Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Negative has a pink cast; Annotation at bottom of photograph reads, "Burnaby South High School / Annual Concert Feb. 7-8, 1930 / Edmonds Studio Photo"

Geographic Access: Southoaks Crescent

Street Address: 6650 Southoaks Crescent

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Kingsway-Beresford Area

Images

Burnaby South High School Annual Concert, February 1930 (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

Burnaby South High School's Annual Concert

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36036

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: February 1930

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of students who took part in Burnaby South High School's "Annual Concert", at Edmonds Public Hall on February 7th and 8th.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: February 1930

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: B. Keisler subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 214-006

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1988-15

Scope and Content: Photograph of students who took part in Burnaby South High School's "Annual Concert", at Edmonds Public Hall on February 7th and 8th.

Subjects: Performances - Concerts; Clothing - Costumes

Names: Burnaby South High School; Edmonds Public Hall

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Edmonds Studio

Notes: Note on verso of print reads; "Joan Gold, Class 5, B.S.H.S."

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7252 Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Burnaby South High School's Annual Concert, February 1930 thumbnail

Church play

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82118

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1929 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 17.5 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph shows five men and two unidentified women on a stage that is set as a room. The man third from the left is dressed in religious clothing. The man second from the left and holding a pipe is Bernard R. Hill.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1929 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 17.5 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph shows five men and two unidentified women on a stage that is set as a room. The man third from the left is dressed in religious clothing. The man second from the left and holding a pipe is Bernard R. Hill.

Subjects: Recreational Activities - Theatre; Clothing - Costumes

Names: Hill, Bernard R.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Church play, [between 1929 and 1939] thumbnail

Donald and Bea Carpenter

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37541

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1933 or 1934] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.6 x 3.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of siblings Donald and Bea Carpenter, dressed for a school play at back of 515 Esmond Street North.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1933 or 1934] (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 ; 4.6 x 3.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-129

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of siblings Donald and Bea Carpenter, dressed for a school play at back of 515 Esmond Street North.

Subjects: Clothing - Costumes

Names: Carpenter, Donald "Don"; Hunter, Beatrice "Bea" Carpenter

Media Type: Photograph

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

Geographic Access: Esmond Avenue North

Street Address: 515 Esmond Avenue North

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Images

Donald and Bea Carpenter, [1933 or 1934] (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

Lesley, Gerry, and David Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82675

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1932

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a girl and two boys, identified from left to right as Lesley, Gerry, and David Hill, dressed in costumes.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1932

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 12.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-228

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a girl and two boys, identified from left to right as Lesley, Gerry, and David Hill, dressed in costumes.

Subjects: Clothing - Costumes; Persons - Children

Names: Hill, Gerald B. "Gerry"; Hill, David O. E. "Dave"; Durban, Lesley C. Hill

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "Lesley Gerry David 1932"; Note in blue pen on verso reads: "Dave Gerry / Lesley"; Note in pencil on verso reads: "1932"

Images

Lesley, Gerry, and David Hill, 1932 thumbnail

Patricia Byrne in a dance troupe

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1186

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1936]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of six young girls in a dance troupe on stage or at a dance studio. The younger girl seated on the right marked by an "x" is Beverlea Patricia Byrne. Know as "Patsy" as a child, Patricia Byrne was born in 1932 in Vancouver and was appointed a British Columbia Provincial Court Judge in 19…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm

Material Details: Photograph appears to be a carbon print on rag paper

Scope and Content: Photograph of six young girls in a dance troupe on stage or at a dance studio. The younger girl seated on the right marked by an "x" is Beverlea Patricia Byrne. Know as "Patsy" as a child, Patricia Byrne was born in 1932 in Vancouver and was appointed a British Columbia Provincial Court Judge in 1975. Her grandfather Peter Byrne was the Mayor of Burnaby from 1906 to 1910.

Subjects: Recreational Activities - Dancing; Clothing - Costumes

Names: Byrne, Beverlea Patricia "Patti"

Accession Code: BV994.14.21

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: [1936]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 01-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in pencil on verso of photograph reads: "Dear Grandma/ The one with x under it is Patsy / Love Patsy"

Images

Patricia Byrne in a dance troupe

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1187

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1936]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of three young girls in a dance troupe on stage or at a dance studio wearing matching costumes. The girl in the center is Beverlea Patricia Byrne. Know as "Patsy" as a child, Patricia Byrne was born in 1932 in Vancouver and was appointed a British Columbia Provincial Court Judge in 1975.…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm

Material Details: Photograph appears to be a carbon print on rag paper

Scope and Content: Photograph of three young girls in a dance troupe on stage or at a dance studio wearing matching costumes. The girl in the center is Beverlea Patricia Byrne. Know as "Patsy" as a child, Patricia Byrne was born in 1932 in Vancouver and was appointed a British Columbia Provincial Court Judge in 1975. Her grandfather Peter Byrne was the Mayor of Burnaby from 1906 to 1910.

Subjects: Recreational Activities - Dancing; Clothing - Costumes

Names: Byrne, Beverlea Patricia "Patti"

Accession Code: BV994.14.22

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: [1936]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 01-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Patricia Byrne in a dance troupe

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1188

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1936]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 12 x 16.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of eleven girls in a dance troupe on a stage (the set is designed to look like a living room). The younger girls are in ballet costumes and the older girls are in satin costumes. The young girl to the extreme right is Beverlea Patricia Byrne. Know as "Patsy" as a child, Patricia Byrne wa…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 12 x 16.5 cm

Material Details: Photograph appears to have been removed from a photographic album

Scope and Content: Photograph of eleven girls in a dance troupe on a stage (the set is designed to look like a living room). The younger girls are in ballet costumes and the older girls are in satin costumes. The young girl to the extreme right is Beverlea Patricia Byrne. Know as "Patsy" as a child, Patricia Byrne was born in 1932 in Vancouver and was appointed a British Columbia Provincial Court Judge in 1975. Her grandfather Peter Byrne was the Mayor of Burnaby from 1906 to 1910.

Subjects: Recreational Activities - Dancing; Clothing - Costumes

Names: Byrne, Beverlea Patricia "Patti"

Accession Code: BV994.14.23

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: [1936]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 01-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

School Operetta at Edmonds Public Hall

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription82

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1930

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of students dressed in costumes from their performance of the Operetta "A Royal Jester", performed by the Edmonds School in the Public Hall on the Municipal Hall grounds at 7252 Kingsway.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 11.5 x 16.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of students dressed in costumes from their performance of the Operetta "A Royal Jester", performed by the Edmonds School in the Public Hall on the Municipal Hall grounds at 7252 Kingsway.

Subjects: Clothing - Costumes; Recreational Activities - Theatre

Names: Edmonds Community School; Burnaby Public Hall

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7252 Kingsway

Accession Code: BV988.1.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1930

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 01-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Photographer: Edmonds Studio

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Written on the negative and therefore printed white on the photograph reads" A ROYAL JESTER/ EDMONDS SCHOOL/ -1930-" and "EDMONDS STUDIO/ -PHOTO-"; John "Jack" Hardy is believed to be pictured although he has not been identified

Images

School Operetta at Edmonds Public Hall, 1930 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

Blair range

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19437

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1936]

Collection/Fonds: Hawkshaw family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6.5 x 9 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of man peering through the sight on a rifle at the Blair rifle range in North Vancouver. The man's military uniform hat and jacket are lying on the ground in front.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Hawkshaw family fonds

Series: Hawkshaw family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6.5 x 9 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of man peering through the sight on a rifle at the Blair rifle range in North Vancouver. The man's military uniform hat and jacket are lying on the ground in front.

Subjects: Armament - Firearms; Occupations - Military Personnel; Clothing - Military Uniforms

Accession Code: BV996.6.121

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1936]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-02-06

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Caption beneath photograph reads: "Blair Range 1936"; Photograph is part of photograph album BV996.6.1

Images

Burnaby firemen display new uniforms

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1474

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1939

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 10.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of seven men standing in front of a fire truck, dressed in what has been described as the Burnaby Fire Department's new uniforms. The fire truck is parked in front of the Burnaby Public Hall, Burnaby's first municipal hall.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 10.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of seven men standing in front of a fire truck, dressed in what has been described as the Burnaby Fire Department's new uniforms. The fire truck is parked in front of the Burnaby Public Hall, Burnaby's first municipal hall.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Transportation - Fire Trucks; Clothing - Uniforms

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Burnaby Public Hall

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 7282 Kingsway

Accession Code: BV999.55.23

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: 1939

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Related Material: For a copy print of this photograph, see BV999.55.24

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 08-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on caption of photograph

Images

Burnaby firemen display new uniforms, 1939 thumbnail

Chief Gordon Waddell and Pal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1293

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [before July 1939] (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16 x 10 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Chief Gordon Waddell of the Burnaby Fire Department in uniform, standing beside a partially visible fire truck parked inside a garage. The fire department's "faithful mascot" Pal is standing next to him. Pal was Firefighter Killer's wire-haired terrier who would come to work with Kill…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16 x 10 cm print

Material Details: Item was exposed with the area between the officer and the dog covered, thus this area appears blank

Scope and Content: Photograph of Chief Gordon Waddell of the Burnaby Fire Department in uniform, standing beside a partially visible fire truck parked inside a garage. The fire department's "faithful mascot" Pal is standing next to him. Pal was Firefighter Killer's wire-haired terrier who would come to work with Killer and even learned to climb ladders during drills.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Clothing - Uniforms; Animals - Dogs

Names: Waddell, Gordon; Burnaby Fire Department

Accession Code: BV998.31.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [before July 1939] (date of original)

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 02-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Chief Gordon Waddell and PAL. 1939 BURNABY FIRE DEPARTMENT"; Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"

Images

Chief Gordon Waddell and Pal, [before July 1939] (date of original) thumbnail

Crichton Hawkshaw and Bob Waston

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription2678

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1935

Collection/Fonds: Hawkshaw family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 5.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Crichton Hawkshaw and Bob Watson in uniform at Sarcee Barracks, Canadian Forces Base, Calgary. Bob Watson was the Sergeant-Major.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Hawkshaw family fonds

Series: Hawkshaw family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 5.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Crichton Hawkshaw and Bob Watson in uniform at Sarcee Barracks, Canadian Forces Base, Calgary. Bob Watson was the Sergeant-Major.

Subjects: Clothing - Military Uniforms; Occupations - Military Personnel

Names: Hawkshaw, Richard Crichton Gilliland "Crichton"; Watson, Bob

Accession Code: BV996.6.7

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1935

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2/9/2010

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Caption for photograph reads: " 'I' Bob Watson / 'S.M.' / '85th' "; Photograph is part of photograph album BV996.6.1

Images

Crichton Hawkshaw and Bob Waston, 1935 thumbnail

Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1294

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1939 (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 15 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake lying down on their beds and reading (in the dormitory during the night shift) at No. 1 Burnaby Fire Hall at Carleton Avenue and Eton Street. Fire boots (with fire resistant pants gathered over them) are visible at the side of Fred Blake's bed.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 15 cm print

Material Details: .

Scope and Content: Photograph of Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake lying down on their beds and reading (in the dormitory during the night shift) at No. 1 Burnaby Fire Hall at Carleton Avenue and Eton Street. Fire boots (with fire resistant pants gathered over them) are visible at the side of Fred Blake's bed.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Clothing - Uniforms; Buildings - Civic - Fire Halls

Names: Burnaby Fire Department; Blake, Frederick "Fred"; Killer, Albert "Abe"

Geographic Access: Carleton Avenue; Eton Street

Accession Code: BV998.31.3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1939 (date of original)

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 02-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Typed sticker on verso of photograph reads: "Night shift at No.1 Hall/ Carleton Ave. and Eton St. (L) Albert Killer (R) Fred Blake 1939"; Address sticker on verso of photograph reads: "MR & MRS F BLAKE 4165 PANDORA ST BURNABY BC V5C 2B2"

Images

Firefighters Albert Killer and Fred Blake, 1939 (date of original) thumbnail

Florence Jackson

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36752

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1939 and 1945] (date of original), copied 1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 8.7 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Mrs. Florence Jackson in her nurse uniform in front of the family home at 2706 Cassie Avenue (later 6457 Cassie Avenue). She worked for the Red Cross in Vancouver during the Second World War.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1939 and 1945] (date of original), copied 1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Centennial Anthology subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 8.7 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 315-107

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1994-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of Mrs. Florence Jackson in her nurse uniform in front of the family home at 2706 Cassie Avenue (later 6457 Cassie Avenue). She worked for the Red Cross in Vancouver during the Second World War.