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Interview with Leonard Evenden and Allen Seager by Kathy Bossort November 18, 2015 - Track 6
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory626
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1965-2015
- Length
- 0:09:23
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Dr. Evenden and Dr. Seager’s discussion about the future for parks and the urban forest on Burnaby Mountain.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Dr. Evenden and Dr. Seager’s discussion about the future for parks and the urban forest on Burnaby Mountain.
- Date Range
- 1965-2015
- Length
- 0:09:23
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Interviewer
- Bossort, Kathy
- Interview Date
- November 18, 2015
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Dr. Leonard Evenden and Dr. Allen Seager conducted by Kathy Bossort. Leonard Evenden and Allen Seager were two of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about aspects of Simon Fraser University’s history that is related to its site on Burnaby Mountain, as told by two retired SFU professors, Dr. Evenden of the Geography Department and Dr. Seager of the Department of History. The interview ranges over campus access and housing issues created by the isolated mountain site; the relationship of the university to the local community and the dispute over land ownership and control with the City of Burnaby; SFU’s environmental stewardship; the development of UniverCity; and the future of parkland in the conservation area on Burnaby Mountain.
- Biographical Notes
- Dr. Leonard J. Evenden was born 1937 in Beijing, China, to parents and Salvation Army missionaries Leonard Evenden and Elsie Pearl March. Dr. Evenden attended McMaster University (B.A. 1960), University of Georgia (M.A. 1962) and University of Edinburgh (Ph.D. 1970). He was appointed to Simon Fraser University’s Department of Geography in 1966, shortly after SFU opened in the fall of 1965, and retired in 2002. Dr. Evenden’s research has focused on Canadian urban geography. He edited a collection of essays about Burnaby titled “Suburb of Happy Homes: Burnaby centennial themes” (1995), and directed “Voices of Burnaby”, an SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee oral history project (1992). Dr. Evenden is married with three children. Dr. Allen Seager was born 1953 in Montreal, Quebec, to parents C.F.B. Seager and Evelyn DeGex Chesam. Dr. Seager is a retired Simon Fraser University professor, being a member of SFU’s Department of History from 1981 to 2014, and has current links with SFU as an instructor for Continuing Studies. His research interests include history of Canada and Western Canada, and labour and working class history, particularly in the coal mining and railway industries. Dr. Seager moved to Burnaby and the Montecito area in 1981 where he continues to live and enjoy the hiking trails on Burnaby Mountain and the amenities at SFU. Dr. Seager is a member of the Burnaby North NDP, and has volunteered with Scouts Canada and the Burnaby Centennial Committee.
- Total Tracks
- 6
- Total Length
- 1:11:28
- Interviewee Name
- Evenden, Leonard J.
- Seager, Allen
- Interview Location
- Clubhouse at Burnaby Mountain Golf Course Restaurant
- 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.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track six of interview with Dr. Leonard Evenden and Dr. Allen Seager
Track six of interview with Dr. Leonard Evenden and Dr. Allen Seager
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-011/MSS196-011_Track_6.mp3
police badge
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact48349
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV005.18.4
- Description
- British Columbia Provincial Police badge (# 678). It is silver-coloured and has geometic line shapes bordering a circle with engraving. An engraved banner crosses the circle. The obverse pattern is visible on the reverse.
- Object History
- This item was a gift to Donald Brown. In 1947, Don left the army to join the ranks of the British Columbia Provincial Police force – embarking on a three-decade long career. His first assignment brought him to the city that he would eventually adopt as home – Burnaby – and he served here from 1947-1954, first as a member of the BC Police Department and then as a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman after the Provincial force was absorbed by their federal counterparts, the RCMP. In 1954, Don was transferred to Regina, Saskatchewan and then on to Ottawa, Ontario to serve in the Crime Detection Laboratories. After a year and a half spent in training, he became qualified as an Examiner of Questioned Documents and travelled extensively throughout Ontario and Quebec, providing expert testimony in such matters as handwriting, counterfeiting, graphic arts, alterations, etc. During this time, he also attained the rank of first Corporal, and then Sergeant in the RCMP. In total, Don spent over nine years in Ottawa, and while working, managed to add to his education by taking courses from Carleton University, the RCAF and the Ottawa Teacher’s College at night. In July, 1963, Don made his way back to the West Coast when he was transferred to Vancouver to be the Second in Charge of a new laboratory and head of the Document Section. He was soon promoted to Staff Sergeant. Once again, his experience and expertise was called upon and he devoted a great deal of time to providing expert testimony in BC and the Yukon. In May of 1970, he was promoted to Sub-Inspector and was transferred to Edmonton to take command of the new Crime Detection Laboratory built to serve Alberta and the Northwest Territories. By 1972, he was promoted to full Inspector. Under his direction, the new Edmonton lab became one of the most utilised in the RCMP. Transferred back to Vancouver in 1975, Don became the Officer-in-Charge of a new Crime Laboratory and took over the National Police Services pilot project for British Columbia – overseeing work in the areas of computer sciences, laboratory, communications, records, and identification sections. He was rewarded for this work with a promotion to Superintendent in September, 1975. In 1976, after a distinguished 35 years combined service to the armed forces and the police (and a list of awards and citations including the Meritorious Service Award BCPP-1950, the Commissioner’s Commendation RCMP-1951, Chief of Police Commendation-1951, and the Canadian Centennial Medal-1967), Don retired and founded his own laboratory to carry on his work in the field of questioned documents. He supplied his services as an expert witness throughout the western provinces and added to his list of associations and awards. He became a Fellow (Emeritus) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, a Life Member (Emeritus) and Past Director of the Canadian Society of Forensic Sciences, a Member of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners. It was at this point in his life, after his retirement, that Don decided to become involved in local politics and with the blessing of his wife and six children, he joined the Burnaby Voters’ Association as their Secretary and in 1978 was elected to a two-year term as a Burnaby School Trustee. After his two successful years as Trustee, he chose to run as a candidate for alderman during the next municipal election held in November of 1979. Not only did he win his seat for that election, but he was also successful in defending his position on Council during the next two elections as well, serving Burnaby as Alderman from 1979 to 1985. During this time, Don also became a member of the Community College for the Retired, the Horsemen’s Society and the Burnaby Historical Society. He has also given his support to Arts Council programs and numerous other community functions over the years. In 1991, Don was appointed as Chair of the Burnaby Centennial Committee, dedicating himself to making Burnaby’s Centennial celebration a memorable success. Throughout part of 1991 and all of 1992, Don gave his time unstintingly, often attending several meetings and/or functions a day. His contributions were always supported by his wife Helen, and their work during the Centennial Year was just one example of the strength of their 66-year partnership. They were both formally recognized for their efforts when they were chosen to receive the Kushiro Cup and named the Citizens of the Year in 1992. Also that year, Don was a recipient of the Canadian 125 Medal and one year later, in March 1993, Donald Brown was awarded Burnaby’s highest honour and was made a Freeman of the City of Burnaby.
- Marks/Labels
- "BRITISH / COLUMBIA", engraved on front "POLICE" (large), engraved on front "678", stamped on reverse
Images
