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Interview with Maninder Arora

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19351
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1974-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Dec. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (67 min., 25 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (66 min., 45 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Maninder Arora conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Museum Registrar James Binks. 0:00 – 07:33 Interview opens with introductions. Maninder Arora shares her immigration story and how she came to emigrate from India to Canada…
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) (67 min., 25 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (66 min., 45 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewers: Anushay Malik Co interviewer: James Binks Interviewee: Maninder Arora Location of Interview: In Burnaby at the home of Maninder Arora Interview Date: December 7, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: (01:07:25) 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 Maninder Arora conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Museum Registrar James Binks. 0:00 – 07:33 Interview opens with introductions. Maninder Arora shares her immigration story and how she came to emigrate from India to Canada at 16 years of age with her mother, her older sister (18 yrs) and her younger brother (11 yrs) in 1974. Maninder explains how her sister immigrated first after marrying a South Asian Canadian and subsequently was able to sponsor members of her family to immigrate about one year later. Arora describes what life was like for her and her family in the northern part of Punjab in India prior to immigration to Canada. Arora describes her family composition with her being the second youngest of eight children and how at the time of immigrating, four of her elder siblings (three sisters and one brother) stayed behind. 07:34 – 16:23 As a new immigrant to Canada at the age of 16 years of age, Maninder Arora recalls the many challenges that she faced. Maninder describes how she attended Vancouver Technical School and then worked at a restaurant on Friday nights and weekends. She recollects how she got her first job through the Sikh community from the Akali Singh Sikh Gurdwara on Fraser Street. Maninder recalls that during the first five months in Canada, Maninder, her mother, sister and brother lived with her elder sister, her husband and child before finding a place of their own. Arora recalls where her family shopped for traditional Indian spices and foods. 16:24 – 25:50 Maninder Arora describes the next home that her family moved to and how she and her brother attended David Thompson Secondary School. Maninder explains that she dropped out of school in Grade 12 to go to work full time to help her family repay the debt that they owed for their immigration expenses. Around 1981, her mother was able to purchase a house at Marine Drive and Ross Street and her mother got work at the same restaurant that Maninder was working. Maninder shares and reflects on a disturbing encounter of racism that she and her older sister faced while taking local transit. 25:51 – 34:17 Maninder Arora talks about her past work experience. Maninder describes how with the help of her sister, she began working as a nurses' aide at care homes and private hospitals. Maninder reflects on how she intended to get a job in a unionized care home where she can make a better living wage. Maninder describes some of the places that she worked before obtaining certification as a nurse’s aide from Kwantlen College. 34;18 – 51:15 Maninder Arora describes the events that led to her marrying her future husband in 1986 and how it wasn’t an easy decision for her. Maninder describes where she and her family lived after her marriage and how her hard work led her to obtaining full time employment as a nurses' aide in Richmond. 51:16 - 56:16 Maninder Arora tells of how she decided to move to Burnaby where her sister and extended family were living. Maninder recalls what lead to her decision to move from Surrey to Burnaby in 1992. 56:17 - 1:04:23 Maninder Arora shares some experiences of her life in Burnaby. Maninder further reflects on her decisions for moving to Burnaby including providing what she thought would be a safer environment and education for her children. Maninder conveys how racism is still very much prevalent in society and recounts a personal encounter that she experienced while shopping for shoes at Metrotown. 1:04:24 – 1:06:45 The interviewer asks Maninder Arora what she would like to see conveyed as a message for younger people in an upcoming exhibit at Burnaby Village Museum on South Asian history. Maninder conveys that she would like all Canadian citizens living in Burnaby to make the environment better by not littering, living peacefully together and not causing people grief or struggle for nothing, “Be kind to each other”. In closing Arora shares the transportation route she took when emigrating from India to Canada.
History
Interviewee biography: Maninder Arora was born in the northern part of Punjab, India. Her sister immigrated to Canada in 1974 after marrying a South Asian Canadian. In 1975, after her father died, her sister was able to bring her mother, her 11 year old brother and Maninder at 16 years of age. After arriving in British Columbia, they first lived with her sister and family before finding a place of their own. Maninder attended Vancouver Technical School and later David Thompson Secondary School and worked in a restaurant on weekends to help her family out. Maninder and her family were members of the Sikh community and attended Akali Singh Sikh Gurdwara on Fraser Street. Maninder left school in Grade 12 to work full time to help her family repay the debt that they owed for their immigration expenses. In the early 1980’s Maninder’s family moved to a house near Marine Drive and Ross Street that her mother was able to purchase. With the help of her sister, Maninder got work as a nurses’ aide at care homes and private hospitals which eventually led her to obtaining certification from Kwantlen College. Maninder married in 1986 and had two children while living in Richmond. Around 1992, she moved from Surrey to Burnaby to be closer to her sister and to provide as safer environment for her children. Interviewers' biographies: 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”. James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Occupations
Occupations - Nurses
Migration
Names
Arora, Maninder
Responsibility
Malik, Anushay
Binks, James
Accession Code
BV022.29.6
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1974-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Dec. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Maninder Arora, [1974-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Dec. 2022

Interview with Maninder Arora, [1974-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0006_003.mp3
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Welcome back to Bonsor

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15387
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
September 2020
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (2 min., 31 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
Scope and Content
City of Burnaby film welcoming the public back to Bonsor Recreation Complex after it was closed following public health restrictions in the spring of 2020. The film provides information to the public regarding the new procedures and protocols that were put in place and how they will be operating at…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (2 min., 31 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., sd., stereo
Scope and Content
City of Burnaby film welcoming the public back to Bonsor Recreation Complex after it was closed following public health restrictions in the spring of 2020. The film provides information to the public regarding the new procedures and protocols that were put in place and how they will be operating at a reduced capacity to allow for physical distancing and enhanced cleaning.
History
Video taken by the City of Burnaby Marketing Department in 2020. The original intent of the clip was to produce communications about the pandemic and changes throughout the City that residents needed to be aware of.
Creator
City of Burnaby
Subjects
Buildings - Recreational
Buildings - Recreational - Sports
Buildings - Recreational - Swimming Pools
Buildings - Civic - Community Centres
Public Services - Municipal Services
Pandemics - COVID-19
Names
Bonsor Recreation Complex
City of Burnaby
Geographic Access
Bonsor Avenue
Street Address
6550 Bonsor Avenue
Accession Code
BV021.2.4
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
September 2020
Media Type
Moving Images
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Marlborough Area
Notes
Title based on contents of film
Images
Video

Welcome back to Bonsor, September 2020

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50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18879
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
29 Sep. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (94 min., 55 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Program Education Coordinator Ashley Jones and presented by Museum Interpreter and blacksmiths, Eric Damer ad Lorne Gray. The webinar is titled "50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM". The webinar is the sixth in …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series
Subseries
Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Fall 2022 subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 video recording (mp4) (94 min., 55 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
Material Details
Host: Ashely Jones
Presenters: Eric Damer; Lorne Gray
Videographer: Peter Rogier
Editor of video content footage: Peter Rogier
Date of Presentation: Tuesday, September 29, 2022. 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 94 min., 55 sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Original recording of 94 min., 55 sec.was edited to 89 min., 21 sec. for viewing on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Program Education Coordinator Ashley Jones and presented by Museum Interpreter and blacksmiths, Eric Damer ad Lorne Gray. The webinar is titled "50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM". The webinar is the sixth in a series of six webinars presented in partnership by Burnaby Village Museum and Burnaby Public Library. The live webinar was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. Community members were invited to participate by bringing questions during the interactive online sessions. The session opens with the host Ashley Jones, providing introductions. Following the introduction, the presentation begins with Eric Damer and Lorne Gray’s slide presentation titled “50 years of Blacksmithing at Burnaby Village Museum”. The presentation is an historical exploration of the blacksmith shop through images and commentary from these two long-standing museum blacksmiths. Eric and Lorne's presentation is organized into themes beginning with “The Age of Nostalgia” where they discuss the implementation of the original Burnaby Village Museum blacksmithing shop and live exhibit with a working blacksmith when the museum opened in November 1971. They comment on the original design of the forge and other components implemented into the design of the blacksmith shop, stereotypes of blacksmiths and various items that were forged on site in the blacksmith shop. “The Age of Accuracy” looks at changes to the Burnaby Village Museum’s programming and exhibits in the 1980s which included focusing more on the history of Burnaby and upgrading some of the components in the blacksmith shop including blowers, tools, forge design and costuming. Eric and Lorne comment on the history of Burnaby blacksmith, Frank Wagner who operated as a blacksmith in Burnaby “Wagner & Son” on Kingsway. Frank was a trained machinist, farrier and an automotive blacksmith who patented and manufactured the “Wagner Triple Spring Bumper”. With this information, the Burnaby Village Museum changed the name of the blacksmith shop to reflect the history of Burnaby blacksmith Frank Wagner. In “The Age of Diversity” Eric and Lorne talk about a shift in the 1990s when the staffing of the blacksmith shop was diversified to include women and people from diverse cultural backgrounds. These changes as well as an increased interest in artistic blacksmithing also lead to updates in Burnaby Village Museum’s blacksmith training procedures and interpretation, increased course offerings in blacksmithing and a renovated blacksmith shop which included new forges and equipment as well as an improved viewing area. Eric and Lorne talk about specifics regarding blacksmithing techniques and equipment and improvements to make this exhibit more accessible. Their presentation is followed by a short video highlighing Burnaby Village Museum interpreters who have worked as blacksmiths at Burnaby Village Museum. Each person shares their own perspectives on their experiences working as a blacksmith and interacting with the public. In the last part of the webinar, Eric and Lorne answer questions from attendees and further reflect and comment on their own experiences working as blacksmiths, various tools and techniques used and blacksmithing course offerings at Burnaby Village Museum.
History
Host biography: Ashley Jones is the Burnaby Village Museum Education Programmer, responsible for the development and administration of school and public programs at BVM. She has a Master of Arts degree in History and is passionate about creating hands-on programming that promotes historical and environmental literacy. Presenters biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history. Lorne Gray has a BA with a major in the History of Science and Technology. He took up blacksmithing as a hobby when he was promoted to middle management and had to start hitting things. He was hired by Burnaby Village Museum as a blacksmith to fill in during the Christmas season of 2001. He has attended several blacksmithing conferences and taken classes with both an artist blacksmith and a journeyman blacksmith. On the weekends, you’ll find him teaching many of the museum’s public blacksmithing courses. He also has a steam ticket that permits him to run the museum’s steam boiler and stationery steam engines.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Occupations - Blacksmiths
Names
Wagner, Frank
Burnaby Village Museum
Damer, Eric
Gray, Lorne
Responsibility
Jones, Ashley
Accession Code
BV022.27.6
Date
29 Sep. 2022
Media Type
Moving Images
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Images
Video

50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM, 29 Sep. 2022

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Interview with David Skulski

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19606
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (80 min., 38 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (80 min., 38 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Murray "David" Skulski conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00:00 – 00:22:22 David Skulski provides biographical information about himself. He talks about his childhood experiences growing up, at…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (80 min., 38 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (80 min., 38 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: David Skulski Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 6 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 80 min., 38 sec. Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Murray "David" Skulski conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00:00 – 00:22:22 David Skulski provides biographical information about himself. He talks about his childhood experiences growing up, attending school in New Westminster and Burnaby and Hebrew school in Vancouver. David recalls his early experiences in music, instruments that he played and describes some of his Jewish family traditions. 00:22:23 – 00:49:57 David talks about his experiences studying music at university and following his passion as a musician and oboist. He recalls his experiences of working with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the CBC Orchestra, Vancouver Society for Early Music, the Burnaby Symphony Orchestra, other musical ensembles and venues where he’s performed. 00:49:58 – 01:00:00 David talks about living in Burnaby in the Deer Lake neighbourhood. David describes some his experiences playing traditional music from different countries. 01:01:01 – 01:14:15 David comments on the changes that he’s seen in Burnaby over the years, some of his favourite places, activities, cultural amenities and development on the Fraser River. David talks about the Jewish community in Burnaby, his involvement with the Peretz Centre and examples of Jewish cuisine. 01:14:16 – 01:20:38 David talks about Yiddish being his first language, his language studies in Lithuania, the roots of the language and provides some examples of speaking Yiddish.
History
Interviewee biography: Murray "David" Skulski was born in 1942 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and moved to British Columbia with his parents in 1948. Skulski and his family settled in New Westminster before moving to Burnaby in the late 1950's. Skulski took piano lessons at an early age and began playing obo while attending junior high school in New Westminster. In 1960 at the age of 17 years, Skulski began performing with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as solo English horn and is the youngest player to ever be employed with the VSO. In 1991, Skulski started playing with the Vancouver Folk Orchestra and was the conductor between 1997 and 2004. Skulski has been the principal oboe player in many orchestras. In 1968, Skulski founded the Hortulani Musicae; in 1970, he founded the Vancouver Society for Early Music and in 1983 he founded Harmonie, an ensemble concentrating in classical wind music. In 2003, Skulski became president of the Pertez Centre for Secular Jewish Culture. In 2005, Skulski became principal oboist of the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Burnaby Symphony Orchestra and between 2009 and 2019 he was the principal oboist for the Pilgrim Orchestra under Pilwon Suk. David has served as president of the Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture and since 2022, he’s served on the board of the Vancouver Chamber Music Society. Skulski has taught summer courses in Renaissance music in Austria (1972-1979), has been a music resident at Simon Fraser University (1973-1976), has lectured on the history of musical instruments at SFU and UBC and in 2008 began teaching at the Pacific Coast School of Music, Richmond School of Music and Oakridge Music Studios. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Education
Foods
Music
Musical Instruments
Occupations - Musicians
Performances - Concerts
Persons - Jewish Canadians
Religions - Judaism
Names
Burnaby Symphony Orchestra
Burnaby South High School
Burquest
Skulski, Murray "David"
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Society for Early Music
Peretz Centre
Responsibility
Damer, Eric
Geographic Access
Deer Lake
Deer Lake Park
Accession Code
BV023.16.10
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Douglas-Gilpin Area
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with David Skulski, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023

Interview with David Skulski, [1948-2023] (interview content), interviewed 6 Jul. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0010_003.mp3
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Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan

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

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

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

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0004_002.mp3
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Interview with Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19605
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1984-2023 (interview content), interviewed 5 Jun. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) (47 min., 26 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (47 min., 27 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra interviewed by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 – 00:04:31 The interview opens with introductions and biographical details about Jag Nagra. The interviewer shares information about Jag Nagra…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) (47 min., 26 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (47 min., 27 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: James Binks Interviewee: Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: June 5, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 47:27
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra interviewed by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 – 00:04:31 The interview opens with introductions and biographical details about Jag Nagra. The interviewer shares information about Jag Nagra’s art career and the many art projects and commissions that Jag has worked on. Jag shares information about her parents, providing details about their immigration to British Columbia from Punjab and the places that Jag and her family have lived over the years. 00:04:32 – 00:12:38 Jag talks about what inspired her to become interested in art, her art education and how her artistic practice and expression have developed over time. Jag describes how she first started in graphic design, how she’s become more involved in public art and her experience working in design. Jag touches on her experiences of being a South Asian growing up and living in a predominantly white neighbourhood and provides information about her parents, Avatar Singh Nagra and Rajwant Kaur Nagra and their migration to Canada. 00:12:39 – 00:20:03 Jag talks about her inspiration in creating her work, her involvement with the revitalization of the Punjabi Market in Vancouver, the Punjabi Market Collective and other public art projects that she’s been involved with focusing on the South Asian community and LGBTQ+ issues. 00:20:04 – 00:41:09 Jag talks about her involvement with the Burnaby Village Museum’s exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. The interviewer and Jag take a walk throughout the exhibit while Jag describes the art work that she created for the exhibit and her creative process. Jag reflects on her own experiences being involved in the exhibit. 00:41:10 – 00:47:27 Jag talks about her own experiences as a South Asian Queer artist reflecting on her experiences within the art community. In closing Jag reflects on the impacts of the exhibit that celebrates South Asian culture in Burnaby.
History
Interviewee biography: Jagandeep "Jag" Nagra is a queer Panjabi Visual Artist passionate about community development, making art accessible and ending stigma against LGBTQ+ people within the South Asian community. Nagra has worked with clients such as the Vancouver Canucks, Tim Hortons and Microsoft and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Punjabi Market Collective. She is featured in the internationally acclaimed, award wining LGBTQ documentary Emergence: Out of the Shadows. Her artworks are part of the Museum of Vancouver’s permanent collection and have been commissioned for the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit "Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby". Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Migration
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Persons - LGBTQ+
Occupations - Artists
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Social Issues - Discrimination
Names
Nagra, Jagandeep "Jag"
Responsibility
Binks, James
Accession Code
BV023.16.9
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
1984-2023 (interview content), interviewed 5 Jun. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks
Less detail

Interview with Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19603
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1967-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (93 min., 7 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (92 min., 57 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal, founders of Vancouver Sath conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. The interview is taking place at the Burnaby Village Museum's exhibit "Truths not Often Told: Being South Asian in…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (93 min., 7 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (92 min., 57 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: James Binks Interviewee: Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: May 29, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks:1:33:07 Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together into one track and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal, founders of Vancouver Sath conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. The interview is taking place at the Burnaby Village Museum's exhibit "Truths not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby". The interview focuses on the history of "Vancouver Sath" as well as literary works created by Hundal and Binning and the Punjabi literary magazine "Watno Dur" and "Watan". 00:00 - 13:30 Interview opens with brief introductions and information on Sadhu Binning, Sukhwant Hundal and Vancouver Sath provided by the interviewer, James Binks. Interviewees Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal describe how they met and what they were focused on prior to the formation of the organization Vancouver Sath. Binning briefly describes how he became involved as a writer in the literary world and recalls how he published his first poem in an Indian literary magazine in 1972. Hundal describes how he immigrated to Canada from Punjab in 1975, the various industries that he worked in as a new immigrant and his interest in literature with a focus on social issues. Hundel describes how he developed a relationship with Sadhu Binning after his short story was published in "Watno Dur" literary magazine which in turn lead to his involvement with the Punjabi Literary Association and becoming co-editor of "Watnu Dur". 13:31 – 27:44 Hundal provides more background on his life as a South Asian immigrant, working in sawmills and completing a diploma in Power and Process Engineering and how he first became interested in literature while living in India. Binning and Hundal both share their insights into the formation of Vancouver Sath and provide details on their involvement with the Punjabi literary publication “Watnu Dur”. Binning describes how the inspiration for the formation of the Vancouver Sath organization came from India and that Binning, Hundal and some other members of the Punjabi Literary Association decided to form their own group where they could have more informal discussions around social, political and literary issues. 27:45 – 43:31 Binning describes how the political issues that were happening in Punjab between 1978 and 1983 influenced discussions in the South Asian community whereas prior to 1978 there was more focus on local issues that new immigrants were facing. Binning conveys how their work with Vancouver Sath endeavored to focus more on local issues and Hundal conveys how they made the decision to begin producing theatrical works rather than just written works to reach a wider audience. Hundal and Binning share names of the people that were involved with Vancouver Sath and describe some of the early plays that they performed. Binning describes the foundations of the organization where they worked together as a collective making decisions in producing and performing the works with Binning and Hundal taking on the responsibility for the written work. They talk about their first paid experience being invited to perform a few of their plays at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. 43:32 – 55:17 Hundal and Binning describe how they continued to support themselves financially since they weren’t making money from Vancouver Sath. Binning and Hundal provide further details on how their collective worked with the process of writing the plays and presenting and discussing details with the Vancouver Sath community before performing to an audience. Hundal talks about the transition that the magazine “Watno Dur” took in 1986 which lead to renaming it “Watan”. Hundal and Binning discuss how in 1992 and 1993 they decided to try to get more young people involved and began publishing a magazine in English called “Ankur”. They describe the content and list some of the authors who contributed to the magazine. 55:18 – 1:20:12 Hundal and Binning provide background details on the author of “Maluka”, Sadhu Singh Dhami and describe the details that lead them to translating the book into Punjabi, touring with the author and adapting the novel into a play which Vancouver Sath performed. Binning and Hundal describe and discuss other plays that Vancouver Sath performed including some plays that were recorded and broadcast over local radio stations. 1:20:13 – 1:32:57 Binning and Hundal reflect on what lead Vancouver Sath to discontinue theatrical performances in the mid 1990’s. Binning and Hundal state how they are both still very involved in publishing literary works but no longer perform theatrical works. Binning and Hundal describe some of their literary works and projects that they’ve been involved in and also reflect on and describe the current theatre scene in the South Asian community. Hundal conveys that even though they no longer call themselves “Vancouver Sath” they continue to enjoy working as a collective discussing literary works and ideas.
History
Interviewees' biographies: Dr. Sadhu Binning was born on May 10, 1947 to mother Gurmej Kaur and father Jeet Singh Binning. Due to lack of proper records management in India at the time of his birth, it is believed that he was actually born sometime in December of 1947. He grew up alongside two brothers and one sister in a village located in Kapurthala, Punjab. Dr. Binning attended secondary school in the nearby city of Phagwara, Punjab although he did not complete his education here. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed reading both Punjabi and Hindi novels and learned how to read Urdu as well. Dr. Binning’s uncle, Dhana Singh immigrated to Canada in 1933 and returned to India in 1953. When Dhana Singh returned to Canada in 1957, he sponsored Dr. Binning’s father, Jeet Singh Binning to immigrate. Dhana Singh co-owned a few saw mills in British Columbia and also worked in the truck driving industry. Dr. Binning remembers that some people who had lived in Canada would visit their village and that they appeared to be strong and healthy and looked happy. He also noticed that they would eat meat, so whenever they would visit there would be meat available. In 1967, when he was nineteen and a half years old, Dr. Binning immigrated Canada to join his father. He recalls his father and uncle and a friend arriving at the airport to pick him up. During his first few days, Dr. Binning made the decision to remove his turban and beard upon receiving advice from his uncle. Dr. Binning first obtained work on a farm in Abbotsford, working alongside his mother. While working, Dr. Binning also attended English classes in Vancouver. Dr. Binning’s Uncle Dhana Singh worked in a Vancouver saw mill and tried to help find work for his nephew but was unsuccessful. Dr. Binning soon found work at a saw mill in Avola and worked there until the end of the summer until a friend helped find him work in a saw mill in North Vancouver. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with friends. In 1970, Dr. Binning left the saw mill after obtaining a job at the post office. The post office offered lower wages than working at the mill but Dr. Binning believed that he would become more educated working here. While working as a postman, Dr. Binning recalls facing a lot of discrimination and racism and was often referred to as a ‘Paki’ multiple times a day. In 1973, Dr. Binning married Jagish Sihota. Sadhu and Jagdish originated from nearby villages in India and met each other in Canada. Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish worked at the Royal Bank of Canada for thirty years until her retirement. While working, she also looked after the household and their son and daughter. Jagdish also handwrote a magazine, “Watno Dur" (English translation: ‘away from homeland’) which was distributed in the community. In 1976, Dr. Binning became the editor of the magazine and the name was later changed to “Watan’ as they had accepted their new homeland of Canada. While working at the post office, Dr. Binning also attended night school starting in eighth grade. After receiving his high school diploma, he was accepted to Simon Fraser University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology and in 1986 he obtained a Masters degree from Simon Fraser University. While attending university, Dr. Binning was very active within the community and wanted to work to improve society. He first thought that he would return to India to contribute and improve rights in his homeland but upon seeing the prevalence of the movements in Canada, he realized that work needed to be done here too. In 1983, Dr. Binning became a founding member and contributor to a theatrical collective known as “Vancouver Sath”. The theatrical group produced plays that represented societal issues and were invited to perform at multiple conferences throughout British Columbia and Canada. The group focused and acknowledged the many issues in Punjab and in Canada. One of the plays that the group produced focused on the exploitation of Punjabi women who worked on farms in Canada. Dr. Binning continued to be involved as an integral member of Vancouver Sath until 1995. Over the years, Dr. Binning has strongly lobbied for Punjabi language education and between 1988 and 2008 he worked as Punjabi instructor at the University of British Columbia. He first worked as a teaching assistant at UBC under Dr. Harjot Oberoi and due to low wages, he simultaneously worked at the Post Office. In 2019, Dr. Binning received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UBC in recognition of his work. Since 1973, Dr. Binning has lived in Burnaby and has resided in the same home that he and his wife purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips. Suhkwant Hundal is a founding member in the group known as Vancouver Sath and has spent a lot of time in Burnaby rehearsing and writing plays. Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal co-wrote the Vancouver Sath's first play, "Picket-Line" and many others. This play was staged in November 1984. He's authored and edited pieces for the various newsletters and magazines including "Watno Dur" and "Watan". Through the 1980's and early 1990's Hundal has been active in South Asian advocacy in Burnaby and the Lower Mainland. In his retirement years, Hundal has been a lecturer on Punjabi language at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Asian Studies. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Occupations - Writers
Organizations
Organizations - Unions
Migration
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Performances - Dramatic Performances
Social Issues
Social Issues - Discrimination
Social Issues - Racism
Names
Vancouver Sath
Binning, Dr. Sadhu
Hundal, Sukhwant
Dhami, Sadhu Singh
Pritam, Amrita
Rampuri, Gurcharan
Tut, Mukhan
Thobani, Sunera
Hoss Mushroom Farm
Deol, Jeevan
Dulai, Phinder
Dhillon, Sital
Bhangoo, Bhavna
Rai, Gurmail
Punjabi Lekhak Manch
Di Awaz, Samay
Johal, Balinder
Sara, Amanpal
United Farm Workers Union
Canadian Farmworkers Union
Responsibility
Binks, James
Accession Code
BV023.16.7
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
1967-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on request
Audio Tracks

Interview with Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal, 1967-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

Interview with Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal, 1967-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0007_003.mp3
Less detail

Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19604
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 6 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 7 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 - 00:13:30 Interview opens with introductions. Samuel (Sam) and Angela Nalliah provide biographical details including their p…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 6 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 7 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: James Binks Interviewees: Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah Location of Interview: Nalliah family home Interview Date: May 29, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 68 min., 6 sec. Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph information: Ruth (Angela) Nalliah with husband Samuel Nalliah WARNING: Some of the content discussed in this interview (00:40:58 – 00:57:31) regarding the Tamil genocide may be upsetting to some people.
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 - 00:13:30 Interview opens with introductions. Samuel (Sam) and Angela Nalliah provide biographical details including their parentage, place of birth (Sri Lanka), spoken language and education. Sam Nalliah shares details on his education while living in Sri Lanka, his later education in Wales where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and his migration to Halifax in 1978 after obtaining a job at Dalhousie University as a systems analyst. Sam conveys how he decided to relocate from Halifax to Vancouver in 1986 and started his employment with BC Tel. Angela Nalliah shares details on her education and employment after immigrating to Canada from Sri Lanka in 1986. Angela conveys how she first lived in Ottawa, moved to Toronto in 1989 where she began working for TD bank and moved to Vancouver in 1999. 00:13:31 – 00:20:03 Sam Nalliah talks about how he and his wife Angela first met and married in 1999 and moved to Vancouver. Sam shares information on where his other family members immigrated to and why he decided to immigrate to Canada. Angela shares information on other members of her family who immigrated to Canada before her and how her uncle sponsored them all to come. 00:20:04 – 00:29:30 Sam provides further details regarding his family make up including; his first wife, his daughters (born in 1983 and 1985), his step daughter (born in 1991) and his youngest daughter (born in 2000). Sam tells how he worked as a Systems and Operations Manager at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at BC Hydro. Sam provides locations of homes that they lived in Burnaby and Vancouver. Sam and Angela describe what they liked about living in Burnaby, where their daughter attended school and where they did their shopping. 00:29:31 – 00:32:11 Angela talks about working for Prospera Credit Union from 2003 after TD bank downsized. Sam describes how they rented out their house in Vancouver and lived in a rental home in Burnaby that was owned by the City of Burnaby. Sam and Angela recollect the time period that they lived in Burnaby and Vancouver before deciding to move to Surrey in 2015. 00:32:12 – 00:35:59 Sam and Angela provide details regarding their daughter’s post-secondary education and careers. Angela talks about her social activities, volunteer work and involvement with the Thamil Cultural Society of British Columbia, the Women’s Network as well as the Westminster Bible Chapel Church in Burnaby and the Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church in Surrey. 00:36:00 – 00:40:57 Sam recalls hearing Prime Minster Pierre Elliott Trudeau speak about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms at Dalhousie University and the effect that his speech made on him. Sam talks about joining the National Democratic Party when Peter Julian was elected as a Member of Parliament for Burnaby. 00:40:58 – 00:57:31 (WARNING: Some of the content discussed in this portion of the interview may be upsetting to some people) Sam and Angela speak about their involvement with the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC). Angela describes the brutal violence that she witnessed while living in Sri Lanka during the Anti-Tamil state sponsored genocide in the 1980’s. Sam and Angela recollect and discuss their views and actions pertaining to the MV Sun Sea incident where a Thai cargo ship carrying Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to British Columbia were identified as terrorists by the Canadian Government and held in detention facilities. 00:57:32 – 01:08:07 Sam reflects on what he likes about Burnaby. Angela and Sam talk about Hindu temples attended by many Tamil and Sri Lankan people living in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Angela talks about the many cultural events and celebrations that are celebrated within the Tamil and Sri Lankan community including the Pongal Festival. Angela and Sam reflect on how grateful they are to be residents of Canada.
History
Interviewees biographies: Samuel (Sam) Nalliah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1949. Sam immigrated to Halifax in 1977 after obtaining a position as a systems analyst at Dalhousie University. In 1986, Sam sponsored his parents to come to Canada. In 1986, after being introduced to the milder weather in Victoria, Sam decided to move to British Columbia. He moved to Burnaby in 1990 and began working for BC Tel in Burnaby. Following his job at BC Tel, Sam worked as a Systems and Operations Manager at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at BC Hydro. Ruth (Angela) Nalliah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1964 and immigrated to Canada in 1986. As a Tamil living in Sri Lanka in the 1980’s Angela witnessed first hand the brutal violence during the Anti-Tamil state sponsored genocide. In 1986 Angela was relieved to be able to immigrate to Canada after being sponsored by her uncle. Angela first lived and worked in Ottawa and Toronto before marrying Samuel Nalliah in Ottawa in 1999 and the couple moved to Burnaby. Angela worked for TD bank in both Toronto and Vancouver until it downsized in 2003 and she began working for Prospero Credit Union. While living in Burnaby, Angela attended the Westminster Bible Chapel and after moving to Surrey she became a member of the Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church. Sam and Angela Nalliah have four daughters and since moving to British Columbia they’ve lived in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. Both Sam and Angela are involved with the Tamil Cultural Association of British Columbia and the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) as well as participates in Sri Lankan and Tamil community cultural events. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Education
Events - Festivals
Government
Government - Federal Government
Migration
Occupations
Organizations - Political Parties
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Religions
Religions - Christianity
Religions - Hinduism
Rights
Rights - Human Rights
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Social Issues - Discrimination
Names
Nalliah, Ruth "Angela"
Nalliah, Samuel "Sam"
Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC)
Westminster Bible Chapel
Thamil Cultural Society of British Columbia (TCSBC)
Responsibility
Binks, James
Accession Code
BV023.16.8
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum
Images
Audio Tracks

Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah, 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah, 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0008_003.mp3
Less detail

Oh! Zhhu Sam

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98681
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the 7500 block of Edmonds Street at dusk. The photograph is taken from across Edmonds Street and depicts two commercial buildings: Oh! Zzhu Sam Korean Restaurant and the European Butcher Boy Delicatessen & Grocery. Oh! Zzhu Sam, located at 7506 Edmonds Street, was constructed in 1976.…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-028
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the 7500 block of Edmonds Street at dusk. The photograph is taken from across Edmonds Street and depicts two commercial buildings: Oh! Zzhu Sam Korean Restaurant and the European Butcher Boy Delicatessen & Grocery. Oh! Zzhu Sam, located at 7506 Edmonds Street, was constructed in 1976. Residential houses border the restaurant and grocery store, and a bus shelter, municipal garbage can, and the restaurant's illuminated neon sign stand in front of the buildings.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/07/29/oh-zzhu-sam/
Geographic Access
Edmonds Street
Street Address
7506 Edmonds Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Edmonds Area
Images
Less detail

Trafalgar Market

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98665
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the intersection of Imperial Street and Sussex Avenue at night and in the rain. The photograph shows the Trafalgar Market grocery store (located at 4398 Imperial Street; the building was constructed in 1940) on the corner, with a large display of flowers for sale under the awning in f…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-012
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the intersection of Imperial Street and Sussex Avenue at night and in the rain. The photograph shows the Trafalgar Market grocery store (located at 4398 Imperial Street; the building was constructed in 1940) on the corner, with a large display of flowers for sale under the awning in front of the store. The street and traffic lights are reflected in the puddles on the road, and cars and other businesses are visible along Imperial Street.
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Buildings - Commercial - Stores
Geographic Features - Roads
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/02/20/imperial-manor-2/
Geographic Access
Imperial Street
Sussex Avenue
Street Address
4398 Imperial Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Sussex-Nelson Area
Images
Less detail

3955 Moscrop Street

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98654
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2021
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of a house located at 3955 Moscrop Street. The house was constructed in 1954. The photograph depicts the house at night, with the house's porch light on, and a car is in the driveway in front of the house.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2021
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-001
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of a house located at 3955 Moscrop Street. The house was constructed in 1954. The photograph depicts the house at night, with the house's porch light on, and a car is in the driveway in front of the house.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential - Houses
Buildings - Residential
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/02/24/moscrop-house/
Geographic Access
Moscrop Street
Street Address
3955 Moscrop Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Cascade-Schou Area
Images
Less detail

5130 Irving Street

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98671
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the front steps and the entrance of a three-storey apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The photograph depicts the building at night, with the lobby and some of the apartments' windows illuminated from inside. The building was constructed in 1971.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-018
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the front steps and the entrance of a three-storey apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The photograph depicts the building at night, with the lobby and some of the apartments' windows illuminated from inside. The building was constructed in 1971.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential
Buildings - Residential - Apartments
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/05/04/e-just-e/
Geographic Access
Irving Street
Street Address
5130 Irving Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Marlborough Area
Images
Less detail

5130 Irving Street lobby

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98672
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the entrance of an apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The building was constructed in 1971. The photograph depicts the entrance and the lobby from the exterior at night. The lobby is illuminated and a crest featuring an "E" is on the entrance window.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-019
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the entrance of an apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The building was constructed in 1971. The photograph depicts the entrance and the lobby from the exterior at night. The lobby is illuminated and a crest featuring an "E" is on the entrance window.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential
Buildings - Residential - Apartments
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/05/04/e-just-e/
Geographic Access
Irving Street
Street Address
5130 Irving Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Marlborough Area
Images
Less detail

5990 Irmin Street

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98685
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of a multi-storey house located at 5990 Irmin Street. The photograph depicts of the exterior of the house at dusk; a light is on in one of the house's rooms and a vehicle is parked in the house's driveway next to a portable garage. A "For Sale" sign on the edge of the property reads: "Fu…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-032
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of a multi-storey house located at 5990 Irmin Street. The photograph depicts of the exterior of the house at dusk; a light is on in one of the house's rooms and a vehicle is parked in the house's driveway next to a portable garage. A "For Sale" sign on the edge of the property reads: "Future Development Land." Another house is visible in the background. The house was constructed in 1923 and is nearby to 7530 Buller Avenue.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential
Buildings - Residential - Houses
Transportation - Automobiles
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/06/30/william-esther-burdick-residence/
Geographic Access
Irmin Street
Street Address
5990 Irmin Street
Historic Neighbourhood
Alta Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Clinton-Glenwood Area
Images
Less detail

6280 Marlborough Avenue

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98673
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the front steps and entry to a three-storey apartment building, located at 6280 Marlborough Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night and shows the brick building's details, including its lion statues and busts along the stair railings and the curved arches in front of the …
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-020
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the front steps and entry to a three-storey apartment building, located at 6280 Marlborough Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night and shows the brick building's details, including its lion statues and busts along the stair railings and the curved arches in front of the front windows and door. The building was constructed in 1973.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential
Buildings - Residential - Apartments
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/05/12/marlborough-ave/
Geographic Access
Marlborough Avenue
Street Address
6280 Marlborough Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Marlborough Area
Images
Less detail

6410 Denbigh Avenue

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98667
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of a single-storey house located at 6410 Denbigh Avenue, taken from across the street at dusk. The house was constructed in 1949. Lights illuminate the front porch and the interior of one of the house's windows and there is a small amount of snow on the lawn in front of t…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-014
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of a single-storey house located at 6410 Denbigh Avenue, taken from across the street at dusk. The house was constructed in 1949. Lights illuminate the front porch and the interior of one of the house's windows and there is a small amount of snow on the lawn in front of the house.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential
Buildings - Residential - Houses
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/05/15/denbigh-ave/
Geographic Access
Denbigh Avenue
Street Address
6410 Denbigh Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Windsor Area
Images
Less detail

6508 Silver Avenue

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98678
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the corner and side of the exterior of a concrete low-rise apartment building located at 6508 Silver Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at dusk. Some of the apartment windows are lit up from inside, and plant pots are lined up along the third-floor balcony. A chain link fence…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-025
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the corner and side of the exterior of a concrete low-rise apartment building located at 6508 Silver Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at dusk. Some of the apartment windows are lit up from inside, and plant pots are lined up along the third-floor balcony. A chain link fence surrounds the backyard. The building was constructed in 1966.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential
Buildings - Residential - Apartments
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/06/30/brutalist/
Geographic Access
Silver Avenue
Street Address
6508 Silver Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Images
Less detail

6615 Telford Avenue

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98674
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the entrance, including the front steps and ramp, to a low-rise apartment building located at 6615 Telford Avenue. The building was constructed in 1964. The photograph depicts the building at night, and trees and bushes partially obscure the entrance. The building's lobby is illuminat…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-021
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the entrance, including the front steps and ramp, to a low-rise apartment building located at 6615 Telford Avenue. The building was constructed in 1964. The photograph depicts the building at night, and trees and bushes partially obscure the entrance. The building's lobby is illuminated and the apartments' mailboxes are visible through the window.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential
Buildings - Residential - Apartments
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/06/09/martello-group/
Geographic Access
Telford Avenue
Street Address
6615 Telford Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Images
Less detail

6692 Dow Avenue

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98662
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey apartment building located at 6692 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building from across the street at night; the lobby and some of the apartment windows are lit up, with a bunch of balloons in one window, and a car is parked on the street in front o…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-009
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey apartment building located at 6692 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building from across the street at night; the lobby and some of the apartment windows are lit up, with a bunch of balloons in one window, and a car is parked on the street in front of the building. The building was constructed in 1959.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential - Apartments
Buildings - Residential
Transportation - Automobiles
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/dow-ave/
Geographic Access
Dow Avenue
Street Address
6692 Dow Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Images
Less detail

6700 Dow Avenue

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98663
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the entrance to an apartment building located at 6700 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night; the lobby and stairs are illuminated by exterior and interior lights. The building was constructed in 1968.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
2022
Collection/Fonds
Disappearing Burnaby collection
Physical Description
1 photograph (jpeg) : col.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
634-010
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2022-14
Scope and Content
Photograph of the entrance to an apartment building located at 6700 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night; the lobby and stairs are illuminated by exterior and interior lights. The building was constructed in 1968.
Subjects
Buildings - Residential - Apartments
Buildings - Residential
Media Type
Photograph
Photographer
Cheung, Nakita
Notes
Title taken from the associated blog post
Associated blog post: https://disappearingburnaby.wordpress.com/2022/03/29/no-pes/
Geographic Access
Dow Avenue
Street Address
6700 Dow Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Images
Less detail

100 records – page 2 of 5.