Burnaby Branch minute book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65504
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958-1963
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 notebook (hardcover)
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch minute book.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958-1963
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 notebook (hardcover)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- MSS021-073
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch minute book.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Burnaby Branch minute book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65539
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1960-1975
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 notebook (hardcover)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch minute book. Included in the minute book are loose sheets of meeting minutes and annual reports.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1960-1975
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 notebook (hardcover)
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- MSS021-078
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch minute book. Included in the minute book are loose sheets of meeting minutes and annual reports.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Burnaby Branch monthly reports
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65421
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1960
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch monthly reports and operating statements for the year 1960.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1960
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS021-033
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch monthly reports and operating statements for the year 1960.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Burnaby Branch monthly reports
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65423
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch monthly reports and operating statements, along with lists of the executive and board members for the 1961 to 1962 and 1962 to 1963 terms.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS021-035
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch monthly reports and operating statements, along with lists of the executive and board members for the 1961 to 1962 and 1962 to 1963 terms.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Burnaby Branch papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65540
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1964-1973
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch annual general meeting minutes, agendas and reports.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1964-1973
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS021-079
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch annual general meeting minutes, agendas and reports.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Burnaby Branch receipt book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65502
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1961-1965
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 ledger book
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch receipt book.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1961-1965
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 ledger book
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- MSS021-071
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch receipt book.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Burnaby Branch receipt book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65505
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1965-1969
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 ledger book
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch receipt book. Included in the receipt book are loose receipts and handwritten notes.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1965-1969
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 ledger book
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- MSS021-074
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch receipt book. Included in the receipt book are loose receipts and handwritten notes.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Burnaby Branch reports
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65424
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1963-1964
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch monthly reports, operating statements and annual reports, along with list of the executive and board members for the 1963 to 1964 term.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1963-1964
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS021-036
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch monthly reports, operating statements and annual reports, along with list of the executive and board members for the 1963 to 1964 term.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Burnaby VON history papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65432
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1953-1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a paper entitled, "History of the Burnaby V.O.N. - Notes by Mrs Kay World, c. 1962" along with a copy of the Victorian Order of Nurses Burnaby Branch constitution and bylaws.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1953-1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS021-044
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a paper entitled, "History of the Burnaby V.O.N. - Notes by Mrs Kay World, c. 1962" along with a copy of the Victorian Order of Nurses Burnaby Branch constitution and bylaws.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
VON bank balance ledger book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65495
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1957-1960
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 ledger book
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) bank balance ledger book.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1957-1960
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 ledger book
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- MSS021-064
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) bank balance ledger book.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
VON membership papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65438
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1951-1964
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch membership papers including a membership card, listings of board of governors, officers and honorary members for each of the auxiliaries.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1951-1964
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS021-050
- Access Restriction
- Subject to FOIPPA
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproductions subject to FOIPPA
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Burnaby Branch membership papers including a membership card, listings of board of governors, officers and honorary members for each of the auxiliaries.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Burnaby's best baby contest
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16735
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 16 Sep. 1984
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified participant in the Best Baby in Burnaby Contest seated on the lap of her mother/caregiver.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified participant in the Best Baby in Burnaby Contest seated on the lap of her mother/caregiver.
- History
- The first contest for Burnaby's Best Baby was held in September 1930. It was sponsored by the Burnaby Broadcast newspaper, with arrangements made by the Victorian Order of Nurses and judging by the Medical Health Officer and School Board doctor. The first winner was Lois Smith, who was presented with the Broadcast Trophy. A few years earlier, in 1922, a province wide "Better Babies Contest" was held at the New Westminster Exhibition. The babies were judged on their health, nutrition and physical form. Margaret Louise Lovell of Vancouver was the first prize winner of a five dollar coin. Burnaby's own Catherine Corker was another provincial winner in the nineteen twenties. In the early nineteen eighties, Burnaby Village Museum revived the contest as "Burnaby's Better Baby Contest" . The contest was run annually by Burnaby Village Museum until 1994 and was also known as "Burnaby's Best Baby Contest" and "Best Baby in Burnaby". The contest was limited to Burnaby residents who were twelve months and younger.
- Subjects
- Events - Competitions
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV020.5.1820
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 16 Sep. 1984
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Burnaby's best baby contest
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16737
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 16 Sep. 1984
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified participant in the Best Baby in Burnaby Contest seated together with two unidentified women. The baby is wearing a jumper with a sailboat embroidered on the bib and is seated on the lap of their mother/caregiver.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified participant in the Best Baby in Burnaby Contest seated together with two unidentified women. The baby is wearing a jumper with a sailboat embroidered on the bib and is seated on the lap of their mother/caregiver.
- History
- The first contest for Burnaby's Best Baby was held in September 1930. It was sponsored by the Burnaby Broadcast newspaper, with arrangements made by the Victorian Order of Nurses and judging by the Medical Health Officer and School Board doctor. The first winner was Lois Smith, who was presented with the Broadcast Trophy. A few years earlier, in 1922, a province wide "Better Babies Contest" was held at the New Westminster Exhibition. The babies were judged on their health, nutrition and physical form. Margaret Louise Lovell of Vancouver was the first prize winner of a five dollar coin. Burnaby's own Catherine Corker was another provincial winner in the nineteen twenties. In the early nineteen eighties, Burnaby Village Museum revived the contest as "Burnaby's Better Baby Contest" . The contest was run annually by Burnaby Village Museum until 1994 and was also known as "Burnaby's Best Baby Contest" and "Best Baby in Burnaby". The contest was limited to Burnaby residents who were twelve months and younger.
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV020.5.1823
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 16 Sep. 1984
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Burnaby's best baby contest
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16738
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 16 Sep. 1984
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified participant in the Best Baby in Burnaby Contest interacting with people inside the Burnaby Village Museum Ice Cream Parlour. The baby is being held by their mother/caregiver while Burnaby Village Museum Operations Coordinator, Gilda Heath holds the baby's hand. An unid…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified participant in the Best Baby in Burnaby Contest interacting with people inside the Burnaby Village Museum Ice Cream Parlour. The baby is being held by their mother/caregiver while Burnaby Village Museum Operations Coordinator, Gilda Heath holds the baby's hand. An unidentified person with their back to the camera is looking on from the left.
- History
- The first contest for Burnaby's Best Baby was held in September 1930. It was sponsored by the Burnaby Broadcast newspaper, with arrangements made by the Victorian Order of Nurses and judging by the Medical Health Officer and School Board doctor. The first winner was Lois Smith, who was presented with the Broadcast Trophy. A few years earlier, in 1922, a province wide "Better Babies Contest" was held at the New Westminster Exhibition. The babies were judged on their health, nutrition and physical form. Margaret Louise Lovell of Vancouver was the first prize winner of a five dollar coin. Burnaby's own Catherine Corker was another provincial winner in the nineteen twenties. In the early nineteen eighties, Burnaby Village Museum revived the contest as "Burnaby's Better Baby Contest" . The contest was run annually by Burnaby Village Museum until 1994 and was also known as "Burnaby's Best Baby Contest" and "Best Baby in Burnaby". The contest was limited to Burnaby residents who were twelve months and younger.
- Subjects
- Events - Competitions
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV020.5.1822
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 16 Sep. 1984
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Charmaine Yanko nursing a goat from a bottle, [1969] (date of original), digitally copied 2012 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/540/549-015.jpg?width=280)
Charmaine Yanko nursing a goat from a bottle
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription74810
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1969] (date of original), digitally copied 2012
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : col. ; 300ppi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Charmaine "Sherrie" Yanko (later Bayntun) smiling at the camera as she nurses a goat from a bottle.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1969] (date of original), digitally copied 2012
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : col. ; 300ppi
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 549-015
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- 2012-30
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Charmaine "Sherrie" Yanko (later Bayntun) smiling at the camera as she nurses a goat from a bottle.
- Subjects
- Animals - Goats
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Charmaine Yanko nursing a goat from a bottle, [1969] (date of original), digitally copied 2012 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/540/549-015.jpg)
Hazel L'Estrange papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58366
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1963 (date of original) -1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers (mostly photocopies) pertaining to the naming of the Bob Prittie Metrotown Library branch; Bob Prittie's name was put forward by Hazel L'Estrange. Also included in the file are pages from "Legion" magazine which include an article on the Victoria Order of Nurses.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1963 (date of original) -1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Hazel L'Estrange subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS074-001
- Accession Number
- BHS1992-27
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers (mostly photocopies) pertaining to the naming of the Bob Prittie Metrotown Library branch; Bob Prittie's name was put forward by Hazel L'Estrange. Also included in the file are pages from "Legion" magazine which include an article on the Victoria Order of Nurses.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription65425
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1969-1973
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire as well as a newspaper clipping recognising the IODE's "73rd birthday of service in Canada and abroad."
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1969-1973
- Collection/Fonds
- Victorian Order of Nurses fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS021-037
- Accession Number
- 2010-09
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire as well as a newspaper clipping recognising the IODE's "73rd birthday of service in Canada and abroad."
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: 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”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills
- Clothing
- Crafts
- Employment
- Migration
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Occupations - Labourers
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Names
- Parmar, Surjeet Kaur
- Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"
- Manhas, Ghania Singh
- Singh, Mayo
- Manhas, Kashmir Singh
- Manhas, Sher Singh
- Manhas, Budhan Kaur
- Manhas, Lashman Singh
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.5
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Related Material
- See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep
- Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby
- Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3Lochdale Community Hall records
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58101
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1952-1960
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records pertaining to the Lochdale Community Hall Association including financial records, correspondence, association by-laws and wall calendars. Included in the file are two Quarterlies from the Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1952-1960
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Lochdale Community Hall subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS056-005
- Accession Number
- BHS1991-19
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records pertaining to the Lochdale Community Hall Association including financial records, correspondence, association by-laws and wall calendars. Included in the file are two Quarterlies from the Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Mary Forsyth Keepables
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88247
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1923-2006
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of various research records compiled by Mary Forsyth and includes; records from a Burnaby Historical Society photo presentation and contest held at Irving House; a letter to the directors of the B.C. Historical Society from Don N. Brown re: Accomodation for the Burnaby Historical Soci…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1923-2006
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Physical Description
- 2 cm of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS185-045
- Access Restriction
- Open access
- Accession Number
- 2014-27
- Scope and Content
- File consists of various research records compiled by Mary Forsyth and includes; records from a Burnaby Historical Society photo presentation and contest held at Irving House; a letter to the directors of the B.C. Historical Society from Don N. Brown re: Accomodation for the Burnaby Historical Society; a Corporation of the District of Burnaby Re: "Suggestions submitted to the Post War Rehabilitation Council" dated August 4, 1942; notes and information re: a natural resources map; genealogical notes for the Hern family; a copy of the 2003 Greater Vancouver Regional District Board of Directors for 2003; a Simon Fraser Week publication dated June 27, 1985 about the history of Simon Fraser University; Corporation of the District of Burnaby "A Sound Investment...Burnaby British Columbia Reverted Lands" with map 1926; a copy of a Deed of Gift letter from the Burnaby Historical Society for items donated to the archives dated January 5, 1989; pamphlets about B.C. Hydro rail and Burnaby's Central Park Tramline; National Housing Adminstration Sketch Designs for houses 1946; an invitation for Glenwood Elementary School 100th birthday; a family memoir from the Rorisons; a Victorian Order of Nurses home visit document in March 1923; Corporation of the District of Burnaby By Law No. 1354; 1991 Community Services Directory for New Westminster and Burnaby; Hudson's Bay Company Annual General Report 1947; typewritten history of the Gulf Islands and various Burnaby Now papers for 1990, 2001, 2004 and 2006. Biographical and historical information was compiled by Mary Forysth with the intention of publishing a book.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Transcribed title