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Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19348
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Dr. Sadhu Binning Location of Interview: Love farmhouse at Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 25, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 3 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:15:57) Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto three separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future exhibits and for researchers to learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby. During the interview, Dr. Binning shares his ancestral background along with his relatives' and his own personal experiences as a South Asian immigrant living and working in British Columbia and Burnaby. Dr. Binning conveys that he’s a Burnaby resident who’s lived in Burnaby since 1973 and that his children were born here. Binning shares his ancestral heritage beginning with his uncle Dhana Singh who emigrated from Punjab to British Columbia in 1931 and began working in the forest industry. He explains how Dhana Singh and another partner owned, operated and worked in small sawmills in the vicinity of Kamloops, Williams Lake and also on Vancouver Island. Binning conveys that in the beginning Dhana Singh and many other South Asian immigrants were not legal residents until 1938. In 1938, about 350 South Asian immigrants (mainly Punjabi) gathered resources to hire a lawyer to obtain permanent residency. Binning mentions that one of the notable South Asians in the group who was also a close friend of his uncle, was Darshan Singh Sangha, a trade unionist who was a founding member of the International Woodworkers of America (IWA) union and an active member of the Communist Party of Canada. Binning conveys how Darshan Singh Sangha returned to India in 1947 to be a part of the revolution, how he was very active in the communist movement in India. While in India, Darshan Singh Sangha, was known as Canadian and thereby adopted “Canadian” as his surname, becoming “Darshan Singh Canadian”. Binning further explains that his uncle Dhana Singh Sangha returned to India in 1951, married and came back to B.C. in 1957 bringing with him, his wife and children. In 1960, with the support of his uncle, Binning’s father, Jit Singh Binning immigrated to British Columbia and began working in sawmills in the lower mainland, Kamloops, Quesnel and on Vancouver Island. Binning clarifies that his uncle, Dhana Singh was able to immigrate to Canada with the support of his cousins from the Tarker Singh Bains family. Binning further describes Darshan Singh Sangha’s involvement with the Communist party and the IWA and how the majority of the members were from the forest industry. As an active and prominent member of the labour movement, Darshan Singh Sangha fought for the rights of South Asians and Chinese who working in the industry and facing racism, unfair wages and discriminatory practices. Binning describes how Darshan Singh Sangha wrote a book in English in 1943, titled “Rise of the New Asia”. Binning conveys how immigrants of Chinese and South Asian decent didn’t have the right to vote in British Columbia and how Darshan Singh Sangha was instrumental in obtaining the right to vote in British Columbia, although he was never given the credit. Binning describes his uncle Dhana Singh as a likeable guy with many friends, first living in Kamloops before moving to Vancouver. Binning imparts how the sport of wrestling is a popular Punjabi sport along with Punjabi kabaddi. He conveys that his uncle became involved in wrestling while working in sawmills. South Asian immigrants had to do physical labour working in sawmills, the work could be tough and could often lead to physical fights. A number of South Asian immigrants working in the mills already had experience as wrestlers from back home. Dhana Singh later left the lumber industry to work in the agriculture sector. Binning explains how immigration rules changed in the 1960s which lead to larger numbers of South Asians immigrating to Canada. Many of these new immigrants were educated and politically conscious. All of these new immigrants faced racism but being politically conscious from an independent India and with the ability to speak English they organized themselves to fight for their rights. Binning imagines the items that his uncle and his father may have brought with them in their suitcase when immigrating to Canada. Binning describes three items, including a rajai (a blanket with cotton inside that is sewn together), a bistra (small attaché case or trunk) and a piece of cloth to lie on. Binning further describes the roles in Indian society as caste divisions and that it was usually women’s work in making the rajais. Binning recollects the locations that his father and his family lived after coming to Vancouver. Binning explains that a few years after living together in Vancouver, he and his family moved to Burnaby in 1973 to be closer to his Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish Binning’s family. Dr. Binning and family lived in a house in Burnaby located on Irmin Street near Royal Oak between 1973 and 1987. While living at this house their children attended McPherson Park Junior High School and later Burnaby South Secondary School. Binning reflects on some of the racism that he and his family have faced while living in Burnaby which led him to write a poem that he published in 1994 titled “No More Watno Dur”. Binning explains the meaning of the title “Watan” meaning “country and everybody” “a country far way from the motherland”. Binning explains the origins of the magazine “Watan” that was started by a friend in 1973. The magazine got its roots in Vancouver in 1973 from an organization called the “Punjabi Literary Association”. Binning became the editor of the magazine in 1976 and his friend joined him as assistant editor in 1978. Binning continued to work as editor until 1983 or 1984 when he returned to school to complete his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. Binning describes the origins of the “Vancouver Sath” that was formed by a small group of South Asians around 1982. Binning was a founding member of the organization and held meetings and rehearsals at his house in Burnaby. Vancouver Sath first started out as an informal discussion forum by a group of politically conscious Punjabi writers and activists. Binning talks about issues and problems that Vancouver Sath addressed including; racism as well as domestic violence in the South Asian community. Binning explains how he and Sukhwant Hundal wrote articles on these issues and others that were happening in the South Asian community in Canada. Binning talks about how in 1983, the group was inspired to begin performing theatrical works after consulting with Gursharan Singh who was from a well known theatrical group from Punjab who were performing in Vancouver. In the beginning the Vancouver Sath’s plays were focused on the problems in Punjab but they soon decided to address social issues in their own South Asian community here in Canada. Binning summarizes and draws attention to, some of the plays that Vancouver Sath has written and performed including; “Picket Line”, about Punjabi women farmworkers’ rights; “Lattan de Bhoot”, about domestic abuse; “A Crop of Poison”; “Kihda Viah” (English translation- “Whose Marriage”) about arranged marriage and others about social issues in the South Asian community. The plays were performed in public schools and community centres in Vancouver and Richmond, Simon Fraser University and some were also performed in Toronto, Calgary and Williams Lake. Binning mentions some of the traditional foods that he likes to eat and where he and his family have shopped to find ingredients. He recalls how his mother, Gurmaje Kaur Binning did all of the cooking and was often cooking all day long. In the sixties, the Binning family address on 13th Avenue in Vancouver was also used as a postal address for many friends and family who’d recently immigrated. When these friends dropped by to pick up their mail, his mother often provided them with tea and food. After Binning and his wife, Jagdish moved to their own home in 1973, he shared in some of the shopping and cooking but his wife did the majority of the work due to his busy schedule. The interview closes with Binning providing an explanation of how “Watno Dur” magazine changed it’s name to “Watan” magazine. Binning reflects on how this came to be, when he made the decision to get an education in Canada and to stay here, not just as a “Canadian” but as a “Punjabi Canadian.
- History
- Interviewee biography: 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 Jagdish purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips. 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
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Industries - Forestry
- Foods
- Migration
- Organizations - Societies and Clubs
- Organizations - Unions
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Performances
- Performances - Dramatic Performances
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Names
- Binning, Dr. Sadhu
- Binning, Gurmaje Kaur
- Binning, Jit Singh
- Binning, Jagdish
- Sangha, Darshan Singh
- Canadian Farmworkers Union
- Hundal, Sukhwant
- Sangra, Harjinder
- Singh, Dhana
- Vancouver Sath
- Responsibility
- Petrusa, Kate
- Malik, Anushay
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0003_004.mp3
Maps of Canada Series - Forest Areas
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7532
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Publication Date
- c1952
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection
- Special Collection
- Material Type
- Photograph
- Accession Code
- BV016.7.6
- Place of Publication
- Ottawa
- Publisher
- National Film Board of Canada
- Publication Date
- c1952
- Physical Description
- 21 photographs : filmstrip ; cellulose aacetate, b&w pos.
- Library Subject (LOC)
- Documentary Films
- Filmstrips
- Forests and forestry--Canada
- Object History
- Came in with Oakalla Prison records and artifacts in 1991. Filmstrip was utilized by staff and inmates of Oakalla. Digitized by BVM into preservation and accessible formats in 2020.
- Notes
- Filmstrip (illustrations and text) provides a brief synopsis identifying Canada's forest regions and species in the Maritime Provinces; Quebec; Ontario; Prarie Provinces; British Columbia and Northern Areas along with the "Value of Forest Products by Province - 1948".
Images
Documents
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…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- 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
Audio Tracks
Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar, [1905-2022] (interview content), interviewed 6 Dec. 2022
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
booklet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact17357
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV979.42.7
- Description
- Museum & Art Notes - Booklet -- [1949]. The Art Historical and Scientific Association publication of Museum & Art Notes. This is Volume 1, Number 1 of the Second Series, September 1949. The front cover features a picture of the Dimorphodon Macronyx model made by Madam Erna C. von Engel-Baiersdorf. This issue has articles on: The Method of Reconstructiong Human and Animal Remains in Sculpture and in Paintings Early History of the Burnaby Family Indian Native Art Sundews The Aleuts of Attu The Trumpeter Swan Achatina Fulica, The Great African Snail Some Field Work of the Curator Palomar's Giant Eye, the Hale Telescope The Directors, Life and Honorary Members of the Art, Historical and Scientific Association.
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts
- Documentary Artifacts - Booklets
- Organizations
- Organizations - Art Societies
- Organizations - Historical Societies
- Organizations - Science Societies
Images
Documents
booklet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact17361
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV979.42.11
- Description
- Two Radio Broadcasts - Booklet -- [1951]. Incidental Papers, Two Radio Broadcasts by Mrs. J. S. Laurie. The front cover features a picture of The Dimorphodon Macronyx reconstructed by Erna C. von Engel-Baiersdorf. The booklet was printed in April 1951.
Images
Documents
booklet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact34033
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV991.23.1
- Description
- Notes on Nature - Booklet. Handmade booklet by Fanny Waplington called "Notes on Nature". The front cover has a hand painted picture of three birds on a branch filled with pink flowers. The booklet is filled with handwritten pages on birds, plants, trees and insects.
- Object History
- Nature Book was created by Frances Fleming (nee Waplington) while she attended Douglas Road School
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Graphic Documents
- Object Term
- Book
- Colour
- Beige
- Measurements
- 22.5cm x 30.5cm
- Title
- Notes on Nature
Images
Documents
booklet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact34035
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV991.23.3
- Description
- Wild Flowers - Booklet -- [1925]. School booklet created by Fanny Waplington. The front cover is a cut out illustration of two vases filled with flowers and plants from a magazine. The cover is cut along the right edge. Inside the booklet has handwritten entries about various animals and plants. Most of the entries have a corresponding picture.
- Object History
- Scrapbook journal was created by Frances "Fanny" (Waplington) Fleming while she was a young student.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Graphic Documents
- Object Term
- Book
- Measurements
- 18.5 x 24.3 cm
- Title
- Wildflowers
Images
Documents
catalogue
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact90874
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.11
- Description
- Commodities Catalogue; China National Cereals, Oils & Foodstuffs Import & Export Corp; text in English and Chinese; glossy cover; bifold binding with two staples; 52 pages; title page and table of contents; import and export "Branches" in China and Hongkong and Macao Agents listed on inside of back cover; annotations in pen and pencil on last page and inside of back cover.
- Object History
- Publication "Commodities Catalogue", was part of a scrapbook created by Cecil Chue Kan Lee documenting the time he was employed as a Prodcue Buyer for Kelly Douglas and Company Limited and Western Commodities Limited in the 1970s and early 1980s. As a produce buyer for Kelly Douglas, Cecil Lee worked closely with local farmers along Marine Drive and in the Fraser Valley. The Burnaby company was one of the largest food distributors in Canada. In the mid-1970s, Lee was asked to oversee the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into Canada. Until that time, mandarin oranges had come from Japan and were sold in the winter, especially at Christmas. When the Japanese market could no longer keep up with demand, Kelly Douglas looked to China. The company relied on Lee’s cultural knowledge to build this very profitable part of their business.
- Reference
- The first few pages and the last page of this publication are available for viewing on Heritage Burnaby. Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view entire content.
- For other records in this collection see: Business records series of Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Advertising Media
- Object Term
- Catalog, Sales
- Country Made
- China
- Site/City Made
- Peking
- Title
- Commodities Catalogue
Images
Documents
newsletter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact84683
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV011.55.1
- Description
- Newsletter; created by Heritage Village Museum [1978]. Printed on newsprint, double sided, folded in centre. Newsletter also served as a map and guide of the village. The front page of the newsletter features articles "Robert Burnaby 1828 - 1878" and "The Steam and Sawmill Collection". The centre two pages open to a list of exhibits in the village with a site map. The back page includes "Operating Times"; "Heritage Village Calendar", and "Application for Membership" of the Century park Museum Association. Design and production by Dave Lovell.
- Object History
- Newsletter created by Heritage Village Museum (Burnaby Village Museum) and given out free to visitors. Design and production of the newsletter was created by Dave Lovell.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Serial
- Colour
- Beige
- Measurements
- Height: 30 cm x Width: 44 cm folded to Height: 30 cm x Width: 22 cm
- Maker
- Heritage Village
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Burnaby
- Publication Date
- [1978]
Images
Documents
pamphlet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact14657
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV984.35.1
- Description
- Beautiful Burnaby - Pamphlet -- [1925]. Pamphlet providing updates on the status of Burnaby, current Reeve and Councillors, government spending, population, tax rate, as well as general information. There are advertisements from local businesses and photographs of Burnaby. The front cover of the pamphlet has the title "Beautiful Burnaby British Columbia". There is a photograph of Burnaby with a green tint. There are also various stamps and writing on the pamphlet.
Images
Documents
schedule
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact25116
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- HV975.19.7
- Description
- Vancouver Street Car Timetables - Booklet -- [1933]. The cover is blue and white with a drawing of a street car. "VANCOUVER STREET CAR/ TIME TABLES". This schedule shows street car and interurban tram times and includes early and late cars. The schedule is for Vancouver City and Interurban Lines. The timetable was printed for March 16, 1933 by the British Columbia Electric Railway Company.
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Vancouver
- Title
- Vancouver Street Car Time Tables
- Publication Date
- March 16 1933
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts
- Documentary Artifacts - Booklets
- Transportation
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
Images
Documents
souvenir booklet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact91080
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV020.5.1803
- Description
- Souvenir booklet; cover with brown ink printed on light blue card stock; two staple binding at centre; pages within numbered 1-35; cover reads: "Burnaby Village Museum / HERTIAGE PASTPORT / Take this "pastport" with you as you visit / the exhibits. match the number of the / exhibit with the number on each page of / this booklet. Look for the mail boxes at the / exhibits - they hold the "pastport" stamps!"; circular logo of Burnaby Village Museum with carousel horse and interurban tram; pages within contain stamps taken from the various exhibits inside Burnaby Village Museum.
- Object History
- Item was found in Burnaby Village Museum printshop along with other Heritage Village / Burnaby Village Museum ephemera created between 1971 and [2000].
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Object Term
- Souvenir
- Colour
- Blue
- Brown
- White
- Black
- Measurements
- 11.5 x 7.5 cm
- Maker
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Burnaby
- Publication Date
- [200-]
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
Images
Documents
![Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_001.jpg?width=280)
Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19602
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pe…
- 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., 52 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 53 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewees: Ellen and Bill Schwartz Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: May 15, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:08:52 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: Bill and Ellen Schwartz.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. 00:00-16:47 Bill and Ellen share where they were born, grew up and went to school as citizens of the United States and how they met in Pennsylvania the 1970s. Bill and Ellen explain how in the 1970s, they were discouraged about the current politics in the United States under the Nixon administration and how they were inspired by the “back to the land” ideals, rejecting materialism and wanting an alternative lifestyle. With these ideals in mind, they recall how in 1972 they and a few other friends decided to leave the United States, move to British Columbia with the goal of buying land in the Okanagan or Kootenay region and starting a new lifestyle for themselves. Bill and Ellen recollect how they purchased 20 acres of land in Galena Bay in the Kootenays and how they lived in the area off and on until the early 1980s. They describe how they cleared three acres of land, built a cabin, put in a garden, chicken coop and honey bees. With the challenges of the isolated location and no access to electricity they explain how they decided that they had to live elsewhere in order to make a living. Ellen talks about working as a special education teacher in Revelstoke and Slocan and how Bill obtained his teaching certificate while they lived in Nelson. Bill and Ellen describe themselves as environmentalists and of how they both became active Provincial environmentalists during the construction of the Revelstoke Dam. Bill talks about getting work with the “Energy Van” program talking about energy conservation, renewable energy and recycling. They explain how after their first child was born in 1980, they returned to Galena Bay for about a year and a half until Bill was offered a job with the Department of Energy Conservation which lead them to move to Vancouver. 16:48 – 22:46 Bill and Ellen describe their first few years of living in Vancouver and at University of British Columbia while Ellen completed her master’s degree in creative writing. During this time, they had their second child. They recall how in 1988 how they purchased a house in Burnaby, selecting to live in the Deer Lake neighbourhood. They talk about the benefits of the neighbourhood including; a French immersion school for their children, proximity to the trails around Deer Lake and having transit close by. 22:47 – 33:55 Bill and Ellen talk about their consulting business “Polestar Communications”. A Burnaby based communications consulting firm composed of three people, Ellen and Bill and colleague Richard Banner. They describe how their business got started and some of the projects that they’ve worked on including; BC Hydro’s Power Smart Program, financial literacy curriculum that was introduced in B.C. schools and reports for the Province of British Columbia. Ellen and Bill convey how Bill has been a very active member with the City of Burnaby Environment Committee, the Steering Committee to develop a sustainable environmental strategy for Burnaby, how he’s been awarded for his contributions in coaching youth sports and other areas in which they have both volunteered. 33:56 – 43:07 Ellen describes how she got started in writing educational resources about the environment and how since she completed grad school in 1984, she’s published nineteen books. Ellen conveys how her first book was published and sold to the Province of British Columbia as part of the B.C. educational curriculum on the environment. Ellen talks about some of the children’s books that she’s written and published with themes including; social justice, the labour movement and racism in sports. Ellen describes some of her books and the research that she’s done. 43:08 – 51:04 Ellen and Bill Schwartz reflect on what they like about living in Burnaby. They talk about the benefits of their neighbourhood including; performances at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival, the Burnaby Art Gallery and Deer Lake as well as having access to parks and community centres in Burnaby. 51:05-56:36 Bill and Ellen reflect on their involvement in the Jewish community, considering themselves non-secular Jews. Ellen talks about how they were involved with “Burquest” a Jewish Community Association and how they often observe some of the Jewish holidays including Hanukah and traditions including the Jewish coming of age ritual, bar mitzvah (masc.) and bat mistvah (fem.). Ellen mentions her involvement with the “Jone Betty Stuchner Oy Vey! Funniest Children’s book Award” where she acts a judge and her involvement with the Jewish Book festival and that she is a recipient of the Jewish Book award. 56:37 – 1:08:53 Bill and Ellen reflect on their 35 years living in Burnaby and how they’ve seen it change. They talk about the increased development and density in the city, how they are troubled by a lack of low income housing, the benefits and importance of public transportation and preservation of green space including Burnaby parks.
- History
- Interviewees' biographies: Ellen Schwartz was born in Washington, DC, (1950) but grew up in New Jersey. She attended the Universities of Chicago and Wisconsin before moving to a farm in Pennsylvania, where she met her future husband Bill Schwartz. Bill Schwartz grew up in and around Philadelphia (b. 1947), and attended Pennsylvania State University. After travelling, and discouraged with life in eastern America, he and Ellen decided that British Columbia held better prospects. Bill and Ellen quit their jobs in 1972 and moved to the Kootenay region where they adopted a “back to the land” lifestyle, a very new experience for both of them. After eight years of modest success, and occasional work in nearby towns, they opted to return to Vancouver where Bill had work and where they could raise a family more easily. They rented in Vancouver for a few years before moving to family housing at UBC, while Ellen studied creative writing. Bill founded a communications and writing company, and in 1988 they purchased a home in Burnaby. Ellen launched a new career as a writer, mainly for children young adults. Both were active in their careers, raising a family, and participating in local social and political activities. 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
- Environmental Issues
- Environmental Issues - Environmental Protection
- Geographic Features
- Geographic Features - Parks
- Housing
- Occupations
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Occupations - Writers
- Persons - Volunteers
- Persons - Jewish Canadians
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Religions
- Religions - Judaism
- Names
- Schwartz, William "Bill"
- Schwartz, Ellen
- City of Burnaby
- Polestar Communications
- British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.6
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Lake Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
![Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_001.jpg)
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz, [1969-2023] (interview content), interviewed 15 May 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0006_003.mp3
drawing book
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact87479
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV015.35.89
- Description
- drawing book; brown paper book of sketches from nature; 27 pages; hand drawn and painted; botanical samples of pressed wildflowers are also adhered to pages inside book and identified; "EMERALD / DRAWING / BOOK." commerically printed on front cover in green ink along with illustrations; "Nellie Gosling" handwritten on front cover in black ink; "Nellie Gosling / 1st Blackrock Company (Ireland) / Naturalists 1916" handwritten inside front cover; hand drawn and coloured flag display "UNITED WE STAND" on last page of book; flags of World War I allies Italy, France, Belgium, Great Britain, the United States of America, Portugal, Russia and Japan.
- Object History
- Drawing book was created by Nellie Gosling, First Blackrock Company, Ireland. The book may have been created to earn a badge. The drawing book was donated with items belonging to Dorothy Pitman, but it is unknown how she acquired it since she doesn't appear to have done the drawings herself. Dorothy Pitman was a Girl Guide in the 1st Burnaby Company. She was known to be involved with guiding from 1919 to 1931. Textual records and photographs of the Pitman family, including one of Dorothy and her sister Gwen, are held by the City of Burnaby Archives. Dorothy and Gwen's parents, Ernest and Jean Pitman, owned McKay Dry Goods and Jubilee Dry Goods.
- Category
- 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials
- Classification
- Painting T&E
- Object Term
- Sketchbook
Images
Documents
leaflet
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact90017
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV015.35.321
- Description
- leaflet; buff paper with black text reading: "GRAND RALLY / BRITISH COLUMBIA GIRL GUIDES / AGRICULTURAL GROUNDS, DUNCAN / SATURDAY, JULY 8th, 1922"; rally had a programme of sports events, followed by a high tea, and in the evening, a camp fire with entertainment.
- Object History
- Leaflet is a part of scrapbook "Burnaby Girl Guides. -- [1914]-1969, predominant ca. 1920" (BV015.35.164)
- Note in blue ink on scrapbook page reads: "Burnaby Guides attended this Rally".
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts
- Measurements
- L: 22.2 cm W: 13.9 cm
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Names
- Girl Guides of Canada
Images
Documents
magazine
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact90893
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV019.6.30
- Description
- magazine; quarterly publication in English aimed at providing a forum for information exchange in China and Hong Kong trading; glossy cover; 32 p., black text and photographs on newsprint; bifold with two staples; printed by Food Hing Offset Printing Company Limited; front cover reads: "Business Pleasure" / "Special Issue / 1978 Canton Spring Fair"; photograph on front of small ceramic bowl filled with coins and red carnation standing in centre, bowl is seated on a pedestal, two small carved lion sculptures are seated on either side; bottom of front cover includes an ad for "Seiko" watches; back cover includes ad for "Bulova" watches.
- Object History
- Publication "Business Pleasure", was part of a scrapbook created by Cecil Chue Kan Lee documenting the time he was employed as a Prodcue Buyer for Kelly Douglas and Company Limited and Western Commodities Limited in the 1970s and early 1980s. As a produce buyer for Kelly Douglas, Cecil Lee worked closely with local farmers along Marine Drive and in the Fraser Valley. The Burnaby company was one of the largest food distributors in Canada. In the mid-1970s, Lee was asked to oversee the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into Canada. Until that time, mandarin oranges had come from Japan and were sold in the winter, especially at Christmas. When the Japanese market could no longer keep up with demand, Kelly Douglas looked to China. The company relied on Lee’s cultural knowledge to build this very profitable part of their business.
- Reference
- The first few pages of articles within the publication are available for viewing on Heritage Village. Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view entire published content.
- For other records in this collection see: Business records series of Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Serial
- Country Made
- Hong Kong
- Title
- Business Pleasure
- Publication Date
- 1978
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts - Magazines
Images
Documents
newsletter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact84117
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV012.20.31
- Description
- Newsletter; legal sized paper, 4 pages (3 pages stapled together); letterhead with brown ink background on cover page reads "Newsletter CENTURY PARK / HERITAGE VILLAGE" followed by "4900 DEER LAKE AVE. BURNABY, B.C. PHONE 291-8525"; dated April 6, 1972; addressed to "Fellow-Members" of Century Park Museum Association; last page is a blank "CENTURY PARK MUSEUM ASSOCIATON / INFORMATION BLANK" form printed on yellow paper to be returned to Century Park Museum Association. The newsletter has been folded into four for mailing purposes. An additional page is addressed to members requesting donations of display items for the General Store. Return address stamp on back page reads "CENTURY PARK MUSEUM ASSOCIATION / operating / HERITAGE VILLAGE / 4900 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby 2, B.C." and is addressed to: "Mr. A.T. Copan / 4667 Highlawn Drive / Burnaby 2, B.C." Newsletter provides updates regarding the Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee's project "Heritage Village" including the hiring of Mr. P.A. (Tony) Scott as permanent Executive Director of Heritage Village.
- Object History
- Newsletter published by the Century Park Museum Association in regards to news of Heritage Village Museum and the Century Park Museum Association, renamed Burnaby Village Museum Association and Burnaby Village Museum in 1984. The newsletter was mailed to A.T. Copan, 4667 Highlawn Drive, Burnaby B.C.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Serial
- Colour
- White
- Yellow
- Measurements
- Height: 35.5 cm x Width: 22 cm
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Burnaby
- Title
- Newsletter Century Park Heritage Village
- Publication Date
- April 6, 1972
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts - Newsletters
Images
Documents
newsletter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact84661
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV011.50.22
- Description
- Newsletter; yellow paper cover with black ink folded in half; white pages within folded in half, numbered 1-8; stapled in centre fold; cover with illustration of the east side of Hill Street inside Heritage Village and Village bandstand; stylized hand drawn title reads: "the Villager / CHRISTMAS '81"" and hand drawn script in lower left corner reads: "Heritage Village / 4900 Deer Lake Avenue / Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T6"; first page includes credits "Published by: Century Park Museum Association / Christmas 1981 / Editor: Ethel Derrick"; Handwritten in ink on the front cover is "Reg Millway". Illustrations and typewritten script throughout content covering news and events of Heritage Village during Winter 1981.
- Object History
- Newsletter published by the Century Park Museum Association in regards to news of Heritage Village Museum and the Century Park Museum Association, renamed Burnaby Village Museum Association and Burnaby Village Museum in 1984.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Serial
- Colour
- Yellow
- White
- Measurements
- Height: 21.5 cm x Width: 35.5 cm; folded to Height: 21.5 cm x Width: 17.75 cm
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Title
- the Villager
- Publication Date
- 1981
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts - Newsletters
Images
Documents
newsletter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact84662
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV011.50.23
- Description
- Newsletter; yellow paper cover with black ink folded in half; light green pages within folded in half, numbered 1-8; stapled in centre fold; cover with illustration of the east side of Hill Street inside Heritage Village and Village bandstand; stylized hand drawn title reads: "the Villager / Winter'82" and hand drawn script in lower left corner reads: "Heritage Village / 4900 Deer Lake Avenue / Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T6"; first page includes credits "Published by: / Century Park Museum Association / WINTER 1982 / Editor: / Ethel Derrick". Illustrations and typewritten script throughout content covering news and events of Heritage Village during the Winter 1982.
- Object History
- Newsletter published by the Century Park Museum Association in regards to news of Heritage Village Museum and the Century Park Museum Association, renamed Burnaby Village Museum Association and Burnaby Village Museum in 1984.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Serial
- Colour
- Yellow
- White
- Measurements
- Height: 21.5 cm x Width: 35.5 cm; folded to Height: 21.5 cm x Width: 17.75 cm
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Burnaby
- Title
- the Villager
- Publication Date
- 1982
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts - Newsletters
Images
Documents
newsletter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact84664
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV011.50.25
- Description
- Newsletter; yellow paper cover with black ink folded in half; white pages within folded in half, numbered 1-8; stapled in centre fold; cover with illustration of the east side of Hill Street inside Heritage Village and Village bandstand; stylized hand drawn title reads: "the Villager" and hand drawn script in lower left corner reads: "Heritage Village / 4900 Deer Lake Avenue / Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T6"; date in bottom right corner reads "SUMMER 82'"; first page includes credits "Published by: / Century Park Museum Association / SUMMER 1982 / Editor: / Ethel Derrick". Illustrations and typewritten script throughout content covering news and events of Heritage Village during the Summer 1982.
- Object History
- Newsletter published by the Century Park Museum Association in regards to news of Heritage Village Museum and the Century Park Museum Association, renamed Burnaby Village Museum Association and Burnaby Village Museum in 1984.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Serial
- Colour
- Yellow
- White
- Measurements
- Height: 21.5 cm x Width: 35.5 cm; folded to Height: 21.5 cm x Width: 17.75 cm
- Country Made
- Canada
- Province Made
- British Columbia
- Site/City Made
- Burnaby
- Title
- the Villager
- Publication Date
- 1982
- Subjects
- Documentary Artifacts - Newsletters
Images
