Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Arrow Neon Sign

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark861

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Description: Commercial building.

Associated Dates: 1961

Other Names: Lost in the 50's Drive-in

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Other Names: Lost in the 50's Drive-in

Geographic Access: Edmonds Street

Associated Dates: 1961

Description: Commercial building.

Heritage Value: The Arrow Neon Sign was built in 1961 by the Neonette Sign Company of New Westminster when this property was opened as the Tomahawk Drive-in Restaurant. The restaurant was later known as Lindy's Burger and in 1990, the business was renamed Lost in the 50's Drive-in. It stands 20-foot tall and is composed of a large double-sided hollow steel panel serpentine arrow mounted on a pole supporting a lexan sign panel measuring approximately 8 feet wide by 4 feet tall. The sign was designed with three illuminated features: a round lamp at the top of the pole, a double-sided rectangular fluorescent sign panel box, and two double-sided rows of orange neon arrows that follow the large serpentine arrow. The Arrow Neon Sign remains as a rare surviving example of neon sign art in the city and is the only historic neon sign in South Burnaby. The sign has gained prominence over the years as it has been associated with this small iconic drive-in which has also been utilized as a set for film production. Additionally, the drive-in has played a prominent role in the Edmonds community as a popular setting for recent "Show and Shine" participants to park their classic cars.

Locality: Edmonds

Historic Neighbourhood: East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lakeview-Mayfield Area

Builder: Neonette Sign Company

Community: Burnaby

Contributing Resource: Structure

Ownership: Public (local)

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants; Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards

Street Address: 7741 Edmonds Street

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

Images

Arrow Neon Sign, 7741 Edmonds Street.. View of thumbnail

Douglas Road School gymnasium

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38648

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two workmen (unidentified) standing next to a truckload of lumber outside the new Douglas Road School gymnasium.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Douglas Road School subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 471-009

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS2005-3

Scope and Content: Photograph of two workmen (unidentified) standing next to a truckload of lumber outside the new Douglas Road School gymnasium.

Subjects: Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Labourers; Buildings - Schools

Names: Douglas Road School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Gordon, Ethel

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph.

Geographic Access: Douglas Road; Canada Way

Street Address: 4861 Canada Way

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Douglas Road School gymnasium, 1960 thumbnail

Douglas Road School gymnasium construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38646

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crew of workmen working on the construction of the new Douglas Road School gymnasium. None of the men are identified.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Douglas Road School subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 471-007

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS2005-3

Scope and Content: Photograph of a crew of workmen working on the construction of the new Douglas Road School gymnasium. None of the men are identified.

Subjects: Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Labourers; Buildings - Schools

Names: Douglas Road School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Gordon, Ethel

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph.

Geographic Access: Canada Way

Street Address: 4861 Canada Way

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Douglas Road School gymnasium construction, 1960 thumbnail

Sidney Roofing and Paper Company

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34678

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of construction and construction workers at Sidney Roofing and Paper Company, South Burnaby.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1960]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 091-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of construction and construction workers at Sidney Roofing and Paper Company, South Burnaby.

Subjects: Construction; Occupations - Labourers; Buildings - Industrial - Mills

Names: Sidney Roofing and Paper Company Limited

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Graphic Industries Limited

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Bottom of photo has the "Sidney Products" logo and reads, "Sidney Roofing & Paper Co. Ltd."; Stamped on back of photograph: "Photo by: Graphic Industries Ltd. / File No. 3205-1 / Vancouver, Canada / PAcific 4174"

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Images

Sidney Roofing and Paper Company, [1960] thumbnail

New building under construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45519

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1964 or 1965]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 23.5 x 36.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a new building at Simon Fraser University under construction.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1964 or 1965]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 23.5 x 36.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-414

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of a new building at Simon Fraser University under construction.

Subjects: Construction; Occupations - Labourers; Construction Tools and Equipment

Names: Simon Fraser University

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Donnelly, David

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

New building under construction, [1964 or 1965] thumbnail

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19350

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and…

1 document 1 audio

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: 2 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 32 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 32 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Anushay Malik Interviewee: Surjeet Kaur Parmar Language of Interview: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi Location of Interview: home of Surjeet Kaur Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: December 6, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of tracks: (1:15:32) Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar conducted by interviewer Anushay Malik. The interview is conducted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. During the interview Surjeet Kaur Parmar provides information on; her ancestral background, family relations in India and Canada, her personal experiences and her ancestors’ stories as South Asian immigrants, reflections on and personal experiences of racial discrimination as a South Asian immigrant, her places of residence, her employment background, her cultural practices and traditions including food, clothing and craft. The interview begins with introductions from interviewer Anushay Mailik. Surjeet Kaur Parmar imparts her own family’s migration story beginning with her very first elders that immigrated to Canada from India. A relative (unnamed) immigrated to Canada first and a few years later (around 1905) returned to India and brought back three cousins that included; Ginaya Singh (Ghania Singh Manhas) and Doman Singh . Mayo Singh (Ghania Singh’s younger brother) came in 1906 on his own to join them. Surjeet’s grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) also wanted to immigrate at this time, but he was too young and weak to manage such a long trip. Surjeet conveys that while living in British Columbia, Mayo and Ginaya Singh worked together at saw mills. With their knowledge and understanding of mill work they ended up owning and operating a mill in Paldi near Duncan on Vancouver Island. At this time, most of the men from Surjeet’s family region in Punjab were abroad and with no men living at home. Mayo Singh’s father (Bhulla Singh) looked after her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) and paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh Manhas) back in Punjab. When Mayo’s father died, Mayo Singh adopted her paternal uncle (Kashmir Singh) and brought him to Canada in 1926. Surjeet describes her ancestors’ immigration journey from India to Canada. They all travelled by ship and if someone ran out of money en route, they could work on the ship. Surjeet explains that both Mayo and Ginaya Singh are Surjeet’s grandfather’s first cousins and her father’s second cousins. Surjeet recollects her grandfather (Shair/Sher Singh Manhas) saying “now that you’ve arrived there, take one cousin from each side with you”. Surjeet explains that the cousins were all from the same village in Punjab and her great grandfather wanted someone to go abroad, so he sent a few and had them bring more as the years went on. Surjeet says that she’s uncertain as to why they chose Canada rather than America but thinks that they did some form of research and determined that it was a good place to come to. Surjeet admits that she doesn’t know the name of her paternal grandfather or other elders since she never met them. Surjeet shares that it was a traditional practice to mark pots and pans with family names and imparts that she discovered her father’s name “Lashman Singh” written on the bottom of a glass. Surjeet expresses that she’s marked her own pots and pans with her name to identify which ones are hers when she gets together with family or does catering. Surjeet refers to a kohl bottle that she has and how she’d like to offer it to the museum. She explains how the kohl bottle is no longer in use but was used by her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) and daughter and her grandchildren. Surjeet describes a blanket that she made called a “phulkari”, now on display in a small museum in Coquitlam, a wedding shawl, that her daughter now owns and a silk sari with embroidery. Surjeet and Anushay discuss the possibility of donating the kohl bottle and the sari to the museum. Surjeet explains how the kohl is used and how her mother used to make kohl. She describes how you rub the kohl with your hands, put cardamom in it, one or two other ingredients and fill the kohl bottle up with water. Surjeet says that she used kohl as eyeliner when living in India. The interviewer asks Surjeet more about Ginaya Singh. Surjeet conveys that Ginaya Singh ended up leaving the mill on Vancouver Island and moved to Vancouver. After Ginaya Singh died from a heart attack (in 1953) his family moved from Vancouver to Burnaby. Surjeet recalls that following the death of Ginaya Singh’s youngest son, her family didn’t celebrate “Lohri” (a winter festival celebrating newborns and newly married people) for three years. She shares that she was very young at this time but remembers there being beautiful photographs of young children all dressed up and displayed in her family home. She expresses that dressing up for photos has changed over time and adds that suits didn’t really come into fashion until after the 1970s or 1980s. Surjeet conveys that her uncle named Kashmira Singh first worked at the mill in Paldi near Duncan then moved to Vancouver and opened up his own mill in North Vancouver. Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas arrived in 1953. Surjeet expresses that Kapoor Singh was educated and worked as a manager at the mill on Vancouver Island. Surjeet recollects meeting Mayo Singh, his wife and eldest son in 1952 when they travelled to India for a cousin’s wedding. Surjeet remembers that Mayo Singh’s family had a very large house in India. She describes the house as a very opulent two story house with indoor plumbing for a bathtub, a kitchen with a woodstove, coloured mirrors, bejeweled curtains, a motor room to park cars, a buffalo and more. Surjeet refers to Nand Singh, a younger brother of Mayo Singh, who travelled from India to San Franciso and spent a year wandering around before deciding to return to India. She describes him as living in Bombay with his wife Vishan Kaur and having a transport business. Nand had two kids that came to Canada. Surjeet recollects the tragic death of Ganda Singh (Ginaya Singh) who died of a heart attack on someone’s doorstep, they thought that he was drunk so didn’t open the door. Surjeet conveys that Mayo Singh’s wife, Mission Kaur (Saradani Bishan Kaur) died while visiting India (in 1952) and that some of Mayo’s sons were married in Canada and one in India. Surjeet expresses that it was hard for Mayo’s sons to have one of their parents die in India and one die in Canada (Mayo Singh died in B.C. in 1955). Surjeet describes the hospital that Mayo built in the village of Paldi. She mentions that there were festivals and functions that took place there, there were many nurses and doctors. She recalls there being a school where their land was. She recalls that if they got headaches they were treated with medicine and that it didn’t cost much, only a six pence. Surjeet talks about her arranged marriage to Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar. Surjeet explains that her father and brother immigrated to British Columbia first (1953) and after a few months they brought Surjeet and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas). She recollects that when she was in Grade 10 and around 17 years of age, her family made plans to travel to India to attend a family wedding. During this time, her father suggested that it would be a good opportunity to take Surjeet with them to find her a husband in India to marry. After meeting and marrying Nadeem Parmar in India, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England. Surjeet recollects that in order to immigrate to Canada, each family member had to pass a medical exam and how difficult it was. Her two sisters, mother and brother all had to take the test in Delhi. Surjeet recalls living in England with Nadeem. While living in England, Nadeem worked during the day and studied engineering at college in the evening. Surjeet expresses that she liked living in England and was sad to leave. While living there, they enjoyed a close knit Punjabi community and they all lived in the same area. Surjeet states later in her interview that living in Canada was different from living in England. In England, family and friends lived closer together whereas in Canada places were further apart. Surjeet says that while living in England she could walk to do her shopping. While living in England, after her children were a bit older, she worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory for a few years before coming to Canada. Surjeet imparts that her father (Lashman Singh Manhas) died of a heart attack in 1970 and her mother (Budhan Kaur Manhas) died in 1998. Her father and her family first lived in North Vancouver and then her parents bought a house on Eton Street in Burnaby, near the Ocean. After her father died, her brother and mother bought a house and moved to the Capitol Hill neighbourhood in Burnaby. In 1973, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children immigrated to Canada and moved in with her brother and mother. Surjeet includes that her paternal aunt (Koshali Kaur Manhas) and cousins also moved to Burnaby and that her aunt and some of her cousins were sponsored by her son who came earlier. Surjeet recalls that after arriving in Canada she got work sewing in a factory located on Water Street in Gastown. Surjeet recollects travelling to her job by bus. Surjeet shares that she brought saris and quilted blankets “rijai”, not household items, in her suitcase when she came to Canada from England. Surjeet explains that the “rijai” (quilted blankets) were made from cotton from her home village in India. The blankets were made by women and then brought back to her to quilt on her sewing machine. Surjeet recalls that when she returned to Canada (in 1973 with her husband and children) they first lived with her mother and brother on Capitol Hill in Burnaby before moving to a house on Fell Avenue and then to their current home in 1982. In 1981, she worked at “Canadian Window Covering” factory making window coverings. The factory was located in the Brentwood area of Burnaby. Surjeet recalls how the factory became unionized and of how she left the factory and found union work at the Labatt’s brewery (Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300). Surjeet describes the work that she did while working at Labatt’s brewery which was located next to the Royal Columbian Hospital in Burnaby. Around 1995, when the Labatt’s factory closed down in Burnaby, she got union work as a bottle sorter for BDL Brewers Distributor Limited, where bottles were gathered for distribution at Braid Station. Surjeet left this job in 2000. Surjeet talks about traditional foods like bindi, sabji, aam and karela and where she’s shopped to find traditional ingredients for South Asian cuisine. She recollects how at first she could only find traditional ingredients at stores in Gastown, Chinatown and on Main Street in Vancouver but now they are more readily available at major grocery stores. Surjeet expresses that traditional spices and dry goods have been hard to find, apart from stores like, Famous Foods and Patels when it was located on Commercial Drive. Surjeet talks about using ingredients such as green pea flour and Besan flour to make pakoras and kahdri. Surjeet states that many immigrants didn’t wear their traditional clothing until she came later. She expresses that many South Asian immigrants didn’t wear their clothes “because there were no rights, we had to try to become like them”. Surjeet conveys that even though some were able to purchase property (she provides an example of family members in Duncan who faced discrimination by the owner/seller of a piece of property they were purchasing) that they had very little rights and they were all living in fear. She expresses that she herself didn’t experience this but in the beginning when people settled here (in B.C.) that it was very difficult. Surjeet says that when she goes to the Gurdwara and to work, she wears a sari and conveys that while working at the factory, she was encouraged to wear a sari, it was accepted then. She brought printed saris to work and her co workers said that they’d wear them to parties. Surjeet reflects on her own experiences of racism and discrimination and expresses that her generation “has learned how to stand up in front, then they got scared of saying anything”. “The people who came here first were afraid because they were alone, they had to settle down here and make a home from scratch, but the ones who came after had everything already built and made”. She explains how they helped one another when they came (to British Columbia). She describes how the Gurdwara was located on 2nd Street and all of the ships went there (new immigrants?), people would gather, get water, help one another and there would be a place for all people. Surjeet shares a personal experience of helping members of her husband’s family to immigrate to Canada. She tells of the complications of some being left behind in India and that some came to Canada as refugees that she and her husband sponsored. Surjeet expresses their struggles with raising a family, working and trying to pay for their own house while also trying to assist and support family members. Surjeet describes in detail how her husband Nadeem went back to India after his mother died to help his father, sister and her family immigrate. She explains that the immigration process took about four years and his father had to apply as a refugee. Nadeem’s sister came with her children but had to return to India so Surjeet and her family had to look after Nadeem’s sister’s child/children. Surjeet expresses that during this time she continued to work at Canadian Window Coverings, working an afternoon shift and sometimes taking her son with her. She expresses that this as a very hectic time, working the whole day, making food for everyone, grocery shopping, looking after a her sister in law’s younger child at night and getting no rest. Surjeet describes the time when she was working and her children were attending the local school. She expresses the challenges of working long days and often arriving home after her children. She recollects a time when there was a snow storm and how she was worried about her children making it home and being alone while she was at work, there were no cell phones in those days but they had phone numbers of her brother and sister. Surjeet tells of how they tried to help the rest of the Nadeem’s family immigrate including his brother who was a soccer player in India. They were able to buy a house for the whole family to live but expresses after several months Nadeem’s brother decided to stay in India. Surjeet expresses the complications and frustrations of trying to bring all family members to Canada.

History: Interviewee biography: Surjeet Kaur Parmar was born in Punjab, India in 1942 to parents Lashman Singh Manhas (1913-1970) and Budhan Kaur Manhas (1906-1998). Surjeet’s ancestors, Ghania Singh Manhas, Doman Singh and Mayo Singh immigrated to British Columbia in 1905 and 1906. The group got work in saw mills and soon began owning and operating their own saw mills, first in Chilliwack and Rosedale districts and later in 1920 on Vancouver Island near Duncan (Paldi) (known as the Mayo Lumber Company). In 1927, Surjeet’s paternal uncle, Kashmir Singh Manhas left Paldi, Punjab at the age of 18 years with Mayo Singh Manhas and after months of travel they arrived at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1953, Surjeet’s father, Lashman Singh Manhas and her two brothers immigrated to Canada and soon after brought her and her mother, Budhan Kaur Manhas. After immigrating, her father began working at “Kashmir Lumber Company” in North Vancouver which was owned by his brother Kashmira Singh Manhas. Surjeet, her parents and two brothers first made their home in North Vancouver and the 1960s they moved to 3824 Eton Street in Burnaby. In 1959, Surjeet and her family returned to India for her brother’s wedding. During this time a marriage was arranged for Surjeet to marry Nadeem Parmar and they were married in 1960. Following their marriage, Surjeet and Nadeem moved to England where they began raising their two children. While living in England, Surjeet worked as seamstress at a factory. In 1973, following the death of Surjeet’s father who died in 1970, Surjeet and Nadeem decided to immigrate to British Columbia. For the first few years, Surjeet, Nadeem and their two children lived with her mother and brother in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Burnaby before purchasing their own home on Fell Avenue. While living in Burnaby Surjeet has worked as a seamstress for Canadian Window Covering, Labatt's Brewery and BDL Brewers Distributor Limited which she left in 2000. In 1982, Surjeet and her family moved into a new home that they had built on Woodsworth Street where they still live today. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills; Clothing; Crafts; Employment; Migration; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Occupations - Labourers; Occupations - Millworkers; Persons - South Asian Canadians

Names: Parmar, Surjeet Kaur; Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"; Manhas, Ghania Singh; Singh, Mayo; Manhas, Kashmir Singh; Manhas, Sher Singh; Manhas, Budhan Kaur; Manhas, Lashman Singh

Accession Code: BV022.29.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022

Media Type: Sound Recording

Related Material: See also BV022.29.1 - interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription of interview translated to English from Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi to English created by Rajdeep; Transciption available on Heritage Burnaby; Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate

Documents

2022_0029_0005_004

Audio Tracks

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0005_003.mp3

Academic Quadrangle construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38215

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: August 5, 1966 (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.3 x 4.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the construction of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Academic Quadrangle building, phase two. Information at lower right corner of photograph reads, "Academic Quadrangle Building / Phase Two / Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC / Z.S. Kiss - Architect / Laing Construction & Equipme…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: August 5, 1966 (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.3 x 4.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.8 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-802

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of the construction of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Academic Quadrangle building, phase two. Information at lower right corner of photograph reads, "Academic Quadrangle Building / Phase Two / Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC / Z.S. Kiss - Architect / Laing Construction & Equipment Ltd, General Contractors / No14 Date Aug 5, 1966, Facing E."

Subjects: Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges; Construction

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Frank, Leonard

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying

Geographic Access: University Drive

Street Address: 8888 University Drive

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Images

Academic Quadrangle construction, August 5, 1966 (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

Simon Fraser University construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38213

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [196-] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 4.5 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a the construction of a Simon Fraser University (SFU) campus building. A crane can be seen in the background.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [196-] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 4.5 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.8 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-800

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of a the construction of a Simon Fraser University (SFU) campus building. A crane can be seen in the background.

Subjects: Construction; Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges

Names: Simon Fraser University

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying

Geographic Access: University Drive

Street Address: 8888 University Drive

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Images

Simon Fraser University construction, [196-] (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

Working at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45613

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: April 1966, published April 18, 1966

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 24 x 18.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of workmen at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant. They are feeding a flat steel plate, more than three inches think inot a pyramind roll for fabrication in the making of a sulfinol vessel for the petroleum industry in Alberta. The workmen are wearing asbestos aluminum suits to withs…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: April 1966, published April 18, 1966

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 24 x 18.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-507

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of workmen at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant. They are feeding a flat steel plate, more than three inches think inot a pyramind roll for fabrication in the making of a sulfinol vessel for the petroleum industry in Alberta. The workmen are wearing asbestos aluminum suits to withstand the intense heat reflected from the heated plate (the plate was heated in a furnace before being fed into the pyramid roll).

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Factories; Occupations - Labourers

Names: Dominion Bridge Company

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Henry Tregillas Photography Ltd.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Boundary Road

Street Address: 2400 Boundary Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: West Central Valley Area

Images

Working at the Dominion Bridge Co.'s Burnaby plant, April 1966, published April 18, 1966 thumbnail

Holy Cross Primary School classroom

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51417

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1967

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of nineteen students inside their grade 5 classroom at Holy Cross Primary school, and their teacher, in a habit. The students are each seated at their desks with the girls on one side of the room and the boys on the other.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1967

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 483-051

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2008-08

Scope and Content: Photograph of nineteen students inside their grade 5 classroom at Holy Cross Primary school, and their teacher, in a habit. The students are each seated at their desks with the girls on one side of the room and the boys on the other.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Clergy

Names: Holy Cross Primary School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Johnston, Harold H.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Delta Avenue

Street Address: 1450 Delta Avenue

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Holy Cross Primary School classroom

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51418

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1967

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of nineteen students inside their grade 5 classroom at Holy Cross Primary school, and their teacher, in a habit. The girls are seated at their desks on one side of the room and the boys are standing at the back of the class.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1967

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 483-052

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2008-08

Scope and Content: Photograph of nineteen students inside their grade 5 classroom at Holy Cross Primary school, and their teacher, in a habit. The girls are seated at their desks on one side of the room and the boys are standing at the back of the class.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Clergy

Names: Holy Cross Primary School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Johnston, Harold H.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Delta Avenue

Street Address: 1450 Delta Avenue

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Holy Cross Primary School classroom

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51419

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1967

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of nineteen students inside their grade 5 classroom at Holy Cross Primary school, and their teacher, in a habit. The students are each seated at their desks with the girls on one side of the room and the boys on the other.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1967

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 483-053

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2008-08

Scope and Content: Photograph of nineteen students inside their grade 5 classroom at Holy Cross Primary school, and their teacher, in a habit. The students are each seated at their desks with the girls on one side of the room and the boys on the other.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Clergy

Names: Holy Cross Primary School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Johnston, Harold H.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Delta Avenue

Street Address: 1450 Delta Avenue

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Holy Cross Primary School classroom

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51433

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1967

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of nineteen students inside their grade 7 classroom at Holy Cross Primary school, seated at their desks with their hands raised, smiling at their teacher, who is facing away from the camera, and dressed in a habit.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1967

Collection/Fonds: Harold H. Johnston fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 483-054

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2008-08

Scope and Content: Photograph of nineteen students inside their grade 7 classroom at Holy Cross Primary school, seated at their desks with their hands raised, smiling at their teacher, who is facing away from the camera, and dressed in a habit.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Clergy

Names: Holy Cross Primary School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Johnston, Harold H.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Delta Avenue

Street Address: 1450 Delta Avenue

Planning Study Area: Brentwood Area

Images

Children playing in a classroom

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription52966

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1957 and 1968]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a classroom full of kindergartners all making paper hats with the help of their teacher at the Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1957 and 1968]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Tinkerbell Kindergarten subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 7.5 x 7.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 246-006

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1990-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of a classroom full of kindergartners all making paper hats with the help of their teacher at the Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Crafts; Occupations - Teachers

Names: Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Ellesmere Avenue; Hastings Street

Street Address: 300 Ellesmere Avenue North

Historic Neighbourhood: Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Capitol Hill Area

Images

Children playing in a classroom, [between 1957 and 1968] thumbnail

Interview with Lee Rankin by Kathy Bossort December 2, 2015 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory642

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1963-2015

Length: 0:14:20

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Lee Rankin’s experience attending Simon Fraser University 1973-78, why he liked its physical environment and its treatment of mature students, and why its isolation is a drawback. He describes reasons why the site was chosen by Gordon Shrum and talks about the…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Lee Rankin’s experience attending Simon Fraser University 1973-78, why he liked its physical environment and its treatment of mature students, and why its isolation is a drawback. He describes reasons why the site was chosen by Gordon Shrum and talks about the lack of documentation for the land transfer from City of Burnaby to the university and the results for their relationship. He also talks about why he went into law as a career.

Date Range: 1963-2015

Length: 0:14:20

Names: Simon Fraser University

Subjects: Education; Occupations; Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Bossort, Kathy

Interview Date: December 2, 2015

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Lee Rankin conducted by Kathy Bossort. Lee Rankin was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about Lee Rankin’s involvement in finding a resolution to the dispute between the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University over land ownership and control on Burnaby Mountain. He talks about the origin of the dispute, the positions taken by the two sides, the key people who brought about a resolution, and the main features of the agreement between the City, SFU and the province of BC. He talks about how the agreement met SFU’s goals, fostered trust between the City and university, and removed uncertainty from protecting parkland on Burnaby Mountain.

Biographical Notes: Lee Rankin was born in 1953 in Vancouver. He attended SFU 1973-78, completing his BA degree in 1985. He earned his law degree at UBC in 1988, was called to the Bar in 1989, and practiced in immigration and refugee law. Lee has lived in Burnaby since 1976 and was a member of Burnaby Council for 22 years, from 1983-1999 and 2002-2008. His particular interests as a Councillor were in community planning, housing and environment. Among other duties and accomplishments as Councillor, Lee served as chair of the Simon Fraser Liaison Committee and was involved in the negotiations with the province and SFU that resulted in the university returning more than 800 acres of land to the City, which was dedicated as part of the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. He has also served on the GVRD, volunteers as a coach for team sports in Burnaby, and has served on numerous community and business associations and committees. Lee is married to Ragini Venkat Rankin and has one son Henry.

Total Tracks: 8

Total Length: 1:50:35

Interviewee Name: Rankin, Lee A.

Interview Location: Lee Rankin's home in Burnaby

Interviewer Bio: Kathy Bossort is a retired archivist living in Ladner, BC. She worked at the Delta Museum and Archives after graduating from SLAIS (UBC) in 2001 with Masters degrees in library science and archival studies. Kathy grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and, prior to this career change, she lived in the West Kootenays, earning her living as a cook for BC tourist lodges and work camps. She continues to be interested in oral histories as a way to fill the gaps in the written record and bring richer meaning to history.

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Track one of interview with Lee Rankin

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-014/MSS196-014_Track_1.mp3

Kindergartners blowing soap bubbles

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription52967

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of kindergartners from the Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten blowing soap bubbles with the help of one of their teachers. They are standing in a field outside in small groups, watching each other blow soap bubbles.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 1960

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Tinkerbell Kindergarten subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 246-007

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1990-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of kindergartners from the Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten blowing soap bubbles with the help of one of their teachers. They are standing in a field outside in small groups, watching each other blow soap bubbles.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Recreational Activities; Occupations - Teachers

Names: Tinkerbell Cooperative Kindergarten

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Stamp on recto of photograph reads: "MAY 60"; Note on verso of photograph reads: "blowing soap bubbles"

Images

Kindergartners blowing soap bubbles, May 1960 thumbnail

MacPherson Junior High School fire

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37473

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1969] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.0 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of firemen fighting a fire at MacPherson Junior High School, Rumble Street and MacPherson Avenue. A fence is in the foreground. According the Burnaby Examiner, February 13, 1969, a juvenile was suspected of settting the fire.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1969] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.0 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-061

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of firemen fighting a fire at MacPherson Junior High School, Rumble Street and MacPherson Avenue. A fence is in the foreground. According the Burnaby Examiner, February 13, 1969, a juvenile was suspected of settting the fire.

Subjects: Natural Phenomena - Fires; Buildings - Schools; Occupations - Fire Fighters

Names: MacPherson Junior High School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bellinger, Bernard

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Date based on Burnaby Examiner article Feb. 13, 1969

Geographic Access: Rumble Street; MacPherson Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Clinton-Glenwood Area

Images

MacPherson Junior High School Fire

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37474

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1969] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.8 x 3.8 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a fire at MacPherson Junior High School, Rumble Street and MacPherson Avenue. There is a crowd gathered and a lot of smoke. According the Burnaby Examiner, February 13, 1969, a juvenile was suspected of settting the fire.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1969] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.8 x 3.8 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-062

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of a fire at MacPherson Junior High School, Rumble Street and MacPherson Avenue. There is a crowd gathered and a lot of smoke. According the Burnaby Examiner, February 13, 1969, a juvenile was suspected of settting the fire.

Subjects: Natural Phenomena - Fires; Buildings - Schools; Occupations - Fire Fighters

Names: MacPherson Junior High School

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bellinger, Bernard

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Date based on Burnaby Examiner article Feb. 13, 1969

Geographic Access: Rumble Street; MacPherson Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Clinton-Glenwood Area

Images

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…

1 document 1 audio

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.