Narrow Results By
Boundary Road Lumber Mill
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38262
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1908
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 12 cm on 12.5 x 15 cm backing
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man standing in the forefront with a jersey cow to the right, while a row of cabins and cleared tress can be seen in the background. A caption written above the photograph reads: "Boundary Road Lumber Mill owned by E.W. Nicholson." Underneath the photograph is writte…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1908
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Margaret McCallum subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 12 cm on 12.5 x 15 cm backing
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 375-024
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1986-42
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man standing in the forefront with a jersey cow to the right, while a row of cabins and cleared tress can be seen in the background. A caption written above the photograph reads: "Boundary Road Lumber Mill owned by E.W. Nicholson." Underneath the photograph is written: "The first Jersey cow on the farm." On the back of the photograph it is noted that the buildings in the background were workmen's buildings.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Geographic Access
- Boundary Road
- Still Creek
- Street Address
- 2550 Boundary Road
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- West Central Valley Area
Images
Eating your way through Burnaby: A look at Chinese Canadian history through food
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14762
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 27 Oct. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (61 min., 56 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Kate Petrusa, Burnaby Village Museum assistant curator. The webinar is titled "Eating your way through Burnaby: A look at Chinese Canadian history through food" and is presented by Denise Fong, Planning Assistant for the City of Bu…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (61 min., 56 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
- Material Details
- Presenter: Denise Fong
- Host: Kate Petrusa
- Date of Presentation: October 27 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Total Number of tracks: 1
- Total Length of all tracks:61 min., 56 sec.
- Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Kate Petrusa, Burnaby Village Museum assistant curator. The webinar is titled "Eating your way through Burnaby: A look at Chinese Canadian history through food" and is presented by Denise Fong, Planning Assistant for the City of Burnaby. The zoom webinar is the seventh in a collection of seven "Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker series" webinars that were presented and made available to the public between September 29 and October 27, 2020. The live webinar and recording was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. In this webinar, Denise Fong talks about how Chinese Canadians have played a key role in supplying food to Burnaby’s community through their participation in the local market gardening, green grocer, and restaurant industries. The presentation is supported with historical maps, photographs, documents, census records and stories from recent research on the 1960s-1970s period in Burnaby’s Big Bend and Capitol Hill neighborhoods. In her presentation, Denise also talks about the history of Chinese Immigration in Canada including the political circumstances and legal barriers that Chinese migrants faced in the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. Denise highlights specific Chinese Canadian family farms in Burnaby including; the Jung family farm located on 5460 Douglas Road operated by Jung Chong and his wife Jung Gee Shee; "Hop On Farms" located on Marine Drive, operated by Chan Kow Hong, Sui Ha Hong and family; the Tong Yip Farm located on Byrne Road operated by D.T. "George" Yip and his wife, Yip Chow Won Tai. Denise also highlights her recent research regarding Chinese Canadian corner stores and green grocers in Burnaby including; The Lee Kee grocery store located at 3824 East Hastings Street, owned and operated by Yow Lee Ko and his wife Say Jan Chan; the Burnaby Market located at 3942 East Hastings Street, owned and operated by Chin Yin Wong; the Quon Bros. located at 3702 East Hastings Street.; Y. Hoy Produce Co. located at 4092 East Hastings Street operated by Hoy Yen; Louie's Food Basket located at 5886 South East Marine Drive operated by Hoy Bew Louie, his wife Poy Yee and later by thier son Bing Louie and Tommy's Market located in Burnaby's Edmonds neighbourhood, operated by Tommy Chu. Denise also provides a detailed history of Tommy Chu and family who owned and operated Tommy's Market. Denise tells of how in the early 1970s, Chinese grocers in the lower mainland came together and formed the Lower Mainland Independent Grocers Association and Lower Mainland Grocers Co-Op. The organization was formed to protect the rights and promote businesses of independent grocers. In closing, Denise explains how her research of Chinese Canadian history in Burnaby continues and by the end of the project, the information will be made accessible in the form of a publication.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Social Issues - Discrimination
- Agriculture - Farms
- Social Issues - Racism
- Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
- Names
- Fong, Denise
- Jung, Chung Chong
- Tommy's Produce
- Lee Kee Grocery
- Louie's Food Basket
- Louie, Hoy Bew
- Jung, Gee Shee
- Hong, Chan Kow
- Hong, Sui Ha
- Yip, D.T. "George"
- Yip, Chow Won Tai
- Ko, Yow Lee
- Ko, Chan Say Jan
- Burnaby Market
- Wong, Chin Yin
- Quon Bros.
- Y. Hoy Produce Co.
- Yen, Hoy
- Louie, Poy Yee
- Louie, Bing
- Chu, Tommy
- Chu, Sharon
- Chu, Calvin
- Responsibility
- Petrusa, Kate
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Accession Code
- BV020.29.7
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 27 Oct. 2020
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of video recording
- Video recording was edited for publication on Heritage Burnaby. Original mp4 video recording (BV020.29.7.1) is 72 min., 14 sec.
Images
Video
Eating your way through Burnaby: A look at Chinese Canadian history through food, 27 Oct. 2020
Eating your way through Burnaby: A look at Chinese Canadian history through food, 27 Oct. 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2020_0029_0007_002.mp4
Rooted : Chinese Canadian stories in Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7646
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Digital Resource
- ISBN
- 978-0-9689849-2-5
- Call Number
- 971.133 ROO
- Contributor
- Fong, Denise
- Lemke, Jane
- Codd, Lisa
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- 2023
- Printer
- Metropolitan Fine Printers
- Physical Description
- 203 p. : ill. ; 30.5 cm
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Chinese Canadians--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
- Race discrimination -- Canada
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Agriculture
- Agriculture - Farms
- Persons - Families
- Rights
- Rights - Human Rights
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Notes
- There are two versions of the book: English and Simplified Chinese (left, below) and the other in English and Traditional Chinese (right, below).
- From the late 1800s to the present day, Chinese Canadians have made Burnaby into a more vibrant and livable city. Rooted: Chinese Canadian Stories in Burnaby brings together a collection of diverse stories and photographs from the community, celebrating the legacy and contributions of Burnaby’s Chinese Canadian community spanning over a century. This coffee-table book features oral histories and interviews with descendants of multigenerational family farms, green grocers, corner stores, restaurants, and places of worship. Also included are archival research and community perspectives on anti-Asian racism, community activism, courage, and resilience.
- The publication has been timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Chinese Exclusion Act by the Government of Canada in 1923. This federal legislation followed decades of discriminatory legislation by Canada’s federal, provincial and municipal governments that targeted Chinese Canadians by limiting opportunities to live, work and raise families in Canada. The Chinese Exclusion Act banned almost all migration from China and remained in place until 1947. Publishing this book in 2023 is an effort by the City of Burnaby to recognize the impact of discriminatory legislation on Chinese Canadians in our community, including discriminatory bylaws and practices implemented by Burnaby’s early municipal government.
- Edited by Denise Fong (Lead Researcher), Jane Lemke (Burnaby Village Museum Curator) and Lisa Codd (City of Burnaby Heritage Planner).
Images
Digital Books
![Development on Big Bend agricultural land, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1685-2.jpg?width=280)
Development on Big Bend agricultural land
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95885
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Burnaby citizens concerned about industrial and big box retail development in the Big Bend area. One photograph shows Shawn Wade leaning against a fence next to a sign that reads "Western Garden Soil Mushroom Manure Bark Mulch." The other photograph shows Ed Leong holdi…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-1685
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Burnaby citizens concerned about industrial and big box retail development in the Big Bend area. One photograph shows Shawn Wade leaning against a fence next to a sign that reads "Western Garden Soil Mushroom Manure Bark Mulch." The other photograph shows Ed Leong holding soil in the fields at Leong's Nursery.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a November 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-1685-1: "Shawn Wade is concerned the City of Burnaby's plans to allow big box retail development in the Big Bend area along Marine Way would threaten the unique agricultural flavor of the area, including nurseries, and the allotment gardens."
- Caption from metadata for 535-1685-2: "Ed Leong, who's run Leong's Nursery since the 1960s, says industrial development in the Big Bend area has already destroyed his ability to grow crops like Chinese vegetables, green onions, lettuce and carrots, as water gets trapped in the already boggy soil by surrounding landfill."
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
Images
![Development on Big Bend agricultural land, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1685-2.jpg)
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![Dairy and Silos at Oakalla, [195-] (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/370/370-716.jpg?width=280)
Dairy and Silos at Oakalla
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38129
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [195-] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.0 x 4.3 cm print on contact sheet 19.8 x 26.2 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of the dairy and silos at Oakalla Prison Farm.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [195-] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Burnaby Image Bank subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.0 x 4.3 cm print on contact sheet 19.8 x 26.2 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 370-716
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS1999-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of the dairy and silos at Oakalla Prison Farm.
- Names
- Oakalla Prison Farm
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- 1 b&w copy negative accompanying
- Negative has a pink cast
- Geographic Access
- Oakmount Crescent
- Street Address
- 5220 Oakmount Crescent
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Oakalla Area
Images
![Dairy and Silos at Oakalla, [195-] (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/370/370-716.jpg)
Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19349
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Honourable Raj Chouhan Location of Interview: Residence of Honourable Raj Chouhan Interview Date: December 2, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (00:49:21) Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant and the organizations that he became involved with. Honourable Raj Chouhan recalls how he arrived in Burnaby with his family in 1973 and that his family worked in farming. Chouhan imparts his first hand experiences as a new immigrant working as a labourer in the farming industry and describes the unsafe and unfair working conditions that he and migrant workers faced. Chouhan conveys how this experience lead him to become an activist for better working conditions for migrant workers. This lead Chouhan and others to form the Canadian Farm Workers Union in 1980. Chouhan recollects his experiences flying from India to Canada with his wife, his first impressions after arriving in Vancouver and driving to Burnaby and what he brought with him. Chouhan explains his connections to Burnaby. Members of Chouhan's wife's family immgrated to Canada in 1957 and his wife and her three brothers joined them in 1970. Chouhan's father in law, Hardial Singh Grewal immigrated in 1957 and became president of the Sikh temple in New Westminster. Hardial Singh Grewal worked in a lumber mill in Vancouver and eventually bought a house in Burnaby. Chouhan married to his wife at the Sikh temple in New Westminster and lived in Burnaby for a period before moving to New Westminster where they could find more affordable housing. Chouhan shares that he first worked as a farm labourer in Abbotsford and then found a job in the sawmill which paid more. Chouhan describes the extreme racism and discrimination that he and other immigrants faced which lead to the formation of the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma. Chouhan describes this organization that he was a part of and the Canadian Farm Workers Union that were both formed in Burnaby. Chouhan shares that he moved to Victoria in 1988 to serve on the Hospital Employee's Union and moved back to the mainland in 1993 and returned to Burnaby in 2001. Chouhan reflects on the history of South Asian immigration in Canada, how many of the migrants settled in the lower mainland including Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver establishing temples in Vancouver and New Westminster which became the centre for the South Asian community. He conveys how earlier occupations were limited to farming and millwork and how over time employment opportunities and education have broadened but there is still work to do. He imparts how second generation Canadians’ experiences differ from first generations providing examples of his own daughters’ and the occupations that they are working in. Chouhan provides his insights into the South Asian Canadian experience imparting “We make history every day and that history needs to be recorded and learned from.."... “People from different communities, different backgrounds who lived in Burnaby have contributed so much and South Asians are just like another community and participated in all aspects of social life, cultural, religious, economy. I'm so proud of our community, our forefathers who had that vision to fight for our rights. I'm inspired by people who struggled so much to gain basic rights, like the right to vote". Chouhan refers to these first immigrants as “Gadri Babbas” “revolutionary old people” who were also the main motivation that lead to India becoming a free country in 1947 and for fighting for basic rights here in Canada and how they made their contributions for future generations. Chouhan expresses what he imparts to students “Do not forget your past... if you remember your past then you are much more knowledgeable. Then we know what we need for the future. If we don't know the past, we don't know what the future is going to be like. To make a better future, you have to learn from the past and improve".
- History
- Interviewee biography: Honourable Raj Chouhan was born in the city of Ludhiana in the Province of Punjab in India and immigrated to Canada in 1973. After arriving in Canada, Raj's family settled in Burnaby. Raj grew up in Burnaby and attended schoool. Honourable Raj Chouhan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020. He was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on December 7, 2020. Honourable Chouhan is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism and has served as a director of the Hospital Employees' Union, the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. Honourable Chouhan has also served as the Vice President of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003 and has taught courses in Human Rights, the B.C. Labour Code and Collective Bargaining since 1987. Interviewer biography: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Occupations - Agricultural Labourers
- Migration
- Organizations - Unions
- Rights
- Rights - Human Rights
- Agriculture
- Agriculture - Farms
- Government - Provincial Government
- Government
- Names
- Chouhan, Raj
- British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism
- Sharma, Dr. Hari Prakash
- Grewal, Hardial Singh
- Canadian Farmworkers Union
- Hospital Employees Union
- Khalsa Diwan Society
- Responsibility
- Petrusa, Kate
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0004_002.mp3![Phillips Dairy Farm, [192-] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/204/204-519.jpg?width=280)
Phillips Dairy Farm
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35661
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [192-] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Phillips dairy farm at 515 Byrne Road (later renumbered 5670 Byrne Road). The dairy and barn are shown with Norman Phillips (son of John and Lily Phillips).
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [192-] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pioneer Tales subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 204-519
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Phillips dairy farm at 515 Byrne Road (later renumbered 5670 Byrne Road). The dairy and barn are shown with Norman Phillips (son of John and Lily Phillips).
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Byrne Road
- Street Address
- 5670 Byrne Road
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
Images
![Phillips Dairy Farm, [192-] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/204/204-519.jpg)
![Thrussell farm and barn, [1914] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/251/275-009.jpg?width=280)
Thrussell farm and barn
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36477
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1914]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Thrussell family farm, including the front gate and barn on Marine Drive, at Nelson Avenue.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1914]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Thrussell family subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 275-009
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1992-05
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Thrussell family farm, including the front gate and barn on Marine Drive, at Nelson Avenue.
- Names
- North Arm Dairy
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Marine Drive
- Nelson Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
Images
![Thrussell farm and barn, [1914] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/251/275-009.jpg)
![Thrussell's farm, [1900] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/251/275-001.jpg?width=280)
Thrussell's farm
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36470
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1900]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the North Arm Dairy and the rest of the Thrussell family farm at Marine Drive and Nelson Avenue. Froggers Creek is visible on the left.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1900]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Thrussell family subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 275-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1992-05
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the North Arm Dairy and the rest of the Thrussell family farm at Marine Drive and Nelson Avenue. Froggers Creek is visible on the left.
- Names
- North Arm Dairy
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Marine Drive
- Nelson Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
Images
![Thrussell's farm, [1900] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/251/275-001.jpg)