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- Advertising Medium 3
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards 5
- Aerial Photographs 1
- Agricultural Tools and Equipment 3
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- Agriculture 7
- Agriculture - Crops 3
- Agriculture - Farms 28
- Agriculture - Fruit and Berries 1
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tin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact24717
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.1214
- Description
- Metal rectangular tin with two small handles on the front and back top edges. Weld seam down the right front side. Orange rectangular paper label with 3 Chinese characters on the front.
- Object History
- This item originates from the Chinese Herbalist Store "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Victoria, B.C.
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Marks/Labels
- Orange paper rectangular label with 3 Chinese characters in black. Slight damage at the bottom and some discolouration. Chinese characters literally translate to: "nine" and " " and "bright". Translation adjusted for English reads: "Climbing Groundsel Herb / Herb of Climbing Groundsel". Uses: Climbing Groundsel Herb is from the plant Herba Senecionis Scandentis. Taste: Bitter, pungent, cool, slightly toxic. For liver and kidney meridians. Mainly to clear heat and remove toxicity, kill parasites and improve vision. To cure: Sores and boils, bacillary dysentery, diarrhea, eczema, nebula, jaundice, tinea, erysipelas, trichomonas vaginitis, scald, typhoid fever, acute conjunctivitis, influenza, enteritis, tonsillitis, lobar pneumonia, toxaemia.
- Measurements
- 25 cm height x 17 cm width x 14 cm length
Images
Tin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact24721
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.1219
- Description
- Rectangular tin with hand-written paper label and ring loop at top opening.
- Object History
- This item originates from the Chinese Herbalist Store "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Victoria B.C.
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Marks/Labels
- Label contains 3 Chinese characters that are literally translated to: "hot, spice" and "any of several hot spice plants, a surname" and "root, base, origin, bottom". When adjusted for English comprehension, product is hot pepper, chilli. Hot pepper/chilli can be found from most of the cities in China. In traditional Chinese medicine, hot pepper/chilli is used to promote appetite and improve digestion.
- Measurements
- 20 cm height x 13 cm width x 18 cm length
Images
Tin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact24785
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.1283
- Description
- Rectangular tin with hand-written paper label.
- Object History
- This item originates from the Chinese Herbalist Store "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Victoria B.C.
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Marks/Labels
- Label contains 3 Chinese characters that are literally translated to: "surname" and "first, head, initial, chief, principal" and "black, dark, crow". When adjustd for English comprehension, product is Radix Polygoni Multiflori. Radix Polygoni Multiflori is a treatment of liver and kidney yin and permature grey-ing. It's a cure for dizziness and pain relief of the lumbar and knees. It's also used as a treatment of hyperlipidemia.
- Measurements
- 35 cm height x 20 cm width x 17 cm length
Images
Tin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact24787
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.1285
- Description
- Rectangular tin with hand-written paper label and ring loops at top opening.
- Object History
- This item originates from the Chinese Herbalist Store "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Victoria B.C.
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Marks/Labels
- Label contains 3 Chinese characters that are literally translated to : "lock" and "sheep, mutton" and "slice, piece". When adjusted for English comprehension, product is Herba Cynomorii. Herba Cynomorii is excavated in Spring by removing the inflorescence and cut into small pieces to leave them dry. The surface is rough, and the color of the surface is brown. It is heavy with a hard texture so that it's difficult to break down into small pieces. The color of the cross-section is light brown. It's used to support kidney yang and relaxing bowels. It's also good for curing soreness and weakness of lumbar and knees.
- Measurements
- 30 cm height x 18 cm width x 20 cm length
Images
Tin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact24869
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.1367
- Description
- Rectangular tin with hand-written paper label.
- Object History
- This item originates from the Chinese Herbalist Store "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Victoria B.C.
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Marks/Labels
- Label contains 3 Chinese characters that are literally translated to: "fur, hair, gross" and "shoot, fire, send out" and "incense, appetizing, fragrant". When adjusted for English comprehension, product is Adenosma glutinosum Druce. Adenosma glutinosum Druce is normally collected during summer and autumn. It's used to relief pain and itchiness, help with the symptom of swelling. It cures abdominal pain and rheumatism. For external use, it's used to cure traumatic injury, provide relief from an insect sting and the itchiness of eczema.
- Measurements
- 35 cm height x 20 cm width x 18 cm length
Images
tin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact35848
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.1218
- Description
- Brown metal tin with an orange paper rectangle label with black Chinese characters on the front. One small handle made of metal at the front rim. Silver strip down front of tin and along bottom. Some discolouration on label.
- Object History
- This item originates from the Chinese Herbalist Store "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Victoria, B.C.
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Marks/Labels
- Orange paper rectangular label wtih 3 black Chinese characters. Characters literally translate to: "stir-fry" and "tiger" and "bone". Adjusted translation for English: "Stir fry tiger bone". Uses: Tiger bone is often prescribed for liver and kidney meridians and can be adapted into soup, pills, wine, or powder. Often used for bone health and to treat rheumatalgia, arthralgia, joint pain, neuralgia, bruise, pain, convulsion, limb spasm, arthritis, lumbago and scelalgia, epilepsy, Hemorrhoids prolapse.
- Measurements
- 22 cm height x 15 cm width x 12 length
Images
toy mobile
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact90953
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV021.9.1
- Description
- Fisher-Price "Music Box Mobile" Blue plastic body with blue arched metal rod. White plastic cross bar attached at top, with 5 characters hanging down on red, yellow and blue strings. Characters include a pig, cow, scarecrow, horse and sheep. Round yellow top cap with a black chicken mounted at top. Motorized base has a yellow "turn" knob and a yellow "push to release button". Green sticker on front with a rooster on a weathervane and the text "Music Box / Mobile / Plays Brahms' Lullaby / Musical Movement / Japan / 174 / Made in U.S.A. / Patented Canada 1974 / Copyright 73 Fisher-Price Toys / East Aurora, N.Y. / DES. PAT. D237.288" Some wear and loss on the sticker surrounding the knob. Back of body has 4 metal screws and a spiral knob with a red wheel disc attached. Has a sticker with a scarecrow, sheep, rose, pig, horse, grass, barn and sky.
- Object History
- This mobile was used by a family in the Government Road area. The parents moved to Burnaby from Malaysia in 1979, and had two sons. This model of Fisher-Price's motorized mobiles was produced between 1973 and 1975, and attached to the crib rails.
- Category
- 09. Recreational Artifacts
- Classification
- Toys
- Object Term
- Toy, Mobile
- Marks/Labels
- Fisher Price
- Measurements
- 66cm high x 42 cm wide
- Country Made
- United States of America
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Toys
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Images
Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14758
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 8 Oct. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (56 min., 15 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Public Librarian, Mariah Gastaldo. The webinar is titled "Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake" and is presented by Nathan Lee, Lead Designer and co-founder of Contexture Design. The zoom webin…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (56 min., 15 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
- Material Details
- Presenter: Nathan Lee
- Host: Mariah Gastaldo
- Date of Presentation: October 8, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Total Number of tracks: 1
- Total Length of all tracks: 56 min., 15 sec.
- Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Public Librarian, Mariah Gastaldo. The webinar is titled "Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake" and is presented by Nathan Lee, Lead Designer and co-founder of Contexture Design. The zoom webinar is the third in a collection of seven "Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker series" webinars that were presented and made available to the public between September 29 and October 27, 2020. The live webinar and recording was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. In this webinar, Nathan Lee speaks about his public art installation that will be installed near the site of the Burnaby Art Gallery in Deer Lake Park. Nathan presents his background research which lead to the project. He tells how the site of the Burnaby Art Gallery and surrounding Century Garden are rich with stories of early settlers and of how British farmers and social elite have shaped the history of this area since the early 1900’s. Nathan's presentation highlights the unseen presence of a Chinese community that is equally profound in its connect. The presentation is supported with slides consisting of historical and contemporary photographs. At the conclusion of his presentation, Nathan takes questions from webinar participants.
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Arts - Sculptures
- Geographic Features - Parks
- Agriculture - Farms
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Deer Lake
- Deer Lake Park
- Accession Code
- BV020.29.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 8 Oct. 2020
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Notes
- Title based on contents of video recording
- Video recording was edited for publication on Heritage Burnaby. Original mp4 video recording (BV020.29.3.1) is 66 min., 51 sec.
Images
Video
Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake, 8 Oct. 2020
Untold Histories: The Legacy of the Chinese Community on Deer Lake, 8 Oct. 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2020_0029_0003_002.mp4
vase
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact24227
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.5.722
- Description
- White china vase with black design on top and neck; bird on branch with peach-coloured blossoms and green leaves on body of vase.
- Object History
- This item originates from the Chinese Herbalist Store “Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.”, Victoria B.C.
- Classification
- Chemical T&E
- Measurements
- 13 cm height x 7 cm diameter at widest part
Images
Victoria's Toishan Benevolent Association staff
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3375
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- July 11, 1936
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 23.5 cm (sight) in mat folder 29.5 x 65 cm folded to 29.5 x 32.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of staff members of Victoria's Toishan Benevolent Association July 11, 1936. Lim [Lum] Chuck Yee [Yue] is identified as sitting in the front row, second from left. Lum Chuck Yue was the proprietor of the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. herbalist shop in Victoria between 1921 and 1936. No o…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 23.5 cm (sight) in mat folder 29.5 x 65 cm folded to 29.5 x 32.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of staff members of Victoria's Toishan Benevolent Association July 11, 1936. Lim [Lum] Chuck Yee [Yue] is identified as sitting in the front row, second from left. Lum Chuck Yue was the proprietor of the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. herbalist shop in Victoria between 1921 and 1936. No other individuals have been identified.
- Accession Code
- BV985.5331.7
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- July 11, 1936
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 1/7/2010
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- 1 b&w copy negative accompanying
- Note on recto of photograph (most likely written by the photographer) is written in Chinese characters
- Note written in inside cover of folder reads: "2nd fr left 2nd Row Lim Chuck Yee [Lim Chuck Yue]- 1938"
Images
Vivian's Tapestry
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9670
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Film and Video collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (9 min., 17 sec.) : digital, 25 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Vivian Lee’s short film covers six decades of her life experience. The film tells the story of Vivian’s parents and their difficult time during the Second World War, including a harrowing journey on the Burma Road. Vivian describes her idyllic childhood in post-war Burma, where she was the sixth of…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Film and Video collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (9 min., 17 sec.) : digital, 25 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Vivian Lee’s short film covers six decades of her life experience. The film tells the story of Vivian’s parents and their difficult time during the Second World War, including a harrowing journey on the Burma Road. Vivian describes her idyllic childhood in post-war Burma, where she was the sixth of eight children, and her life in Singapore and Hong Kong as a young woman. The film includes Vivian and husband Alan’s decision to move to Canada. The couple briefly lived in Burnaby for a short period, during which time their daughters were born. A short while later they moved to Vancouver to care for Alan’s parents. The film concludes with the couple’s return to Burnaby for their retirement, and Vivian’s expressions of appreciation for the many things that bring her joy.
- History
- Vivian Lee was born in Rangoon, Burma, in 1950. Her parents moved to Burma from China in the 1930s. Vivian was the sixth of eight children. Two older siblings were born in Burma, and survived a perilous escape from Burma along the Burma Road during the Second World War. Vivian was the first child to be born in post-war Burma, after her parents returned following the war. The family lived in Rangoon for a period, before moving to a home in the suburbs where Vivian spent an idyllic childhood. After graduating from university, Vivian moved to Singapore, and then to Hong Kong. She worked for a large pharmaceutical company in Hong Kong, where she met her husband, Alan. The couple emigrated to Canada with Alan’s parents (in the 1980s?). Daughters Cynthia and Adrienne were born in Burnaby, before the family moved to Vancouver to care for Alan’s parents. Alan and Vivian have recently returned to Burnaby for their retirement years. They are active volunteers and grand-parents, and Vivian has been developing her watercolour painting skills. Vivian produced the short film in order to pass the legacy of her family’s history on to her children and their offspring. She notes: “I am happy and honoured to share my life story with others in the community. I think it gives all of us a chance to contribute to the mosaic of our shared heritage. I am so proud to be a Canadian citizen and feel very fortunate to live in a multicultural society. I believe it is through sharing these life stories that will make us stronger as a nation.”
- Creator
- Lee, Vivian
- Other Title Information
- title supplied by film maker
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Names
- Lee, Vivian
- Accession Code
- BV016.37.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 2016
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Notes
- Transcribed title
Images
Video
Vivian's Tapestry, 2016
Vivian's Tapestry, 2016
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2016_0037_0001_001.mp4
wall hanging
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact7019
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.360.20
- Description
- Chinese wall hanging
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
wall hanging
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact7020
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.360.21
- Description
- Chinese wall hanging
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
wall hanging
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact7021
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.360.22
- Description
- Chinese wall hanging
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
wall hanging
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact7022
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.360.23
- Description
- Chinese wall hanging
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
wall hanging
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact7023
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV985.360.24
- Description
- Chinese wall hanging
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
Images
![Wedding portait of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) and Puy Yuen Chan, [1942] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/201700240001_001.jpg?width=280)
Wedding portait of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) and Puy Yuen Chan
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4048
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1942]
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 800 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) (R) and Puy Yuen Chan (L) posing for their wedding studio portait. The man is wearing a suit and the woman is wearing a black dress with a brooch.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 800 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) (R) and Puy Yuen Chan (L) posing for their wedding studio portait. The man is wearing a suit and the woman is wearing a black dress with a brooch.
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Accession Code
- BV017.24.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1942]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scan Date
- 01-Oct-2017
- Scale
- 96
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Wedding portait of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) and Puy Yuen Chan, [1942] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/201700240001_001.jpg)
![Wedding portait of Sui Seo Ngen and Lee Ding Quai, [ca. 1920] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/201700240002_001.jpg?width=280)
Wedding portait of Sui Seo Ngen and Lee Ding Quai
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4049
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [ca. 1920]
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 400 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Sui Seo Ngen and Lee Ding Quai posing for their wedding studio portait. The couple is standing with Sui Seo Ngen wearing a flat hat and holding a purse; Lee Ding Quai holding a flat hat in left hand.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : sepia ; 400 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Sui Seo Ngen and Lee Ding Quai posing for their wedding studio portait. The couple is standing with Sui Seo Ngen wearing a flat hat and holding a purse; Lee Ding Quai holding a flat hat in left hand.
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Accession Code
- BV017.24.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [ca. 1920]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 400
- Scan Date
- 01-Oct-2017
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Wedding portait of Sui Seo Ngen and Lee Ding Quai, [ca. 1920] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2017/201700240002_001.jpg)
Wedding portrait of Annie Jung and George Jong
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14777
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 22 Oct. 1930
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 25 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Studio portrait of Annie (Suey Kin) Jung (Chung) and George Jong on their wedding day. The photograph appears to be taken by Vancouver Chinatown photographer Yucho Chow in his portrait studio.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 25 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Studio portrait of Annie (Suey Kin) Jung (Chung) and George Jong on their wedding day. The photograph appears to be taken by Vancouver Chinatown photographer Yucho Chow in his portrait studio.
- Accession Code
- BV020.38.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 22 Oct. 1930
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 18-Jan-2021
- Scale
- 100
- Photographer
- Yucho Chow Studio
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Where is your food from?
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14270
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:17:10 min)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of part two in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Part two is titled “Where is your food from?" The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- UBC Partnership series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:17:10 min)
- Material Details
- Podcasts hosts: Rose Wu; Wei Yan Yeong Guest: Denise Fong Music: prod. riddiman Podcast Date: October 2020 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all tracks: 00:17:10 min Photograph info: Store front of Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co in Victoria, B.C., 1975. BV017.7.191
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of part two in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Part two is titled “Where is your food from?" The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia Faculty and while student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. In this series the students connect their knowledge of food systems to their shared Chinese heritage in order to discover how Chinese Canadian history is rooted in their local food systems. "Where is your food from?" explores contemporary versus historical alternative food movements and how early Chinese farmers in the lower mainland had to be creative in their business tactics in order to survive in a local food system that discriminated against their race. 00:00-02:45 The podcast opens with an audio clip from Harvard University professor and world renowned food journalist and author of "The Ominvore's Dilemma", Michael Pollan. Wei Yan Yeong and Rose Wu introduce themselves and their topic "Where is your food from?" They comment on the global philosophy "Eat local, think global" and question whether this philosphy ignores the struggles faced by local farms operated by immigrant workers back in the day. They comment "Unlike how these alternative food movements are heralded as sustainable, healthy, and even sometimes trendy now in today’s standards, for Chinese farmers, these alternative food movements were necessary for survival against discriminatory practices entrenched in the food system they were servicing." 02:46 - 06:21 This portion provides background on Chinese immigrant farmers and the establishment of "market gardens" or "truck farms". Rose and Wei Yan tell of how up to the 1970s, Chinese farms produced mostly European staples such as potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, corn and cabbage because there was no market for Chinese crops. Many of the Chinese immigrants were forced into farming and other menial jobs due to discriminatory practices that excluded them from other types of employment. The hosts provide a synopsis of Burnaby Bylaw Number 4, created in 1892, "The Chinese and Japanese Exclusion Bylaw" which prohibited any Chinese or Japanese person from working for the Municipality of Burnaby. Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong provides information on Chinese immigrants in Burnaby, how many of them were farmers in the Big Bend area and how hard it was for them to own land due to racial discrimination. Denise also refers to an article in"Harrowsmith" magazine (c.1980s) where thirty five Chinese-Canadians operated farms in Burnaby. 06:22 - 09:24 This portion provides a description of Chinese market farms and vegetable peddling. Background information about the history of market farms, truck farms and vegetable peddling in Burnaby and the lower mainland provided by Denise Fong. 09:24 - 12:03 This portion talks about the policies put in place to create further barriers to Chinese farmers. Denise Fong provides information regarding the civic bylaws that were created to restrict produce sales, fines and fees that were imposed on peddlers, establishment of green grocers, the Chinese Marketing Act, the establishment of organizations to support Chinese farmers including the Chinese Growers Assocation. 12:04 - 15:00 This portion talks about how Chinese-Canadians played important roles in conventional "long" food networks. Denise Fong provides information in how Chinese Canadians participated in the larger food distribution network in British Columbia. Denise shares a story of Chinese-Canadian Cecil Lee and how he introduced the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into British Columbia. 15:01 - 16:29 Final summary regarding the contraditions in our local food system that continue to persist today and how despite the improved status of Chinese-Canadians in British Columbia, cheap, migrant labourers continue to be an overlooked part of our local food system. This portion includes a recorded excerpt from M.L.A. Mabel Elmore regarding Temporary Foreign Workers (presented before the NDP caucous in 2015). 16:29 - 17:22 Credits, thanks and acknowledgements. Special thanks to Duncan McCue and M.LA. Mabel Elmore. Music created by P. Ruderman
- History
- Podcast hosts, Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong are University of British Columbia students in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. Guest, Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Agriculture - Farms
- Agriculture
- Gardens - Market Gardens
- Social Issues - Discrimination
- Social Issues - Racism
- Responsibility
- Yeong, Wei Yan
- Wu, Rose
- Geographic Access
- Marine Drive
- Accession Code
- BV020.28.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 2020
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
- Related Material
- BV020.28.3; BV020.28.5
- Notes
- Title based contents of sound recording
- For associated video recording of research interview with Denise Fong - see BV020.28.2
- Compilation of Research Resources used by authors Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong include:
- Lim, S. (2015). Feeding the "Greenest City": Historicizing "Local," Labour, and the Postcolonial Politics of Eating. Canadian Journal of Urban Research, 24(1), 78-100. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26195279
- Mable Elmore’s statement on the plight of temporary foreign workers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF4_js0R-Mo&ab_channel=BCNDPCaucus
- Michael Pollen’s speech at UBC Farm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1n-kRJhPPQ&feature=emb_title&ab_channel=LFSLearningCentre
- Gibb, Natalie & Wittman, Hannah. (2012). Parallel alternatives: Chinese-Canadian farmers and the Metro Vancouver local food movement. Local Environment. 18. 1-19. 10.1080/13549839.2012.714763.
- Yu, J. (2014, March 31). The integration of the Chinese market gardens of southern British Columbia, 1885-1930 [R]. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0228676
- Burnaby Village Museum, Interview with Denise Fong by Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, 2020. BV020.28.2 https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/permalink/museumvideo14276
Images
Audio Tracks
Where is your food from?, 2020
Where is your food from?, 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Sound_Recordings/2020_0028_0004_001.mp3