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![Interview with Kanwal Singh Neel, [1973-2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jul. 2023 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0011_002.jpg?width=280)
Interview with Kanwal Singh Neel
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19607
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1973-2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jul. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (50 min., 32 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 30 fps
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kanwal Singh Neel conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. The interview was conducted and recorded on the Zoom platform. 00:00 – 00:06:47 Kanwal shares some of the mentors that influenced him in his life, education and …
- 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
- 1 video recording (mp4) (50 min., 32 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 30 fps
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Rajdeep Interviewee: Kanwal Singh Neel Interview Date: July 5, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 50 min., 32 sec. Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kanwal Singh Neel conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. The interview was conducted and recorded on the Zoom platform. 00:00 – 00:06:47 Kanwal shares some of the mentors that influenced him in his life, education and career, how his three-year grandson has been an inspiration and how important it is to educate yourself in different ways. 00:06:48 - 00:19:02 Kanwal talks about the diversity in the schools that he’s encountered over the years as a student and as an educator and shares his experiences getting hired as an educator on public television and being known as "the math guy". 00:19:03 - 00:46:39 Kanwal talks about the “Friends of Simon” tutoring out-reach program and his involvement. 00:26:40 - 00:30:24 Kanwal shares his experiences officiating the Canada Summer Games, the Harry Jerome Track Classic, the Commonwealth Games and other world class sporting events. 00:30:25 - 00:38:58 Kanwal describes a typical day while working at Simon Fraser University as Associate Director of Professional Programs, as a sports official and his involvement with Friends of Simon. Kanwal speaks about the importance of finding a balance between staying connected, finding your purpose and carrying on the passions that you enjoy. Kanwal talks about some of his favourite places in Burnaby including Simon Fraser University, Burnaby Mountain, Deer Lake and Central Park. 00:38:59 - 00:43:31 Kanwal talks about the changes that he’s seen in the lower mainland over his life time including; diminishing agricultural land, the fishing industry, public transportation, housing and retail infrastructure and homelessness. 00:43:32 - 00:50:32 Kanwal talks about his involvement with the Punjabi Cultural Association, the introduction of Punjabi language courses in public schools and his involvement in a Bhangra event. Kanwal imparts a final message to youth of today emphasizing the importance of, building relationships, giving back to your community, learning through education and being respectful of your own journey and others.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Kanwal Singh Neel was born in Mombasa, Kenya in 1953 and immigrated with his family to Canada in 1969. For the first few weeks after immigrating the family stayed at the Sikh Temple on Second Avenue before moving into a house which they rented. Kanwal attended Kitsilano Secondary School and later transferred to Steveston High School when his family moved to Richmond. In 1972, Kanwal and friends formed a bhangra group "Punjab Cultural Association" and in 1974 they performed at the World Exposition in Spokane, Washington. The group performed at various venues including the Pacific National Exhibition and other cities in the Province. In 1973, Kanwal was an officiate during the Canada Summer Games at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. Kanwal obtained a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from University of British Columbia in computer science and mathematics and got his first teaching job in 1977. In 1978, he was an officiate of the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta. Over the next ten years he devoted himself to becoming an educator and during this time he became more involved with the B.C. Math Teachers Association. Kanwal and his wife Nancy married in 1982 and have two daughters. In the early 1990's, Kanwal joined Simon Fraser University as a faculty associate to work, train and mentor student teachers. Kanwal became President of the B.C. Math Teachers Association and travelled throughout the province to help solve issues being faced by students. In 1993, he co-hosted a TV show "Math Shop" on The Knowledge Network and he later co-authored a textbook series titled "Math Makes Sense". Kanwal continued to advance his knowledge in the field of mathematics obtaining a Doctorate from Simon Fraser University in 2008. Kanwal developed his doctoral work in Haida Gwaii, studying the mathematics that the Haida peoples used in day to day life, applying the applications and integrating the mathematics concepts with their cultural knowledge. Kanwal also worked with the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation and the Stó:lō Nation in helping to develop resources for them. Kanwal has been recognized with various awards and honours including being awarded an honorary doctorate by Kwantlen Polytechnic University and in 2017 as an inductee in the Sports Wall of Fame in Richmond for his outstanding contribution to amateur sport as an International Athletics Official. Since retirement, Kanwal continues to be involved in a project at Simon Fraser University "Friends of Simon" where university students go out and mentor and tutor immigrant and refugee children from South Asia and Africa and other countries. 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
- Education
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Sports
- Events - Competitions
- Housing
- Performances
- Names
- Neel, Kanwal Singh
- Simon Fraser University
- Friends of Simon
- Canada Summer Games
- Swangard Stadium
- Punjabi Cultural Association
- Responsibility
- Rajdeep
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Central Park
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.11
- Date
- [1973-2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jul. 2023
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Images
![Interview with Kanwal Singh Neel, [1973-2023] (interview content), interviewed 5 Jul. 2023 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0011_002.jpg)
![Victoria Day at Burnaby Village Museum, [2003] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1718-2.jpg?width=280)
Victoria Day at Burnaby Village Museum
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95948
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2003]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of "Queen Victoria" visiting Burnaby Village Museum as part of Victoria Day celebrations. The photographs show the Queen Victoria arriving in a carriage and being attended by members of the Red Hat Society.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2003]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-1718
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of "Queen Victoria" visiting Burnaby Village Museum as part of Victoria Day celebrations. The photographs show the Queen Victoria arriving in a carriage and being attended by members of the Red Hat Society.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Civic - Museums
- Holidays
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a May 2003 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-1718-1: ""Queen Victoria" is kept cool and out of the sun by her Ladies in Waiting, from the Red Hat Society, during the monarch's annual Victoria Day visit to Burnaby Village Museum."
- Caption from metadata for 535-1718-2: ""Queen Victoria" arrives at Burnaby Village Museum for her annual Victoria Day visit."
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
![Victoria Day at Burnaby Village Museum, [2003] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1718-2.jpg)
![Victoria Day at Burnaby Village Museum, [1999] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-3197-1.jpg?width=280)
Victoria Day at Burnaby Village Museum
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98118
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1999]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 3 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Victoria Day celebrations at Burnaby Village Museum. Photographs depict staff serving a Union Jack cake; children dancing with a maypole; and a Morris dancing performance.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1999]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 3 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-3197
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Victoria Day celebrations at Burnaby Village Museum. Photographs depict staff serving a Union Jack cake; children dancing with a maypole; and a Morris dancing performance.
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Collected by editorial for use in a May 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
![Victoria Day at Burnaby Village Museum, [1999] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-3197-1.jpg)
![Victoria Day celebrations at Burnaby Village Museum, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1612-2.jpg?width=280)
Victoria Day celebrations at Burnaby Village Museum
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95780
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Victoria Day celebrations at Burnaby Village Museum. In one photograph, a woman in period costume raises a glass in a toast. In the other, a volunteer in period costume offers cake to museum visitors; one of the museum's 1920s businesses and streets is visible in the ba…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-1612
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Victoria Day celebrations at Burnaby Village Museum. In one photograph, a woman in period costume raises a glass in a toast. In the other, a volunteer in period costume offers cake to museum visitors; one of the museum's 1920s businesses and streets is visible in the background.
- Subjects
- Celebrations
- Holidays
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a May 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-1612-1: "Blanche Gettling toasts Queen Victoria at Victoria Day celebrations at Burnaby Village Museum."
- Caption from metadata for 535-1612-2: "Robin Orr, a volunteer at Burnaby Village Museum, hands out free cake at the Museum's Victoria Day celebrations."
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
![Victoria Day celebrations at Burnaby Village Museum, [2000] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/535/535-1612-2.jpg)
Wood stacked for a bonfire
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35910
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1897 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a structure prepared by Claude Hill for a bonfire at Deer Lake celebrating Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The bonfire could be seen for miles around.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1897 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Pioneer Tales subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 204-769
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-03
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a structure prepared by Claude Hill for a bonfire at Deer Lake celebrating Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The bonfire could be seen for miles around.
- Subjects
- Celebrations - Jubilee
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Deer Lake Avenue
- Street Address
- 6501 Deer Lake Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
Images
