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Subject
- Adornment 6
- Adornment - Lapel Pins 6
- Aerial Photographs 1
- Buildings 3
- Buildings - Civic - Museums 3
- Buildings - Residential - Cabins 1
- Buildings - Schools 3
- Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges 3
- Celebrations - Centennials 1
- Ceremonial Artifacts 1
- Construction 1
- Construction Tools and Equipment 1
postcard
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact45377
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV003.18.1
- Description
- Postcard: colour aerial photo of Simon Fraser University; horizontal; on reverse in black, "SFU" "SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY" "BURNABY 2 / BC / CANADA," "Aerial Looking East" "FC 129"; horizontal lines above and below print; borders around left and right sides divide card in half horizontally; along bottom left, "Photo: Fred Thompson" "MADE IN CANADA BY EVERGREEN PRESS LIMITED", "FIDELITY PRESS" and logo; at upper right of right side, "STAMP" with line above and below; lightly soiled, some wear on corners, including crease at upper left of photo side; unused
- Classification
- Written Communication T&E - - Writing Media
- Object Term
- Postcard
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts
- Documentary Artifacts - Postcards
- Documentary Artifacts - Photographs
- Buildings
- Buildings - Schools
- Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
double bit axe head
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact45469
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV003.28.3
- Description
- This split, double bitted, utility axe head was found on Burnaby Mountain by Alfred Bingham in 1920. Mr Bingham bought property on the West side of the mountain in 1920. The axe head is double bladed. The head is very rusty and has been cracked across one side. The remains of the handle are still in the axe eye.
- Object History
- The axe head was found on the site of Simon Fraser University (SFU), an area logged in the early years of the 20th Century by Gilley Logging. The axe may have been broken by one of their loggers.
- Reference
- Note from Alfred Bingham, original in accession file. "THIS AXE HEAD WAS FOUND IN 1920 / BY ALFRED BINGHAM ON THE PRESENT SITE / OF THE SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY. IT PROBABLY / WAS USED BY AN EARLY LOGGER. WHO CUT DOWN / SOME OF THE GREAT TREES THAT GREW ON / BURNABY MOUNTAIN. HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO. MANY OF THESE TREES WERE OVER 800 YEARS OLD / Alfred Bingham " hand written in ink on one face of note. "I bought 5 acres of stump land on the / corner of Sherlock, Duthie, & Kitchener Streets in / 1920. & cleared 2 acres & bilt small home, (store?) / my wife and I have lived in Burnaby continually since then / AB" hand written in ink on the reverse face of the note.
- Marks/Labels
- "1920 FOUND ON BURNABY MTN SITE S.F.U.", written in yellow chalk on one face of the axe head
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
Images
lapel pin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact47217
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV004.50.23
- Description
- Pin; blue, gold, red, white; "Simon Fraser University" "Alumni" "Nous.Sommes.Prets"
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Personal Symbols
- Object Term
- Insignia
- Marks/Labels
- Simon Fraser University / Alumni / Nous.Sommes.Prets
- Subjects
- Adornment
- Adornment - Lapel Pins
- Education
- Symbols
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
lapel pin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact47440
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV004.85.52
- Description
- Pin, blue and silver; "Simon Fraser University" "KW" "1981. Keith.Watts 2001"
- Object History
- Keith Watts served as the SFU men’s soccer head coach for 20 years from 1981 to 2001. Commemorative pin for the service of Keith Watts (presumably upon his retirement).
- Reference
- https://athletics.sfu.ca/hof.aspx?hof=43&mobile=skip
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Memorabilia
- Object Term
- Commemorative
- Marks/Labels
- Simon Fraser University / KW / 1981.Keith.Watts 2001
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
lapel pin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact47441
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV004.85.53
- Description
- Pin; white, gold, red, and blue; "Simon Fraser University"; coat of arms
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Personal Symbols
- Object Term
- Insignia
- Marks/Labels
- Simon Fraser University
- Subjects
- Adornment
- Adornment - Lapel Pins
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
lapel pin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact47442
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV004.85.54
- Description
- Pin; white, gold, red, and blue; "Simon Fraser University"; coat of arms; motto on scroll, "Nous.Sommes.Prets"
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Personal Symbols
- Object Term
- Insignia
- Marks/Labels
- Simon Fraser University / Nous.Sommes.Prets
- Subjects
- Adornment
- Adornment - Lapel Pins
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
lapel pin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact47444
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV004.85.56
- Description
- Pin; white, gold, red and blue; "Simon Fraser University" "Alumni"; coat of arms
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Personal Symbols
- Object Term
- Insignia
- Marks/Labels
- Simon Fraser University
- Subjects
- Adornment
- Adornment - Lapel Pins
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
lapel pin
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact47445
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV004.85.57
- Description
- Pin; white, gold, red and blue; "Simon Fraser University" "Honor Roll"; coat of arms, motto "Nous.Sommes.Prets"
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Personal Symbols
- Object Term
- Commemorative
- Marks/Labels
- Simon Fraser University / Honor Roll / Nous.Sommes.Prets
- Subjects
- Adornment
- Adornment - Lapel Pins
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
postcard
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact48611
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV005.41.5
- Description
- Postcard: colour west-facing aerial photo of Simon Fraser University buildings and parking lot; horizontal; on reverse in black, "SFU" and "SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY" "BURNABY 2 / BC / CANADA" "Aerial Looking West" "FC 54", lines above and below; borders divide card into halves horizontally; in left at bottom, "Photo: Chris Hildred" "MADE IN CANADA BY EVERGREEN PRESS LIMITED" "FIDELITY COLOUR" and logo; at upper right, "STAMP", line above and below; unused
- Classification
- Written Communication T&E - - Writing Media
- Object Term
- Postcard
- Marks/Labels
- Simon Fraser University / Burnaby 2/BC/Canada / Aerial View Looking West
- Maker
- Evergreen Press Limited
- Country Made
- Canada
- Title
- Simon Fraser University FC 54
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts
- Documentary Artifacts - Postcards
- Documentary Artifacts - Photographs
- Buildings
- Buildings - Schools
- Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
postcard
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact89429
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV014.30.4
- Description
- Postcard; colour; four images; 1. view of Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake from Metrotown; 2. Academic quadrangle, Simon Fraser University; 3. Burnaby Village Museum blacksmith shop; 4. Burnaby Mountain golf course; text in black on front reads: "Burnaby British Columbia / The centre of it all!"; text in brown on back reads: "A / Traveltime / PRODUCT", "Majestic / POST CARD".
- Object History
- Postcard collected by Donald "Don" Wrigley.
- Classification
- Written Communication T&E - - Writing Media
- Object Term
- Postcard
- Maker
- Lawson Packaging Pacific
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Vancouver
Images
Album page
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact90367
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV005.54.662
- Description
- Album page with flier and two notices. flier: red ink and photograph on brown card stock 28 x 21.5cm "Pacific Centennial Invitational Swim Meet January 30th & 31st 1971 / Simon Fraser University Pool..."; Notice: black and white copy on cartridge paper 23 x 15.5 cm with heading "--WELCOME--" and signed by The Burnaby Tyees Swimming Club Meet Director W.D. (Don) Purvis for Pacific Centennial Invitational Swim Meet January 30th & 31st 1971; Notice: black and white copy printed on cartridge paper 11 x 21.5 cm "THE BURNABY TYEES SWIMMING CLUB ACKNOWLEDGE WITH THANKS... THE BURNABY CENTENNIAL '71 COMMITTEE..."
- Object History
- Album page 134 from Don Copan album/scrapbook for Burnaby Centennial '71 celebrations
- Don Copan was an active member of the Burnaby Centennial ’71 Committee and later became the founding President of the Century Park Museum Association. While a member of the Burnaby Centennial ’71 Committee, Don created a scrapbook album of photographs and ephemera documenting the Burnaby Centennial ’71 Committee’s involvement in celebrating British Columbia’s Centenary of Confederation between January and December 1971 including Burnaby’s Commemorative Project – Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum).
- Reference
- Photographs from the Don Copan scrapbook/album are described as part of the Donald Copan collection - Copan Album series
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Leaflet
- Correspondence
Images
Pendant
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact90870
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV020.40.22
- Description
- Gold (10K) rectangular pendant, with rounded edges. "BAE" is engraved in cursive on the front, standing for Blyth Alfred Eagles. On the back in cursive reads "From Grandma Tidy on occasion of matriculation 1918." A small hoop is at the top for threading through a neckalce or other chain.
- Object History
- Blythe Eagles's paternal grandparents, Charles and Maude Eagles, immigrated to New Westminster in 1887. Blythe and Violet Eagles purchased property at Deer Lake in 1929 and began construction of their home shortly before their marriage on June 25, 1930.Violet was an enthusiastic amateur gardener, maintaining and continually developing the garden. The Eagles were active volunteers in the local community as well as at UBC. When Simon Fraser University opened in Burnaby, they became well-known for entertaining dignitaries and special guests of the university in their lavish garden. After Violet's death in 1993, the estate was sold to the City of Burnaby.
- Category
- 03. Personal Artifacts
- Classification
- Adornment - - Body Adornments
- Object Term
- Pendant
- Colour
- Bronze
- Measurements
- 1" h x 3/4" w
- Subjects
- Ceremonial Artifacts
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
booklet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91128
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV011.44.11
- Description
- guide booklet; glossy cover in black with colour photographs; stapled binding; pages within numbered 2-15 include colour photographs and maps. Front cover title reads "Burnaby / & surrounding area. / BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA" with a Canadian flag to the left of title and a grid of five colour photographs below including aerial view of Burnaby looking north from Deer Lake, Simon Fraser University, aerial view of Burnaby Mountain, Heritage Village Museum and a view of people beneath trees in a Burnaby park. Inside cover, page 2, includes "FACTS / ABOUT / BURNABY"; centre page includes map of Burnaby; page 12 includes map of British Columbia and the eastern section of Vancouver Island; page 13 title reads "SUGGESTED / SIDE TRIPS / FROM BURNABY". Back cover of booklet includes colour photograph of Burnaby Art Gallery and brief summary about Burnaby.
- Object History
- Published as a tourist brochure of tourist sites in and around Burnaby including Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum) on page 4. Collected by Century Park Museum Association and Heritage Village as part of their promotional materials.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Pamphlet
- Measurements
- 23 cm x 20.5 cm
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Vancouver
- Title
- Burnaby and surrounding area
- Publication Date
- [1978]
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Geographic Access
- Vancouver
Images
Interview with Lachman Singh Gill and Gill family members
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19600
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 2023 (interview content), interviewed 6 May 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (124 min., 8 sec.) + 1 sound recording (m4a) 1:15:54
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Lachman Singh Gill and family members conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. The first part of the interview was conducted with Lachman Singh Gill in Punjabi with some English and the second part of the interview (15 mi…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (124 min., 8 sec.) + 1 sound recording (m4a) 1:15:54
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Rajdeep Interviewees: Lachman Singh Gill and family members - Santokh Singh Gill, Mohinder Kaur Gill and Prem Kaur Gill Location of Interview: Gill family residence Interview Date: June 12, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks:124 min., 8 sec. Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Lachman Singh Gill and family members conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. The first part of the interview was conducted with Lachman Singh Gill in Punjabi with some English and the second part of the interview (15 min.) was conducted in English with family members, Santokh Singh Gill, Mohinder Kaur Gill and Prem Kaur Gill. 00:00:00 - 00:05:35 This interview starts abruptly, and the interviewer was unable to introduce the interviewees and themself. There were also technical difficulties in the beginning, which led to the recording starting mid-sentence. Discussion begins with Lachman Singh Gill providing details on his spiritual practices and background. 00:05:35 - 00:13:38 Discussion continues with Lachman providing details on his birthplace in Punjab, his family home, family names and languages spoken while living in India (Punjabi and Urdu). Family members chime in to help with details. 00:13:39 - 00:18:00 Lachman Gill imparts information on his migration story from England to British Columbia and his experiences when he first came to England from India. Lachman shares his employment history in Vancouver and India. 00:18:01 - 00:23:34 Lachman talks about his marriage to Surjit Kaur (Ark) Gill in India in 1943 and shares the names of their seven children, including his youngest daughter Sarbjit who died tragically at a young age. Lachman shares the details of his daily routine at the age of 95 years old. 00:23:35 - 00:25:48 Lachman shares information on the Gurdwaras that he visits for prayers, weddings and events. 00:25:49 - 00:35:49 Lachman recalls his experience living in India at the time of Partition in 1947 including details on his family’s experiences of how they helped protect a Muslim family. 00:35:50 - 00:39:49 Lachman comments on his experiences of living in Burnaby from when he first arrived here. Lachman, Santokh, Prem and the interviewer recount the names and locations of gurdwaras in the lower mainland and how they’ve changed over time. 00:39:50 - 00:43:15 Lachman shares his employment history working in a foundry and driving a taxi. Santokh, Mohinder and Prem Gill provide information about Lachman’s wife Surjeet Kaur Gill. The group describes their family home in Burnaby which they've lived in since 1973 and their first home on Georgia Street in Burnaby. 00:43:16 - 00:49:19 Lachman, Mohinder and Santokh recall their experiences obtaining citizenship as British subjects and how they were able to buy a home in a year. Santokh Gill recalls how he and his brother took over his father’s taxi after he retired and later sold it for a profit. 00:49:20 - 01:04:19 Lachman describes in detail his daily routine as a 95 year old. The group shares some of their favourite types of roti and Lachman talks about using his hearing aid. The interviewer and group convey to Lachman how the information will be used. Lachman describes how his wife made oatmeal. 01:04:20 - 01:15:54 In this portion of the interview, Santokh and Prem Gill show the interviewer a book by Henry Bromley titled “Fire in the Blood: A History of British Columbia and Alberta Foundries”. The book was given to the Santokh when he was working at the foundry and contains photographs of Lachman Gill and the foundries they worked at. Santokh describes photographs within the book and the metal casting processes.
- History
- Interviewees' biographies: Lachman Singh Gill was born in 1928 in the village of Ferozepur near Lakhpur, Punjab. In 1943, Lachman married his wife Surjit Kaur Ark who was from the village of Malpur. Sometime after Partition in 1947, Lachman and his wife Surjeet immigrated to England. Lachman and Surjit had seven children, four sons and three daughters. Around 1973, Lachman's son, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill sponsored his father and mother and they immigrated to Canada joining him and his family in Burnaby, British Columbia. After arriving in British Columbia, Lachman worked as a steel worker at a foundry and drove his own taxi. Lachman retired in his ffities and continues to live with his son and family in Burnaby. Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar in Punjab, India. Gurmail moved to England with his family in 1957 and immigrated to British Columbia in 1966. Gurmail married Mohinder Kaur Gill in England in 1968 and she immigrated to British Columbia from England soon after. Gurmail first lived with a cousin in Burnaby before purchasing a home of his own in Burnaby where he raised his family. Gurmail worked in the steel industry and was a member and treasurer of the CAIMAW before the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in the Hoshiapur in Punjab, India. She married her husband Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill in England in 1968 and immigrated to Burnaby, British Columbia to join her husband. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill have four children, all born in Burnaby. Prem Kaur Gill was born in Burnaby in 1969 and is the eldest child of Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill. Prem grew up and attended school in Burnaby. Interviewer biography: Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Migration
- Foods
- Industries
- Persons - Seniors
- Religions - Sikhism
- Transportation - Taxicabs
- Names
- Gill, Lachman Singh
- Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh
- Gill, Prem Kaur
- Gill, Mohinder Kaur
- Gill, Surjit Kaur Ark
- Gill, Sarbjit Kaur
- Responsibility
- Rajdeep
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.4
- Date
- 2023 (interview content), interviewed 6 May 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcript for master recordings available upon request - Contact Burnaby Village Museum
Images
Audio Tracks
Interview with Lachman Singh Gill and Gill family members, 2023 (interview content), interviewed 6 May 2023
Interview with Lachman Singh Gill and Gill family members, 2023 (interview content), interviewed 6 May 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0004_003.m4a
Pioneer tales of Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5860
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Digital Reference Collection
- Reference Collection
- Material Type
- Book
- ISBN
- 096928280x
- Call Number
- 971.133 SON COPY 4
- Contributor
- Sone, Michael
- Place of Publication
- Burnaby, B.C.
- Publisher
- Corporation of the District of Burnaby
- Publication Date
- c1987
- Physical Description
- 495 p. : ill. ; 31 cm.
- Inscription
- "TR687 - Bryburgh" / handprinted in pencil on frontend page
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Pioneers--British Columbia--Burnaby
- Frontier and pioneer life
- Biography
- Object History
- Early Burnaby as recalled by the settlers themselves who arrived from every corner of the world between 1888 and 1930, some witnessing incorporation of the district in 1892, all seeking a better life for themselves and especially for their children, all helping transform the wilderness into the modern municipality of today.
- Notes
- "Editor Michael Sone".
- Includes index.
- 4 copies held: copy 4
Images
Digital Books
![Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023 thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_001.JPG?width=280)
Interview with Shirley Cohn
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19597
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Shirley Cohn Location of Interviews: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Dates: April 14, 2023 and September 6, 2023 Total Number of Tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 67 min., 33 sec. Digital master recording (wav) recording of second interview (50 min., 36 sec.) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on September 6, 2023: 0:00 – 16:09 Shirley Cohn shares background information about her parents who immigrated to Detroit from Hungary in the 1930’s. Shirley recalls what it was like for her parents being Jewish during World War II and how many of their relations were killed in the Holocaust. Shirley talks about her Jewish Hungarian heritage, what it was like growing up in Detroit, the Jewish community in Detroit and the Jewish holidays and traditions that her family celebrated. Shirley recalls her high school and University education and experiences, starting her career in social work and how she met her future husband, Theodore “Ted” Cohn. 16:10 – 18:27 Shirley shares the story about her father in law, Dr. Daniel E. Cohn who was Harry Houdini’s doctor at the time of his death in Detroit on Oct. 31, 1926. Shirley explains that she donated some of Dr. Daniel E. Cohn’s original documents pertaining to this event to the New York Public Library. 18:28 – 26:04 Shirley describes her experiences living and working in London Ontario while her husband was a professor at University of Western Ontario and Shirley worked as a social worker in family services. Shirley recalls experiences of anti-Semitism while living in London. Shirley talks about moving to Burnaby in 1977 after her husband took a job as a professor at Simon Fraser University. Shirley describes her experiences living in Burnaby, raising a family and working as a social worker at Burnaby General Hospital. 26:05 – 26:18 Shirley talks about her interests outside of work, her family’s involvement in the Burquest Jewish Community Association and being a member of Temple Shalom. Shirley conveys information about other Jewish synagogues in Greater Vancouver, describes Reform Judaism at Temple Shalom and some Jewish cultural practices that her family has been involved with. 26:19 – 33:12 Shirley describes her family’s experiences living in the Garden Village nieghbourhood in Burnaby, her involvement sharing Jewish cultural traditions at her children’s school and recalls her children’s experiences attending school in Burnaby. 33:13 – 40:46 Shirley conveys the career paths that her children took and talks about what she likes about living in Burnaby including; the walking and hiking trails, the cultural and art performances and her involvement in local politics. Shirley talks about her and her husband’s involvement in the SFU retirees association and the SFURA walking and hiking group. Shirley reflects on her husband’s academic career, experiences teaching at SFU and the role of the Hillel Jewish Students Association at the Simon Fraser University. Shirley talks about the difficulties of discussing political views about the State of Israel. Shirley describes some traditional Jewish foods, the roles that they play and a local bakery that carries Jewish bake goods. 40:47 – 50:36 Shirley describes her current daily life in Burnaby; working one day a week as a social worker, gardening, her involvement at Temple Shalom and the Jewish Community Centre and how she travels in Burnaby. Shirley recalls the changes that she’s encountered in Burnaby and in her career over the years, shares a story about her husband losing his thesis and describes what Burnaby was like while she was raising her family. Shirley shares what she thinks about the areas of development in Burnaby and conveys the importance of having parks and affordable housing. In closing, Shirley reflects on what is like to be a Jewish person living in Burnaby.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Shirley Tanner was born in Detroit in 1947. Her parents were both Jewish. Her mother fled Hungary as a refugee in 1939, while her father emigrated from there in 1934. Shirley attended public schools in Detroit, and then studied social work at the University of Michigan. After marriage, Shirley and Ted Cohn moved to Ontario where Ted had a faculty appointment at the University of Western Ontario in political science. Six years later they moved to Burnaby for Ted’s teaching position in political science at Simon Fraser University. While living in Burnaby, Shirley took care of a growing family while also practicing social work, mainly at Burnaby Hospital. The family enjoyed Burnaby’s libraries and parks. Shirley helped out at her children’s schools, became a Block Watch captain, and the family joined Burquest Jewish Community Association. The Cohns later became members of Temple Sholom Synagogue in Vancouver, while remaining in Burnaby. Beginning in 2009, Ted started an informal hiking group for retired Simon Fraser University staff. This group has been open to others, so now has a wide variety of members. Shirley has also helped lead hikes in the region. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Recreational Activities - Hiking
- Organizations
- Organizations - Societies and Clubs
- Migration
- Persons - Jewish Canadians
- Religions - Judaism
- Social Issues - Racism
- Social Issues
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Cohn, Dr. Daniel E.
- Cohn, Shirley
- Cohn, Theodore H. "Ted"
- Burquest
- Hillel Jewish Students Association
- Simon Fraser University
- SFURA walking and hiking group
- Simon Fraser University Retirees Association "SFURA"
- Temple Shalom
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Summary, recording and transcript of second interview available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
![Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023 thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_001.JPG)
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_003.mp3![Aerial photograph of Douglas Road and Sperling Avenue, [1938] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199200470001.jpg?width=280)
Aerial photograph of Douglas Road and Sperling Avenue
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1165
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1938]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 24 cm
- Scope and Content
- Aerial photograph of the area surrounding Douglas Road and Sperling Avenue.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 24 cm
- Scope and Content
- Aerial photograph of the area surrounding Douglas Road and Sperling Avenue.
- Subjects
- Aerial Photographs
- Geographic Access
- Douglas Road
- Sperling Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV992.47.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Date
- [1938]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 01-Jun-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Notes on verso of photograph read: "Burnaby Image Bank #532" and "DOUGLAS ROAD AND SPERLING c. 1938"
- Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "Copyright Simon Fraser/ University Archives"
Images
![Aerial photograph of Douglas Road and Sperling Avenue, [1938] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/1990/199200470001.jpg)
![Plaque unveiling at Simon Fraser University, [1965] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0037_0025_001.jpg?width=280)
Plaque unveiling at Simon Fraser University
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15050
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1965]
- Collection/Fonds
- Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two unidentified men standing next to a plaque at Simon Fraser University where it was unveiled. The plaque is mounted on a concrete post and has curtains on either side. The plaque reads "In Appreciation to G.B. Riley, E.R. Loftus and E.W. Martin of C.B. Riley Ltd. for their generou…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two unidentified men standing next to a plaque at Simon Fraser University where it was unveiled. The plaque is mounted on a concrete post and has curtains on either side. The plaque reads "In Appreciation to G.B. Riley, E.R. Loftus and E.W. Martin of C.B. Riley Ltd. for their generous gift to Simon Fraser University of 20 Acres of land on September 30, 1963."
- Subjects
- Events - Openings
- Geographic Access
- University Drive
- Street Address
- 8888 University Drive
- Accession Code
- BV019.37.25
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1965]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- February 4, 2021
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photographer is unknown so maybe subject to copyright holder.
- A risk assessment should be done prior to releasing hi resolution copies
Images
![Plaque unveiling at Simon Fraser University, [1965] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0037_0025_001.jpg)
postcard
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact48610
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV005.41.4
- Description
- Postcard: colour aerial photo of Simon Fraser University; horizontal; on reverse in navy, "N.W. 49" "SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY" "N. Burnaby (Vancouver), B.C. Canada" "The aerial view shows..."; illustration of R.C.M.P. officer at left; at bottom left, "S-2587"; navy line up centre with "NATURAL COLOR PRODUCTIONS, LTD., VANCOUVER, B.C."; at bottom, "MADE IN CANADA" "GRANT-MANN", logo; at upper right, illustration of mounted R.C.M.P. officer, "POST CARD" "ADDRESS"; large beige stamp at upper right corner, "6" "VINCENT MASSEY 1887-1967" "GOVERNOR GENERAL" "GOUVERNEUR GENERAL" "1952-1959" "CANADA"; round postmark "VANCOUVER B.C." "7 -M" "OCT --" "19-9"; rectangular cancellation "HADASSAH BAZAAR" "P.N.E. SHOWMART" "PURE FOODS BLDG." "OCT.22 - --"; addressed in pencil, "Mr. Russell H. Lane" "Box 898," "High River, Alberta"; message "Tuesday P.M." "Vancouver, B.C." "Oct 14/69" "Looking forward to tomorrow! K"; slight smudging
- Classification
- Written Communication T&E - - Writing Media
- Object Term
- Postcard
- Marks/Labels
- Simon Fraser University / N. Burnaby (Vancouver), B.C. Canada
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Vancouver
- Title
- Simon Fraser University S-2587
- Publication Date
- October 14 1969
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts
- Documentary Artifacts - Postcards
- Documentary Artifacts - Photographs
- Buildings
- Buildings - Schools
- Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges
- Names
- Simon Fraser University
Images
Interview with "The Bollywood Boyz", Harvinder Sihra and Gurvinder Sihra
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19608
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1970-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Jul. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (84 min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (62 min., 3 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with "The Bollywood Boyz", Harvinder Sihra and Gurvinder Sihra conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. 00:00:00 – 00:05:26 Gurvinder “Gurv” Sihra and brother Harvinder “Harv’ Sihra introduce themselves, providing details on …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (84 min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (62 min., 3 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Rajdeep Interviewees: "The Bollywood Boyz", Harvinder Sihra and Gurvinder Sihra Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 8, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:02:03 min Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph credit: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with "The Bollywood Boyz", Harvinder Sihra and Gurvinder Sihra conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. 00:00:00 – 00:05:26 Gurvinder “Gurv” Sihra and brother Harvinder “Harv’ Sihra introduce themselves, providing details on where they were born and grew up (in Burnaby), names of their parents and provide details on their family history. They describe how their grandparents and other relatives continued to live in Punjab after their father and mother immigrated to Canada in the 1970’s, recall the reasons their parents decided to immigrate and details of their lives before and after arriving in Canada. 00:05:27 – 00:06:46 Gurvinder and Harvinder describe some of their experiences travelling through Vancouver airport and compare their experiences with their mother’s own experiences. Gurvinder and Harvinder describe the layout of the airport and how customs and immigration has changed over time. 00:06:47 – 00:09:21 Gurvinder and Harvinder provide details about their mother, Parveen Sihra. They share information regarding her education in India and how she was unable to get work related to her degree in biology after immigrating to Canada. They convey how she worked in the Burnaby City Hall cafeteria in the 1990’s and how she worked part time in order to take care of her children. They share how their parents were proud Canadians participating in events inside and outside the South Asian community and were both fluent in English but often spoke Punjabi at home. 00:09:22 – 00:16:06 Gurvinder and Harvinder recall their childhood experiences growing up in Burnaby. They talk about the sports that they were involved with including hockey and Taekwondo, family vacations spent travelling to India and their experiences attending Marlborough Elementary School and Moscrop Secondary School.They describe how they first became interested in watching wrestling and trying it out on their own in their family home. Gurvinder and Harvinder recall their own experiences of discrimination while growing up and playing sports. 00:16:07 – 00:27:37 Gurvinder and Harvinder reflect and recall events that lead them to their dream of becoming professional wrestlers. They talk about pivotal events including attending their first live wresting event at GM Place with their father in 1996, beginning their training in Calgary in 2004, travelling across the country to participate in minor wrestling events, wrestling in Rogers Arena in 2017 and 2020 and getting their first call to join WWE. They talk about the support that they’ve had along the way to getting them where they are today and comment on why they want to be wrestlers in the WWE. 00:27:38 – 00:29:25 Gurvinder and Harvinder provide background information on their various wrestling personas and names in the world of professional wrestling including the Singh Brothers and the Bollywood Boyz. 00:29:26 – 00:38:43 Gurvinder and Harvinder talk about their experiences wrestling in India and the support and expectations of family members in becoming successful. Gurvinder and Harvinder recall and reflect on the experience of being fired from the WWE when cutbacks were made during the COVID pandemic. 00:38:44 – 00:42:53 Gurvinder and Harvinder describe what a day in their lives looks like now. They talk about how they’re still very passionate and focused on their wrestling careers and describe their experiences of having support and enthusiasm from fans and their parents. They talk about travelling across the country to particpate in different wrestling events. 00:42:54 – 00:47:18 Gurvinder and Harvinder talk about their training regimen including exercise and diet and describe areas in Burnaby where they like to train in gyms and the outdoors. 00:47:19 – 00:49:49 Gurvinder and Harvinder talk about neighbourhoods in Burnaby including Metrotown and Deer Lake and how they’ve seen them change over the years. 00:49:50 – 00:54:27 Gurvinder and Harvinder talk about their highest and lowest points in their wrestling careers, highlighting specific events. They talk about the physical stamina it takes for wrestling and compare their sport with the sport of Kabaddi (a contact team sport between two teams originating in India). 00:54:28 – 00:59:01 Gurvinder and Harvinder reflect on what toughness means to them, and what keeps them motivated to do what they do. 00:59:02 – 01:01:31 Gurvinder and Harvinder impart their words of wisdom to younger kids in chasing their passions and dreams and talk about their favourite Bollywood films and actors.
- History
- Interviewees' biographies: The Bollywood Boyz are a Canadian professional wrestling tag team composed of brothers Gurvinder "Gurv" Sihra (born in 1984) and Harvinder "Harv" Sihra (born in 1987). The pair are best known for their time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where Gurvinder and Harvinder performed under the ring names Sunil Singh and Samir Singh. They were both born and raised in Burnaby by their parents Harjeet and Parveen Sihra and attended Moscrop Secondary School. Gurvinder graduated from Douglas College where he studied criminology and has worked in loss prevention and has a third degree black belt in Taekwondo. Harvinder attended Douglas College with studies in history and has worked as a model and an actor. Both Gurvinder and Harvinder Sihra are Sikhs. Interviewer biography: Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Migration
- Pandemics - COVID-19
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Religions - Sikhism
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Discrimination
- Social Issues - Racism
- Sports
- Sports - Martial Arts
- Sports - Wrestling
- Sports - Ice Hockey
- Travel
- Names
- The Bollywood Boyz
- Sihra, Guvinder "Gurv"
- Sihra, Harvinder "Harv"
- Sihra, Harjeet
- Sihra, Parveen
- World Wrestling Entertainment "WWE"
- Moscrop Secondary School
- Marlborough Elementary School
- Metrotown
- Responsibility
- Rajdeep
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Park
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.12
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1970-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Jul. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Photographer
- World Wrestling Entertainment "WWE"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum
Images
Audio Tracks
Interview with