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Dr. Sadhu Binning fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19279
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1984]
- Collection/Fonds
- Dr. Sadhu Binning fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : col.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of two photographs of actors from Vancouver Sath performing in the play "Maluka" at Sexsmith Elementary School.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Dr. Sadhu Binning fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : col.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of two photographs of actors from Vancouver Sath performing in the play "Maluka" at Sexsmith Elementary School.
- History
- Dr. Sadhu Binning was born on May 10, 1947 to mother Gurmej Kaur and father Jeet Singh Binning. Due to lack of proper records management in India at the time of his birth, it is believed that he was actually born sometime in December of 1947. He grew up alongside two brothers and one sister in a village located in Kapurthala, Punjab. Dr. Binning attended secondary school in the nearby city of Phagwara, Punjab although he did not complete his education here. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed reading both Punjabi and Hindi novels and learned how to read Urdu as well. Dr. Binning’s uncle, Dhana Singh immigrated to Canada in 1933 and returned to India in 1953. When Dhana Singh returned to Canada in 1957, he sponsored Dr. Binning’s father, Jeet Singh Binning to immigrate. Dhana Singh co-owned a few saw mills in British Columbia and also worked in the truck driving industry. Dr. Binning remembers that some people who had lived in Canada would visit their village and that they appeared to be strong and healthy and looked happy. He also noticed that they would eat meat, so whenever they would visit there would be meat available. In 1967, when he was nineteen and a half years old, Dr. Binning immigrated Canada to join his father. He recalls his father and uncle and a friend arriving at the airport to pick him up. During his first few days, Dr. Binning made the decision to remove his turban and beard upon receiving advice from his uncle. Dr. Binning first obtained work on a farm in Abbotsford, working alongside his mother. While working, Dr. Binning also attended English classes in Vancouver. Dr. Binning’s Uncle Dhana Singh worked in a Vancouver saw mill and tried to help find work for his nephew but was unsuccessful. Dr. Binning soon found work at a saw mill in Avola and worked there until the end of the summer until a friend helped find him work in a saw mill in North Vancouver. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with friends. In 1970, Dr. Binning left the saw mill after obtaining a job at the post office. The post office offered lower wages than working at the mill but Dr. Binning believed that he would become more educated working here. While working as a postman, Dr. Binning recalls facing a lot of discrimination and racism and was often referred to as a ‘Paki’ multiple times a day. In 1973, Dr. Binning married Jagish Sihota. Sadhu and Jagdish originated from nearby villages in India and met each other in Canada. Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish worked at the Royal Bank of Canada for thirty years until her retirement. While working, she also looked after the household and their son and daughter. Jagdish also handwrote a magazine, “Watno Dur’ (English translation: ‘away from homeland’) which was distributed in the community. In 1976, Dr. Binning became the editor of the magazine and the name was later changed to “Watan’ as they had accepted their new homeland of Canada. While working at the post office, Dr. Binning also attended night school starting in eighth grade. After receiving his high school diploma, he was accepted to Simon Fraser University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology and in 1986 he obtained a Masters degree from Simon Fraser University. While attending university, Dr. Binning was very active within the community and wanted to work to improve society. He first thought that he would return to India to contribute and improve rights in his homeland but upon seeing the prevalence of the movements in Canada, he realized that work needed to be done here too. In 1983, Dr. Binning became a founding member and contributor to a theatrical collective known as “Vancouver Sath”. The theatrical group produced plays that represented societal issues and were invited to perform at multiple conferences throughout British Columbia and Canada. The group focused and acknowledged the many issues in Punjab and in Canada. One of the plays that the group produced focused on the exploitation of Punjabi women who worked on farms in Canada. Dr. Binning continued to be involved as an integral member of Vancouver Sath until 1995. Over the years, Dr. Binning has strongly lobbied for Punjabi language education and between 1988 and 2008 he worked as Punjabi instructor at the University of British Columbia. He first worked as a teaching assistant at UBC under Dr. Harjot Oberoi and due to low wages, he simultaneously worked at the Post Office. In 2019, Dr. Binning received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UBC in recognition of his work. Since 1973, Dr. Binning has lived in Burnaby and has resided in the same home that he and his wife purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips.
- Creator
- Binning, Dr. Sadhu
- Accession Code
- BV023.7
- Date
- [1984]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- See also artifacts descriptions for related materials re: Vancouver Sath and Watan magazine: BV023.7.1 to BV023.7.16
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Harold H. Johnston fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription47202
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958-1983
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 106 photographs (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of 106 photographs depicting locations in Burnaby and its environs.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958-1983
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Physical Description
- 106 photographs (jpeg) : b&w
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Open access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2008-08
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of 106 photographs depicting locations in Burnaby and its environs.
- History
- Harold Henry (Hal) Johnston (September 15, 1930 - January 15, 1985) was born in Ardreagh, Northern Ireland, trained as a plasterer, and immigrated to Canada in 1951. Settling in Edmonton in 1952, he married Frances Henriette Coulombe (born July 29, 1932) in June 1955. He worked as a plasterer in Edmonton until late 1957, when they moved to Burnaby, British Columbia. They purchased, renovated and occupied 4447 Venables Street. They had two children, Sean Francois Johnston (born October 30, 1956) and Wendy Marie Johnston (born October 9, 1959). In Burnaby, they attended Holy Cross Primary School (1450 Delta Avenue), Alpha Secondary School (4600 Parker Street) and Simon Fraser University, later completing PhDs at the University of Leeds and Universite de Montreal, respectively. Harold Johnston continued to work as a plasterer, serving in 1969 as business agent for the Plasterers' and Stonemasons' Union, and then self-employed as A&H Plastering and Stucco from 1970 until his death in 1985. Frances Johnston worked part-time as secretary for Holy Cross parish rectory. Harold Johnston was a serious photographer and camera collector, recording some 1500 rolls of black and white slide film in 35mm and other formats on a variety of cameras from the early 1950s until 1984, mainly of locations in the Lower Mainland and Pacific Northwest. From 1960, he processed and printed the negatives himself in a home darkroom. From 1970, Johnston recorded a number of artists, illustrators and sculptors working in Vancouver's downtown eastside, notably Wil Hudson (fine printer and typographer), Keith Shields (sculptor), Frits Jacobsen (illustrator), Charles Butler (wood sculptor) and Bill Shoebotham (primitive artist). **This biographical sketch was based on information prepared by Dr. Sean Johnston and provided to the City of Burnaby Archives in April 2008.**
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Creator
- Johnston, Harold H.