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Hill family and Vidal family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82116
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1850-1983]
Collection/Fonds
Hill family and Vidal family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
255 photographs : b&w and sepia and 9.5 cm of textual records : ill. (some col.)
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs and textual records from the Vidal and Hill family. Textual records include handwritten family trees, typed and handwritten biographical information of the Jones, Wright, Hyde, Vidal, and Hill families, copies of photographic prints, published works by J. H. Vidal and …
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1850-1983]
Collection/Fonds
Hill family and Vidal family fonds
Physical Description
255 photographs : b&w and sepia and 9.5 cm of textual records : ill. (some col.)
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2013-03
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs and textual records from the Vidal and Hill family. Textual records include handwritten family trees, typed and handwritten biographical information of the Jones, Wright, Hyde, Vidal, and Hill families, copies of photographic prints, published works by J. H. Vidal and William Cowper, newspaper clippings, and a New Testament.
History
Minard Gerald “Gerry” Hill was born in Burnaby on July 31, 1893, to Marian (nee Berkeley) and Bernard Richard Hill. Marian was born in London, England. Bernard Hill, born in Bengal, India, in 1858 to Sir Richard Hill and Jane Ann (nee Rollinson) where his father worked for the East Indian Railway, was one of the early inhabitants of Burnaby. Despite their years of training as engineers, Bernard, along with his brother, Louis Claude Hill, became strawberry farmers and owned all the land between Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake where Deer Creek runs, and halfway around Deer Lake. Bernard built his family home at Douglas Road near Deer Lake in 1892. After the decline in the strawberry industry, Bernard worked as a surveyor for the municipality. Bernard also served as a Burnaby trustee and as councilor of Burnaby in 1904, 1905, 1906, and 1909. Bernard and Marian had four children: A. Claude (born in England around 1885, married Marion “Mamie”), Frank L., Winnifred “Winnie” L., and Gerry. Gerry attended Miss Harriet Woodward’s kindergarten class, and went on to Edmonds School with Miss Ellen Lister as his teacher. He later went to Central High School in New Westminster, often on horseback. Gerry served in World War I, signing his recruitment papers on November 9, 1914. When he returned home, he worked felling trees, then as an apprentice surveyor and finally as a carpenter. His father, Bernard, died in Burnaby on March 27, 1939, at the age of 80. Bernard's brother, Louis, was one of the first members elected to the Burnaby council and served in 1892, 1893, 1894, and again from 1909-1910. Louis, born in 1860, married Annie Sarah Kendrick (born in 1896) and they moved to the Burnaby Lake area in the early 1890s. Together they had one child, Katherine “Kitty” Maude, born in 1898. The first Hill family home, “Brookfield,” was sold around 1907 and the family moved to their new home, “Broadview,” which was also built in the vicinity of Deer Lake. Kitty, their only child, married William “Bob” John Peers in 1925 and they went on to have three children: Robert C.K., Barbara (later Barbara Jeffrey), and Anne (later Anne Latham). Charlotte Elizabeth Vidal was born in 1897 in the United States to Louisa Sophia (nee Jones) and Herbert P. Vidal. Louisa Vidal (1871-1943) was a descendent of Jones of Exeter of England and the House of Llanio Cardigan of Wales. Herbert Vidal (1868-1934)’s father was Alexander Vidal (1819-1906). Alexander Vidal, born in Brocknell, England, immigrated to Upper Canada in 1835 and later served as a senator of Canada from 1873 to 1906. He married Catherine Louisa Wright, the daughter of Capt. William Elliot Wright. Both of Charlotte’s parents, Louisa and Herbert, were born in Ontario. Charlotte Vidal was sister to Dorothy Kate and Alexander E. E. Vidal. Gerry Hill (aged 27) and Charlotte E. Vidal (aged 23) married on September 28, 1920, in Vancouver. Gerry built a house for him and his wife about a thousand feet from his parents’ home. He also bought property at Yellow Point on Vancouver Island around this time. By the early 1930s, Gerry had moved to Yellow Point permanently and begun building the Yellow Point Lodge. Gerry and Charlotte bore three children: David, Lesley C. (born in 1929), and Gerald. Gerry was later remarried to Elizabeth (nee Holen) and had one child: Richard Grant McEwan Hill, born in Ladysmith. Lesley married M. Clarke and had two boys: Roy and Graham. She later married B. Durban and had four boys: Patrick, Michael, Gary, and Grant. Charlotte died on February 11, 1984, at the age of 87. Gerry died on January 30, 1988, in Ladysmith at the age of 93.
Media Type
Photograph
Textual Record
Creator
Hill Family
Vidal family
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Photo catalogue 550, MSS176
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Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1880-1980]
Collection/Fonds
Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
ca. 1200 photographs and other material
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records, primarily photographs, compiled by various members of both the Hill and Peers families that document their lives during the early days of settlement in Burnaby. The fonds includes records of citizenship, wills and other official papers pertaining to the life and activitie…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1880-1980]
Collection/Fonds
Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
Physical Description
ca. 1200 photographs and other material
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records, primarily photographs, compiled by various members of both the Hill and Peers families that document their lives during the early days of settlement in Burnaby. The fonds includes records of citizenship, wills and other official papers pertaining to the life and activities of L. Claude Hill; photographs of the Peers family’s Burnaby Lake home, Greyfriars, and pictures taken by Arthur Peers during his work and travels throughout British Columbia in the first part of the 20th century; and photographs of the family of Claude Hill, early Burnaby Lake residents and scenes, and pictures Kitty took as an adult documenting the growth of her own family. Also included in this fonds are a number of photographs showing Yellow Point, Vancouver Island, where the Peers and Hill families often vacationed.
History
Bob Peers was born William John Peers, the son of real estate broker and early Burnaby resident, Francis John Peers and his wife Elizabeth Frisby. Originally from England, the family moved to Vancouver in 1905 and soon after settled at Burnaby Lake. The family included one daughter (Mary Elizabeth Dora) and four boys (Arthur Francis, William John “Bob”, Geoffrey Hugh, and Richard Dominic). When they arrived in Burnaby, Francis Peers purchased a piece of land from another early settler, Claude Hill, and built the family home “Greyfriars” near Deer Lake. The children attended school in the home of Miss Harriet Woodward, the first school to be held in the Burnaby Lake area. In 1925, Bob married Claude Hill’s daughter and another former pupil of “Miss Harry’s,” Kitty Hill. Kitty (born Katherine Maude Hill) was the only child of Burnaby pioneers L. Claude Hill and Annie Sara Kenrick. Having moved to the Burnaby Lake area in the early 1890s, Claude went on to operate a successful strawberry farm and soon became active in the political development of Burnaby – being elected to the first Burnaby Council and serving from 1892-1894 and again from 1909-1910. The first Hill family home, “Brookfield,” was sold around 1907 and the family moved to their new home, “Broadview,” which was also built in the vicinity of Deer Lake. In 1925, Bob and Kitty were married and they went on to have three children, Robert C.K., Barbara (later Barbara Jeffrey), and Anne (later Anne Latham).
Formats
All photographic records have been scanned and are saved in jpeg format on the City of Burnaby network. Archival master copies have also been produced in tiff format and have been burned to CD for preservation purposes.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Peers family
Hill family
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
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Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory254
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1892-1955
Length
0:07:38
Summary
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's reading of an essay written by Captain Thomas S. Guns describing the Lozells district, as well as quoting single sentences of various other writers on the topic of Deer Lake and the Burnaby Lake District. Alfred mentions the first schools of B…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's reading of an essay written by Captain Thomas S. Guns describing the Lozells district, as well as quoting single sentences of various other writers on the topic of Deer Lake and the Burnaby Lake District. Alfred mentions the first schools of Burnaby Lake and the "pleasure walk" along Douglas Road, from Vancouver to New Westminster.
Date Range
1892-1955
Photo Info
Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066
Length
0:07:38
Historic Neighbourhood
Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Scope and Content
Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".
Biographical Notes
Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.
Total Tracks
12
Total Length
1:38:06
Interviewee Name
Bingham, Alfred "Alf"
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Oral history subseries
Transcript Available
MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories
Media Type
Sound Recording
Web Notes
Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Images
Audio Tracks

Track four of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

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Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 8

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory258
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1892-1963
Length
0:07:05
Summary
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "THE RUM RUNNERS AND BOOTLEG WHISKY IN BURNABY" and "BURNABY. NORTH. SOUTH. EAST? AND WEST 1892---1943" both written in 1963.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "THE RUM RUNNERS AND BOOTLEG WHISKY IN BURNABY" and "BURNABY. NORTH. SOUTH. EAST? AND WEST 1892---1943" both written in 1963.
Date Range
1892-1963
Photo Info
Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066
Length
0:07:05
Names
Hawthorn, Mary
Scope and Content
Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".
Biographical Notes
Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.
Total Tracks
12
Total Length
1:38:06
Interviewee Name
Bingham, Alfred "Alf"
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Oral history subseries
Transcript Available
MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories
Media Type
Sound Recording
Web Notes
Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Images
Audio Tracks

Track eight of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

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Mary Forsyth fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription87823
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1893] (date of original) -2004
Collection/Fonds
Mary Forsyth fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
Textual records, graphic material and cartographic material
Scope and Content
Records consist of material created and collected by Mary Forsyth. Records include correspondence, photographs, a map, presentation notes, and reviews along with research for historical and biographical essays pertaining to pioneering families, organizations, and the geographical area of South Burn…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1893] (date of original) -2004
Collection/Fonds
Mary Forsyth fonds
Physical Description
Textual records, graphic material and cartographic material
Description Level
Fonds
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2014-27
Scope and Content
Records consist of material created and collected by Mary Forsyth. Records include correspondence, photographs, a map, presentation notes, and reviews along with research for historical and biographical essays pertaining to pioneering families, organizations, and the geographical area of South Burnaby. One of her major research projects consists of "A Walking Environment for South Burnaby," which also became a proposal to The Corporation of the District of Burnaby. Historical information and photographs pertaining to South Burnaby pioneer families and organizations were compiled from interviews with the intention of publishing a book.
History
Mary Gertrude (Bolton) Forsyth was born at her parents' home in Burnaby on March 5, 1923, and was the daughter of Richard Bolton and Gertrude (nee Hern). Mary's father, Richard, immigrated to Canada from Sunderland, England, in 1911. He lived with his brother George in New Westminster prior to purchasing property in South Burnaby in 1916 and built a bungalow located at 859 Marine Drive. Richard Bolton was employed as the municipal treasurer for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby and, in 1919, he returned to Sunderland with three months leave of absence to marry Mary Gertrude Hern, daughter of Captain and Mrs. John Hern. Mary grew up with her parents and sister Nancy in the house that her father built on Marine Drive. She married Lloyd Forsyth in 1946 and they had two children, Diane and Robert. Mary and her husband raised their family in Burnaby and built a house at 855 Marine Drive, on the lot originally purchased by her father, and moved later to a house located at 6457 Marine Drive. In 1964, after her children were grown, Mary completed her teaching degree at Simon Fraser University and went on to teach kindergarten at Nelson Elementary School. While a teacher within the Burnaby School District, Mary was instrumental in adopting ballet as part of the school curriculum. Mary was an active member of the Burnaby Historical Society, participating and leading local events and seminars. She was inspired by the idea of the 'Housewives Holiday', originally initiated by the Vancouver "Y’ S". In February 1960, she was integral in forming a committee in South Burnaby, working alongside Ruth Turner, Faye Treagh, and Dorothy Turnbull. The "Housewives Holiday" committee (a branch of the Clinton-Glenwood Recreation Association) planned several events at Bonsor Hall for Burnaby housewives from October 6 to December 8, 1960. After her retirement from teaching, Mary returned to Simon Fraser University to do further studies and, in 1983, she wrote an essay for an Environmental Education course, titled "A Walking Environment for South Burnaby". The essay was conducted as a feasibility study to provide a walking environment in her community and included a formal essay, a media book, a map, and a slide presentation which was presented to a variety of local community groups. In 1984, Mary was the recipient of the North Fraser Harbour Commission Award to further her work on this project. In October 1986, her essay was adapted as a proposal to The Corporation of the District of Burnaby for a walking and cycling trail system for South Burnaby. Her proposal was taken into consideration by council and was later adopted by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mary was very much interested in the history of South Burnaby and spent time between 1990 to 2004 conducting research through the Burnaby Historical Society, The City of Burnaby Archives, and several pioneering families who agreed to share their family records and be interviewed. Mary compiled her research into short historical and biographical essays by geographical area, family name, and organization. Mary (Bolton) Forsyth lived her whole life in South Burnaby and was an active and committed member of her community. She died on November 10, 2010.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Cartographic Material
Creator
Forsyth, Mary
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Photo catalogue 572, MSS185
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Interview with William A. Lewarne by Rod Fowler March 14, 1990 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory442
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1893-1944
Length
00:05:35
Summary
This portion of the interview is about Bill Lewarne’s parents’ history (Ethel Leer and Alfred Lewarne) and growing up in South Burnaby.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the interview is about Bill Lewarne’s parents’ history (Ethel Leer and Alfred Lewarne) and growing up in South Burnaby.
Date Range
1893-1944
Photo Info
Burnaby Alderman, Bill (William) Lewarne, [1973]. Item no. 231-012
Length
00:05:35
Names
Lewarne, Ethel Leer
Subjects
Recreational Activities
Persons - Children
Historic Neighbourhood
Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Sussex-Nelson Area
Interviewer
Fowler, Rod
Interview Date
March 14, 1990
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with former Mayor William “Bill” Lewarne, conducted by Rod Fowler. Bill Lewarne was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about Bill Lewarne’s business and political careers, and memories of growing up in South Burnaby in the 1930s. Bill Lewarne talks about his parent’s origins, his family and community struggles during the Depression, the interurban, his education, war service, and joining his father's business. He describes the start, operation and expansion of the family ice cream business, and how business life compared to political life. The interview explores the role of politics in community affairs, his political activities, the history of the BVA, and his involvement in various community organizations. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track, expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
William Alfred “Bill” Lewarne was born in Burnaby in 1926 to Ethel Cecilia Leer (1899- ) and Alfred Lewarne (1893-1962). The family, Ethel, Alfred and their three children Patricia, Beverley and William, moved to a house on Nelson Avenue in Alta Vista in 1931. Ethel still lived in the family home in 1990. Bill Lewarne attended Nelson Avenue School and South Burnaby High School (1932-1944). His father Alfred worked at Colony Farms as a dairy inspector and then for the Port of Vancouver Dairy before being laid off early in the Depression. The family struggled until in 1936 Alfred started his own ice cream business. After graduation Bill was in the army for two years, taking a refrigeration course under the veteran’s training benefit, before joining his father’s business. Three generations of the family operated the successful company, expanding from wholesale, retail and distribution of ice cream products into refrigerated warehouses and the wholesale ice business, until the business was sold to its competitor Dairyland in 1989. Bill Lewarne entered politics in 1965, first with the Nonpartisan Association (NPA) and then as a founder of the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA). He served as an alderman on Burnaby Council 1973-1975 and 1977-1981 and as Mayor 1981-1987. In 1979 he ran for provincial office for the Social Credit Party against Rosemary Brown but lost. Bill Lewarne married June Lawrence and they had three children Robert, Leslie and Janice. He was active in many organizations: Burnaby/Willingdon Liberal Association, Seton Villa, Irish Fusileers of Canada, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, and the Burnaby Hospital Foundation, and continued to be active on the Board of the BCA. Bill Lewarne died in 1995.
Total Tracks
14
Total Length
1:34:40
Interviewee Name
Lewarne, William A. "Bill"
Interviewer Bio
Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and business computerization in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
Collection/Fonds
SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
Transcript Available
Transcript available
Media Type
Sound Recording
Web Notes
Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Images
Audio Tracks

Track two of interview with Bill Lewarne

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Millway family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97224
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1986
Collection/Fonds
Millway family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
4.5 cm. of textual records + 8 photographs (1 b&w , 18.5 x 23.5 cm ; 2 col. , 15 x 10 cm ; 5 col. , 10 x 30.5 cm) + 1 audio disc (66 min., 47 sec).
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of material collected and complied by Reginald and Betty Millway.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1986
Collection/Fonds
Millway family fonds
Physical Description
4.5 cm. of textual records + 8 photographs (1 b&w , 18.5 x 23.5 cm ; 2 col. , 15 x 10 cm ; 5 col. , 10 x 30.5 cm) + 1 audio disc (66 min., 47 sec).
Description Level
Fonds
Accession Number
2011-05
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of material collected and complied by Reginald and Betty Millway.
History
Reginald E. "Reg" Millway was born on December 20, 1915, at Milton Regis in the County of Kent. He graduated from London University (via Regent Street Polytechnic) and was appointed to the Air Ministry Technical Division in 1937, where he remained throughout World War II. Due to a hearing impairment he was unable to join the services and instead joined the Home Guard and served on fire bomb patrol in central London. Betty was born November 16, 1916, and married Reginald Millway in 1940. Together they had four daughters: Catherine; Penelope “Penny”; Jennifer; and Francis “Fran” (later Malcolm). Reginald left Britain with his family in March of 1948. They were on the last voyage of the Acquitania to Halifax, took a parlour car in a C.N. train to New Westminster and took up residence in South Burnaby. After two or three years, Reginald had established his own business, Marine Electronics. When the United Flower Growers Cooperative formed in the late 1950s, Reginald helped them assemble property at Roseberry and Marine Way in cooperation with the Director of Planning. A large auditorium was built there and Reginald helped them design, manufacture and install a complete electronic system. Modifications and additions have occurred along the way to the point that it is handling millions of dollars worth of flowers annually and it is the largest operation of its kind in Canada. Reginald ran in the Burnaby elections of 1957. Newly elected Mayor Alan Emmot offered him the chairmanship of the Zoning Board of Appeal (later the Board of Variance). He remained continuously chairman for the next 35 years. In 1962, Reginald joined the Rotary Club of Burnaby. He served as president in 1969 and remained a member for over 45 years. Betty was an accomplished writer and was the recipient of the 1984 Canadian Author’s Association Allan Sagster Award for long and meritorious service. Reginald was an early member of the Burnaby Historical Society and served as its president for three terms. He and Blythe Eagles went to Loughborough, England, on behalf of the Society to locate and clean up the site of Robert Burnaby's grave. Reginald was also on the committee that acquired the property and organised the establishment of the Burnaby Village Museum. Betty developed Robert Burnaby's family tree for the Historical Society and in the process made many contacts with prominent citizens of the Loughborough area, including the executive controller of the area, who introduced the Millways to the Mayor and Council. This formed the groundwork for a close relationship which Mayor Bill Lewarne formerly developed as a SisterCity relationship in 1985. The Millways were longstanding members of the Burnaby Beautification Committee and their garden was featured in Gardens West in the 1998 November/December issue. Betty died on July 21, 2005. Reginald died on November 7, 2010.
Media Type
Photograph
Textual Record
Sound Recording
Creator
Millway, Reginald E. "Reg"
Millway, Betty
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
MSS157, PC 353
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Ernest Winch fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64651
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1961
Collection/Fonds
Ernest Winch fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
15 cm of textual records and 31 photographs
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs, political leaflets, postcards, publications, correspondence and a scrapbook documenting the political careers of Ernest and Harold Winch.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1961
Collection/Fonds
Ernest Winch fonds
Physical Description
15 cm of textual records and 31 photographs
Description Level
Fonds
Accession Number
2010-06
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs, political leaflets, postcards, publications, correspondence and a scrapbook documenting the political careers of Ernest and Harold Winch.
History
Ernest Edward (Ernie) Winch was born at Harlow, Essex, England on March 22, 1879. Ernest was one of seven children; Walter, Albert, Alfred, Horace, Ernest, Emma and Caroline (Carrie). In 1898, when he was 19 years old, Ernest immigrated to Canada with his friend Jack Holttum to work on a farm in Saskatchewan. Ernest’s brother Alfred followed soon after and together the Winch brothers worked in British Columbia, then in Australia. Unfortunately the country was at the height of a heavy drought and so Ernest returned to Harlow and followed in his father's footsteps, apprenticing as a bricklayer. In 1905 Ernest Winch met and married Australian born Linda Marian Hendy. While in England they had Harold, born June 18, 1907, and Eileen, born in 1908. Ernest sailed back to Canada alone in 1910, his young family following him months later. He quickly became a member of the Bricklayers and Masons International Union No. 1, Vancouver Branch. Ernest began studying socialism in 1910 and joined the Social-Democratic Party of Canada in 1911. The Burnaby local of the Social-Democratic Party nominated Ernest Winch as a candidate for School Trustee in 1914. He received seven votes. In 1915 he and his eldest son Harold left the rest of the family at their home in White Rock and went to Mission to establish a homestead. While living in the Dewdney area, he organized a small Social-Democratic group in Mission and became its Secretary. However, he did not stay long in Dewdney. In the summer of 1918, Ernest left the Social-Democratic Party to join the Socialist Party. Once back in Burnaby, now 38 years old and looking for a way to support his family, Ernest answered a call for new workers from the Longshoremen’s Union. He joined the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Auxiliary and soon was elected its Secretary. By 1917, he was a part of the Vancouver Trades and Labour Council, serving as its President by 1918. In 1919, he joined the B.C. Loggers Union (later the Lumber-Workers Industrial Unit), serving as Secretary. Ernest endorsed both the Vancouver General Strike in 1918 and the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 and was active in his support of the One Big Union (O.B.U). After two and a half years, Ernest left the ILA and rejoined the Longshoremen’s Union along with his former O.B.U. brother, William A. Pritchard. Soon after, a strike broke out and its unsuccessful end caused Winch to go back to bricklaying. By this time, the four youngest Winch children had been born: Charlie, Grace, Alan and Eric. Ernest re-founded the Socialist Party of Canada (British Columbia) in 1932 and, with it, joined the new Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. In the 1933 provincial election he, his son Harold Winch, and five others became the first CCF Members of Legislative Assembly. As a CCF MLA for Burnaby, Ernest became a resolute advocate for immediate reform, exposing abuses and inadequacies in BC's social welfare and correctional institutions (including Oakalla) and taking a special interest in the problems of the aged. One of his many notable contributions was the creation of the New Vista Society, first developed to ease the problem of overcrowding in mental hospitals at the time. Ernest Winch held his seat in the legislature continuously until his death on January 11, 1957. One of his legacies left to the people of Burnaby are the New Vista Society senior citizens homes. He also founded the New Westminster branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (S.P.C.A.). Ernest and Linda’s eldest son Harold Edward, an electrician by trade, married Dorothy Ada Hutchinson on May 11, 1929. At 26 years old, he was elected CCF MLA for Vancouver East (in 1933) and became provincial party leader by 1938, serving as leader of the Opposition from 1941 to 1953. When the CCF was defeated in the controversial election of 1953, which saw W.A.C. Bennet come to power, Harold abandoned provincial politics for the House of Commons, where he represented Vancouver East until his retirement in 1972.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Winch, Ernest "Ernie"
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
MSS129, photo catalogue 514
Less detail

Correspondence

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64758
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1952
Collection/Fonds
Ernest Winch fonds
Description Level
File
Physical Description
1 file of textual records
Scope and Content
File consists of correspondence from Ernest Winch sent from Canada to his mother and sister Carolyn (Carrie) in England. As well, correspondence from Ernest to his brothers Alfred and Walter, containing many of Ernest's early Socialist ideas.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1952
Collection/Fonds
Ernest Winch fonds
Physical Description
1 file of textual records
Description Level
File
Record No.
MSS129-004
Accession Number
2010-06
Scope and Content
File consists of correspondence from Ernest Winch sent from Canada to his mother and sister Carolyn (Carrie) in England. As well, correspondence from Ernest to his brothers Alfred and Walter, containing many of Ernest's early Socialist ideas.
Media Type
Textual Record
Notes
Title based on contents of file
Less detail

Millway family subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66632
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1986
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and 1 photograph
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of material created and collected by Reginald and Betty Millway, including a map of the Municipal of Burnaby and research on Robert Burnaby.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1986
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Millway family subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and 1 photograph
Description Level
Subseries
Accession Number
BHS1997-12
BHS1999-11
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of material created and collected by Reginald and Betty Millway, including a map of the Municipal of Burnaby and research on Robert Burnaby.
History
Reginald E. "Reg" Millway was born on December 20, 1915 at Milton Regis in the County of Kent. He graduated from London University via Regent Street Polytechnic and was appointed to the Air Ministry Technical Division in 1937, where he remained throughout World War II. Due to a hearing impairment he was unable to join the services and instead joined the Home Guard and served on fire bomb patrol in central London. Betty was born November 16, 1916. She married Reginald in 1940. Together they had four daughters: Catherine, Penelope “Penny”, Jennifer and Francis “Fran”. The Millways left Britain in March 1948. They sailed on the last voyage of the Acquitania to Halifax, and then took a parlour car in a C.N. train to New Westminster and took up residence in South Burnaby. After two or three years, Reginald had established his own business, Marine Electronics. When the United Flower Growers Cooperative formed in the late 1950s, Reginald helped them assemble property at Roseberry and Marine Way in cooperation with the Director of Planning. A large auditorium was built there and Reginald helped them design, manufacture and install a complete electronic system. Modifications and additions have occurred along the way to the point that it is handling millions of dollars worth of flowers annually and it is the largest operation of its kind in Canada. Reginald Millway ran in the Burnaby elections of 1957. Newly elected Mayor Alan Emmot offered him the chairmanship of the Zoning Board of Appeal (later the Board of Variance). He remained chairman for the next 35 years. In 1962, he joined the Rotary Club of Burnaby; he served as president of the club in 1969 and was a member for over 45 years. Reginald was also an early member of the Burnaby Historical Society. He served as its president for three terms. He and Blythe Eagles went to Loughborough, England, on behalf of the Society to locate and clean up the site of Robert Burnaby's grave. Reginald was also on the committee that acquired the property and organised the establishment of the Burnaby Village Museum. Betty Millway was an accomplished writer and received the 1984 Canadian Author’s Association Allan Sagster Award for long and meritorious service. She developed Robert Burnaby's family tree for the Historical Society and in the process made many contacts with prominent citizens of Loughborough, including the executive controller of the area, who introduced the Millways to the Mayor and Council. This formed the groundwork for a close relationship which Mayor Bill Lewarne formerly developed as a Sister City relationship in 1985. The Millways were longstanding members of the Burnaby Beautification Committee and their garden was featured in Gardens West in the 1998 November/December issue. Betty Millway died July 21, 2005. Reginald E. Millway died November 7, 2010.
Media Type
Photograph
Textual Record
Creator
Millway, Reginald E. "Reg"
Millway, Betty
Notes
Title based on contents of subseries
PC353, MSS157
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Patterson family subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription32
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1952
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and photographs
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of documents and photographs pertaining to the Patterson family.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1952
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Patterson family subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and photographs
Description Level
Subseries
Accession Number
BHS1986-19
BHS1986-20
BHS1988-13
BHS1995-16
BHS1996-05
BHS1996-11
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of documents and photographs pertaining to the Patterson family.
History
Frances Mabel "May" Webb was born in Cradley, England on December 5, 1872. She sailed from England to Victoria, BC with her parents, Joseph William Webb and Frances Jane Webb (nee Yapp) on the SS Lake Winnipeg in 1889. One of the few possessions that she brought with her was an old wood-rimmed bicycle which she found quite useful after her move to Burnaby. She would ride it all the way from Patterson’s Trail and Westminster Road (today’s Patterson Avenue and Kingsway) to the Woodward’s store in Vancouver where she would place her grocery order. She packed a pearl handled revolver with her in order to scare any bears she might see along her ride. In 1890, Frances married Dugald Campbell Patterson (b. 1860, d. 1931) in Victoria, BC. In 1894, the couple built a pioneer homestead and farm on five acres at what would become the north east section of Central Park. Dugald founded Vulcan Iron Works (later Dominion Bridge Company) in New Westminister in 1903, and the couple settled in the Central Park district. By 1904, the family moved to the Edmonds district where in 1909 she operated the post office that her husband founded. In 1910, they began construction of a new house, complete with tennis courts and a gazebo, on 14 acres purchased for $720. The house is now located at 7106 18th Avenue and is a dedicated heritage building. The couple had seven children: William H. "Bill", Jean, Frances Mabel Lili., Dugald C. Jr, Mary, Charles Bruce, and Alice. The Pattersons were community-minded citizens that served Burnaby through their involvement with local municipal affairs and politics. In 1909, Dugald became the first postmaster of Edmonds. He also served as a School Trustee from 1912-13 and was one of the first residents to lobby Burnaby City Council to preserve the local ravines as parks. They also helped build the Central Park Presbyterian Church, along with other pioneer families. The family name is remembered and honoured by the naming of Patterson Avenue and the Patterson SkyTrain Station located in the Metrotown area. Frances Mabel assisted her husband with an insurance and real estate company that he founded in Burnaby and New Westminster. This experience would prove invaluable, as she would later become an insurance agent for the Wawanesa Insurance Company (founded in 1896). Frances never owned an automobile, so she met her insurance clients all over Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver by using the Lower Mainland’s street car system. The insurance profession continued to provide her with a steady income long after her husband’s death. Frances Mabel died in New Westminster, BC on August 30, 1960. Frances Mabel Lili Patterson was born on June 9, 1905 and was the fifth child born to Dugald Campbell and Frances Mabel Patterson. She became the first PBX switchboard operator for the Municipality of Burnaby in the early 1920’s. PBX, or Private Branch Exchange, was the term used for an internal telephone system. Frances later became president of the Professional Women’s Association of New Westminster, and volunteered her time with the May Day celebrations in New Westminster. She was also a dedicated member of the Rebekah Lodge (the women’s division of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows). While in the lodge, she met her future husband, Walter Duke and they married on July 12, 1939. They couple moved to Wenatchee, Washington after getting married, and Frances relocated to Victoria after her husband died. Frances died on January 13, 1974. Doreen Nettie Patterson was born December 12, 1927, the youngest daughter of Charles Bruce Patterson and Elva Eleanore Patterson (nee Elliott). At age 23, Doreen became the first woman from BC to enlist in the new Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service and by the fall of 1951, she had become a Wren in the Royal Canadian Navy. She received her basic training at HMCS Cornwallis and became a radio intelligence operator for the wireless communications base at Naval Radio Station Coverdale near Moncton, New Brunswick. In 1953, she was chosen to serve a term at the naval base in Churchill, Manitoba. She was one of only eleven women to ever serve there. After her career in the navy, Doreen worked in the accounting division for Simpsons-Sears in Burnaby near her grandparent’s original family home at Patterson Avenue and Kingsway. Doreen married Gerard Reitsma on August 18, 1960. Doreen died on April 30, 2000.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Patterson, Frances Mabel Webb
Patterson, Dugald C. Sr.
Notes
Title based on contents of subseries
PC171, PC213, PC322, PC326, MSS024, MSS039
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Ettinger family subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1971
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and photographs
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of photographs, newspaper clippings and legal documents related to the Ettinger family of Burnaby.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1898-1971
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Ettinger family subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and photographs
Description Level
Subseries
Accession Number
BHS2002-03
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of photographs, newspaper clippings and legal documents related to the Ettinger family of Burnaby.
History
James Gilmore Ettinger was born in Noel Road, Nova Scotia in 1863. He worked his way across Canada with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and landed in New Westminster in 1888. He was one of the first men who helped log the area for the settlement that is now Burnaby. With two other men, James started a brick manufacturing plant in the area of Deer Lake. In 1889, a second brick plant was started on Brickyard Road in Surrey on the bank of the Fraser River. Martha Harriet Hembrough was born in Leeds, England in 1874 and later moved to Haney. James Gilmore and Martha married in 1890 and had seven children: Evelina "Eve" (b. August 8, 1891, d. January 1, 1976); Ella May (b. ca. 1894, d. February 1983); Leonard; George William "Bill" (b. February 18, 1899, d. November 26, 1970); Stanley (b. December 27, 1901, d. March 10, 1966); Ethel (b. ca. 1904, d. December 22, 1982); and James. On May 19, 1911, the Ettingers bought parcel Lot 8, Block C sub-division 19 and 20 of DL 95 no. 556 for $350.00. Their eldest daughter, Evelina was signed over the Deed of Land for this property on April 21, 1914. In 1919, the Ettinger family was living at 1177 19th Avenue, Edmonds, Burnaby. James worked as a Road Foreman in Edmonds, and later as ward foreman for the Municipality. Ella May married Charles Morton Marshall on July 7, 1926. Evelina married Don Digby (d. October 21, 1965) on April 30, 1930. Ethel married George H. McKennell (d. June 18, 1985) on March 16, 1931. Bill worked as a Pacific Stage Lines (PSL) bus operator who “pulled” the first bus service between Vancouver and New Westminster and between Vancouver and Chilliwack in 1924. He received a number of National Safety Council non-accident awards during his career. He married Jane Wilson on July 11, 1931. James Gilmore died on June 9, 1948 at the age of 85. Martha died on February 9, 1955 at the age of 80.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Ettinger, James Gilmore
Notes
Title based on contents of subseries
PC 428, MSS147
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Interview with Toki Miyashita by Rod Fowler February 27, 1990 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory516
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1900-1946
Length
00:07:05
Summary
This portion of the interview is about Toki Miyashita’s family’s internment during WWII, and her Oikawa grandparent’s immigration to BC and settlement on Lion and Don Islands at the mouth of the Fraser River. She describes how the family was moved to the internment camp “The Orchard” in New Denver,…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the interview is about Toki Miyashita’s family’s internment during WWII, and her Oikawa grandparent’s immigration to BC and settlement on Lion and Don Islands at the mouth of the Fraser River. She describes how the family was moved to the internment camp “The Orchard” in New Denver, but managed to find a place to live outside the camp where her grandmother grew a large garden from seeds brought in the seams of her clothing. She notes that the Lion Islands were named Oikawa-shima by the Japanese settlers.
Date Range
1900-1946
Length
00:07:05
Subjects
Wars - World War, 1939-1945
Persons - Japanese Canadians
Interviewer
Fowler, Rod
Interview Date
February 27, 1990
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with Toki Miyashita, conducted by Rod Fowler. Toki Miyashita was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Toki Miyashita’s family’s internment during WWII, her awakening interest in Japanese culture after the war, her subsequent interest in teaching others about Japanese crafts and arts, and becoming a helpful intermediary between Burnaby and visitors from Japan. The interview explores her interest in the Ainu of Japan and their possible link to the aboriginals of BC, her impressions of the Ainu carver Nuburi Toko, and her involvement in the events surrounding the creation of the sculpture “Playground of the Gods” for Burnaby Mountain. The interview also contains interesting details about the art of Japanese flower-arranging. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
Toki Miyashita was born in Richmond B.C., ca. 1935, at the Nelson Brothers “fishery”, a second generation Canadian descended from the Oikawa family who settled on Don and Lion Islands (Oikawa-shima). In 1942 the Japanese Canadians in BC were forcibly moved from the coast and their belongings confiscated. Toki Miyashita, her parents, two brothers, and grandparents were first taken to Hastings Park where her father was separated from the family to work in road camps, and the rest of the family were interned in New Denver. Her resourceful grandmother moved the family to land outside the internment camp, growing a large garden from seeds brought with her. In 1946 the family moved to Kamloops and in 1958, after finishing high school, Toki Miyashita moved to Montreal to be with relatives and a small Japanese community. At this time she became interested in Japanese culture and took a Japanese language course at age 22. She learned about Japanese flower-arranging (Ikebana), paper folding (Origami), silk doll making (from a Russian Jew), and how to wear a kimono. She began demonstrating these arts in schools and to other groups, which she continued doing when she, her husband and two young children moved to Burnaby in 1969. Toki Miyashita has been called an unpaid “ambassador” of Japanese culture to the Lower Mainland. She has acted as liaison between Burnaby and her sister city Kushiro in Japan, which involved her in the creation of the Ainu sculpture “Playground of the Gods” on Burnaby Mountain for Burnaby’s Centennial. Toki Miyashita is a recognized Master in Ikebana Sogetsu, a school of flower-arranging, and has served on the board of the Vancouver Ikebana Association. She also served on Burnaby’s Family Court in the 1980s.
Total Tracks
11
Total Length
01:34:10
Interviewee Name
Miyashita, Toki
Interviewer Bio
Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
Collection/Fonds
SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
Transcript Available
Transcript available
Media Type
Sound Recording
Web Notes
Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks

Track one of interview with Toki Miyashita

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Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory253
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1903-1940
Length
0:09:46
Summary
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's descriptions of road construction in Burnaby, including the names of the settlers and logging companies involved in their construction. Alfred discusses the changes that took place during World War I, along with municipal Relief work that he t…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's descriptions of road construction in Burnaby, including the names of the settlers and logging companies involved in their construction. Alfred discusses the changes that took place during World War I, along with municipal Relief work that he took part in at Burnaby Mountain. Alfred also discusses early schools and mentions his wife, Ada Bingham.
Date Range
1903-1940
Photo Info
Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066
Length
0:09:46
Subjects
Construction - Road Construction
Land Clearing
Planning Study Area
Burnaby Mountain Area
Scope and Content
Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".
Biographical Notes
Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.
Total Tracks
12
Total Length
1:38:06
Interviewee Name
Bingham, Alfred "Alf"
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Oral history subseries
Transcript Available
MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories
Media Type
Sound Recording
Web Notes
Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Images
Audio Tracks

Track three of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

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Byrne family subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription22
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[191-?] -1995
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Photographs and textual records
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of copies of photographs of the Byrne family and a photocopied essay entitled "Life on the North Arm of the Fraser River: The Experience of the Rowling Family" by Paula Cyr.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[191-?] -1995
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Byrne family subseries
Physical Description
Photographs and textual records
Description Level
Subseries
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1995-04
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of copies of photographs of the Byrne family and a photocopied essay entitled "Life on the North Arm of the Fraser River: The Experience of the Rowling Family" by Paula Cyr.
History
William Henry "Henry" Rowling was born February 9, 1826 in Truro, Cornwall, England. His wife, Mary Russell Rowling, was born November 19, 1832 in Strickland, Dorset, England. Their first child, Rosetta Mary "Rose" Rowling, was born August 8, 1858 in Plumstead, Woolwhich, Kent while Henry was in Esquimalt working as a Royal Engineer. The family then moved to New Westminster, and grew larger: James William Russell "Jim" Rowling born October 14, 1862; Henry Soar Rowling was born February 3, 1864; Priscilla Amelia Rowling (later Byrne) was born February 24, 1866; and William Henry Kemp Rowling was born September 2, 1867. The family settled at their farm on the North Arm of the Fraser River in September of 1868. They raised livestock and grew produce on their property for their family, which continued to grow. Thomas George Rowling was born on April 14, 1869 and Elizabeth Jane Russell Rowling was born on August 24, 1847. The Rowling children were raised Presbyterian but Priscilla later converted to Roman Catholicism when she married her husband, Peter Byrne, on May 15, 1892. As young adults, Priscilla and Peter lived on the North Arm, close to Priscilla's parents and youngest sister, Elizabeth. Her brother Henry moved his logging operations near the Byrne residence while James lived in South Vancouver with a family of his own. Their other siblings, Rose and Thomas, had passed away by this time. Peter and Priscilla had six children: Margaret Gladys Byrne, born February 28, 1893; twin daughters Mary and Norah; Kathleen; Ultan Patrick "Pat"; and Elizabeth Laura Byrne (later Cyr). After Henry and Mary Rowlings died in 1906, Elizabeth lived with her sister Priscilla and her nieces and nephews.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of subseries
PC316, MSS141
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Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory464
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1911-1990
Length
00:05:22
Summary
This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Dep…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Department in 1911.
Date Range
1911-1990
Length
00:05:22
Subjects
Public Services - Fire Protection
Documentary Artifacts - Photographs
Interviewer
Fowler, Rod
Interview Date
February 21, 1990
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
Total Tracks
8
Total Length
0:43:35
Interviewee Name
Nixon, Al
Interviewer Bio
Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
Collection/Fonds
SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
Transcript Available
Transcript available
Media Type
Sound Recording
Web Notes
Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Less detail

Richard Hardy family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97229
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1912] (date of original) -1989
Collection/Fonds
Richard Hardy family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
1 cm of textual records; 27 b&w prints; 1 col. prints; 7 b&w neg.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of the Ward and Hardy famillies in their daily lives and work, including photographs of teachers and students at South Burnaby High School, and special events such as the Burnaby Civic employees union picnic, the Diamond Jubilee Parade, Princess Margaret's visit and Ma…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1912] (date of original) -1989
Collection/Fonds
Richard Hardy family fonds
Physical Description
1 cm of textual records; 27 b&w prints; 1 col. prints; 7 b&w neg.
Description Level
Fonds
Accession Number
2014-16
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of the Ward and Hardy famillies in their daily lives and work, including photographs of teachers and students at South Burnaby High School, and special events such as the Burnaby Civic employees union picnic, the Diamond Jubilee Parade, Princess Margaret's visit and May Day at Central Park. The fonds also includes ephemera documenting Katherine (Hardy) Raasheer's student life at a variety of Burnaby schools and programs from the opening of the Burnaby Municipal Hall in 1956 and a Corporation of Burnaby Service Awards ceremony in 1964.
History
Richard Hardy was born in Fishborn, Alberta, on November 3, 1910. In 1922, his family moved to the home of his maternal grandparents at 1127 Edmonds Avenue in Burnaby. His parents, John Harrison Hardy and Gertrude Hephezebarh (nee Ward) moved to Burnaby with their four children: Edith; Richard "Dick"; Geoffrey; and John Edward "Jack". Gertrude was born in Barrie, Ontario. John Harrison Hardy was born in Yorkshire, England, and came to Canada in 1899, settling at Pincer Creek area of Southern Alberta. In about 1910, Richard's grandparents, Col. James Edward Ward and his wife Hephzibah (nee Hale) moved from Alberta to Burnaby. Col. Ward was the postmaster in the Lozell's area of Burnaby and was a city councillor for the District of Burnaby in 1915. Dick was enrolled at Edmonds Street School for his elementary school years, and later attended Burnaby South High School for two years, taking a commercial course. The family attended St. Alban's Anglican Church. While Richard was a student, he and his brother Geoff delivered newspapers in the area, making about $12 per month. In 1911, Dick joined the Burnaby Boy Scouts and continued to be involved for the next 40 years. In 1927, at the age of 17 years, Dick began work for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby as an office boy in the Treasurer's Department and retired as Tax Collections Supervisor in 1973 after 45 years of service. From September 1942 until his discharge in 1946, Dick served in WWII in the Canadian Army. His brother, Jack, served in the Canadian Air Force and was killed in April 1943. In 1933, Dick's parents moved back to Alberta with three of their children, leaving him in the family home on Edmonds Street. In 1939, after courting, he and Mabel Lilian "Mabs" Young of New Westminster married. Prior to her marriage, Mabs was employed as a teacher at the Burnaby South High School. Mabs and Dick had two daughters, Lynne (b. 1941) and Katherine (b. 1947). The family lived on Edmonds Street until 1947 when they moved into their second home in Burnaby at 2006 Buller Avenue (now 7185 Buller Avenue). In 1960, Mabs and Dick moved to their third Burnaby home, located at 4337 Wildwood Crescent. Mabs died in 1980. Dick continued to live in Wilwood Crescent house until 1983, when he moved to an apartment for one year but, missing his garden, he bought a small house with a large yard located at 8452 16th Avenue. He stayed in this house from 1985 until 1998 when he could no longer live independently. He moved to assisted living at Canada Way Lodge then to the nearby George Derby Centre where he lived for a few months before dying in August 2001. Dick loved to hike and camp and enjoyed his family and his garden.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Notes
MSS183, photo catalogue 570
Less detail

Eagles family subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1912 -1995
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and photographs
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of records, correspondence, and photographs created by Drs. Blythe and Violet Eagles related to their home and garden in the Deer Lake area of Burnaby. Also included in the subseries are records pertaining the Burnaby Historical Society, the book "The Fraser's History from Glacie…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1912 -1995
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Eagles family subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and photographs
Description Level
Subseries
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1990-11
BHS1996-21
BHS2000-04
BHS1987-07
BHS1995-06
BHS1991-18
BHS1995-03
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of records, correspondence, and photographs created by Drs. Blythe and Violet Eagles related to their home and garden in the Deer Lake area of Burnaby. Also included in the subseries are records pertaining the Burnaby Historical Society, the book "The Fraser's History from Glaciers to Early Settlements" and the Eagles' visit to Robert Burnaby's grave.
History
Blythe Eagles's paternal grandparents Charles and Maude Eagles immigrated to New Westminster in 1887. Their son Jack married Amelia Jane Johnston, and Blythe Eagles was born in New Westminster in 1902. In 1918, Blythe enrolled at the University of British Columbia and took a Physiology class with eight other top students; his future wife, Violet Dunbar, was the lone woman in the class. Blythe graduated in 1922, winning the Governor General's Gold Medal as top student. He received his MA in 1924 and his PhD in 1926 from the University of Toronto. He then completed his post-doctoral study at the National Institute for Medical Research in London, England. In 1933, Dr. Eagles became head of the Department of Dairying (1936-1955), Chairman of the Division of Animal Science (1955-1967), and Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture (in 1949 until his retirement in 1967). In 1968 he received an Honourary Doctor of Science Award from UBC. Blythe was also one of the first appointments to the Burnaby Town Planning Commission. Violet Evelyn Dunbar was born September 29, 1899 in Ontario, the eldest child of John and Mary (Tompson) Dunbar. Violet obtained her BA in 1921 and MA in 1922 from the University of British Columbia. In 1922 she attended the Provincial Normal School and within six months had a teaching certificate and taught at Lord Hudson School in 1923. In September 1923, she was awarded a two-year scholarship to the University of Toronto, where she joined Blythe in the Bio-Chemistry Department. She received a second MA and a PhD in 1929. Her graduate studies entailed research in pure proteins and enzymes related to the commercial production of cheese. Through this work, she was recognized as one of the leading enzyme chemists in the country, being a senior lab instructor of biochemistry. Violet was one of the founders of the Burnaby Council of Women and active member of the International Council of Women. Blythe and Violet Eagles purchased property at Deer Lake in 1929 and began construction of their home shortly before their marriage on June 25, 1930. The Drs. Blythe and Violet Eagles Estate is a unique expression of the talents and tastes of both the Eagles and Frank Ebenezer Buck (1875-1970), who was head of the Horticultural Department and the Campus Landscape Architect at U.B.C. and established the plan for the Eagles garden while Blythe selected many of the plantings. The Eagles themselves designed the house as a romantic cottage inspired by the British Arts and Crafts style. Violet was an enthusiastic amateur gardener, maintaining and continually developing the garden. The Eagles were active volunteers in the local community as well as at UBC. When Simon Fraser University opened in Burnaby, they became well-known for entertaining dignitaries and special guests of the university in their lavish garden. After Violet's death in 1993, the estate was sold to the City of Burnaby. The funds were used to establish a Chair in Agriculture at the University of British Columbia in their memory.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Eagles, Dr. Blythe
Eagles, Dr. Violet
Notes
Title based on creator and contents of subseries
PC245, PC331, PC404, MSS032, PC314, PC482, MSS055
Less detail

Richard Bolton subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription108
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1912 (date of original)-[1941]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and graphic material
Scope and Content
Subseries consist of material created by Richard Bolton, who worked for Burnaby from 1911-1951, in many capacities.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1912 (date of original)-[1941]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Richard Bolton subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and graphic material
Description Level
Subseries
Accession Number
BHS1991-03
BHS1986-09
Scope and Content
Subseries consist of material created by Richard Bolton, who worked for Burnaby from 1911-1951, in many capacities.
History
Richard Bolton was born in Sunderland, England in the 1880s. He immigrated to Canada on May 26,1911. Later that year he was employed as an accountant by the Corporation of the District of Burnaby. He lived with his brother George in New Westminster before purchasing his own property on North Arm Road (now Marine Drive), building a bungalow that he moved into in the summer of 1916. During World War I, Richard was promoted to Municipal Treasurer, a position he held until he retired. In 1919, he received three months leave of absence to return to Sunderland to marry Mary Gertrude Hern, daughter of Captain and Mrs. John Hern. Richard and Mary had two daughters, Nancy (b.1920) and Mary (b. 1923), that they raised in their family home located at 859 Marine Drive in South Burnaby. Both daughters were born at home, assisted by the Victorian Order of Nurses and the local doctor. The V.O.N. were established in Burnaby in 1912 and Richard Bolton supported and helped the Order every opportunity he had until his death on November 16, 1962. During the heart of the Depression, the family home became the meeting place for friends and relatives who could not find employment. During this time, Richard had discussions with Ernie Winch and others about seniors housing in Burnaby. The first phase was constructed between 1949 and 1956. In 1938, Richard was appointed Justice of the Peace by the Provincial Government but never accepted any remuneration for his duties. During this time period, Burnaby was under commissionship and when Commissioner Hugh M. Fraser became ill, Richard assumed his duties. He filled the position as Acting Commissioner and treasurer, and converted back to treasurer when the Reeve and Councillors of the Corporation of the District of Burnaby were reinstated in 1943. In 1951, Richard retired as treasurer for the City but he continued to chair the Debt Retirement Board until it became redundant in the late 1950s. On June 24, 1959, Reeve Allan Emmott presented the Gold Key to Burnaby to Richard.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Bolton, Richard
Notes
PC159, PC249, MSS153
Title based on creator of subseries
Less detail

Richard Hardy family subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription109
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1912] (date of original) -1950
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and graphic material
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of photographs of the Ward and Hardy famillies and a Hardy family "Book of Household Expenses, 1939-1941".
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1912] (date of original) -1950
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Richard Hardy family subseries
Physical Description
Textual records and graphic material
Description Level
Subseries
Accession Number
BHS1993-09
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of photographs of the Ward and Hardy famillies and a Hardy family "Book of Household Expenses, 1939-1941".
History
Richard Hardy was born in Fishborn, Alberta on November 3, 1910. In 1922 his family moved to his maternal grandparents' home at 1127 Edmonds Avenue in Burnaby. His parents, John Harrison Hardy and Gertrude Hephezebarh (nee Ward) moved to Burnaby with their four children: Edith, Richard "Dick", Geoffrey, and John Edward "Jack". Gertrude was born in Barrie, Ontario. John Harrison Hardy was born in Yorkshire, England and came to Canada in 1899, settling at Pincer Creek area of Southern Alberta. In about 1910, Richard's grandparents, Col. James Edward Ward and his wife Hephzibah (nee Hale) moved from Alberta to Burnaby. Col. Ward was the postmaster in the Lozells area of Burnaby and was a city councillor for the District of Burnaby in 1915. Dick was enrolled at Edmonds Street School for his elementary school years, and later attended Burnaby South High School for two years, taking a commercial course. The family attended St. Alban's Anglican Church. While Richard was a student, he and his brother Geoff delivered newspapers in the area making about $12 per month. In 1911, Dick joined the Burnaby Boy Scouts and continued to be involved for the next 40 years. In 1927, at the age of 17 years, Dick began work for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby as an office boy in the Treasurer's Department and retired as Tax Collections Supervisor in 1973 after 45 years of service. From September 1942 until his discharge in 1946, Dick served in WWII in the Canadian Army. His brother, Jack, served in the Canadian Air Force and was killed in April,1943. In 1933, Dick's parents moved back to Alberta with three of their children, leaving him in the family home on Edmonds Street. In 1939, after courting, he and Mabel Lilian "Mabs" Young of New Westminster married. Prior to her marriage, Mabs was employed as a teacher at the Burnaby South High School. Mabs and Dick had two daughters, Lynne (b. 1941) and Katherine (b. 1947). The family lived on Edmonds Street until 1947 when they moved into their second home in Burnaby at 2006 Buller Avenue (now 7185 Buller Avenue). In 1960, Mabs and Dick moved to their third Burnaby home, located at 4337 Wildwood Crescent. Mabs died in 1980. Dick continued to live in Wilwood Crescent house until 1983, when he moved to an apartment for one year but, missing his garden, he bought a small house with a large yard located at 8452 16th Avenue. He stayed in this house from 1985 until 1998 when he could no longer live independently. He moved to assisted living at Canada Way Lodge then to the nearby George Derby Centre where he lived for a few months before dying in August 2001. Dick loved to hike and camp and enjoyed his family and his garden.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Hardy, Richard
Notes
PC312, MSS080
Title based on contents of subseries
Less detail

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