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![Working on the green chain, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0014_001.jpg?width=280)
Working on the green chain
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15193
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two unidentified Chinese Canadian men working on the green chain of Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Burrard Inlet and the north shore mountains are visible in the distance.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two unidentified Chinese Canadian men working on the green chain of Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Burrard Inlet and the north shore mountains are visible in the distance.
- Subjects
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.14
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Working on the green chain, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0014_001.jpg)
![Ross carrier with load, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0015_001.jpg?width=280)
Ross carrier with load
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15194
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a Ross straddle carrier transporting umber in the mill yard of Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Stacks of lumber stand next to the carrier and company lodgings can be seen on higher ground in the distance.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a Ross straddle carrier transporting umber in the mill yard of Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Stacks of lumber stand next to the carrier and company lodgings can be seen on higher ground in the distance.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.15
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- See page 62 of book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "a Ross Carrier moving lumber in the mill yard. These carriers replaced the horse drawn wagons that were used by the earlier mills, c.1940s"
Images
![Ross carrier with load, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0015_001.jpg)
![Boom man with logs, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0016_001.jpg?width=280)
Boom man with logs
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15195
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified South Asian Sikh boom man standing on a log with a steel pointed pike pole directing logs within a log boom. The log boom was located in Burrard Inlet at the Kapoor Sawmills Limited.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified South Asian Sikh boom man standing on a log with a steel pointed pike pole directing logs within a log boom. The log boom was located in Burrard Inlet at the Kapoor Sawmills Limited.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.16
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- See page 61 of book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "A boom man needed to be nimble on his feet to select and move logs to the log slip where they could be haulde up into the mill."
Images
![Boom man with logs, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0016_001.jpg)
![Sikh man on green chain, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0017_001.jpg?width=280)
Sikh man on green chain
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15196
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified South Asian Sikh man sorting freshly sawn lumber on the green chain at Kapoor Sawmills Limited.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified South Asian Sikh man sorting freshly sawn lumber on the green chain at Kapoor Sawmills Limited.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.17
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- See page 63 of book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "A workman sorting freshly sawn lumber on the "green chain", c. 1940s"
Images
![Sikh man on green chain, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0017_001.jpg)
![Sikh man on deck at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd., [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0018_001.jpg?width=280)
Sikh man on deck at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd.
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15197
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified South Asian Sikh man working on the deck of Kapoor Sawmills Limited.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified South Asian Sikh man working on the deck of Kapoor Sawmills Limited.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.18
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Sikh man on deck at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd., [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0018_001.jpg)
![Sikh man with large log at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd., [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0019_001.jpg?width=280)
Sikh man with large log at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd.
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15198
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified South Asian Sikh man standing next to a large log at Kapoor Sawmills Limited. A large cable is strapped around the log and the man is balanced on a wooden beam.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified South Asian Sikh man standing next to a large log at Kapoor Sawmills Limited. A large cable is strapped around the log and the man is balanced on a wooden beam.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.19
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Sikh man with large log at Kapoor Sawmills Ltd., [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0019_001.jpg)
![Millwright sharpens saw blade, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0020_001.jpg?width=280)
Millwright sharpens saw blade
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15199
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a millwright (identified as Mr. Hawkin's nephew) sharpening a large circular saw blade of a saw at Kapoor Sawmills Limited.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a millwright (identified as Mr. Hawkin's nephew) sharpening a large circular saw blade of a saw at Kapoor Sawmills Limited.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.20
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- See page 63 of book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "A "millwright" sharpens the saw on the massive circular blade c. 1940s"
Images
![Millwright sharpens saw blade, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0020_001.jpg)
![Man at saw, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0021_001.jpg?width=280)
Man at saw
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15200
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man standing next to a saw in operation at Kapoor Sawmills Limited. The large saw blade is in motion cutting through large logs.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man standing next to a saw in operation at Kapoor Sawmills Limited. The large saw blade is in motion cutting through large logs.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.21
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Man at saw, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0021_001.jpg)
![Men on green chain, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0022_001.jpg?width=280)
Men on green chain
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15201
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two unidentified men working on the green chain at Kapoor Sawmills Limited. One of the men is Sikh.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two unidentified men working on the green chain at Kapoor Sawmills Limited. One of the men is Sikh.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.22
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- See page 64 of book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "Men at work on the greeen chain, c. 1940s"
Images
![Men on green chain, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0022_001.jpg)
![Siddoo and Teja Families, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0030_001.jpg?width=280)
Siddoo and Teja Families
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15210
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of members of the Teja and Siddoo families at the Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Family members are identified from left to right, front row: Hardev Siddoo and Harjeet Teja Sangara; middle row: Diljeet Teja, Lakhbeer Siddoo, Gurdeb Siddoo, Baldev Siddoo and Gurmeet Teja; back row: Gurdial Sing…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of members of the Teja and Siddoo families at the Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Family members are identified from left to right, front row: Hardev Siddoo and Harjeet Teja Sangara; middle row: Diljeet Teja, Lakhbeer Siddoo, Gurdeb Siddoo, Baldev Siddoo and Gurmeet Teja; back row: Gurdial Singh Teja, Tara Siddoo and Kashmir Siddoo.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Siddoo, Lakhbeer
- Siddoo, Gurdeb
- Siddoo, Baldev
- Siddoo, Kashmir
- Siddoo, Tara
- Teja, Diljeet
- Teja, Gurdial Singh
- Siddoo, Hardev
- Sangara, Harjeet Teja
- Teja, Gurmeet
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.30
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- See page 70 of book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "..Siddoo and Teja families at Kapoor sawmills, c. 1940s. Back: Gurdial Teja, Tara Siddoo, Kashmir Siddoo. Middle: Diljeet Teja, Lakhbeer Siddoo, Gurdev Siddoo, Baldev Siddoo, Gurmeet Teja. Front: Hardev Teja, Harjeet Teja.
- Photograph was mistaken in identifiying "Hardev Siddoo" as "Hardev Teja" (proper identification provided by family member)
Images
![Siddoo and Teja Families, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0030_001.jpg)
Kapoor Singh Siddoo series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription21422
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1940-1947] (date of originals), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 31 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of copies of photographs pertaining to the family of Kappoor Singh Siddoo and the Kapoor Sawmills Limited that were published in the book "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village".
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 31 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of copies of photographs pertaining to the family of Kappoor Singh Siddoo and the Kapoor Sawmills Limited that were published in the book "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village".
- History
- Kapoor Singh Siddoo was born in 1885 in the Punjab village of Kharaudi, India. Kapoor was one of the pioneer South Asian Canadian Sikhs who first immigrated to America in 1906, arriving in San Francisco in 1906 with twenty illiterate compatriots seeking employment. As the only one among them with a formal education, Kapoor acted as their interpreter, manager, and accountant. They worked along the Southern Pacific Railway line near Marysville, California, as it inched toward Reno, Nevada. At the same time, Kapoor was asked to help raise funds for a mining company in British Columbia founded by a Punjabi spiritual leader. Kapoor attempted to join the company in British Columbia (attracted partly by stories of the province’s natural beauty), but was turned back at the international border at Blaine several times before entering via Victoria in 1912. Once settled, he operated a successful dairy, invested in various businesses, and socialized with other South Asian immigrants interested in politics. However, emotions of those around Kapoor began to heat up; frustration among opponents of British rule in Indian grew intense. Kapoor left the explosive situation for Ontario in June 1914, determined to find a place for himself in Canadian society. He tried homesteading in the “Clay Belt” of northern Ontario, but like others found the extreme winter conditions intolerable. He returned to British Columbia in 1916, invited by a group of Sikh sawmill workers to help them manage the accounts at a Fraser Valley sawmill they had leased. Kapoor found his niche in the sawmill industry. Fraser Valley timber sat on land granted by the Dominion government to railways to help finance their construction. South Asian workers could get timber rights on these lands, unlike on Crown Lands elsewhere in the province. Kapoor and his new partners, particularly Mayo Singh, looked for other promising “railway belt” locations for another sawmill and found an ideal location on Vancouver Island near Duncan. Kapoor and his colleagues opened a large, modern mill in 1918 and despite various setbacks, prospered for the next decade and a half. In 1923, with a change in immigration laws, Kapoor arranged for his wife, Besant Kaur, to emigrate from India. Besant came to Canada with Kapoor’s older brother, Bhagwan. Kapoor and Besant had two daughters while in Duncan: Jagdis Kaur Siddoo (1925) and Sarjit Kaur Siddoo (1926), both of whom eventually became physicians. Kapoor’s lumber business on Vancouver Island flourished until 1935, when a fire destroyed the original mill. He moved his family to Vancouver, although retaining interest in another Vancouver Island mill. In 1939, he purchased a large piece (45 acres) of the former Barnet Mill in Burnaby, recently acquired by the Municipality as payment for tax default during the Depression. Kapoor named the mill Modern Sawmills and finalized the purchase though a business agent to get around Burnaby’s bylaw prohibiting the sale to a non-White person. Eventually he changed the mill’s name to Kapoor Sawmills Limited. The mill received timber in log booms from Vancouver Island, and once processed, the wood was then shipped via the Canadian Pacific Railway that ran past the mill, and still does today. Kapoor’s younger brother, Tara, who had earlier worked with Kapoor in other sawmills, joined the venture as a shareholder. Tara and his wife, Beant, took up residence in Barnet from 1943-1945 with their family: sons Lakhbeer, Gurdeb, Gurcharn, Baldev, Hardev and daughters Harjeet (Sangha), Runjeet (Basi) and Buckshish (Sarai). Tara oversaw the regular delivery of logs from Vancouver Island to the Barnet mill. He also became known as a local Burnaby philanthropist, donating to Burnaby General Hospital. The Kapoor sawmill prospered but burned to the ground on January 14, 1947. A smaller mill was rebuilt on the site and remained a successful financial operation until 1959. When he retired in 1959, Kapoor Siddoo was one of Vancouver’s most influential men in the South Asian Community. He was a leading businessman, but had also fought to give South Asian Canadians the right to vote. The year he retired, the family set up the Kapoor Singh Siddoo Foundation and with help from his wife and daughters opened a hospital in the Punjab village of Aur. In 1964, Kapoor died in India at the age of 79 years.
- Accession Code
- BV019.32
- Date
- [1940-1947] (date of originals), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- See also, City of Burnaby Archives: Burnaby Historical Society fonds - "In the Shadow by the Sea subseries"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of series
Kapoor sawmill being rebuilt
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15186
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 6 Aug. 1939 (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Kapoor Sawmill being rebuilt in August 1939. Two unidentified men are standing on the second floor of the building under a block and tackle that is suspended from the beam above.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Kapoor Sawmill being rebuilt in August 1939. Two unidentified men are standing on the second floor of the building under a block and tackle that is suspended from the beam above.
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.7
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 6 Aug. 1939 (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
In the Shadow by the Sea collection
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15208
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1925-1953] (date of originals)
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 115 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of copies of photographs from a selection of Burnaby residents that were obtained for the publication "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Photographs include; Kapoor Sawmills Limited and the Siddoo family; the Irwin family; the Lauder family; t…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 115 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Collection consists of copies of photographs from a selection of Burnaby residents that were obtained for the publication "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Photographs include; Kapoor Sawmills Limited and the Siddoo family; the Irwin family; the Lauder family; the Yasui family and the Laleune family. The selection of photographs document time living and working in the Barnet area of Burnaby. Photographs are arranged into series: 1) Kapoor Singh Siddoo family photographs series 2) Yasui family photographs series 3) Irwin family photographs series 4) Lauder family photographs series 5) Laulene family photographs series
- History
- The book, "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village" was published in 2004 as a historical project under the direction of the Community Heritage Commission. Community Heritage Commission volunteer Harry Pride was the driving force behind this project contacting many former residents of Barnet to obtain photographs and stories for the book. The book documents the history of the settlement of Burnaby's Barnet district including memoirs and photographs of various people who worked and lived there.
- Accession Code
- BV019.32
- Date
- [1925-1953] (date of originals)
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Related Material
- See also, City of Burnaby Archives: Burnaby Historical Society fonds - "In the Shadow by the Sea subseries"
- Arrangement
- Arrangement is based on the contents of the book "In the Shadow by the Sea" with series based on donors' personal photograph collections that were included in the book. A selection of copies were later donated to Burnaby Village Museum and arranged and described.
- Notes
- Title based on contents of collection
- See series level descriptions for family biographies
Irwin family photographs series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription21424
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1925-1939] (date of originals), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 64 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of copies of photographs pertaining to the Irwin family and the Barnet Lumber Company while Henry Stanley Irwin worked for the Barnet Lumber Company and the family lived on site. Many of these photographs were published in the book "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 64 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of copies of photographs pertaining to the Irwin family and the Barnet Lumber Company while Henry Stanley Irwin worked for the Barnet Lumber Company and the family lived on site. Many of these photographs were published in the book "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village".
- History
- Henry Stanley Irwin (1890-1966) started work at Barnet mill in 1924. Henry and his wife Elsie May Irwin (Taylor) Irwin (1894-1985) first lived with their two daughters, Eleanor (Nelson) (1924-2005) and Louise (1927-) in a worker's cabin before moving to the Barnet Mill's managers' residence. The household included Elsie's mother, Elizabeth (Shephard) Taylor (1868-1950). The family resided at Barnet until they moved to Vancouver in September 1939. Louise and her older sister Eleanor attended Barnet School like other children in the Barnet area. After the mill closed in 1931, Henry was unemployed for two years. During this time, he hired a horse and driver and cut logs from the slopes of Burnaby Mountain to support his family. The Barnet Lumber Company also known as the Barnet mill was in operation between 1925 and 1932. The mill was located on Burrard Inlet in the neighbourhood of Barnet and was one of the most successful local employers in Burnaby until the 1930s when the Great Depression resulted in a strike at the mill. The City of Burnaby eventually assumed control of the site including all of the homes when the company failed to pay it's taxes. The city then dismantled the mill and sold the property in two parts - the eastern section would become the Kapoor Sawmills Limited and the western portion, the McColl-Frontenac Oil Company.
- Accession Code
- BV019.32
- Date
- [1925-1939] (date of originals), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- See also, City of Burnaby Archives: Burnaby Historical Society fonds - "In the Shadow by the Sea subseries"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of series
Yasui family photographs series
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription21423
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1923-1937] (date of originals), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 11 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of copies of photographs pertaining to the Yasui family while Sukegoro (Shoyen) Yasui worked for the Nichols Chemical Company and the family lived on the site of Barnet. These photographs were published in the book "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- 11 photographs (tiffs)
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of copies of photographs pertaining to the Yasui family while Sukegoro (Shoyen) Yasui worked for the Nichols Chemical Company and the family lived on the site of Barnet. These photographs were published in the book "In the Shadow by the Sea: Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village".
- History
- Sukegoro (Shoyen) Yasui (1884-1972) and his wife Tane (Hirata) Yasui (d.1987) emigrated from Japan to Canada in 1919. Sukegoro and Tane had two children Yasue Margaret (Matsumura) (1921-2019) and Harding Yasui (1923-2008). Sukegoro worked as a burner operator for the Nichols Chemical Company of Barnet B.C. The family lived on the site with five other families in a bunkhouse including the three Kokuryo brothers and their families and the Kojima family. The children attended Barnet School for three years before the family moved to Surrey in 1934 after purchasing farm land. Sukegoro and Tane Yasui grew strawberries and raised chickens on the farm and Sukegoro continued to work shift work at the Nichols plant. In 1942, the Yasui family were interned and sent to work on a sugar beet farm near Lethbridge, Alberta. While living in Picture Butte, Alberta,Yasue married Matsuo Matsumura. Following the war, the whole family moved to Kingston, Ontario where Harding completed his senior year of high school. A few years later, Harding moved to Montreal and his parents joined him. The Barnet Lumber Company also known as the Barnet mill was in operation between 1925 and 1932. The mill was located on Burrard Inlet in the neighbourhood of Barnet and was one of the most successful local employers in Burnaby until the 1930s when the Great Depression resulted in a strike at the mill. The City of Burnaby eventually assumed control of the site including all of the homes when the company failed to pay it's taxes. The city then dismantled the mill and sold the property in two parts - the eastern section would become the Kapoor Sawmills Limited and the western portion, the McColl-Frontenac Oil Company.
- Accession Code
- BV019.32
- Date
- [1923-1937] (date of originals), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- See also, City of Burnaby Archives: Burnaby Historical Society fonds - "In the Shadow by the Sea subseries"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of series
Interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19346
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1600-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Oct. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (111 min., 51 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (111 min., 51 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar discusses and provides in…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (111 min., 51 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (111 min., 51 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Nadeem Parmar Location of Interview: Residence of Nadeem Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: October 7, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:51:51 min Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar discusses and provides information on; his ancestral background, his education, his employment background, his experiences of racial discrimmination as a South Asian immigrant, saw mills established by South Asian relations in Paldi (Vancouver Island), in North Vancouver and Burnaby, family relations in the South Asian Canadian community and in regions in Punjab, the caste system, his literary works, locations of family homes in Burnaby, the architectural design of his house, personal stories and anecdotal information as a South Asian Canadian living and working in Canada. 00:00 – 01:45 The framework and purpose of the interview is explained to interviewee Nadeem Parmar by interviewers Rajdeep and Anushay Malik. The interviewers explain how the information from this interview can be drawn on for Burnaby Village Museum’s future exhibits and also how researchers will learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby through residents’ stories. Interview begins with Nadeem providing his full name "Kulwant Singh Parmar". He clarifies that his name was given to him by his grandfather who was a civil engineer and that his father also worked as a civil engineer. Nadeem expresses that he was born with a “silver spoon in his mouth” as a descendent of his maternal grandfather who was a successful landlord. Nadeem explains that when the Partition of India came into effect, (1947) he was 11 years old. He and his family left the partitioned side, his native village was located in Punjab and his forefathers were located in Rajasthan. 3:20 – 4:57 Nadeem explains further about his forefathers who came from Rajasthan. He shares information about his ancestor on his father’s side, named Vijay Singh who was friends with Emperor Jahangir. When fighting began against Jahangir he left the area to head to the middle of central India, then to the Punjab area with small states. As a clan, as a Parmar, he conveys there were about eleven or twelve villages with the same name. Interviewer, Anushay helps Nadeem to clarify the time period of this information. Nadeem refers to the time period being similar to the epic historical film “Moghal-e-Azam” and Anushay confirms the time period being the 1600s when they left Rajasthan. 4:58 – 10:59 Interviewer Anushay asks Nadeem to about his migration to Canada. Nadeem conveys that his first ancestor on his in-laws side of the family migrated around 1889. Further discussion ensues about reading Punjabi and how interviewer Rajdeep can read Punjabi and that she comes from the village of "Lakhpur" in Punjab. Rajdeep notes that “Lakhpur” is near "Phagwara". Nadeem clarifies that his village is "Panchat" and this family used to live in "Phagwara". and Nadeem and Rajdeep compare their familiarity and memories of the area. Nadeem conveys some of his comments in Punjabi and then changes to English. Nadeem recollects when the Japanese bombarded Shillong, he was around seven years old and attended missionary school. The only languages that were taught were English and Persian. Nadeem conveys that his mother had hopes of Nadeem becoming an army officer and moving up the ranks but Nadeem wasn’t interested. Nadeem attended college, graduated with a Bachelor of Science, BSC with Physics and Chemistry, followed by another Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and finally a degree in his favourite subject in the language of Urdu. He completed these degrees in Punjab in Doaba College, Jalandher. Nadeem recollects how he started teaching but wasn’t getting paid very well. When he was at college, with encouragement from his professor, Veer Pankalia [sic] he began writing poetry and short plays. His professor also introduced him to a famous poet of Punjab, Mila Ram Offa [sic] and he gave him the name of Nadeem. Nadeem explains the meaning of the name “Nadeem” “…the one who know about it, inside out…” even though we generally think of the meaning being “friend” it’s not just about friend. 11:00 -24:48 Nadeem provides background information on how he ended up marrying his future wife who was born in India and immigrated to Canada with her family. Nadeem explains how the marriage was arranged through family relations that were already established in Punjab over a century ago. One of his wife’s ancestors, head of the family called “baniye” (traders) immigrated to Canada in [1899]. This relation returned to Punjab where he had nephews, the youngest of the nephews was Nadeem’s father (Lashman Singh Manhas) in law’s father (Sher Singh Manhas). He expresses that his wife’s ancestor couldn’t bring Nadeem’s father in law’s father since he was only 12 or 13 years old but he brought three of the nephews back to Canada with him. The nephews were named, Pola Singh, Ginaya Singh and Doman Singh (also named Dolmans). He describes how the group left India but it took them two to three years before they arrived in Canada. The group travelled to Burma, Indonesia and Hong Kong before landing in San Francisco. From San Francisco they walked and worked on the rail line before entering Canada and arriving in Grand Forks. The men got work on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and eventually made their way to the lower mainland. Nadeem conveys that the younger brother of Ginaya Singh, Maya Singh joined the others in Canada taking the same route, arriving in Bridal Falls where they were working at a saw mill and in CP rail construction. He describes Maya Singh as business minded and since he was too young to work in the mill, he began working as a cook and then began growing potatoes on land that he leased from a Dutch land owner. The local mill at Bridal Falls was facing bankruptcy and Maya Singh arranged to lease the mill, eventually buying it. From there the group moved their business to Strawberry Hill in Surrey and when the sale of logs declined, they moved over to Vancouver Island and established a sawmill with Doman Singh in the community of Paldi (originally known as Mayo Lumber) near Duncan. He explains further how the South Asian community helped each other like they did back home. He clarifies that his father in law’s father is the youngest cousin of Ginaya and Doman Singh and when he died, his father in law’s younger brother started Kashmir Lumber. Eventually his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) and the rest of the whole family including cousins and nephews were sponsored by their relations and immigrated to Canada. Nadeem explains how in 1959, his brother in law returned home to Punjab to get married, bringing his family with him. He tells of how during this time period, a marriage was arranged by his parents for him to marry his future wife. Nadeem recollects how this came to be. Nadeem and his wife Surjeet married in Punjab in December 1960, Nadeem was 24 years old and his wife was 18 years old. 24:49 – 39:42 Nadeem describes how he obtained his teaching degree from Ramgarhia College in Phagwara (located in the Kapurhtala district of Punjab) and after a disagreement with a teacher at home, he decided to go to England. He explains how he joined his brother who had moved to England and was working as a labourer. Nadeem tells of the difficulties he faced applying for a teaching job in England and how he had to go back to school to help with his English pronunciation. Nadeem explains that after taking this course, he got work teaching Grade two students which he felt was below his qualifications (he mentions that while living in Punjab, he was a Secondary School teacher) and the pay was very low. He discovered that his brother was making more money working as a labourer so Nadeem became discouraged and quit. When Nadeem couldn’t find work as a labourer, his brother advised him to shave off his beard. Nadeem conveys how difficult it was for him to shave off his beard and how once he was clean shaven he got work as a sweeper in a factory. He shares his experience of working in the factory and of how with his former education he got himself promoted to a more technical position. With encouragement from his employer, Nadeem enrolled in technical courses which lead to him obtaining an HNC Engineering Degree. He completed the course work in two years, obtaining skills in microwave communication becoming the senior test engineer at the factory. While working in this position, Nadeem shares how he suffered discrimination when he was passed over for a senior chief engineer position at the factory by a less educated and experienced employee. 39:43 – 53:38 Nadeem recollects how things changed for him in the 1970s. It began with his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) passing away in 1970 while he and his family were living on 18th Street in Burnaby. His father in law had been working at the saw mill, Kashmir Lumber Company in North Vancouver that was owned by his father in law’s younger brother (Kashmir Singh Manhas). The mill had burnt down and many of the workers lost everything. Nadeem confides that during this time, his wife was suffering from depression and wanted to be with her mother back in Canada now that her father had passed away. Nadeem emphasizes how his wife’s family (over 300 relatives) in Canada often get together every year on July 1st in Paldi near Duncan. In 1972, Nadeem arrived in Canada on his own to find work but was unsuccessful so he and his wife made plans to move to Uganda where he was offered a job. In 1973, when his visa didn’t come through for Uganda, Nadeem, his wife and two children decided to come to Canada. Nadeem describes that after several unsuccessful experiences to find skilled work in Canada, he eventually found work at Canadian National Telecommunications. During this time, Nadeem and his family lived with his father in law’s family at 5216 Pandora Street in Burnaby and in 1974, Nadeem purchased a house at 131 Fell Avenue in Burnaby. Nadeem provides further details of when the families lived at these different addresses and how in 1983 he had a house built on Woodsworth Street where he is still living now. He conveys some of the history of the lot where his current house resides including details on the lot subdivision, lot ownership and the cost of building his new house. Nadeem tells of how he designed his home with help from his son who was working as an apprentice with architect Arthur Erikson at the time. He describes the architectural interior as an open concept design, in an “L” shape in honour of his father “Lakhmir Singh”. Nadeem shares information on his mother’s name which was Jamna (prior to her marriage) and became Davinder Kaur after she was married. (Note: Jamna was her name before marriage. Traditionally after a woman is married, her husband’s family changes her first name because she is now considered a part of a new family). 53:39 – 58:56 Nadeem provides information on his career working as CNCP technician working with CPIC systems and how he was promoted to a new position. Nadeem inserts a quote from a Punjabi poem which he translates to English as “Somebody asked the blind people. What do you need? He said, do you need two eyes?, he said, what else do I need?”. Nadeem conveys how in 1986 his mother passed away so he went back home to the village of Lakhpur where his father and younger brother were living. His father and younger brother were on their own and in 1986 they decided to demolish the family home. He explains that there’s a college there now and that a library was built at this location in the name of his grandfather. 58:57 – 1:04:38 Nadeem shares how he suffered a heart attack in 1990 during the marriage ceremony of his son in Williams Lake. Nadeem talks about the complicated relations of the South Asian families and the saw mill owners in Paldi and comments on the problems with the caste system that provokes discrimination within the South Asian community. Nadeem refers to disputes that arose amongst mill owners and investors that included Kapoor Singh Siddoo, Mayo Singh, Gurdial Singh Teja and Ginaya Singh which caused problems amongst his family and also lead to Kapoor Singh selling his portion of the mill. Nadeem spells “Ginaya” Singh’s name and explains that this name is the nickname for “Krishna”. Nadeem provides his insight into the joint ownership of the saw mills located in Paldi and how the the joint ownership was dissolved in 1952. Nadeem clarifies that Ginaya Singh also left Paldi and that Ginaya Singh’s wife is his mother in law’s aunt and that he also moved to Burnaby. Nadeem explains the proper name spelling of mill owner “Mayo Singh” and that the correct spelling is actually “Mayan Singh” but he changed it to “Mayo” when it was mis-pronounced. Nadeem also comments on the problems that he encountered in 1970 on the pronunciation of his own name while living in England and at one point his employer referred to him as “Paul”. 1:04:39 – 1:18:50 Nadeem relays that when he emigrated from India and to Canada that he carried his personal possessions in a small suitcase made from cardboard since the weight limit on the airplane was just three pounds. He conveys that many of his relations have all suffered from heart problems including Ginaya Singh and his children. Nadeem shares that Ginaya Singh’s three sons all lived in Burnaby. Nadeem conveys that many South Asians lived in Burnaby and many worked at saw mills in North Vancouver and in the L&K sawmill near Pemberton. Nadeem explains further about the how the disagreements came to be between Mayo Singh and Kapoor Singh. He describes how each had a different business strategy in harvesting lumber and that there were feuds amongst the families. Nadeem provides further details on the root of the family feuds. Nadeem provides definitions for certain Punjabi terms that he’s using including “Mehta”(meaning lowest class of farmers, foreigner as well head as a title given to people of a clan living in the area) and ‘Panchat”, the name of his family village that was built and founded by five brothers and one nephew (Panj- meaning five and the sound “cht” meaning six). Nadeem explains that these terms were given to people from his own clan living in the area because it was small. Nadeem explains further about status that is based on money and the Punjabi terms “Parsu”, “Parsa” and “Pasaram” that are often used to describe a person. When you are poor the term “Parsu” is used and when you become rich the term “Pasaram” is used. Nadeem refers to Mayo Singh as a Pasaram as the second most successful millner in British Columbia, second to Frederick John Hart. Nadeem mentions that Ginaya Singh, elder brother to Mayo Singh helped provide the finances to start the mill and when there was a disagreement, Ginaya Singh left the mill business, moved his family to Burnaby and began working in insurance. Nadeem shares the sad story of Ginaya Singh’s sudden death (in 1953). Nadeem states that many of the people who left the mills at Paldi went to work at the Kapoor Mill in Burnaby and some relocated to the Interior of British Columbia. Nadeem mentions that his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) was able to purchase a house on 18th Street in along with other residences that he bought with his hard earned money working in the farms and mills, 16 hours per day, seven days a week. 1:18:51 – 1:32:04 Nadeem explains why he thinks that most South Asian people worked in the mills in the earlier days. Nadeem conveys that since Sikh men wore beards and turbans they encountered discrimination and were unable to get work in the business community. Nadeem shares his own personal experiences of wearing a turban and the discrimination he’s encountered while living in Scotland and Canada. Nadeem mentions that a defense committee was formed to protect the Gurdwaras and people’s homes from being vandalized due to racial discrimination. Nadeem describes some of the troubles that he’s encountered in his own neighbourhood when he had to call the police. Nadeem shares a personal experience just after 9/11 where he was the target of racial discrimination in the parking lot of Burnaby Lake. Nadeem emphasizes that he has experienced many incidents of racial discrimination, especially in the workplace and that this was not unusual for him. 1:32:05 – 1:36:19 Nadeem talks about his interest in writing and his many literary works including 12 novels that he’s written in Punjabi. Nadeem highlights a few books that he’s written including a book titled “Rape” and another one titled “Sponsorship” which conveys the complex nature of people immigrating to Canada. Nadeem mentions a particular book about AIDS, titled “Wide Net” that he’s been trying to get published. Nadeem speaks to the challenges and high costs of trying to get his works published. Nadeem provides a brief synopsis of his book “Wide Net”. Nadeem relays that this is a personal account of a gay couple that he knew where one of the partners died of AIDS and that the couple gave Nadeem permission to tell their tragic story. 1:36:20 – 1:51:51 Nadeem talks about his children and compares their experiences to his own as a South Asian immigrant. Nadeems talks about the accomplishments of his son, his daughter and grandchildren including their education and careers. Nadeem says that his children are well educated and well established in their careers. Nadeem’s children attended Capitol Hill Elementary School and North Burnaby High School in Burnaby. Nadeem shares specifics of his son’s career history. Nadeem expresses that he still considers Canada to be the best country for opportunities and that he prefers to live in Burnaby rather than Surrey and shares some personal anecdotes. Nadeem lists some local places that he’s shopped for South Asian groceries and spices rather than travelling to Surrey. He mentions shopping at Kelly Douglas, stores in Chinatown, small grocers on Capitol Hill, Patel’s on Commercial Drive and Main Street. As an aside Nadeem mentions that he worked as a security guard and the wages that he earned. Nadeem comments that he has been awarded various certificates and certifications from his education and career over the years, including a Bachelor of Science. The interviewers further express their interest in seeing the cardboard case that Nadeem brought with him when immigrating to Canada. In closing Nadeem states that his favourite food from back home was kheer (rice pudding).
- History
- Interviewee biography: Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar was born June 9, 1936, Chuck 138 in Lyalpur (India before 1947) to parents Lakhmir Singh Parmar and Davinder Kaur Jamana Parmar. Nadeem grew up in the village of Panchat in the northern region of Punjab, India. Nadeem married his wife Surjeet in Punjab in 1960. After marrying the couple immigrated to England where Nadeem was already working. While living in England, Nadeem and Surjeet had two children. After Surjeet's father died in Canada in 1972, Nadeem, Surjeet and their two children immgrated to Canada, joining Surjeet's family who were living in Burnaby. After Nadeem immigrated to Burnaby in 1973 he worked various jobs before working with CN/CP Telecommunications. Nadeem holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Teaching from Punjab University and a diploma from the London Board of Education (L.B.E.) and a P.Eng. from Lancaster. He has seven books published in Punjabi, three in Urdu and is published in eight anthologies. He is fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi. Interviewers' biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
- Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
- Buildings - Industrial - Factories
- Education
- Employment
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Migration
- Occupations - Engineers
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Occupations - Teachers
- Occupations - Writers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Names
- Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Siddoo, Kapoor Singh
- Teja, Gurdial Singh
- Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
- Manhas, Ghania Singh
- Singh, Mayo
- Manhas, Kashmir Singh
- Manhas, Sher Singh
- Manhas, Budhan Kaur
- Manhas, Lashman Singh
- Responsibility
- Malik, Anushay
- Rajdeep
- Geographic Access
- Woodsworth Street
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1600-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Oct. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
- Capitol Hill Area
- Related Material
- See also BV022.29.5 - Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
- Interview is conducted in English with various segments of discussion in Punjabi
- Transcript of interview available upon request
Audio Tracks
Interview with Kalwant Singh
Interview with Kalwant Singh
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0001_003.mp3In the shadow by the sea : recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5173
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Publication Date
- c2004
- Call Number
- 971.133 PRI Copy 2
.
�Burnaby's Barnet District Then and Now
Carraholly
Bestwood Lumber Company/
Western Canada Steel Company
(site of Russian Submarine construction)
Nichols Chemical Company
Inlet View Motel
BC Electric Company
Buntzen Hydroelectric Power Lines
Kapoor Sawmills Limited
Barnet Rifle Range
Barnet Village
North
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 0969282885
- Call Number
- 971.133 PRI Copy 2
- Contributor
- Wolf, Jim
- Pride, Harry, 1925-
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- City of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- c2004
- Physical Description
- 246 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 28 cm.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Burnaby (B.C.)--History
- Industries--British Columbia--Burnaby--History
- Barnet Marine Park--Burnaby, B.C.
- Geographic Access
- Barnet Road
- Burrard Inlet
- Notes
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 246) and index.
- "edited by Harry Pride and Jim Wolf"
- Copy 2 of 2