scope and Content
Photograph of Mary England standing outside in a grassy area with trees and a dog at her feet.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Mary England fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : b&w ; 600 dpi
Scope and Content
Photograph of Mary England standing outside in a grassy area with trees and a dog at her feet.
Subjects
Animals - Dogs
Names
England, Mary
Accession Code
BV020.9.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[1915] (date of original) , copied 2020
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
12-Feb-20
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Alfred Henry England

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12233
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1915] (date of original) , copied 2020
Collection/Fonds
Mary England fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : b&w ; 600 dpi
Scope and Content
Photograph of Alfred Henry England (husband of Mary England) walking home from work. He is walking along a boardwalk on Royal Oak Avenue in Burnaby.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Mary England fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (tiff) : b&w ; 600 dpi
Scope and Content
Photograph of Alfred Henry England (husband of Mary England) walking home from work. He is walking along a boardwalk on Royal Oak Avenue in Burnaby.
Names
England, Alfred Henry
Geographic Access
Royal Oak Avenue
Accession Code
BV020.9.5
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[1915] (date of original) , copied 2020
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
12-Feb-20
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Frank Sanders at convalescent home

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9891
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
October 1918
Collection/Fonds
Gerald F. Sanders and Alice Sparman Sanders fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 20.5 cm
Scope and Content
Group photograph of patients with staff at a WWI convalescent home in England. Frank Sanders, Gerald Frank Sanders' father, stands in the back row, on the far left. Men wear a mix of remnants of uniforms and dressing gowns.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Gerald F. Sanders and Alice Sparman Sanders fonds
Series
Sanders-Sparman photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 20.5 cm
Material Details
Text hand-written in blue ink on back of photograph frame reads: "Top Left / Frank Sanders / Convalescing in England After Severe / Shrapnel Wound Entering Right Shoulder / And Exiting Out His Back Just Before The Spine / Early October 1918.". Navy blue and white, shield-shaped adhesive label on back of frame reads: "WOODWARD'S / LIMITED / PICTURE FRAMING AND / ART DEPARTMENT / VANCOUVER, B.C.".
Scope and Content
Group photograph of patients with staff at a WWI convalescent home in England. Frank Sanders, Gerald Frank Sanders' father, stands in the back row, on the far left. Men wear a mix of remnants of uniforms and dressing gowns.
Subjects
Wars - World War, 1914-1918
Names
Sanders, Frank
Accession Code
BV018.34.16
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
October 1918
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2022-07-12
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Will of Ann Elizabeth Love

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10074
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1919
Collection/Fonds
Love family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 p. of textual records
Scope and Content
Item consists of a hand written "Copy / Will of / Miss Ann Elisabeth Love / deceased x?" of Kent, England dated 1919.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Love family fonds
Series
Love family vital events and correspondence series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 p. of textual records
Scope and Content
Item consists of a hand written "Copy / Will of / Miss Ann Elisabeth Love / deceased x?" of Kent, England dated 1919.
History
See extensive history of Love Family and Love farmhouse located at Burnaby Village Museum.
Accession Code
BV012.31.6
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
1919
Media Type
Textual Record
Notes
Title based on content of file
Less detail

Arthur Lobley and friends

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription894
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[192-]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 6.6 x 11.2 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of people on the front steps of the home of Arthur Lobley located on Marlborough Avenue, off Kingsway. Arthur Lobley is sitting in the front, and the rest of the group are standing behind him. They are identified as (left to right) Mrs. A. Lobley (Dolly) in hat, Winnie Patterson, Emma Su…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 6.6 x 11.2 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of people on the front steps of the home of Arthur Lobley located on Marlborough Avenue, off Kingsway. Arthur Lobley is sitting in the front, and the rest of the group are standing behind him. They are identified as (left to right) Mrs. A. Lobley (Dolly) in hat, Winnie Patterson, Emma Sully, and Jimmy Fitzpatrick. Beside them, a dog, identified as "old Dan" is sitting and looking towards the group. An annotation on the back of the photo reads: "I will send you some snaps of the wedding if they come out O.K."
History
Arthur Lobley immigrated to Canada in 1892. He married Dora Cooke (identified as Mrs. A. Lobley in photograph), likely in England. Arthur worked for the CPR and the couple lived at 2619 Marlborough Avenue in Burnaby. Along with his brother, Charles, Arthur was an early resident of the Central Park neighbourhood of Burnaby. According to George Green's book, "History of Burnaby," pg. 134, the Lobleys were an early pioneer family in Burnaby. Arthur Lobley is credited for opening the Royal Oak Road to the tram station at Royal Oak in 1897. Dora's aunt, Emma Sully and her husband John Sully were lodgers at the Lobley house on Marlborough Street. Dora's cousin, Winnifred Davis Patterson was also a lodger until her marriage to Carl Anderson in 1940.
Subjects
Animals - Dogs
Names
Fitzpatrick, Jimmy
Lobley, Arthur
Lobley, Mrs. Arthur "Dolly"
Patterson, Winnie
Sulley, Emma
Geographic Access
Marlborough Avenue
Kingsway
Accession Code
HV976.236.2
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[192-]
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Marlborough Area
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-06-27
Images
Less detail

George Vincent Martin

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3885
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[192-]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Mr. George Vincent Martin sitting on front porch of a house, presumably the main house at 4108 Trinity Street.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6.5 cm
Material Details
George Vi_c_nt / Martin." written in pencil on back of photo.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Mr. George Vincent Martin sitting on front porch of a house, presumably the main house at 4108 Trinity Street.
History
George Vincent Martin was born in 1892 in England. He married Matilda Florence Reed in 1916. He purchased a property in North Burnaby in the 1920s on Trinity Street. There was a main house and a "shack" on the property split up onto two lots.
Names
Martin, George Vincent
Accession Code
BV007.45.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[192-]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
300
Scan Date
29-Nov-2018
Scale
96
Notes
Title based on notation on the reverse of the photograph
Images
Less detail

Front view of 4108 Trinity Street

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3886
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[192-]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of house at 4108 Trinity St. Front view looking north, no other homes visible. Porches are not quite finished.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6.5 cm
Material Details
"4108 Trinity St / Front view / looking north" written on back in black ink.
Scope and Content
Photograph of house at 4108 Trinity St. Front view looking north, no other homes visible. Porches are not quite finished.
History
George Vincent Martin was born in 1892 in England. He married Matilda Florence Reed in 1916. He purchased a property in North Burnaby in the 1920s on Trinity Street. There was a main house and a "shack" on the property split up onto two lots.
Geographic Access
Trinity Street
Street Address
4108 Trinity Street
Accession Code
BV007.45.2
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[192-]
Media Type
Photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Burnaby Heights Area
Scan Resolution
300
Scan Date
29-Nov-2018
Scale
96
Notes
Title based on notation on the reverse of the photograph
Images
Less detail

The "shack" at 4104 Trinity Street

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3887
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[192-]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the front view of an unfinished one room shack with a side shed at 4104 Trinity Street. There is a wood sidewalk in front. The "4104" address number is visible on the front of the building.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6.5 cm
Material Details
"Another view of the "Shack"" written on back in pencil.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the front view of an unfinished one room shack with a side shed at 4104 Trinity Street. There is a wood sidewalk in front. The "4104" address number is visible on the front of the building.
History
George Vincent Martin was born in 1892 in England. He married Matilda Florence Reed in 1916. He purchased a property in North Burnaby in the 1920s on Trinity Street. There was a main house and a "shack" on the property split up onto two lots.
Other Title Information
Title based on notation on the reverse of the photograph
Accession Code
BV007.45.4
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[192-]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
300
Scan Date
29-Nov-2018
Scale
96
Images
Less detail

Side view of 4018 Trinity Street

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3888
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[192-]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of house at 4108 Trinity St. Front view looking north, no other homes visible. Porches are not quite finished.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 6.5 cm
Material Details
"4108 Trinity St / Side view / looking west" written on back in black ink.
Scope and Content
Photograph of house at 4108 Trinity St. Front view looking north, no other homes visible. Porches are not quite finished.
History
George Vincent Martin was born in 1892 in England. He married Matilda Florence Reed in 1916. He purchased a property in North Burnaby in the 1920s on Trinity Street. There was a main house and a "shack" on the property split up onto two lots.
Accession Code
BV007.45.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[192-]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
300
Scan Date
29-Nov-2018
Scale
96
Notes
Title based on notation on the reverse of the photograph
Images
Less detail

106 records – page 1 of 6.