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Summary: This portion of the interview is about Lee Rankin talking about why he chose a career in politics and what kept him interested being a Burnaby councillor for 22 years. He tells the story about the land swap that he helped engineer with the School Board that enabled the building of the new Burnaby S…

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Lee Rankin talking about why he chose a career in politics and what kept him interested being a Burnaby councillor for 22 years. He tells the story about the land swap that he helped engineer with the School Board that enabled the building of the new Burnaby South Secondary School. He relates that this experience in the late 1980s would become key in finding a resolution for the City/SFU dispute. He talks about the positions held by the university and the City over land ownership and control on Burnaby Mountain. Rezoning for Discovery Park and the 1964 Simon Fraser Townsite Master Plan (1964) are discussed.

Names: Simon Fraser University; Burnaby School Disctrict no. 41; Burnaby South High School

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Lee Rankin conducted by Kathy Bossort. Lee Rankin was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about Lee Rankin’s involvement in finding a resolution to the dispute between the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University over land ownership and control on Burnaby Mountain. He talks about the origin of the dispute, the positions taken by the two sides, the key people who brought about a resolution, and the main features of the agreement between the City, SFU and the province of BC. He talks about how the agreement met SFU’s goals, fostered trust between the City and university, and removed uncertainty from protecting parkland on Burnaby Mountain.

Biographical Notes: Lee Rankin was born in 1953 in Vancouver. He attended SFU 1973-78, completing his BA degree in 1985. He earned his law degree at UBC in 1988, was called to the Bar in 1989, and practiced in immigration and refugee law. Lee has lived in Burnaby since 1976 and was a member of Burnaby Council for 22 years, from 1983-1999 and 2002-2008. His particular interests as a Councillor were in community planning, housing and environment. Among other duties and accomplishments as Councillor, Lee served as chair of the Simon Fraser Liaison Committee and was involved in the negotiations with the province and SFU that resulted in the university returning more than 800 acres of land to the City, which was dedicated as part of the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. He has also served on the GVRD, volunteers as a coach for team sports in Burnaby, and has served on numerous community and business associations and committees. Lee is married to Ragini Venkat Rankin and has one son Henry.

Interviewer Bio: Kathy Bossort is a retired archivist living in Ladner, BC. She worked at the Delta Museum and Archives after graduating from SLAIS (UBC) in 2001 with Masters degrees in library science and archival studies. Kathy grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and, prior to this career change, she lived in the West Kootenays, earning her living as a cook for BC tourist lodges and work camps. She continues to be interested in oral histories as a way to fill the gaps in the written record and bring richer meaning to history.

Track two of interview with Lee Rankin

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (43 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo

Scope and Content: Film clip of City of Burnaby council members and Mayor Mike Hurley wishing citizens of Burnaby and the public a "Happy Hats Off Day!". They encourage the public to keep the spirit of Burnaby's Hats Off Day alive in their homes since celebrations have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pan…

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (43 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo

Scope and Content: Film clip of City of Burnaby council members and Mayor Mike Hurley wishing citizens of Burnaby and the public a "Happy Hats Off Day!". They encourage the public to keep the spirit of Burnaby's Hats Off Day alive in their homes since celebrations have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Council members include: Sav Dhaliwal, Pietro Calendino, James Wang, Joe Keithley, Colleen Jordan, Dan Johnston and the late Councillor Paul McDonell.

History: Video taken by the City of Burnaby Marketing Department in 2020. The original intent of the clip was to produce communications about the pandemic and changes throughout the City that residents needed to be aware of.