23 records – page 1 of 2.

Building Department fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription13
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1926-2003
Collection/Fonds
Building Department fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
10 cm of textual records.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of historical building records from the Building Department.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1926-2003
Collection/Fonds
Building Department fonds
Physical Description
10 cm of textual records.
Description Level
Fonds
File Class
48100 05 (add. 2020; prev. D)
48100 10 (add. 2020; prev. D)
48100 11 (add. 2020; prev. D)
48100 12 (add. 2020; prev. D)
48100 14 (add. 2020; prev. D)
48100 18 (add. 2020; prev. D)
Reproduction Restriction
Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of historical building records from the Building Department.
History
In 2022, responsibility for Major Civic Projects was moved from the Planning and Building Department to the newly-created Lands and Facilities Department.
Media Type
Textual Record
Creator
City of Burnaby
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds.
Less detail

Burnaby Girl Guides fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4614
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1914-2009
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
22 scrapbooks : photographs + textual records + illustrations + digital files : col. (pdfs) + photographs : col. (tiffs) + col. (jpegs) + 222 photographs : b&w ; col. + 12 cm of textual records + ephemera
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a collection of scrapbooks containing photographs, textual records, illustrations and ephemera along with individual photographs and textual records related to Burnaby Girl Guides. Records document the activities and functions of Burnaby Girl Guides through histories, journals, ne…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
22 scrapbooks : photographs + textual records + illustrations + digital files : col. (pdfs) + photographs : col. (tiffs) + col. (jpegs) + 222 photographs : b&w ; col. + 12 cm of textual records + ephemera
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a collection of scrapbooks containing photographs, textual records, illustrations and ephemera along with individual photographs and textual records related to Burnaby Girl Guides. Records document the activities and functions of Burnaby Girl Guides through histories, journals, newspaper clippings, certificates, awards, programmes, photographs, illustrations and newsletters. Scrapbooks were created by Burnaby Girl Guides and Girl Guide leaders and deposited with the Burnaby Girl Guide Archivist prior to being donated to the Burnaby Village Museum. Record descriptions are available at both item and file level. Fonds is arranged into the following series: 1) Burnaby Girl Guides scrapbooks and photographs series 2) Burnaby Girl Guides administrative records and histories series 3) Burnaby Girl Guides newsletters series 4) Burnaby Girl Guides memorabilia series
History
The Girl Guide Movement began in England in 1909 when girls in England demanded to take part in a Boy Scouts rally at the Crystal Palace in London, organized by Chief Scout and Boy Scout founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Following this event, Baden Powell asked his sister, Agnes Baden-Powell to help him start a similar organization for girls and Girl Guides was formed. Girl Guides came to Canada in 1910 and the first troop in British Columbia was registered in Victoria in 1912. In 1913 Amy Leigh moved to Burnaby from England and enquired about a Guiding company in her area and was disappointed to find none. On June 11, 1914 at the age of 17 years, Amy registered the 1st Burnaby Girl Guide Company and became the captain. On April 2, 1916 the 2nd Burnaby Guide Company registered and met at Edmonds School. In this same year, the very first Burnaby Girl Guide Rally event took place at Central Park and by 1920 another took place at the Burnaby Municipal Hall (Edmonds) and was attended by both Burnaby and New Westminster Guides. The First Burnaby Brownie Pack was registered on December 1922 with Mrs. W.J. Matherson as Brown Owl. The Brownie Pack met in a West Burnaby facility. The First Burnaby Land Ranger Co. was formed on November 29, 1923 and by 1924 Burnaby became a District with four Guide companies, four Brownie Packs and the Rangers. In 1923 records show Mrs. Gavin as commissioner, Mrs. C.F. Carter in 1924 and Miss Amy Leigh between 1926 and 1928. The first District camp was held near Sechelt in 1927 on the property of Mrs. Deal and Mrs. Nixon with annual camps held here until 1930 when the Guide camp at Wilson Creek was established. In 1929 Guides and Brownies began taking part in the Annual May Day Celebrations at Central Park. In 1930 Burnaby became a Division with Mrs. C.F. Carter as Division Commissioner and Mrs. G. Peel as District Commissioner for South Burnaby and in 1931 Miss Amy Leigh became the first North Burnaby Commissioner. The 5th Burnaby Girl Guide Company in North Burnaby began publishing a bulletin in 1935. In this same year Burnaby Girl Guides attended a rally for Lord and Lady Powell who were visiting Vancouver and Burnaby Girl Guides became affiliated with Greater Vancouver Girl Guide Council. The packs and companies of North Burnaby were attached to the eastern section of Vancouver while South Burnaby and South Vancouver District became another Division. Mrs. Pochin organized the Burnaby Lake District in 1943 becoming the first District commissioner (In 1927 Mrs. Peel had guides in this area). The first training classes for Girl Guides were held in 1943 in a hall on Buller Avenue at the BCER tracks and also Phillips Hall on McKay Avenue. By 1945 a training camp was held on Mrs. Pochin’s property on Deer Lake. South Vancouver, South Burnaby and Burnaby Lake Districts took part in the training which was a change over from war time service and the return of Pioneer camping. Miss E. Perition was in charge of camp which was attended by Mrs. J. Quinnell, Mrs. J. Albertson and many guiders. In 1946 Lady Baden Powel returned for a visit to Vancouver and there was a rally at Connaught Park and Chief Scout Lord Rowallyn held a rally at Brocton Point. In 1947 Mrs. J. Albertson became Division Commissioner for South Vancouver and South Burnaby. Districts of Burnaby Lake and South Burnaby each adopted a European child and undertook to send regular parcels and by 1948 these Districts became a Burnaby Division once more under Division Commissioner Mrs. W.M. Wall. In September 1949 the first Sea Ranger Crew “S.R.S. Royal Oak” was formed under the Skipper, Miss E. Periton. The S.R.S. Royal Oak met at All Saint’s Church Hall on Royal Oak Ave. In 1950 Packs and Companies in North Burnaby organized into a District under Mrs. Hebron and in 1953 Sperling District was organized by District Commissioner Mrs. Hancock. 1953 was also the same year that South Burnaby District was divided into three Districts: Central Park District under Commissioner Miss Perition, Douglas District under Commissioner Mrs. J. McKee Wilson and Kingsway under Commissioner Mrs. J.G. Fowler. A few years later, in 1955 the guides and brownies were out in force to welcome Lady Baden Powel at a rally held in the PNE Gardens building and by March 1956 Burnaby ceased to be a part of Greater Vancouver Area and was organized under two Divisions of the Province. The Sperling, Willingdon and Vancouver Heights Districts in North Burnaby became North Burnaby Division with Mrs. H. Hebron as Division Commissioner. With rapid population growth further decentralization became necessary and South Burnaby Division was split in two, adding the new division of Central Burnaby under Commissioner Miss E. Perition. Central Burnaby was composed of three Districts: Burnaby Lake, Central Park and a new District named “Windsor” under Mrs. C. Dumfries. South Burnaby was composed of three Districts: Kingsway, Edmonds and Lakeview (the latter two also referred to as Douglas with Mrs. McGeachie and Mrs. J. Park as the first commissioners of these two Districts). In 1957 Burnaby became an Area unto itself with three Divisions, and 9 Districts under Miss Periton as the first Area Commissioner. In February 1957, Burnaby entered into a contract with Vancouver Girl Guide Council to lease a part of the Wilson Creek campsite. Under the leadership of Area Commissioner, Miss Periton, work started on the development of the site with funds raised by both the Girl Guides, local citizens and associations. A camp committee was formed with representation from each Division and a lot of help from Miss Norah Weller, the Wilson Creek camp manager. Plans were laid for the site with a dining shelter, store room and cook stove contracted for while a subcommittee of men was appointed to purchase building supplies and organize work parties to build cabins, a staff house, water pipes and sanitary facilities. The site opened in May 1958 with $6000 expended on building and equipping the camp, while an official opening took place on June 8 and by July Girl Guides began camping on the site. The Burnaby Area Committee became a member of the Burnaby Community Council and a participant in Community Chest in 1958 and on May 1, the Burnaby Area office opened. By 1959, with further participation in North Burnaby, Sperling District was split to form Sperling and Hillview Districts and by 1960 Kingsway District of South Burnaby split to form Kingsway and Royal Oak Districts. By December 1960, Burnaby Area had 3 Divisions, 11 Districts with a total membership of 2, 331.
Creator
Girl Guides of Canada
Accession Code
BV015.35
BV015.36
BV016.49
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
1914-2009
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Some scrapbooks are only available in digital formats
Accessions that form part of this fonds include: BV015.35; BV015.36; BV016.49
Less detail

City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription29
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1892-2021
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
130m of textual records and other material
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records generated in the course of municipal business by City Council and the Office of the City Clerk.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1892-2021
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Physical Description
130m of textual records and other material
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
Subject to FOIPPA
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records generated in the course of municipal business by City Council and the Office of the City Clerk.
History
The City of Burnaby covers an area of approximately 98 square kilometers between the cities of Vancouver to the west, and Coquitlam and New Westminster to the east, Burrard Inlet to the north, and the Fraser River to the south. The municipality derived its name from Robert Burnaby, a prominent businessman and advisor to Sir James Douglas, the first Governor of the Crown Colony of British Columbia. Burnaby’s early development was closely tied to the development of the City of New Westminster. New Westminster became British Columbia’s capital in 1859, the year after the British Government proclaimed the establishment of British Columbia. Shortly thereafter, the Royal Engineers began exploring Burnaby to establish military defenses and secure natural resources. This involved the construction of a road linking New Westminster to Burrard Inlet for military purposes, which is present-day North Road. At this time, individuals and families began settling in Burnaby and were largely involved in agricultural and logging activities. Burnaby developed slowly until 1887, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was extended into Vancouver from the Port Moody terminal, causing a dramatic increase in traffic between New Westminster and Vancouver. To meet the new transportation demands, a tramline was built in 1891 connecting the two urban centers along what is now Kingsway. The creation and location of the tramline induced property owners to begin subdividing and selling their lands as early as October 1891. The property taxes the roughly 200 residents paid at this time went directly to the provincial government in Victoria. No local services were provided in turn, which prompted the formation of a committee to petition the provincial government for a municipal charter. As a result, the Corporation of the District of Burnaby was incorporated by letters patent on September 22, 1892. Burnaby’s first Council was elected by acclamation on October 15, 1892 and consisted of Reeve Charles R. Shaw and councillors William Brenchley, Arthur De Windt Hazard, L. Claude Hill, William McDermott, and John Woolard.* The first formal Council election was conducted three months later. Nicolai Shou became the first elected reeve of Burnaby by ballot. Council met at various locations, including the tramline’s power house, private homes, and offices until the first municipal hall was built at Kingsway and Edmonds in 1899. Council is ultimately responsible for the government of the City of Burnaby. The Mayor (formally called “Reeve” prior to 1968) and Council are elected by the residents of Burnaby to represent them in decisions with respect to the provision of public services and facilities. Additionally, the Mayor represents the citizens of Burnaby at various public functions and events. Burnaby was without Council representation during most of the Great Depression and part of the Second World War. Council was disbanded on December 31, 1932 as a result of financial difficulties. The Provincial Government appointed a Commissioner to take over the duties of Reeve and Council beginning in 1933. This system of government was retained until January 1943, when Burnaby residents could once again elect their local government officials. The following individuals have served as Mayor (or Reeve) of Burnaby: Charles R. Shaw 1892 Nicolai C. Schou 1893-1903 Charles F. Sprott 1904-1905 Peter Byrne 1906-1910 John W. Weart 1911-1912 Duncan C. McGregor 1913 Hugh M. Fraser 1914-1918 Thomas Sanderson 1919-1920 Alexander K. McLean 1921-1926; 1928-1929 Charles C. Bell 1927 William L. Burdick 1929 William A. Pritchard 1930-1932 William Tate Wilson 1943-1944 George A. Morrison 1945-1949 William R. Beamish 1950-1953 Charles W. MacSorley 1954-1957 Alan H. Emmott 1958-1968 Robert W. Prittie 1969-1973 Thomas W. Constable 1973-1979 David M. Mercier 1979-1981 William A. Lewarne 1981-1987 William J. Copeland 1987-1996 Douglas P. Drummond 1996-2002 Derek R. Corrigan 2002-2018 Mike Hurley 2018-present The following individuals have served as provincially appointed Commissioners for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby: John Bennett 1933 John Mahony 1933-1934 Hugh M. Fraser 1934-1940* R.S. Gilchrist 1941-1942* B.C. Bracewell 1942* *Richard Bolton was Acting Commissioner for most of 1940-1942. He refused to be a full-fledged Commissioner. Closely associated with the functions of Council is the City Clerk. The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for the statutory duties of the municipal clerk including the preparation and preservation of all minutes books and records of Council business, custody of City bylaws, administrative support to Council and its Committees, preparation of Council and Committee agendas and the conduct of local government elections. The Clerk’s Office is the communications link between Council and other City Departments and the general public, and provides assistance and advice to citizens with respect to Council and Council Committee processes, reporting procedures and decisions. At the time of Burnaby’s incorporation in 1892, the municipal Clerk had the responsibility to attend all meetings of Council, keep all records of Council, prepare and alter voters’ lists, conduct Council elections, collect revenue, as well as having the responsibility to prepare balance sheets and audits. An advertisement in a local newspaper for the appointment of the Clerk dated February 1, 1905 states the “united offices of clerk, collector and assessor” receive a salary of $65.00 per month. Originally the treasurer, assessor and records manager for the corporation, the Clerk eventually became the municipal Council liaison. The primary functions of the City Clerk over time have been the keeping of minutes for the meetings of City Council and related bodies; keeping the records of the City of Burnaby as required by the Local Government Act (formally Municipal Act); keeping all records related to City Council decision making; carrying out correspondence on behalf of Council; assembling voters’ lists and carrying out elections; providing communication, information, and public relations services, including responsibility for civic ceremonies/events, and the municipal archives. The following individuals have served as City Clerk: Alexander Philip 1892–1894 Alfred Smither 1894–1899 F.J.H. Shirley 1899–1901 Arthur De Windt Haszard 1901–1902 Walter J. Walker 1902–1905 Benjamin George Walker 1905–1908 Charles Thomas Saunders 1908–1911 W.M. Griffiths 1911–1912 Arthur G. Moore 1912–1933 Charles Boyer Brown 1933–1959 John H. Shaw 1959–1973* James Hudson 1974–1984 Charles A. Turpin 1984–1995 Debbie R. Comis 1995–2011 Anne Skipsey (Acting) 2011-2012 Maryann Manuel (Acting) 2012-2014 Dennis Back 2014-2018 Kate O'Connell 2018-2020 Blanka Zeinabova 2020-2022 *Deputy City Clerk T. Ward took over many of the Clerk’s duties from 1972 to 1973 due to Shaw’s ill health during these years.
Formats
Microforms exist for some records. See series descriptions.
Media Type
Textual Record
Creator
City of Burnaby
Notes
Title based on creators of fonds
Less detail

Doreen Lawson fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58356
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1950-2002
Collection/Fonds
Doreen Lawson fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
18 cm of textual records + approx. 1000 photographs
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created and received by Doreen Lawson during her career as Parks Commissioner (1965-1971), Burnaby City Council member (1972-1985, 1990-1999) and environmental advocate following her retirement from Council in 1999. Records include election campaign materials, congratulat…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1950-2002
Collection/Fonds
Doreen Lawson fonds
Physical Description
18 cm of textual records + approx. 1000 photographs
Description Level
Fonds
Accession Number
2003-30
2015-15
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created and received by Doreen Lawson during her career as Parks Commissioner (1965-1971), Burnaby City Council member (1972-1985, 1990-1999) and environmental advocate following her retirement from Council in 1999. Records include election campaign materials, congratulatory letters and correspondence, community speeches and slideshow presentations regarding the conservation of Burnaby Lake, the administrative papers of the Burnaby Centennial Rhododendron and Spring Flower Show Society, and photographs of Burnaby waterways and wildlife.
History
Doreen Anne Fowler Lawson was born July 8, 1928, to Eva Barnhill and Leonard Fowler. Her parents met in Alberta but decided to move to Vancouver where they got married and Doreen was born. The family moved to the north side of Claude Avenue in Burnaby when Doreen was a few months old. In 1931, they moved to a house with an acre of land directly across the street from their first house.
When Doreen was six, her family moved to Collingwood, Vancouver, near where her father grew up. This is where her brother Ron was born. The family moved again to County Line in Langley Prairie in 1944, which is where Doreen met Edward Lawson, her future husband. Soon after, they moved to a seven-acre plot in Burquitlam. Ed and Doreen Lawson’s eldest daughter, Linda, was born in 1954. Their second daughter, Wendy, was born in 1959 and their youngest, Lisa, was born in 1961. They lived in the Brentwood area, where all three daughters attended Brentwood Elementary School. Linda went on to Alpha Secondary School.
In 1945, Doreen began her first of several office jobs, and in the early 1950s she became the first woman to be elected into a vice-president position within the BC Trade Union Congress (now the BC Federation of Labour).
Doreen Lawson had a long and prolific political career, starting as Parks Commissioner in 1965, and serving as its chair from 1969 to 1971. She was instrumental in the selection and promotion of the rhododendron as the official flower of Burnaby in 1966. In 1971, she was elected to Burnaby City Council and, in 1972, Doreen proposed that Council take action to declare Burnaby Lake a wildlife sanctuary. After a 10-year campaign, she was able to convince Council to declare the park “a nature conservation area.” She put forward a policy of preservation for creeks and streams, as well as a proposal to preserve trees in subdivisions, both of which were adopted by Council. Doreen continued to serve on Council until 1985, during which time she initiated and chaired the Burnaby Information Committee, which designed the present Burnaby logo (and official flower pins) and established the Information Burnaby Newsletter. In 1979 Doreen Lawson won Vancouver Natural History Society’s Frank Sanford Award.
In 1984, Doreen was elected the first woman president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Doreen ran as a BC Liberal Party candidate in the new Federal Riding of Burnaby in 1979, and from 1985 to 1987, she served as the Executive Director of the British Columbia Liberal Party. As the B.C. Liberal Party Executive Director, her major responsibility was to work with both the Federal and Provincial Associations in implementing riding organizations and fundraising programs in preparation for election time. In the 1980s, Doreen was an active guest lecturer at Burnaby Elementary and High Schools as well as at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. Doreen was active in a variety of community clubs and organizations including: the Burnaby Library Board; Greater Vancouver Spinners and Weavers Guild; and Vancouver Natural History Society. She was an executive member of the Burnaby-New Westminster Canada Summer Games; the Burnaby Division of the United Way; Information Burnaby Committee; and the Brentwood Parent Teachers Association; as well as serving as the President of the Burnaby Voters Association from 1988-1990.
In 1990, Doreen was elected back to Burnaby Council and put forward the rejuvenation of Burnaby Lake which she saw completed before her final year on Council in 1999. Doreen continued to be a strong environmental advocate for the protection and rejuvenation of Burnaby Lake after she retired from council.
Doreen Lawson died October 11, 2003.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Lawson, Doreen A.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
MSS071, photo catalogue 605, photo catalogue 618
Less detail

Elaine A. Myers fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88370
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1948-1961 (date of originals)
Collection/Fonds
Elaine A. Myers fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
4 photographs (jpeg) : sepia ; 96 dpi
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of four digital copies of photographs; two are Elaine Myers' class portraits while attending Kingsway West and two are of Elaine's father, William Myers, next to the pulpit and the altar of St. Andrews Church.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1948-1961 (date of originals)
Collection/Fonds
Elaine A. Myers fonds
Physical Description
4 photographs (jpeg) : sepia ; 96 dpi
Material Details
Jpegs are copies created by the donor of sepia originals.
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2013-26
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of four digital copies of photographs; two are Elaine Myers' class portraits while attending Kingsway West and two are of Elaine's father, William Myers, next to the pulpit and the altar of St. Andrews Church.
History
Elaine Anne Myers was born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, in 1939 and immigrated to British Columbia with her family in 1947. She was the eldest daughter of William Sefton and Edna (nee Howarth) Myers and sister to Hermione Christine, born in 1943. Her father, William Sefton Myers was born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, in 1905 and was one of six children. He married Edna Howarth on July 29, 1933. Before immigrating to Canada, William worked as a purchasing agent at Walkers Tannery in Bolton and later became a cabinet maker in the 1930s, building and designing most of the family’s furniture. In September 1947, he and his family immigrated to Canada along with his younger brother, Hermann, and his wife and daughter. The family were granted landed immigrant status upon their arrival at Dorval airport in Montreal on September 25, 1947, and travelled to Vancouver by train, arriving in early October. They shared their first home on Imperial Street in Burnaby with William’s brother Hermann and family, but after several months were able to purchase their own new home on MacKay Avenue just below Victory in South Burnaby. William’s first job was working as a night janitor at the Woodwards Department store in Vancouver. He was later hired as a purchasing agent for the Seagrams Distillery in New Westminster, where he stayed until his retirement in 1970. Elaine’s mother, Edna (nee Howarth) Myers worked in the offices of Pacific Veneer Canadian Forest Products in New Westminster, retiring from there in 1967. The family moved again in the 1950s to a house on the corner of Sussex and Victory and Elaine and Christine attended a variety of Burnaby schools including; Kingsway West, Nelson Avenue and McPherson Park Junior High. The family were parishioners of All Saints Anglican Church in Burnaby where Elaine also attended Girl Guides. Elaine’s father fulfilled his dream of designing and building the family home when he purchased property on London Street in New Westminster. The family moved to New Westminster and lived in a small house on the property while William spent three years completing their new home. Elaine commuted to Burnaby by the Interurban train in order to complete her studies at McPherson Park Junior High before enrolling at Duke of Connaught and graduating from Lester Pearson in New Westminster in 1957. In 1961, William Myers built the sanctuary lectern, pulpit, and altar for St. Andrew’s Church on Smith Avenue in Burnaby his brother Hermann’s parish. By the mid-1960s, William and Edna Myers moved from their home in New Westminster to White Rock. Edna Myers died on April 23, 1969. William built the ambry for the church of St. Mark as a memorial. William remarried Ruth, a widow, in 1971, and they resided in White Rock until Ruth’s death in 1983. William died in White Rock March 26, 1991. Elaine Myers married Gordon Wilfred Atkinson in 1961; they had four children and lived in the Dunbar area of Vancouver before they separated ways in 1988. Elaine completed her Bachelor of Arts degree as a mature student at University of British Columbia in 1984 followed by the completion of her Master’s degree at University of Toronto in April 1996, and PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) in 2007. She has lived abroad in Jerusalem and the United Kingdom, working on a variety of research projects. Elaine Anne Myers passed away on February 19, 2015.
Media Type
Photograph
Creator
Myers, Elaine A.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Photo catalogue 580
Less detail

Elmer Wilson Martin fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10611
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1934-1973
Collection/Fonds
Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
42 photographs + 9 architectural drawings + approx. 4 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of E.W. Martin during his military service with the RCAF; development in Burnaby along Winch Street; Martin's Auto Villa on Hastings and Paneloc buildings together with E.W. Martin's military service records and other records relating to E.W. Martin's involvement with …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
42 photographs + 9 architectural drawings + approx. 4 cm of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of E.W. Martin during his military service with the RCAF; development in Burnaby along Winch Street; Martin's Auto Villa on Hastings and Paneloc buildings together with E.W. Martin's military service records and other records relating to E.W. Martin's involvement with Paneloc Marketing Ltd. and other businesses. Fonds is arranged in the following series 1) E.W. Martin photographs series 2) E.W. Martin military records and photographs series 3) E.W. Martin business records series
History
Elmer Wilson Martin (1909-1973) was a professional engineer who lived most of his life in Burnaby. He was born in Treesbank Manitoba to William Henry Martin and Bethia “Bertie” Snell. Elmer married Ellen "Reta" Renetta Boyd (1908-1984) in approx. 1930. The couple moved to Burnaby in 1931 and Elmer graduated from UBC. Following his graduation from UBC, he spent two years at the University of Saskatchewan doing research. From 1936-1937 he worked at the Port Alice mill of the B.C. Pulp and paper Co and later worked for the Boeing aircraft plant at Vancouver. He joined the RCAF in September 1939, serving as chief engineering officer at various Canadian and overseas stations during WWII, until being discharged as a pilot and wing commander in November 1945. He served as NHA assistant regional engineer for a year after his discharge before becoming the owner and operator of Martin Auto Villa at 6574 East Hastings Street in North Burnaby. He was a director of the Burnaby Board of Trade from 1951 and chairman of the Burnaby Industrial Development Board and a member of the Professional Engineers' Association. He ran for Reeve under the Non-Partisan Association in Burnaby's municipal election in 1959 and donated land on Burnaby Mountain for Simon Fraser University. He had many businesses throughout his life including Paneloc Marketing Ltd. and his last one was as Director with the construction company Webb & Knapp Canada Ltd. The couple lived at various locations in Burnaby including, 6574 East Hastings Street eventually settling at 7231 Sutliff Street in North Burnaby in 1957. Elmer's brother, Wilbert Maurice Martin (1907-1980) was also born in Treesbank, Manitoba. Wilbert "Bert" was married to Eva (nee Erhart) Martin (1911-1993). Wilbert and Eva Martin lived on Winch Street in Burnaby. They first lived at 6776 Winch Street before relocating their house to 6656 Winch Street, Burnaby. Wilbert worked in construction as a building contractor and Eva worked as a hostess in the hotel industry. Paneloc buildings were developed by Elmer W. Martin, president of Paneloc Manufacturing Ltd. beginning in 1957 and were based on a design by A.B. Wenaus and Sons Ltd. In 1964, Martin held patents for his design of paneloc buildings in thirty six countries. Since Martin trained as a mechanical engineer, he developed a plan for his home model over a six year period in series of experiments with materials, styles, methods and sizes. Paneloc homes were prefabricated, using specially built bevelled wall panels cut-pie segments to form both the roof and the floor. The wall panels were designed to squeeze together by two metal straps on a turn-buckle basis. The roof and floor were held in place with factory-installed tap block bolts and a long wooden spine which fit in a keyway between the sections. The prefabricated parts were insulated and built with door and window allowances at Harrigan Industries Ltd. in Vancouver where Martin was part owner. Epoxy resin allowed the panels to be assembled without nails using weather-proofed five ply plywood. Sizes of homes varied using four by eight foot wall panels and increasing the span of the floor and roof sections. Harrigan Industries Ltd. continued to sell the prefabricated paneloc buildings until it went into receivership in late 1974.
Creator
Martin, Elmer Wilson
Accession Code
BV015.39
BV019.37
BV019.40
Date
1934-1973
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Architectural Drawing
Arrangement
The records are organized into three series based on the individual's business work as well as military and personal life. The photograhs series includes both professional and personal content.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Engineering Department fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription43
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1912-2014
Collection/Fonds
Engineering Department fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
1m of textual records, approximately 2000 cartographic and architecural drawings
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created by the Engineering department including environmental service files, physical plant plans, and administrative records.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1912-2014
Collection/Fonds
Engineering Department fonds
Physical Description
1m of textual records, approximately 2000 cartographic and architecural drawings
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
Subject to FOIPPA
Reproduction Restriction
Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created by the Engineering department including environmental service files, physical plant plans, and administrative records.
History
In 2020, responsibility for environmental management transferred to Climate Action and Energy, with Engineering retaining responsibility for geotechnical investigations and graffiti management. In 2022, Engineering became responsible for a consolidated Transportation group that aligns transportation planning and implementation functions. Green Fleet and Equipment also moved from Climate Action and Energy to the Public Works division of the Engineering Department. In 2022, Facilities Management was transferred from Engineering to the newly-created Lands and Facilities Department. James Lota served as General Manager, Engineering from 2021-2022. Jozsef Dioszeghy has served in the role since April 2022.
Media Type
Textual Record
Cartographic Material
Architectural Drawing
Creator
City of Burnaby
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds.
Less detail

Esther Love Stanley fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18841
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1896-[2015] (dates of originals)
Collection/Fonds
Esther Love Stanley fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
2 photograph albums + 3 photographs + 128 photographs (tiffs & jpgs) + 1 cm textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of original photograph albums created by Esther (Love) Stanley as well as a collection of digital reproductions of photographs, documents and newspaper clippings pertaining to the Love, Stanley and Shankie families.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Esther Love Stanley fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
2 photograph albums + 3 photographs + 128 photographs (tiffs & jpgs) + 1 cm textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of original photograph albums created by Esther (Love) Stanley as well as a collection of digital reproductions of photographs, documents and newspaper clippings pertaining to the Love, Stanley and Shankie families.
History
Esther Love Stanley was born in Burnaby in 1896 to parents Jesse Love (1847-1928) and Martha Leonard (1858-1920). Esther's father, Jesse Love was born in Swindon, England and left England to work on a dairy farm in the Toronto area. While working on the farm in Toronto, Jesse met Martha Leonard and they married in 1879. While living in Toronto, Jesse and Martha had two children, George (1880-1974) and Annie Elizabeth (1881-1957). About one year after Annie was born, the Love family moved to North Dakota to grow wheat. While living there, they had two more children, Henry (1883-1956) and Edith Minnie (1885-1976). The family decided to move further west after hearing about the fairer weather conditions from Martha’s father, George Leonard, who had settled in Vancouver in 1885. On May 23, 1887, Jesse, Martha and their four children arrived in Vancouver after travelling across Canada from Winnipeg on the first transcontinental train. Soon after their fifth child, Thomas Robert (1887-1918) was born, the family moved to Lulu Island in Richmond where they lived growing vegetables and selling them to Vancouver hotels. While living and farming on Lulu island, the couple had two more children Martha (Dot or Dorothy) (1889-1972) and Sarah Marie (1892-1978). In October 1893, Jesse Love purchased land in District Lot 25, Burnaby and built a house between 1893 and 1894. A road was constructed and named Cumberland in 1905 and the address for the Love home was 1390 Cumberland Road (after 1960- 7651 Cumberland). While living in the house, Jesse and Martha had four more children, Phoebe Leonard (1894-1991), Esther (1896-1991), John Leonard (1899-1978) and Hannah Victoria (also known as Girlie) (1902-1976). Frank Charles “Stan” Stanley was born in London, England in 1891. Frank “Stan” Stanley is the youngest son of John Stanley and Mary (Conquest) Stanley. John and Mary had eleven children: Conquest John “Con”, George, Alice, Mary, Nelly, Mabel Annie, Percy William, Henry James, Ada Elizabeth, Arthur Ewart and Frank Charles. In 1912, Frank Charles Stanley immigrated to Canada. Frank Stanley served in the 29th Battalion (nicknamed Tobin's Tigers) during the First World War. He received a Military Medal for bravery while serving as lieutenant. Esther Love and Frank “Stan” Stanley maintained a relationship through letter writing during the First World War and in 1921 after he returned, they were married at St. Alban’s Church in Burnaby. Frank and Esther Stanley (nee Love) had four children, Mary Frances (Pearson) (d. 1986), Ina Esther (Shankie) (1924-2017), Frank Conquest and Joyce (Warner). Frank Charles “Stan” Stanley ran a service station on St. John's Street in Port Moody for many years and also served as mayor of Port Moody in the 1940s. Frank Charles Stanley died in 1975 and Esther Love Stanley died in 1991. In 1947, Ina Esther Stanley married Thomas Ramsay “Ram” Shankie (1920-1996). Ina and Thomas Ramsay Shankie had four children; David Andre Shankie (b. 1951), Linda Lorraine Shankie (Hanlon), Susan Lesley Shankie (Weston) and Kathryn Louise Shankie. The family lived at 5351 Kalyk Avenue in Burnaby (later 3676 Kalyk Avenue). Thomas Ramsay Shankie is the son of Thomas Shankie (1872-1959) and Bertha Janet Shankie (nee Gray) (1891-1965). Thomas Shankie (Sr.) immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1905. In 1919 Thomas Shankie married Bertha Janet Gray at Henderson Presbyterian Church in West Burnaby. Thomas was the church organist and choir master of the church. Once married, the couple moved to a house located at 3718 Barker Avenue (later became 5515 Barker Avenue). Thomas and Bertha Shankie had two children, Thomas Ramsay Shankie (1920-1996) and Janet Isabella Shankie (Bower) (1923-2014). Around the age of 46 years, Thomas Shankie joined a gym and bought a bicycle to improve his health. By 1955 at the age of 83 years, Thomas Shankie had logged over two hundred thousand miles since buying his first bicycle. His motto was "ride a bicycle if you want to stay young and live long". Thomas also competed in many cycling races. Janet Isabella Shankie Bower (1923-2014) married Charles Franklin "Frank" Bower (1914-2004) in 1947. Janet and Frank Bower had two children; Gordon Franklin Bower (1951-2003) and Janet (Flintroy).
Creator
Stanley, Esther Love
Accession Code
BV015.40
BV016.43
BV022.32
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
1896-[2015] (dates of originals)
Media Type
Photograph
Arrangement
Creator as well as descendants maintained original photograph albums along with digital copies of original family records. A selection of digital copies and originals were preserved in the order in which they were maintained and are reflected in the archival descriptions. When original photograph albums were acquired in 2022, some digital surrogates were deaccesioned.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
See also Love family fonds
Items of ephemera are described as artifacts in the Burnaby Village Museum artifact collection.
Less detail

Hill family and Vidal family fonds

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

Hugh H. Stewart fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9771
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[188_]-1960
Collection/Fonds
Hugh H. Stewart fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
12 cm of textual records + 2 photographs
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of textual records and photographs collected or created by Hugh H. Stewart in the course of his personal and professional life. Records include receipts relating to property sales and taxes, utilities, association memberships (Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Vancouver Heights Ratep…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Hugh H. Stewart fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
12 cm of textual records + 2 photographs
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of textual records and photographs collected or created by Hugh H. Stewart in the course of his personal and professional life. Records include receipts relating to property sales and taxes, utilities, association memberships (Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Vancouver Heights Ratepayers Association, Burnaby Lions Club and Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans), insurance, loans and healthcare along with an elections candidate card and documents from his business “Stewart’s Cartage and Fuel Supply”; minutes from the Ratepayers Association and a handwritten recipe for potato salad. Records have been arranged into the following series: 1) Hugh H. Stewart photographs series 2) Hugh H. Stewart personal documents series 3) Stewart's Cartage and Fuel Supply business records series 4) Hugh H. Stewart associations and memberships series
History
Hugh Henry Stewart was born July 18 1887 to Duncan Hugh (1860-1935) and Henrietta Stewart (1860-1944) in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The couple moved to Nanaimo in 1888 with their four children, the oldest of which was Hugh Henry. The family moved to Vancouver in about 1908 and lived at 995 West 7th Avenue while Duncan Stewart worked as a carpenter. Hugh Henry found work as a hardware clerk at the “Forbes and Van Horne” hardware store located at 52 West Hastings, Vancouver. He worked at the store until WWI broke out and his wages were cut. In 1910 Hugh Henry Stewart moved to Burnaby and purchased a house in District Lot 116, in the 3900 block of Albert Street between Ingleton Avenue and McDonald Avenue. This was the only house in this block at the time (3902 Albert Street) but the following year, five more houses were built. In 1911, Hugh married Patience (known as Bertha) Alberta Inglis of Vancouver and between 1911 and 1912, Hugh cleared land around the house. The couple raised three children at their home in Vancouver Heights (now named Burnaby Heights); Duncan Hugh, Daniel Melbourne and Audrey Pearl. In 1914, the Vancouver Heights Ratepayers Association was formed and Hugh Stewart joined. This association lobbied city council to establish land uses which they felt could benefit the citizens of North Burnaby. Following his work at the hardware store, Hugh went to work as a longshoreman at the Hastings Mill in Vancouver and the Barnet Mill in Burnaby. In the 1920s, Stewart started up his own business delivering fuel to households in North Burnaby. His business was named “Stewart’s Cartage and Fuel Supply” which had an office located at 3870 East Hastings Street. Stewart moved his business office to their home in the 1950s which continued to operate at this location until the early 1960s. In 1926, the Burnaby Board of Trade was formed with Hugh Stewart as one of the founding members. The organization changed its name to the North Burnaby Board of Trade in May 1927. Hugh served as president from 1940-1946 and was instrumental in bringing about the amalgamation of the North and South Burnaby Boards of Trade to form the Burnaby Chamber of Commerce. Hugh ran for municipal council in the 1940s and was also a member of other organizations including the Burnaby Lions Club, The International Order of the Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) and the Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans. Patience Alberta Stewart died in 1967 and Hugh continued to live in their home on Albert Street until 1978. In 1979 he moved to an apartment on McGill Street in Burnaby. Hugh H. Stewart died in 1981.
Responsibility
Stewart, Hugh Henry
Accession Code
HV979.50
Date
[188_]-1960
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Arrangement
Records are arranged by subject and format.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Krewenchuk family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88389
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1949-1993
Collection/Fonds
Krewenchuk family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
5 cm. of textual records + 6 photographs : b&w + 10 photographs : col. + 2 architectural plans
Scope and Content
Records consist of personal and business records and photographs for Mike and Mary Krewenchuk and their son, Dennis Krewenchuk. Business records include photographs, guest books, property deeds, and land appraisals from when the Krewenchuks owned and operated the Nelson Hotel. Personal records inc…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1949-1993
Collection/Fonds
Krewenchuk family fonds
Physical Description
5 cm. of textual records + 6 photographs : b&w + 10 photographs : col. + 2 architectural plans
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
Accession Number
2014-23
2015-05
Scope and Content
Records consist of personal and business records and photographs for Mike and Mary Krewenchuk and their son, Dennis Krewenchuk. Business records include photographs, guest books, property deeds, and land appraisals from when the Krewenchuks owned and operated the Nelson Hotel. Personal records include photographs, a last will and testament for Mike Krewenchuk, property records, appraisals and plans for 7460 Salisbury Avenue, and photographs and documents relating to their son, Dennis Krewenchuck's 1941 Packard convertible.
History
Michael (Mike) and Mary Krewenchuk lived in Burnaby and Vancouver, raising their five children, three boys and two girls. The family moved to Burnaby from Grand Forks in 1943 and purchased property on Grovenor Street on Capital Hill. Mike and Mary owned and operated a variety of small businesses in Burnaby and Vancouver, including: The Central Meat Market located at Sperling and Hastings Street; The Capital Hill General Store at 5530 Hastings Street in Burnaby from 1949; The Penny Market at 1806 Victoria Drive in Vancouver which they sold in 1953; The Payless Market at 5098 Joyce Street in Vancouver from 1954 to 1955; and the Nelson Motel (also known as The Nelson Bungalow Court and Nelson Auto Court) from 1956 to 1967. The couple sold the Nelson Motel in 1967, retiring and purchasing property at 7460 Salisbury Avenue where they built a new house. Mike Krewenchuk died in 1981 at the age of 79 years.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Creator
Krewenchuk family
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
MSS191, MSS192, photo catalogue 582
Less detail

Legal Department fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription78
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1942-2018
Collection/Fonds
Legal Department fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
30 m of textual records
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of those records created by the City Solicitor and property negotiators in the process of fulfilling their roles as legal counsel and land agents for the City of Burnaby.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1942-2018
Collection/Fonds
Legal Department fonds
Physical Description
30 m of textual records
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
Subject to FOIPPA
Reproduction Restriction
Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of those records created by the City Solicitor and property negotiators in the process of fulfilling their roles as legal counsel and land agents for the City of Burnaby.
History
The City of Burnaby Legal Department was formally established on April 20, 1954, when City Council called for the appointment of a full-time City Solicitor to manage the legal affairs of the City and all its boards and departments. This decision followed a report presented by Councilor Hean on March 8 of that year which listed a number of reasons why such an appointment was necessary and recommended that the City employ a full-time Solicitor and a support staff comprised of an assistant solicitor and a stenographer. Councilor Hean’s report was initially referred to a Committee of Council for further study, but was endorsed by the Committee of the Whole on March 29, 1954, and on August 23, Mr. William L. Stirling was appointed as the first Solicitor for the City of Burnaby. Prior to the development of the City’s Legal Department, it was the practice of City Council to appoint a law firm to act as legal counsel for the Municipality, but the last lawyer on retainer for the City was dismissed on May 17, 1954, because of the imminent creation of a Municipal Legal Department. Initially, the City Solicitor was expected to report to the City Clerk who was Chief Executive Officer for the Municipal government. However, the reporting relationships within the City were altered in 1957 with the adoption of Bylaw No. 3859. Bylaw No. 3859 (the Municipal Manager Bylaw) heralded the appointment of a Municipal Manager who became the administrative head of the City and to whom all departments reported, including the Legal Department. Regardless of the administrative hierarchy within which the Department operated, its mandate has remained quite consistent since its inception. The City of Burnaby Legal Department’s primary functions are: providing legal advice to City Council and other City departments; drafting bylaws; negotiating and drafting contracts involving the City; dealing with claims both by and against the City; and managing legal proceedings involving the City. From 1979 onwards, the Legal Department also acted as the main land agent for the City by managing the acquisition and disposal of land, the leasing of City land and the negotiations of rights of way and other land related agreements. Prior to 1979, this function was the responsibility of the Treasury Department, but after an organizational review in late 1978, Council decided that the Land Agent should act under the authority of the Municipal Solicitor. As a result of fulfilling these two broad roles within the City – that of providing legal services and that of acting as land agents – the Department was renamed the Legal and Lands Department and came to include not only a City Solicitor but also property negotiators and a number of legal assistants. In 2017, City land acquisition and sales were transferred from Legal Services to the newly-established Realty and Lands division of the Public Safety and Community Services Department. In 2018, Legal Services was brought under the new Corporate Services Department. The following individuals have held the role of Municipal Solicitor: William L. Stirling 1954-1983 Patricia Flieger 1983-1998 Bruce Rose 1998-Present May Leung 2015-Present
Media Type
Textual Record
Creator
City of Burnaby
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds.
Less detail

Licence fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96694
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1950-1999
Collection/Fonds
Licence fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
4.06 m of textual records.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created and received by Licence, including Licence's historic business licence index cards (1950-1999).
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1950-1999
Collection/Fonds
Licence fonds
Physical Description
4.06 m of textual records.
Description Level
Fonds
File Class
9100 25
43000 02
43000 20
43000 30
43000 40
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records created and received by Licence, including Licence's historic business licence index cards (1950-1999).
History
Licence is part of the Community Services Department under the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer and overseen by the Chief Licence Inspector. Licence is responsible for ensuring that businesses operating in Burnaby are appropriately licensed and are in compliance with all applicable bylaws. In addition, the Licence Office enforces bylaws regarding private property matters and property use, acts as the City liaison with the SPCA in response to Animal Control issues, and offers dog licensing. Prior to 2017, bylaw services and parking enforcement were the responsibility of the Transportation division of the Engineering Department, and licensing and property management were the responsibility of the Revenue Services division of the Finance Department. In 2017, these responsibilities transferred to the Public Safety and Community Services Department, and in 2018, combined under Business Licence and Property Management. In 2022, Property Management and the responsibility of rentals and leases of City-owned properties was moved under the newly-created Lands and Facilities Department. Dan Layng has served as Chief Licence Inspector since 2013.
Media Type
Textual Record
Creator
City of Burnaby
Less detail

Love family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10098
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1881-1971
Collection/Fonds
Love family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
11 cm of textual records + 44 photographs + 5 plans
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of family records including photographs, land sale records, agreements and plans as well as estate records, vital event documentation and correspondence. Records pertain to members of the Love family including the Parkers, Hughes and Leonards. Fonds has been arranged in the followin…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Love family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
11 cm of textual records + 44 photographs + 5 plans
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of family records including photographs, land sale records, agreements and plans as well as estate records, vital event documentation and correspondence. Records pertain to members of the Love family including the Parkers, Hughes and Leonards. Fonds has been arranged in the following series: 1) Love and Leonard land records 2) Love family vital events and correspondence 3) Love family photographs
History
Jesse Love was born in Swindon, England in 1847 and left England to work on a dairy farm in the Toronto area. While working on the farm in Toronto, he met Martha Leonard who he married in 1879. Martha was born on February 3, 1858 in Bedfordshire, England and had come to Canada with her parents George and Ann Leonard. While living in Toronto, Jesse and Martha had two children, George born March 22, 1880 and Annie Elizabeth on August 24, 1881. About one year after Annie was born, the Love family moved to North Dakota to grow wheat. While living there, they had two more children, Henry who was born August 24, 1883 and Edith Minnie born October 9, 1885. The family decided to move further west after hearing about the fairer weather conditions from Martha’s father, George Leonard, who had settled in Vancouver in 1885. On May 23, 1887, Jesse, Martha and their four children arrived in Vancouver after travelling across Canada from Winnipeg on the first transcontinental train. The Loves made their home in Vancouver while Jesse helped clear land on Granville Street. Their fifth child, Thomas Robert was born on September 17, 1887 and soon after, the family moved to Lulu Island in Richmond where they lived growing vegetables and selling them to Vancouver hotels. While living and farming on Lulu island, the couple had two more girls, Martha (Dot or Dorothy) born on December 17, 1889 and Sarah Marie, born February 8, 1892. On October 6, 1893 an agreement was signed by Jesse Love to purchase 14.52 acres of land from Joseph C. Armstrong. The acreage covered the north east section of District Lot 25 within the newly incorporated District of the Municipality of Burnaby. It was here where the original Love house was built (between October 1893 and April 15, 1894) by Jesse Love with the help of local builder George Salt and father in law, George Leonard. The house consisted of an entrance hall, dining room, lean to kitchen, master bedroom and three bedrooms upstairs. A road was constructed and named Cumberland in 1905 and ran from District Lot 25 through to District Lot 11. The address for the Love home was 1390 Cumberland Road and in the early 1960’s the address was renumbered 7651 Cumberland Street. On the land surrounding the house, Jesse Love planted an orchard along with strawberries and raspberries which he sold at the Fraser Valley Market, T.S. Anandale’s Grocery Store in New Westminster and to hotels around Vancouver. Jesse Love served on the Burnaby School Board and also as a District Councillor in 1901 and from 1904-1907. While living in the house, Jesse and Martha had four more children, Phoebe Leonard, born April 15, 1894, Esther, born August 28, 1896, John Leonard, born June 7, 1899 and Hannah Victoria (also known as Girlie) who was born May 12, 1902. In 1918, at the age of 31 years, Thomas Robert Love fell ill due to an influenza epidemic and died on November 23, 1918. Following their son’s death, Martha Love became weak and on August 24, 1920, she passed away. By this time, Jesse had sold off a large percentage of his land and his youngest daughter, Girlie decided to stay on to live and care for him. Since the house was too large for just the two of them, Jesse invited any other children to return and share the residence. For a while his son, George and his wife joined them. In 1925 Jesse’s daughter Sarah Parker (nee Love), her husband William Michael Norton Parker and their three children, Albert “Bert” (1915-2011), William Charles “Bill” and Elsie Roberta moved from their home at 1319 Newcombe Street to join Jesse and Girlie in the Love family home on Cumberland. Jesse Love died in 1928 after which Sarah and William Parker purchased the Love family farmhouse and property. William Michael Parker, died in 1961 and Sarah Parker continued to live in the Love family farmhouse until 1966 when she sold it to her daughter Elsie and husband John Hughes. Elsie and John Hughes had four children, John Jr., Ann, Brent and Merle. The Hughes lived in the Love family house until August 1971. In 1988 the Love family farmhouse house was donated to the Burnaby Village Museum and moved to the site of Burnaby Village Museum. The interior of the main floor and exterior of the house went through an extensive restoration process. In 1997, restoration of the kitchen was completed and opened to the public. After the completion of the hallway, dining room, main floor bedroom and parlour, the Love farmhouse exhibit opened on November 29, 1998 with an open invitation to the public and extended members of the Love family.
Responsibility
Love Family
Accession Code
HV979.40
BV985.3136
BV988.45
BV989.3
BV992.15
BV992.26
BV992.34
BV000.45
BV008.20
BV012.31
BV019.3
BV019.8
Date
1881-1971
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Cartographic Material
Arrangement
Fonds has been arranged by record type and original order provided by members of the Love family.
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
See also Burnaby Village Museum fonds - Jesse Love farmhouse series
Less detail

Nichols Chemical Company fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18755
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1906-1962
Collection/Fonds
Nichols Chemical Company fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
9 technical drawings
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of technical drawings of the Nichols Chemcial Company plant and machinery.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Nichols Chemical Company fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
9 technical drawings
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of technical drawings of the Nichols Chemcial Company plant and machinery.
History
In 1905 the Nichols Chemical Company, acid manufacturers based in Montreal, established their chemical plant on on a tract of land along Burrard Inlet, just east of the North Pacific Lumber Company. This company was later amalgamated and acquired by General Chemical and remains in operation on the original waterfront site. Many of workers at the Nichols Chemical Plant lived in bunkhouses in the community of Barnet including Japanese Canadian families who were employed there. Many of these families were laid off and forcibily removed during the internment of the Japanese in British Columbia during World War II.
Creator
Nichols Chemical Company Limited
Accession Code
BV998.23
Date
1906-1962
Media Type
Technical Drawing
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

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

Pixie McGeachie collection

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97228
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1961-2001
Collection/Fonds
Pixie McGeachie collection
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
30 cm of textual records.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of papers collected by Pixie McGeachie during her tenure as archivist for the Burnaby Historical Society Community Archives, as well her writings.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1961-2001
Collection/Fonds
Pixie McGeachie collection
Physical Description
30 cm of textual records.
Description Level
Fonds
Record No.
MSS065
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third-party rights.
Accession Number
2011-04
Scope and Content
Collection consists of papers collected by Pixie McGeachie during her tenure as archivist for the Burnaby Historical Society Community Archives, as well her writings.
History
Doreen "Pixie" McGeachie was a resident of Burnaby for over sixty years. She served as the editor for the Burnaby Examiner newspaper and wrote a column entitled "Burnaby History" for The News. In 1974 she authored her first book titled "Bygones of Burnaby" which was one of the first to develop anecdotal stories about pioneer life in Burnaby. She authored "Burnaby - A Proud Century" in 1992 and in 2002 she wrote a biography of the city's namesake in the book "Land of Promise: Robert Burnaby's letters from Colonial B.C." Pixie also contributed many hours of volunteering; helping to establish Burnaby's first museum Heritage Village in 1971, serving as President of the Burnaby Historical Society from 1991-1993. She served a six year term on Burnaby's Heritage Commission leading the charge to preserve many historic sites throughout the city, and during her twenty years as the Community Archives volunteer archivist for the historical society, she succeeded in gathering thousands of rare and valuable historic photographs and documents which now forms the core of the photograph collection on the Heritage Burnaby website (as these items were donated by the Society to the City Archives in 2007). The City of Burnaby awarded Pixie McGeachie the Kushiro Cup as Citizen of the year in 2002. In 2006 she received a Heritage BC project award for leading the Friends of Interurban 1223 project, and in 2008 Heritage BC recognised her again by presenting her with the Ruby Nobb Award. Pixie McGeachie passed away in August of 2010. On 24 September, 2011, the City of Burnaby dedicated the reading room at the City Archives in honour of Pixie and formally named it the Pixie McGeachie Reading Room in recognition of her years of service to the community.
Media Type
Textual Record
Creator
McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
Notes
Title based on collector of subseries
MSS065
Less detail

Pixie McGeachie fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10417
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1939 and 1949] (date of originals), copied 2008 ; 1976
Collection/Fonds
Pixie McGeachie fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
24 photographs (tiffs) : b&w + 1 membership card
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs from a McGeachie family album documenting a time that Jack and Pixie McGeachie spent at their log cabin on Mount Seymour and a membership card for the Century Park Museum Association. Jack McGeachie, Maurice Skinner and Jack Gannon built and maintained the cabin with f…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Pixie McGeachie fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
24 photographs (tiffs) : b&w + 1 membership card
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs from a McGeachie family album documenting a time that Jack and Pixie McGeachie spent at their log cabin on Mount Seymour and a membership card for the Century Park Museum Association. Jack McGeachie, Maurice Skinner and Jack Gannon built and maintained the cabin with friends on Mount Seymour from 1938 until after the Second World War. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Pixie McGeachie photographs series 2) Pixie McGeachie documents series
History
Doreen "Pixie" Johnson was born in 1922 and married John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie in April 1942. Jack and Pixie McGeachie lived on Rosewood Street (formerly named Campbell Street pre 1951) in Burnaby from 1948 where they raised their two children; David and Kathi. Pixie was well known for her volunteer work in Burnaby. Pixie served for over 20 years as the volunteer archivist for the Burnaby Historical Society; served as president of the Century Park Museum Association and the Friends of the Interurban 1223 and a six year term on Burnaby's Heritage Commission. Pixie was also a Burnaby historian and author who published a column in the Burnaby Examiner Newspaper entitled "Burnaby History" as well as three books about Burnaby History entitled "Bygones of Burnaby"; "Burnaby - A Proud Century" and "Land of Promise: Robert Burnaby's letters from Colonial B.C." Due to her diligent volunteer work in Burnaby, Pixie was the recipient of many awards between 2002 and 2008. Awards included: 2002 - the Kushiro cup for Citizen of the Year; 2006 - Heritage BC project award for her work with Friends of the Interurban 1223 and in 2008 - Heritage BC - Ruby Nobb Award. Jack McGeachie passed away in 1981, at the age of 67 years and Pixie McGeachie passed away in August 2010 at the age of 88 years. On September 24, 2010, Pixie was honoured by the City of Burnaby when they dedicated the reading room of the City of Burnaby Archives by naming it the "Pixie McGeachie Reading Room".
Creator
McGeachie, Doreen "Pixie"
Accession Code
BV008.17; BV013.4.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[between 1939 and 1949] (date of originals), copied 2008 ; 1976
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Planning Department fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription102
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1940-2016
Collection/Fonds
Planning Department fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
80 m of textual records and other material
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of those records created during the regular conduct of business by the Planning Department and its predecessor agencies according to their mandate of providing professional and technical advice to Council on the current and future uses of City land and resources.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1940-2016
Collection/Fonds
Planning Department fonds
Physical Description
80 m of textual records and other material
Description Level
Fonds
File Class
71000 10 (add. 2020)
71000 20 (add. 2020)
71000 30 (add. 2020)
71000 40 (add. 2020)
Access Restriction
Subject to FOIPPA
Reproduction Restriction
Reproductions subject to FOIPPA.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of those records created during the regular conduct of business by the Planning Department and its predecessor agencies according to their mandate of providing professional and technical advice to Council on the current and future uses of City land and resources.
History
The City of Burnaby Planning Department was established on October 9, 1956, when the City Council unanimously carried the motion to create a distinct department to deal with planning issues within the City and appointed Mr. William John Blakely as its head. This decision followed a report and recommendation made by the City’s Chief Administrative Officer which indicated that the role of the Planning Engineer and his staff had quickly expanded to become a separate division within the Engineering Department and that they were functioning as an independent unit in all but name. The proposed separation of the Engineering and Planning departments had been in the works since the early part of 1956 when staff changes and restructuring within the Engineering Department’s Planning Division illustrated the undermanned condition of the Planning Engineer’s office. As a result, Council asked the Chief Administrative Officer to undertake a study examining the feasibility of creating a distinct Planning Department. This report was delivered to Council on July 3, 1956, but was laid over until a Committee of the Council had the opportunity to study the functions of the Planning department to determine the necessity of the proposal. The Committee’s findings were in line with the initial report and the Planning Department was established with a staff of nine (the head Planning Engineer, an Administrative Planner, three Research Planning Assistants, a Draughtsman, a Subdivision Control Clerk, a department Clerk and a Clerk Stenographer). This new department was to offer advice and carry out the work intensive in matters such as zoning and rezoning applications, subdivision control, traffic and transportation planning, and general City planning schemes. Prior to the creation of the Planning Department, a number of bodies within the City had been responsible for fulfilling the functions carried out by this new unit. In the earliest years of the City, the members of Council were responsible for matters of planning and were assisted in their job by the City’s Engineer or any number of hired consultants (e.g. surveyors, cartographers). By 1906, however, the provincial laws surrounding the subdivision process had changed, and local governments were charged with the task of approving all private subdivision plans in their respective Municipalities. In Burnaby, the City Council passed a bylaw decreeing that all subdivision plans were to be submitted to Council for review and the City Engineer was responsible for ensuring compliance with the law. After the first Town Planning Bylaw in 1924 which restricted the type and size of construction that could occur in certain City areas, the Engineering and Building departments were to work together to oversee the enforcement of the Bylaw and the development of City plans. The scope and competence required to carry out this work grew as Burnaby’s population expanded, and in 1930 Council passed the Town Planning Commission Bylaw (No. 1028) that saw the creation of a permanent body – the Town Planning Commission – which was to serve as an advisory body to help direct the planning activities in the City while the actual work continued to be carried out by the Engineering Department. This body was comprised of the Reeve, the Chairman of the School Board, the Chairman of the Park Committee (later, the Board of Parks Commissioners), and six appointed citizens who served three-year terms. Council referred all matters of subdivisions, transportation planning, and rezoning to this Commission, which was later supported in its work by several other special or standing committees such as the Subdivision Committee, the Apartment Committee, the Transportation Committee or the Town Planning Board of Appeal. By 1953, it had become apparent that the advisory committees that were dedicated to these planning issues needed a permanent staff to carry out the work intensive, so a restructuring of the Engineering department resulted in a permanent Planning Engineer’s office being created. The Town Planning Commission continued in its advisory capacity even after the determination came in 1956 to create a separate Planning Department. When Bylaw No. 4473 was passed in 1963, the Town Planning Commission was disbanded in favour of a new Advisory Planning Commission that would turn over all routine matters such as subdivision and rezoning applications to the Planning Department but would offer advice and community input into the more complex planning schemes within the City and act as an intermediary in cases where Council and Planning staff were in disagreement. A new Advisory Planning Commission Bylaw (No. 7600) was adopted in 1980 which allowed for even greater community participation in the planning process. The Planning Department was initially responsible to report directly to Council, but in 1957, the administrative structure of Municipal staff changed with the introduction of the Burnaby Municipal Manager Bylaw (No. 3859) and from that point on, the head of the Planning Department held a direct reporting relationship to the Municipal Manager, who in turn was responsible for reporting the activities of the Department to the City Council. Over the years, the internal structure and the scope of responsibilities of the Department have changed during periods of staff reorganizations. Under the larger umbrella of the Planning and Building Department, Planning has come to be comprised of two divisions: the Current Planning Division and the Long Range Planning Division. The functions of the Current Planning Division include rezoning, subdivision, development plan areas, preliminary plan approvals, urban design, heritage planning, and urban trails and bicycle routes. The Long Range Planning Division is responsible for environmental planning concerns, transportation planning, housing, neighbourhood area planning, social planning and planning information services. In 2022, the Planning and Building Department was reorganized to better align functions with delivery of services. The Climate Action and Engery Division moved from Corporate Services to the Planning and Building Department, while Indigenous Relations and Facilities Management moved to Corporate Services and Lands and Facilities, respectively. The position of Director of Planning and Building was changed to General Manager, Planning and Development. The following individuals have served as Planning Engineer and/or Director of the Planning Department and/or General Manager, Planning and Development for the City of Burnaby: William John Blakely 1954-1956 (as Planning Engineer) 1956-1963 (as Head of the Department) Anthony P. Parr 1964-1993 Don G. Stenson 1993-2001 Jack S. Belhouse 2001-2006 Basil Luksun 2006-2012 Lou Pelletier 2012-2019 Edward Kozak 2019-present
Formats
Microforms exist for some records. See series descriptions.
Media Type
Textual Record
Photograph
Moving Images
Creator
City of Burnaby
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail

Small family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription91819
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1922-2016
Collection/Fonds
Small family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
75 photographs : b&w & col. + 1 plan
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs documenting the transformation of the Burnaby Lake area of Burnaby, B.C. from semi-rural in the 1920s to urbanized in 2016. Photographs depict the land and houses located on the corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street as the property was rezoned and its density quad…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1922-2016
Collection/Fonds
Small family fonds
Physical Description
75 photographs : b&w & col. + 1 plan
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
Open access
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2017-01
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs documenting the transformation of the Burnaby Lake area of Burnaby, B.C. from semi-rural in the 1920s to urbanized in 2016. Photographs depict the land and houses located on the corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street as the property was rezoned and its density quadrupled. Fonds also includes photographs of the Small family house being moved to 5496 Dominion Street and the original landscape plan for 5118 Douglas Road.
History
In 1915, John W. Roberts and his wife Mary Allen Roberts moved from the United States to Canada along with their daughter, Lauretta. On first moving to Canada, the family lived in a rented house in Vancouver and John worked as a movie projectionist in the city. The couple had three more children, all sons: John A., Edward, and Roland. Circa 1921, John purchased a large parcel of land at the corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street in Burnaby. This parcel encompassed the equivalent of at least six 66-foot lots along the south side of Dominion Street and the same along the north side of Norfolk Street. On their property, a barn and small living quarters were built. The family moved in, raising goats and growing potatoes to supplement their income. They also planted cherry, apple, and pear trees; hazelnut and walnut trees; raspberries; and a large vegetable garden, the fruits of which Mary preserved for year-round use. At this time, agricultural activities were common for families in the area: the Roberts' neighbours kept chickens for personal use and for selling eggs; grew mushrooms for commercial sale; and sold manure from an old buckboard drawn by Clydesdale horses. John built a new house in the middle of the Roberts’ lots on the southwest corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street. The house faced Douglas Road and overlooked a large, well-landscaped front yard to the east and a full-sized, clay tennis court to the north. The family moved into this new house in 1925. When the Roberts ceased raising goats, the barn and original living quarters were reduced to a double-car garage with storage space plus a sawdust-insulated “root cellar”. John also built a house on the northwest corner of the lot at Douglas Road and Dominion Street (3093 Douglas Road), which was purchased by the Hardy family. In 1957, part of this property (3071 Douglas Road) was sold to the Brocklebanks who built a house and lived there. In addition, John built a house at the northwest corner of Douglas Road and Norfolk Street (5106 Douglas Road). The original purchaser of this house is unknown, but in 1949, it was bought by the Meyers family. In 1952 or 1953, the Meyers sold part of this property and the Manahans built a house on it, facing Douglas Road. Several other lots that John owned were also sold off over the years. By the 1950s, John owned only five 66-foot lots from Douglas Road west, along the south side Dominion Street. In 1954, John sold the lot furthest from Douglas Road (5486 Dominion Street) to a builder who built a “ranch-style” house and put it up for sale. John retired from his career as a movie projectionist in the 1950s. He, Mary, and Lauretta retained their US citizenship all their lives, although they never returned to the USA except for brief visits. John A., Edward, and Roland who, as children of US citizens, also had US citizenship, eventually moved to the US, where they remained for the rest of their lives. In 1945, Lauretta married Frederick Small. The couple lived in a rented house in Vancouver for a few years before moving in with John and Mary in Burnaby. The couple had four children: Elizabeth, Kathryn, Charles, and Martin. In 1955, Frederick purchased the rancher at 5486 Dominion Street and the family moved in. The Small children grew up enjoying the freedom of having their grandparent’s large property in addition to their parent’s yard to play in. The back lane that ran between Dominion Street and Norfolk Street was filled with trees and bushes, creating a narrow bit of “forest” to explore. In 1957, John died. Mary died in 1969, as did Frederick. Lauretta was executor for her mother’s and husband’s estates. After much consideration, she decided to sell the house at 5486 Dominion Street and move back into her childhood home. By doing so, she was able to settle her mother’s estate to the satisfaction of her brothers. Elizabeth married and moved away. Over the next few years, the “Roberts” house was home to Lauretta, Kathryn, Charles, and Martin, with the three grown children moving in and out several times during the 1970s. In 1981, Lauretta died. Her children discussed at length how to divide up the property, which consisted of four 66-foot lots, according to her will. None of her children wanted to see the old family house destroyed but the house straddled two lots. They finally decided that if one of them wanted to pay to move the house to sit on one of the lots, the “value” of the house would not enter into the settlement of the estate. Kathryn chose to do this. In 1982, the old house was moved to 5496 Dominion Street and Kathryn continued to live in it. Martin died in 1982. Elizabeth and Charles each inherited one lot and the last lot, which would have gone to Martin, was sold, the funds divided equally between Elizabeth, Kathryn, and Charles. The three lots between 5496 Dominion Street and Douglas Road were subdivided into 33-foot lots and six new houses were built. In 1993, the Meyers property and the Manahan property were subdivided into 33-foot lots facing Norfolk Street and the old houses were torn down and four new houses were built.
Media Type
Photograph
Technical Drawing
Creator
Small family
Less detail

23 records – page 1 of 2.