More like 'William Whiting hauling strawberries'

100 records – page 1 of 5.

Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory244
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1906-1975
Length
0:09:00
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's memories of riding the tram as a young man and briefly, of working for Ed Brown. Murdock mentions Reeve Byrne and the development of first water system in Burnaby. He also discusses Gilley Brother's Logging Company practices near his fath…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's memories of riding the tram as a young man and briefly, of working for Ed Brown. Murdock mentions Reeve Byrne and the development of first water system in Burnaby. He also discusses Gilley Brother's Logging Company practices near his father's ranch of six acres, which grew mostly strawberries to sell in Vancouver.
Date Range
1906-1975
Photo Info
Emerson Doran (left) and Murdoch McMurray, 1917. Item no. 229-004
Length
0:09:00
Subjects
Agriculture - Fruit and Berries
Geographic Access
Imperial Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Kingsway-Beresford Area
Interviewer
McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
Interview Date
November 17, 1975
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with Murdock McMurray and his wife Lillian (Wray) McMurray conducted by Pixie McGeachie on November 17, 1975. Major themes discussed are: Burnaby's development, the Wray Shoe store and Murdock McMurray's cordwood delivery business.
Biographical Notes
Murdock McMurray was born in Vancouver in 1892 to Wilhelmina May and Robert William McMurray. Other children in the family included older siblings John “Jack” and Margaret Lillian, younger siblings Minnie May born May 4, 1895 and Hampton born June 8, 1902. Murdock’s father Robert worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) but retired shortly after moving his family to Burnaby in 1906. He bought six acres of land of what had been previously the Gilley Ranch, the base of operations for Gilley Bros. Ltd. at 2519 Windsor Street (later renumbered and renamed to the 6400 block Imperial Street). Murdock McMurray quit school early to apprentice as a printer. By sixteen he had left the trade and gone into partnership with his older brother Jack. With a team of horses, harness and a wagon, the brothers helped to macadamize roads, haul building supplies for new homes, deliver cord wood for heating, clear land and excavate basements. When Jack McMurray set off to serve overseas during World War I as a driver in the engineer corps, Murdock bought his team of horses and continued working, mainly in the Deer Lake district. In 1916 Murdoch McMurray partnered with Emerson Doran, nephew of the owner of Doran's Mill to buy Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard. As everything was geared towards the war effort, Murdock and Emerson soon ran out of work and had to sell the business. Murdock sold off his horses and equipment and went to work at the ship yard on Pitt River. By 1919 Jack McMurray had returned home from overseas and was working as a fireman at the Shull Lumber and Shingle Mill on the Fraser River. In 1921, he and Murdock teamed up with Emerson Doran and repurchased the Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard which they ran together until 1947. Murdock McMurray married Lillian Wray on September 17, 1925. Lillian was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wray, who came to settle in the Jubilee area of Burnaby in 1919. The family lived on Dow Road and Edward Wray operated Jubilee Shoe Store and Post Office. He was known throughout the district as "Wray - The Shoe Man." Mrs. Wray died in 1957 at the age of eight-six and Edward Wray died January 14, 1967 at age of ninety-three. Murdock and Lillian lived at Inverness Street (now Arcola) and raised three children together, Bob, Jack and Bessie. Murdock McMurray died in New Westminster on April 28, 1985 at the age of ninety-two. Lillian Ethel (Wray) McMurray died in Burnaby on February 28, 1986 at the age of eighty-seven.
Total Tracks
7
Total Length
0:58:55
Interviewee Name
McMurray, Lillian Wray
McMurray, Murdoch
Interviewer Bio
Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie was a resident of Burnaby for over sixty years. Pixie married John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie and raised their children Kathi (Dunlop) and David McGeachie in the house the couple built themselves in 1947. Pixie served as the editor for the Burnaby Examiner newspaper and wrote a column entitled "Burnaby History" for The News. In 1974 she authored her first book titled "Bygones of Burnaby" which was one of the first to develop anecdotal stories about pioneer life in Burnaby. She authored "Burnaby - A Proud Century" in 1992 and in 2002 she wrote a biography of the city's namesake in the book "Land of Promise: Robert Burnaby's letters from Colonial B.C." She also contributed many hours of volunteering; helping to establish Burnaby's first museum Heritage Village in 1971, serving as President of the Burnaby Historical Society from 1991-1993. She served a six year term on Burnaby's Heritage Commission leading the charge to preserve many historic sites throughout the city, and during her twenty years as the Community Archives volunteer archivist for the historical society, she succeeded in gathering thousands of rare and valuable historic photographs and documents which now forms the core of the photograph collection on the Heritage Burnaby website (as these items were donated by the Society to the City Archives in 2007). The City of Burnaby awarded Pixie McGeachie the Kushiro Cup as Citizen of the year in 2002. In 2006 she received a Heritage BC project award for leading the Friends of Interurban 1223 project, and in 2008 Heritage BC recognised her again by presenting her with the Ruby Nobb Award. John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie died October 12, 1981 at the age of sixty-seven. Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie died August 14, 2010 at the age of eighty-nine. On 24 September, 2011, the City of Burnaby dedicated the reading at the City Archives in honour of Pixie and formally named it the Pixie McGeachie Reading Room in recognition of her years of service to the community.
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Oral history subseries
Media Type
Sound Recording
Web Notes
Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Images
Audio Tracks

Track two of recording of interview with Lillian and Murdock McMurray

Less detail

Frances, Sean and Wendy Johnston

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51378
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1960
Collection/Fonds
Harold H. Johnston fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
Scope and Content
Photograph of Frances Johnston (at far left) with her two children, Sean and Wendy, outside of the family home on Venables Street. Sean Johnston is riding a tricycle and pulling his sister Wendy in a wagon. The word "Greyhound" is painted on the side of the wagon.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1960
Collection/Fonds
Harold H. Johnston fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
Description Level
Item
Record No.
483-013
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No reproduction permitted
Accession Number
2008-08
Scope and Content
Photograph of Frances Johnston (at far left) with her two children, Sean and Wendy, outside of the family home on Venables Street. Sean Johnston is riding a tricycle and pulling his sister Wendy in a wagon. The word "Greyhound" is painted on the side of the wagon.
Subjects
Toys
Transportation - Wagons
Transportation - Bicycles
Names
Johnston, Frances
Johnston, Dr. Wendy
Johnston, Dr. Sean
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Johnston, Harold H.
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Venables Street
Street Address
4447 Venables Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Willingdon Heights Area
Images
Less detail

Lubbock photographs from album

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64493
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1945-1988
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
File
Physical Description
130 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm or smaller
Scope and Content
Photographs of the Lubbock family, including their riding stables and horses, family events, their pets, and landscape and travel photographs. These photographs were originally housed in a photographic album.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1945-1988
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Lubbock family subseries
Physical Description
130 photographs : b&w and col. ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm or smaller
Description Level
File
Record No.
342-046
Access Restriction
In Archives only
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
BHS1994-02
Scope and Content
Photographs of the Lubbock family, including their riding stables and horses, family events, their pets, and landscape and travel photographs. These photographs were originally housed in a photographic album.
Subjects
Agriculture - Farms
Animals - Horses
Recreational Activities - Horseback riding
Names
Lubbock, Ainsly
Lubbock, Beatrice "Bea"
Lubbock, Elizabeth
Lubbock, Gordon
Lubbock, John
Lubbock, John Barker
Lubbock, Mina
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Grandview Highway
Canada Way
Burris Street
Street Address
7803 Burris Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Morley-Buckingham Area
Less detail

Sean and Wendy with wagons

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51399
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1964
Collection/Fonds
Harold H. Johnston fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
Scope and Content
Photograph of Sean and Wendy Johnston sitting in wagons on the sidewalk, most likely near their Venables Street home.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1964
Collection/Fonds
Harold H. Johnston fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
Description Level
Item
Record No.
483-033
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No reproduction permitted
Accession Number
2008-08
Scope and Content
Photograph of Sean and Wendy Johnston sitting in wagons on the sidewalk, most likely near their Venables Street home.
Subjects
Transportation - Wagons
Toys
Names
Johnston, Dr. Wendy
Johnston, Dr. Sean
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Johnston, Harold H.
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Venables Street
Street Address
4447 Venables Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Willingdon Heights Area
Images
Less detail

Dr. John Playfair and his wife Mary

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46117
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
January 1969
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 18.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of provincial Social Credit candidate for Burnaby-Willingdon in the 1968 by-election, Dr. John Playfair riding in a one-horse sleigh with his wife Mary. This was part of his campaign to urge voters to "get to the polls" and vote.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
January 1969
Collection/Fonds
Columbian Newspaper collection
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 18.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
480-1005
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2003-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of provincial Social Credit candidate for Burnaby-Willingdon in the 1968 by-election, Dr. John Playfair riding in a one-horse sleigh with his wife Mary. This was part of his campaign to urge voters to "get to the polls" and vote.
Subjects
Transportation - Horses
Transportation - Sleds
Names
Playfair, Dr. John
Playfair, Mary
Social Credit Party of Canada
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Dibble, Bob
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Interview with Robert Lowe by Eric Damer November 5, 2012 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory355
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1939-1972
Length
0:10:04
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Robert "Bob" Lowe's memories of growing up in Burnaby. He discusses transportation in Burnaby, including the first cars in his family. Bob talks about recreational activities available to Burnaby residents in the late nineteen-thirties and early nineteen-fo…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Robert "Bob" Lowe's memories of growing up in Burnaby. He discusses transportation in Burnaby, including the first cars in his family. Bob talks about recreational activities available to Burnaby residents in the late nineteen-thirties and early nineteen-forties, as well as changes that he has seen from his time growing up to the time of raising his own children.
Date Range
1939-1972
Photo Info
Robert "Bob" Lowe (at center) and friends riding soap box race cars, [1939]. Item no. 549-041.
Length
0:10:04
Subjects
Transportation - Buses
Transportation - Automobiles
Agriculture - Farms
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
November 5, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Robert "Bob" Lowe conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 5, 2012. Major theme discussed: the rise of the automobile and its effect on development in Burnaby.
Biographical Notes
Robert "Bob" Lowe has lived his entire life in Burnaby. During his childhood, Bob’s family lived at several addresses near Royal Oak and what is now Canada Way. He attended Douglas Road Elementary and South Burnaby High Schools. After graduating, Bob worked for a few years before enrolling in Normal School for a teaching certificate. He began teaching in Vancouver, married in 1952, and started a family. The Lowes moved to Government Road in 1961 and began a hobby farm, while Bob upgraded his formal education and became an administrator in the new college system.
Total Tracks
4
Total Length
0:36:54
Interviewee Name
Lowe, Robert "Bob"
Interview Location
Interviewee's residence
Interviewer Bio
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
Collection/Fonds
Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
Series
Burna-Boom Oral History Project series
Transcript Available
None
Media Type
Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks

Track three of recording of interview with Bob Lowe

Less detail

Horse-drawn plough

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36336
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1961 or 1962]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of a boy clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are standing facing the tree line. The boy is standing behind them, holding on to the plough, and turning to smile at the camera.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1961 or 1962]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Tony S. Fabian subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print
Description Level
Item
Record No.
251-001
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1991-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a boy clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are standing facing the tree line. The boy is standing behind them, holding on to the plough, and turning to smile at the camera.
Subjects
Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows
Transportation - Horses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
Less detail

Horse-drawn plough at work

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36337
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1961 or 1962]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of a boy clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are moving towards the tree line. The boy is moving along behind them, working the plough.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1961 or 1962]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Tony S. Fabian subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print
Description Level
Item
Record No.
251-002
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1991-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a boy clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are moving towards the tree line. The boy is moving along behind them, working the plough.
Subjects
Transportation - Horses
Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
Less detail

Horse-drawn plough at work

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36338
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1961 or 1962]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print
Scope and Content
Photograph of a boy and a man clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are walking towards the camera with their ears up. The boy is standing behind them, holding on to the plough, and the man is walking along beside him. Clothes are ha…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1961 or 1962]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Tony S. Fabian subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print
Description Level
Item
Record No.
251-003
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1991-09
Scope and Content
Photograph of a boy and a man clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are walking towards the camera with their ears up. The boy is standing behind them, holding on to the plough, and the man is walking along beside him. Clothes are hanging to dry on a line that is partially visible on the left.
Subjects
Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows
Transportation - Horses
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
Less detail

Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory247
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1904-1975
Length
0:09:26
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's memories of his first team of horses. Lillian (Wray) McMurray and her husband discuss their son Bob McMurray's volunteerism and professional activities.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's memories of his first team of horses. Lillian (Wray) McMurray and her husband discuss their son Bob McMurray's volunteerism and professional activities.
Date Range
1904-1975
Photo Info
Emerson Doran (left) and Murdoch McMurray, 1917. Item no. 229-004
Length
0:09:26
Names
McMurray, Bob
Subjects
Transportation - Sleighs
Animals - Horses
Interviewer
McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
Interview Date
November 17, 1975
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with Murdock McMurray and his wife Lillian (Wray) McMurray conducted by Pixie McGeachie on November 17, 1975. Major themes discussed are: Burnaby's development, the Wray Shoe store and Murdock McMurray's cordwood delivery business.
Biographical Notes
Murdock McMurray was born in Vancouver in 1892 to Wilhelmina May and Robert William McMurray. Other children in the family included older siblings John “Jack” and Margaret Lillian, younger siblings Minnie May born May 4, 1895 and Hampton born June 8, 1902. Murdock’s father Robert worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) but retired shortly after moving his family to Burnaby in 1906. He bought six acres of land of what had been previously the Gilley Ranch, the base of operations for Gilley Bros. Ltd. at 2519 Windsor Street (later renumbered and renamed to the 6400 block Imperial Street). Murdock McMurray quit school early to apprentice as a printer. By sixteen he had left the trade and gone into partnership with his older brother Jack. With a team of horses, harness and a wagon, the brothers helped to macadamize roads, haul building supplies for new homes, deliver cord wood for heating, clear land and excavate basements. When Jack McMurray set off to serve overseas during World War I as a driver in the engineer corps, Murdock bought his team of horses and continued working, mainly in the Deer Lake district. In 1916 Murdoch McMurray partnered with Emerson Doran, nephew of the owner of Doran's Mill to buy Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard. As everything was geared towards the war effort, Murdock and Emerson soon ran out of work and had to sell the business. Murdock sold off his horses and equipment and went to work at the ship yard on Pitt River. By 1919 Jack McMurray had returned home from overseas and was working as a fireman at the Shull Lumber and Shingle Mill on the Fraser River. In 1921, he and Murdock teamed up with Emerson Doran and repurchased the Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard which they ran together until 1947. Murdock McMurray married Lillian Wray on September 17, 1925. Lillian was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wray, who came to settle in the Jubilee area of Burnaby in 1919. The family lived on Dow Road and Edward Wray operated Jubilee Shoe Store and Post Office. He was known throughout the district as "Wray - The Shoe Man." Mrs. Wray died in 1957 at the age of eight-six and Edward Wray died January 14, 1967 at age of ninety-three. Murdock and Lillian lived at Inverness Street (now Arcola) and raised three children together, Bob, Jack and Bessie. Murdock McMurray died in New Westminster on April 28, 1985 at the age of ninety-two. Lillian Ethel (Wray) McMurray died in Burnaby on February 28, 1986 at the age of eighty-seven.
Total Tracks
7
Total Length
0:58:55
Interviewee Name
McMurray, Lillian Wray
McMurray, Murdoch
Interviewer Bio
Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie was a resident of Burnaby for over sixty years. Pixie married John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie and raised their children Kathi (Dunlop) and David McGeachie in the house the couple built themselves in 1947. Pixie served as the editor for the Burnaby Examiner newspaper and wrote a column entitled "Burnaby History" for The News. In 1974 she authored her first book titled "Bygones of Burnaby" which was one of the first to develop anecdotal stories about pioneer life in Burnaby. She authored "Burnaby - A Proud Century" in 1992 and in 2002 she wrote a biography of the city's namesake in the book "Land of Promise: Robert Burnaby's letters from Colonial B.C." She also contributed many hours of volunteering; helping to establish Burnaby's first museum Heritage Village in 1971, serving as President of the Burnaby Historical Society from 1991-1993. She served a six year term on Burnaby's Heritage Commission leading the charge to preserve many historic sites throughout the city, and during her twenty years as the Community Archives volunteer archivist for the historical society, she succeeded in gathering thousands of rare and valuable historic photographs and documents which now forms the core of the photograph collection on the Heritage Burnaby website (as these items were donated by the Society to the City Archives in 2007). The City of Burnaby awarded Pixie McGeachie the Kushiro Cup as Citizen of the year in 2002. In 2006 she received a Heritage BC project award for leading the Friends of Interurban 1223 project, and in 2008 Heritage BC recognised her again by presenting her with the Ruby Nobb Award. John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie died October 12, 1981 at the age of sixty-seven. Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie died August 14, 2010 at the age of eighty-nine. On 24 September, 2011, the City of Burnaby dedicated the reading at the City Archives in honour of Pixie and formally named it the Pixie McGeachie Reading Room in recognition of her years of service to the community.
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Oral history subseries
Media Type
Sound Recording
Web Notes
Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Images
Audio Tracks

Track five of recording of interview with Lillian and Murdock McMurray

Less detail

Interview with Robert Lowe by Eric Damer November 5, 2012 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory354
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1939-2012
Length
0:09:13
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Robert "Bob" Lowe's memories of the development of property Burnaby. He discusses houses being built by his father, grandfather and himself; this includes the property that he and his wife bought in 1961. Bob also discusses the rise of the automobile.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Robert "Bob" Lowe's memories of the development of property Burnaby. He discusses houses being built by his father, grandfather and himself; this includes the property that he and his wife bought in 1961. Bob also discusses the rise of the automobile.
Date Range
1939-2012
Photo Info
Robert "Bob" Lowe (at center) and friends riding soap box race cars, [1939]. Item no. 549-041.
Length
0:09:13
Subjects
Agriculture - Farms
Transportation - Automobiles
Planning Study Area
Government Road Area
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
November 5, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Robert "Bob" Lowe conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 5, 2012. Major theme discussed: the rise of the automobile and its effect on development in Burnaby.
Biographical Notes
Robert "Bob" Lowe has lived his entire life in Burnaby. During his childhood, Bob’s family lived at several addresses near Royal Oak and what is now Canada Way. He attended Douglas Road Elementary and South Burnaby High Schools. After graduating, Bob worked for a few years before enrolling in Normal School for a teaching certificate. He began teaching in Vancouver, married in 1952, and started a family. The Lowes moved to Government Road in 1961 and began a hobby farm, while Bob upgraded his formal education and became an administrator in the new college system.
Total Tracks
4
Total Length
0:36:54
Interviewee Name
Lowe, Robert "Bob"
Interview Location
Interviewee's residence
Interviewer Bio
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
Collection/Fonds
Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
Series
Burna-Boom Oral History Project series
Transcript Available
None
Media Type
Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks

Track two of recording of interview with Bob Lowe

Less detail

Trailers on the Stiglish property

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription77193
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[196-] (date of original), digitally copied 2013
Collection/Fonds
Stiglish family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w copy-print ; 9 x 9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the overflow of Jehovah Witness convention goers staying on the Stiglish property because the four acre trailer park, in Coquitlam, British Columbia that Jack Stiglish owned, was full.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[196-] (date of original), digitally copied 2013
Collection/Fonds
Stiglish family fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w copy-print ; 9 x 9 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
552-007
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2013-07
Scope and Content
Photograph of the overflow of Jehovah Witness convention goers staying on the Stiglish property because the four acre trailer park, in Coquitlam, British Columbia that Jack Stiglish owned, was full.
Subjects
Transportation - Automobiles
Agriculture - Farms
Names
Stiglish, F.J. "Jack"
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "father owned four acre Trailer Court in Coquitlam / Jehovah Witness convention overflow from trailer park"
Original spelling of surname was "Stiglich"
Geographic Access
Keswick Avenue
Street Address
3782 Keswick Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Cameron Area
Images
Less detail

Butter-fat, vol. 45, no. 5, Dec. 1967 - Jan. 1968

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary936
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association
Publication Date
1967
Call Number
637 FRA
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Reference Collection
Material Type
Textual Record
Call Number
637 FRA
Author
Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association
Place of Publication
Burnaby, B.C.
Publisher
Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association
Publication Date
1967
Physical Description
66 p. : ill. ; 30 cm.
Inscription
"BURNABY VILLAGE MUSEUM / copy 1", handwritten in ink on title page.
Library Subject (LOC)
Dairying
Periodicals
Subjects
Agriculture
Agriculture - Dairy
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Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19349
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Honourable Raj Chouhan Location of Interview: Residence of Honourable Raj Chouhan Interview Date: December 2, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (00:49:21) Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant and the organizations that he became involved with. Honourable Raj Chouhan recalls how he arrived in Burnaby with his family in 1973 and that his family worked in farming. Chouhan imparts his first hand experiences as a new immigrant working as a labourer in the farming industry and describes the unsafe and unfair working conditions that he and migrant workers faced. Chouhan conveys how this experience lead him to become an activist for better working conditions for migrant workers. This lead Chouhan and others to form the Canadian Farm Workers Union in 1980. Chouhan recollects his experiences flying from India to Canada with his wife, his first impressions after arriving in Vancouver and driving to Burnaby and what he brought with him. Chouhan explains his connections to Burnaby. Members of Chouhan's wife's family immgrated to Canada in 1957 and his wife and her three brothers joined them in 1970. Chouhan's father in law, Hardial Singh Grewal immigrated in 1957 and became president of the Sikh temple in New Westminster. Hardial Singh Grewal worked in a lumber mill in Vancouver and eventually bought a house in Burnaby. Chouhan married to his wife at the Sikh temple in New Westminster and lived in Burnaby for a period before moving to New Westminster where they could find more affordable housing. Chouhan shares that he first worked as a farm labourer in Abbotsford and then found a job in the sawmill which paid more. Chouhan describes the extreme racism and discrimination that he and other immigrants faced which lead to the formation of the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma. Chouhan describes this organization that he was a part of and the Canadian Farm Workers Union that were both formed in Burnaby. Chouhan shares that he moved to Victoria in 1988 to serve on the Hospital Employee's Union and moved back to the mainland in 1993 and returned to Burnaby in 2001. Chouhan reflects on the history of South Asian immigration in Canada, how many of the migrants settled in the lower mainland including Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver establishing temples in Vancouver and New Westminster which became the centre for the South Asian community. He conveys how earlier occupations were limited to farming and millwork and how over time employment opportunities and education have broadened but there is still work to do. He imparts how second generation Canadians’ experiences differ from first generations providing examples of his own daughters’ and the occupations that they are working in. Chouhan provides his insights into the South Asian Canadian experience imparting “We make history every day and that history needs to be recorded and learned from.."... “People from different communities, different backgrounds who lived in Burnaby have contributed so much and South Asians are just like another community and participated in all aspects of social life, cultural, religious, economy. I'm so proud of our community, our forefathers who had that vision to fight for our rights. I'm inspired by people who struggled so much to gain basic rights, like the right to vote". Chouhan refers to these first immigrants as “Gadri Babbas” “revolutionary old people” who were also the main motivation that lead to India becoming a free country in 1947 and for fighting for basic rights here in Canada and how they made their contributions for future generations. Chouhan expresses what he imparts to students “Do not forget your past... if you remember your past then you are much more knowledgeable. Then we know what we need for the future. If we don't know the past, we don't know what the future is going to be like. To make a better future, you have to learn from the past and improve".
History
Interviewee biography: Honourable Raj Chouhan was born in the city of Ludhiana in the Province of Punjab in India and immigrated to Canada in 1973. After arriving in Canada, Raj's family settled in Burnaby. Raj grew up in Burnaby and attended schoool. Honourable Raj Chouhan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020. He was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on December 7, 2020. Honourable Chouhan is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism and has served as a director of the Hospital Employees' Union, the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. Honourable Chouhan has also served as the Vice President of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003 and has taught courses in Human Rights, the B.C. Labour Code and Collective Bargaining since 1987. Interviewer biography: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Occupations - Agricultural Labourers
Migration
Organizations - Unions
Rights
Rights - Human Rights
Agriculture
Agriculture - Farms
Government - Provincial Government
Government
Names
Chouhan, Raj
British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism
Sharma, Dr. Hari Prakash
Grewal, Hardial Singh
Canadian Farmworkers Union
Hospital Employees Union
Khalsa Diwan Society
Responsibility
Petrusa, Kate
Accession Code
BV022.29.4
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0004_002.mp3
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Our first 50 : Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association, 1917-1967

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5406
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association
Publication Date
1967
Call Number
637 FRA
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Reference Collection
Material Type
Book
Call Number
637 FRA
Author
Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association
Place of Publication
[Burnaby?, B.C.]
Publisher
Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association
Publication Date
1967
Physical Description
[48] p. : ill. ; 30 cm.
Inscription
"copy 2", handwritten in ink on title page.
Library Subject (LOC)
Dairying
British Columbia--History
Subjects
Agriculture
Agriculture - Dairy
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Ainsly Lubbock with Pawnee

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription54858
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Ainsly Lubbock in a cowboy hat, leaning on a railing next to his horse Pawnee.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
March 1963
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Lubbock family subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
342-042
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1994-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of Ainsly Lubbock in a cowboy hat, leaning on a railing next to his horse Pawnee.
Subjects
Animals - Horses
Names
Lubbock, Ainsly
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Bea Lubbock on horseback

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37261
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1960]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 9.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Bea Lubbock on horseback. She is astride an appaloosa, standing in an arena has been set up for show jumping.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1960]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Lubbock family subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 9.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
342-035
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1994-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of Bea Lubbock on horseback. She is astride an appaloosa, standing in an arena has been set up for show jumping.
Subjects
Animals - Horses
Names
Lubbock, Beatrice "Bea"
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Burnaby Winter Club

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34632
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1963]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 19.7 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby Winter Club at 4990 Canada Way. Three sheep and a horse are standing in a field by a building.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1963]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Photographs subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 19.7 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
068-001
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS2007-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby Winter Club at 4990 Canada Way. Three sheep and a horse are standing in a field by a building.
Subjects
Animals - Horses
Buildings - Recreational
Animals - Sheep
Names
Burnaby Winter Club
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Geographic Access
Canada Way
Street Address
4990 Canada Way
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Images
Less detail

Interview with Jim and Linda Champion by Eric Damer October 21, 2012 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory318
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1951-1969
Length
0:11:40
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Linda and Jim Champion's memories of living so close to the Oakalla Prison Farm. They also tell stories about changes to the neighbourhood, the family horse and living "a country life."
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Linda and Jim Champion's memories of living so close to the Oakalla Prison Farm. They also tell stories about changes to the neighbourhood, the family horse and living "a country life."
Date Range
1951-1969
Length
0:11:40
Names
Oakalla Prison Farm
Subjects
Animals - Horses
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Interviewer
Damer, Eric
Interview Date
October 21, 2012
Scope and Content
Recording is an interview with Jim Champion and his daughter Linda Champion conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 21, 2012. Major themes discussed are: raising a family in Burnaby as well as the experience of growing up in the area as it developed from farmland to suburbia.
Biographical Notes
Although Jim Champion was born in Burnaby in 1924, he grew up and attended school in White Rock. After serving in the navy during the war, Jim Champion came back to Vancouver, met and married Ethel (Danielson) Champion and began working for the Vancouver Fire Department. Jim and Ethel Champion's eldest daughter, Linda Champion, was born in 1948. In 1949, the Champions bought 1.8 undeveloped acres on Gilpin Street and began to build. By the time their house was built, they had become a family of six, so Jim and Ethel worked to built a larger house adjacent to the first. The Champions had chickens and a horse as their neighbourhood changed from farmland to suburbia. Jim has retired from the Vancouver Fire Department and his daughter Linda Champion is currently a City of Burnaby employee.
Total Tracks
4
Total Length
0:41:09
Interviewee Name
Champion, Jim
Champion, Linda
Interview Location
Burnaby Village Museum
Interviewer Bio
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
Collection/Fonds
Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
Series
Burna-Boom Oral History Project series
Transcript Available
None
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Track four of recording of interview with Jim and Linda Champion

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John Lubbock with a horse

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37267
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
December 1964
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 8 x 5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of John Lubbock and a friend. The young friend is holding on to the briddle of a horse, who has his head resting over John Lubbock's shoulder.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
December 1964
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Lubbock family subseries
Physical Description
1 photograph : col. ; 8 x 5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
342-041
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1994-02
Scope and Content
Photograph of John Lubbock and a friend. The young friend is holding on to the briddle of a horse, who has his head resting over John Lubbock's shoulder.
Subjects
Animals - Horses
Names
Lubbock, John
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

100 records – page 1 of 5.