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Interview with Denise Fong by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14276
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:60:38 min.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an audio recording of a Zoom interview with Denise Fong conducted by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. The interview was conducted with Denise Fong as part of the students' research for their podcast "Where is your food from?". This podcast…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- UBC Partnership series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:60:38 min.)
- Material Details
- Interviewers: Rose Wu; Wei Yan Yeong Interviewee: Denise Fong Interview Date: September 2020 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all tracks: 00:60:38 Recording device: Zoom video communication platform Photograph info: Store front of Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co in Victoria, B.C., 1975. BV017.7.191
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an audio recording of a Zoom interview with Denise Fong conducted by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. The interview was conducted with Denise Fong as part of the students' research for their podcast "Where is your food from?". This podcast was part two in a series of three "Back to the Roots" podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. In this series the students connected their knowledge of food systems to their shared Chinese heritage in order to discover how Chinese Canadian history is rooted in their local food systems. "Where is your food from?" explores contemporary versus historical alternative food movements and how early Chinese farmers in the lower mainland had to be creative in their business tactics in order to survive in a local food system that discriminated against their race. 00:00 - 4:51 Denise Fong introduces herself and provides a summary of the work that she has done while working as a researcher on the Chinese Canadian History Research project for the Burnaby Village Museum. Denise explains how much of her research has focused on the history of Chinese Canadian market gardeners and green grocers and their presence in Burnaby. Denise tells of how many Chinese immigrants found it hard to find work due to racial discrimination which led many Chinese men to work in agriculture and farming. Her research has shown that many of the Chinese farms were located in the Big Bend area of Burnaby. 04:52 – 08:24 In this segment, Denise elaborates on the “truck” or “market” farming industry for Chinese farmers in Burnaby. Denise explains how “truck” farming was a mode for distributing produce from Chinese farms and some of the challenges the Chinese farmers faced. 08:25 – 14:10 In this segment Denise talks about peddling as another mode to distribute farm produce and how this was often dominated by Chinese Canadians since they were restricted from accessing other jobs. Denise explains how the Chinese peddlers would have their own routes with customers who depended on them to bring the produce to them. Denise provides an example of racial discrimination whereby a Burnaby Bylaw prevented people of Chinese descent from working for the city. 14:11 – 22: 39 In this segment, Denise describes how in the 1950s and 1960s, produce distribution networks for Chinese Canadian farmers in Burnaby expanded to larger stores and wholesalers including Woodward’s, Safeway in Burnaby, MacDonald’s Consolidated and Kelly Douglas. Denise provides specific examples of Burnaby families and tells the story of Chinese Canadian Cecil Lee, a produce buyer for Kelly Douglas. In the mid 1970s Lee, was asked to oversee the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into Canada and was responsible for the design of a new cardboard box to replace the wooden crates that held the mandarin oranges. 22:40 – 33:28 In this segment, Denise provides information on Chinese farming methods and practices that she gathered through her research. Information gathered from interviews, research papers and an article in Harrowsmith magazine suggest that many of the Big Bend farms in Burnaby relied on crop rotation, companion planting and intercropping along with traditional organic fertilizers that were available. Denise also tells of how Chinese farmers often relied on traditional methods that they brought from Southern China including the creation of raised beds to avoid damage due to flooding. Wei Yan comments that many of these traditional methods are being reintroduced as a new sustainable way of farming. Research done by Wei Yan found that when chemical fertilizers were introduced informational brochures included Chinese translations. 33:29 – 38:30 In this segment Rose and Wei Yan speak to Denise about the cultural demographic of farmers in the Big Bend area of Burnaby and what types of crops were grown. Denise comments that to her knowledge there were mostly Chinese farmers in this area but there were some European farmers as well. Produce that was grown on the farms was mostly market driven by the local consumers and it wasn’t until the 1970s that there was a bigger demand to grow Chinese vegetables to supply the growing Chinese population. Denise shares personal experience of what she learned after a visit to a local farm and the different methods that the farmer used for growing crops. The three discuss the importance of innovation and adaptability in growing techniques that Chinese farmers have used. 38:31 – 46:23 In this segment, Rose and Wei Yan speak to Denise about the discrimination barriers that Chinese farmers had to face. Denise speaks about discriminatory bylaws and regulations that targeted Chinese farmers including the Peddling tax. She tells of how this tax, persecution to peddlers and restrictions resulted in the emergence of a new industry of Chinese green grocers. Denise names Chinese trade organizations that were formed in response to the social and economic segregation and marginalization that Chinese farmers and retailers faced. Denise references research done by Natalie Gibb and Hannah Wittman from their article “Parallel Alternatives: Chinese-Canadian farmers and the Metro Vancouver local food movement” as well as research by Harry Con and Edgar Wickberg. Denise also provides information that she has gathered from Chinese farmers in Burnaby including the Yip family who were able to purchase land after World War II through the Veterans Land Act and how prior to World War II it was very difficult for Chinese immigrants to purchase land. 46:24 – 1:00:38 In this segment the group discusses how Chinese farmers have adapted in the market garden farm distribution system and the introduction of retail spaces on their farms as part of the new local food movement. Denise, Rose and Wei Yan reflect on how their interview with Denise Fong and research resources will support their podcast series and exhibits at Burnaby Village Museum.
- History
- Interviewer biographies: Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong are University of British Columbia students in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. Interviewee biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Social Issues - Discrimination
- Social Issues - Racism
- Agriculture
- Agriculture - Crops
- Agriculture - Farms
- Gardens - Market Gardens
- Foods
- Names
- Fong, Denise
- Responsibility
- Wu, Rose
- Yeong, Wei Yan
- Accession Code
- BV020.28.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 2020
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- BV020.28.4
- Notes
- Title based on contents of recording
- Item was originally recorded as an mp4 video and converted to an mp3 sound recording for public access on Heritage Burnaby. To access the video recording, contact Burnaby Village Museum.
- For recording of podcast "Where is your food from?" see BV020.28.4
Images
Audio Tracks
Interview with Denise Fong by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, 2020
Interview with Denise Fong by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Sound_Recordings/2020_0028_0002_002.mp3
Cash till line up
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95107
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 27, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of shoppers in the checkout lines at Save-On-Foods grocery store at the Old Orchard Shopping Centre. On the floor are red decals indicating where shoppers should stand to maintain distance from one another. The decals read: "Allow 2M between shoppers".
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 27, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 623-025
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2020-10
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of shoppers in the checkout lines at Save-On-Foods grocery store at the Old Orchard Shopping Centre. On the floor are red decals indicating where shoppers should stand to maintain distance from one another. The decals read: "Allow 2M between shoppers".
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Snowdon, Nick
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Photographer's caption: "Physical distancing signs become common in most stores"
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4429 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Garden Village Area
Images
One person per household
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95109
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 27, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the entrance at Save-On-Foods grocery store. One of the two doors at the entrance is blocked by a freestanding sign that reads: "To prevent the spread of COVID-19 Limit 1 person per household". Next to the sign is a shopping cart with signage attached to it informing shoppers that r…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 27, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 623-027
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2020-10
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the entrance at Save-On-Foods grocery store. One of the two doors at the entrance is blocked by a freestanding sign that reads: "To prevent the spread of COVID-19 Limit 1 person per household". Next to the sign is a shopping cart with signage attached to it informing shoppers that reusable and cloth bags are prohibited in the store.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Snowdon, Nick
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Photographer's caption: "Early on in the pandemic, stores limit number of people from one household. This does not last very long."
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4429 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Garden Village Area
Images
One way only
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95108
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 27, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the baking aisle in Save-On-Foods grocery store. A large red decal on the floor reads "STOP please enter aisle from other end".
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 27, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 623-026
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2020-10
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the baking aisle in Save-On-Foods grocery store. A large red decal on the floor reads "STOP please enter aisle from other end".
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Snowdon, Nick
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Photographer's caption: "One way system imposed in store. Not everyone obeys"
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 4429 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Garden Village Area
Images
sign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91782
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.17.2
- Description
- Green store sign from Canada Way Food Market. Plasticized green sign with white lettering.
- There is a 2.5 cm band of residue running the length of the sign at the top and bottom.
- Object History
- Item was used in the Canada Way Food Market owned by Harry Toy between 1975 and the late 2000s. the building sat vacant until sold in 2023.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Advertising Media
- Object Term
- Sign, Advertising
- Marks/Labels
- "CANADA WAY FOOD MARKET / OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK / GROCERIES CONFECTIONARY TOBACCO PRODUCTS"
- Measurements
- Height: 49.5 cm
- Width: 176.5
- Names
- Canada Way Food Market
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4692 Canada Way
Images
sign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91784
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.17.4
- Description
- Wooden sandwich board advertising Dairyland products. The board consists of two wooden panels that were attached at the top with a piano hinge. The hinge is currently only attached to one panel. The wooden panels are painted white. The paint is chipping in many areas.
- Both panels feature the same information and have an large illustration of a cow's head an front body on the bottom left.
- The two panels are held together on the back with a rusty metal chain.
- Handwritten on the back of one of the panels is "Canada Way Food Market"
- Object History
- Item was used in the Canada Way Food Market owned by Harry Toy between 1975 and the late 2000s. the building sat vacant until sold in 2023.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Advertising Media
- Object Term
- Sign, Advertising
- Marks/Labels
- "OPEN / Dairyland / Your / Fresh / Ideas / Dairy"
- Measurements
- Height: 74.5 cm
- Width: 49 cm
- Names
- Canada Way Food Market
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4692 Canada Way
Images
Frances, Sean and Wendy Johnston
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51383
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Frances Johnston and her two children, Sean and Wendy, seated and eating at an unidentified fast food restaurant. Numerous signs and advertisements can be seen on the windows behind the family.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 483-018
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No reproduction permitted
- Accession Number
- 2008-08
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Frances Johnston and her two children, Sean and Wendy, seated and eating at an unidentified fast food restaurant. Numerous signs and advertisements can be seen on the windows behind the family.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Johnston, Harold H.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Joey Restaurant
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95118
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 1, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a sign perched on a decorative tree trunk in the foyer of Joey Burnaby. The sign contains information for patrons on food delivery and pickup.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 1, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 623-036
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2020-10
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a sign perched on a decorative tree trunk in the foyer of Joey Burnaby. The sign contains information for patrons on food delivery and pickup.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Cheung, Ray
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Photographer's caption: "Most restaurants were only open for take-away"
- Geographic Access
- Rosser Avenue
- Street Address
- 1901 Rosser Avenue
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
Images
sign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91783
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV023.17.3
- Description
- Large plastic sign with internal backlighting for advertising. The sign has two sections for ad inserts and one section for price display.
- The price display is currently set up advertising the price of packs and cartons of cigarettes
- The first bank of prices are 3 digit with small windows that reveal the number on a roller behind. The second bank of prices are 4 digits.
- The sign was made by CDA Industries in Scarborough, Ontario and is stamped with "JULY 1986"
- There are three labels at the top of the sign including information about how to replace the lamps or reinsert unrolled numbers.
- There is a hole at the top of the sign for the electrical cord to come out.
- There are two white metal brackets attached to the ends of the sign and there is a rusted chain hanging from each bracket.
- The plastic at the bottom right corner on the back is broken and damaged.
- Object History
- Item was used in the Canada Way Food Market owned by Harry Toy between 1975 and the late 2000s. the building sat vacant until sold in 2023.
- See BV023.25.1 for photograph of sign in situ.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Advertising Media
- Object Term
- Sign, Advertising
- Marks/Labels
- "PACKS / 20's Reg. & K. Size 5.58 / 25's Reg. & K.S. 5.58 / 30's Reg. 5.58 / 30's K. Size 5.58"
- "CARTONS / 200 Reg. & K.Size 11.11 / 180 Ctn. K. Size 11.11 / 240 Ctn. Reg. 11.11"
- Measurements
- Height: 57.5 cm
- Width: 133.5 cm
- Depth: 13 cm
- Names
- Canada Way Food Market
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4692 Canada Way
Images
![Turret Cigarettes billboard, July 26, [1936] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/198557730001.jpg?width=280)
Turret Cigarettes billboard
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1399
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- July 26, [1936]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 8.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a grassy area in front of a large commercial building with various advertising signs for food, and a large billboard advertising Turret Cigarettes. In front of the restaurant building, there is a pillar with a circular top and Red Ensigns and Union Jacks hanging from it.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 8.5 cm
- Material Details
- inscribed in pencil, verso, c. [written upside down] "July 26"
- Faint circular stamp mark of "Vancouver Drug Co." on verso, and gummed paper on each corner.
- The stamp reads, "Come to Vancouver's Golden [illegible]/ 50 Years of Progress" outside its circular seal for "Vancouver Drug/ Co. Ltd./ Nu-Gloss/ PHOTO FINISH"
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a grassy area in front of a large commercial building with various advertising signs for food, and a large billboard advertising Turret Cigarettes. In front of the restaurant building, there is a pillar with a circular top and Red Ensigns and Union Jacks hanging from it.
- Accession Code
- BV985.5773.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- July 26, [1936]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- For a photograph of a similar/ same pillar, see BV985.5770.1 For a wider angle view of the restaurant building with the Turret Cigarettes billboard, see BV985.5771.1
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2024-02-02
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Turret Cigarettes billboard, July 26, [1936] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1985/198557730001.jpg)