Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Oral history interview with Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19146

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 29 Jun. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) (02:06:53 min) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (02:06:53 min)

Scope and Content: Item consists of an audio recording of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos conducted by Denise Fong with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview, Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos discuss; their ancestral background, childhood, pla…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

Series: Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos interview series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) (02:06:53 min) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (02:06:53 min)

Material Details: Interviewer: Denise Fong Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewees: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos Location of Interview: Home of Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos on Victory Street, Burnaby Date of interview: June 29, 2022 Total Number of Tracks: 3 Total length of all Tracks: 02:06:53 min Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto 3 separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of an audio recording of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos conducted by Denise Fong with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview, Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos discuss; their ancestral background, childhood, places of residence, education, career history, how they met, Jimmy's experience working in the film industry, their home in Burnaby and their neighbourhood, their political activism in Burnaby, Robin Chung Dip's work in Vancouver’s' Chinatown, the gambling scene in Vancouver prior to legalized forms of gambling and their memories of supper clubs in Vancouver. 00:00 - 5:57 Opening introductions where Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos provide information on their full names, their birth places and their ancestral background. Jimmy clarifies that his birth name is Hipman Chow but that he was given the English name “Jimmy” by his father when he came to Canada. Jimmy shares that he was born in 1948, in the Village of Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China and immigrated to British Columbia with his mother, Gim Gee Chow in 1950 to escape the Communist Regime and to join his father who had already immigrated to Canada. Jimmy imparts that many Chinese immigrated to British Columbia in search of a better life, referring to it as “Gold Mountain” and that even though they faced extreme racial discrimination that many stayed since they felt that it was better than returning. Donna Polos shares ancestral information on both her maternal and paternal sides of the family. Donna’s mother’s family came from Helsinki, Finland. Donna’s paternal grandmother emigrated from Ukraine to Argentina and then to Winnipeg. Donna’s paternal grandfather, James Kostopolus (renamed Polos) emigrated as a 12 year old orphan from Sparta, Greece to the United States but was denied entry so ended up going to Halifax and eventually made his way to Vancouver. Once in Vancouver, he became a restaurant proprietor and over the years, he owned and operated three restaurants in Vancouver, including; “Jimmy’s Café” (next door the Astoria Hotel); “Home Apple Pie Café” (Princess Avenue & Hastings Street) and a restaurant that was located on Alma Street. 05:58 - 13:28 Jimmy recollects in further detail, the many places that his family lived over the years. Jimmy’s father Robin Chung Dip Chow immigrated to Vancouver at the age of 14 years and worked and lived in Victoria and Vancouver. In 1950, Jimmy and his mother fled China, first to Hong Kong and then to Vancouver to join his father. Soon after arriving in Vancouver, for the next four years, he and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec City where his father, Robin had work in restaurants and hotels. Jimmy attended school while the family lived in these different places and began to learn English. After four years, the family returned to Vancouver, first living in areas of Chinatown and Strathcona before settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant. Jimmy shares his memories of growing up in Strathcona and the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, schools that he attended and the friendships that he made. Jimmy recollects details about the old Bethlehem Lutheran Church that he attended and describes the demands of the education required to become a Lutheran minister. 13:29 - 15:47 Jimmy tells of how his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow had to pay the Chinese Head Tax of $500 when he arrived in Vancouver at 14 years of age (1921) and how his father had to work hard pay off the head tax over the years. Denise Fong and Jimmy Chow, talk about the origin of a photograph portrait of Jimmy Chow that was taken around 1954 and speculate whether it might have been taken by well known portrait photographer, Yucho Chow. 15:48 - 19:33 Donna Polos recollects the many locations that her family lived while she was growing up in Vancouver. First residing at various locations in the downtown east side of Vancouver before moving to a home near Joyce Station where she lived until 21 years old. After 21 years of age, Donna moved in with roommates in Vancouver before moving in with Jimmy in North Burnaby in 1972. In 1976 Donna and Jimmy purchased their home on Victory Street. Both Donna and Jimmy talk about their careers after high school. Jimmy talks about how he worked at the Supervalu grocery store near his house. Jimmy planned to use his savings from his job to travel but instead he used his savings for a down payment on a house with Donna. Donna imparts that after obtaining her teaching degree she began working in Burnaby schools, eventually teaching at Burnaby South. 19:34 - 32:08 Both Jimmy and Donna share their educational background and experiences growing up. Jimmy first attended Florence Nightingale elementary in Strathcona, then Mount Pleasant Elementary and later high school at 24th Avenue and Main Street. Donna lists the schools that she attended including; elementary school in Strathcona, Carlton Elementary School at Kingsway and Joyce, Windermere High School, Vancouver City College (Langara) and the University of British Columbia. Donna and Jimmy reflect on public transportation that was available during the time they were growing up. Donna recollects her childhood growing up in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station, the freedom that she experienced playing outside in nature and what inspired her to become a teacher. Jimmy reflects on some of his mentors and about his first experience seeing movies as a young child at a cinema in Asquith, Saskatchewan. Donna communicates her own experiences of sexism throughout her high school, college and university education (1968-1972). 32:09 - 36:18 Donna talks about her career history and some of her major turning points. Donna recollects starting out as a Chemistry lab assistant, marking math papers before working as a teacher on call and eventually being hired as a teacher at Clinton Elementary School where she taught for nine years. Donna shares a memory of her first experience working as a teacher on call at Gilmore Elementary School and the fire that occurred there. After starting a family (Jimmy and Donna had three children) Donna worked part time teaching while Jimmy worked full time in film. Donna, shares that in 1991, after a near death experience, she became interested in fine art and took drawing and watercolour painting classes. With this experience, Donna experimented with different painting techniques on paper and fabric. Donna tells of how she retired from teaching in 2008 but continued to participate in the schools as an Artist in Residence. 36:19 - 58:18 Jimmy talks about his work and career history. He shares memories of his experiences as a young boy delivering newspapers, working at a local pharmacy, stocking shelves at the local supermarket, and his experience working with troubled youth and of how he thought that he might like to become a social worker. Jimmy tells of how he was uncertain of what to do until he got a job with the CBC in 1973 which eventually launched his career as a property master in the film industry, becoming a member of IATSE and a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures. Jimmy describes in detail what it means to be a property master and the work that is entailed in the film industry. 58:19 - 1:07:45 Donna Polos describes her art practice and her connection to Burnaby. Donna recollects how she first started working with textiles and fabrics from a young age and how this later inspired her to develop her own watercolour techniques of painting on paper, canvas and fabrics. Donna describes how she first got started by taking art classes in Burnaby and now has over 31 years of experience working in watercolour. Donna has worked as an Artist in Residence in Burnaby schools, been a member of the Burnaby Arts Council, had her first show in 1997 and has been involved in many art projects over the years. Donna describes the style of her work, first starting with more figurative work, social commentary and still life and that now most of her work is landscape based. Donna coveys that as a political activist in Burnaby, she was an active participant in the development of a tree bylaw, has petitioned to protect renters from demo-evictions and the impacts of future development on the local environment. 1:07:46 - 1:07:59 Background discussion between Denise Fong and Kate Petrusa re interviews. 1:08:00 - 1:26:36 Jimmy provides information on his connection to the local film industry and the changes that have occurred over the years. Jimmy describes the first studios on the North Shore and the eventual establishment of Bridge Studios on Boundary Road. Jimmy shares that in 1988, he and some of his colleagues in the film industry put a proposal together to buy the Bridge Studios but it didn't go through. Since the Bridge Studios and other film studios have been established in Burnaby and Vancouver, the industry has grown exponentially. Jimmy became the 54th member of the local IATSE union. Jimmy describes some of his experiences working on various productions including "Seven Years in Tibet", provides a description of what a film studio is, how it is used and the differences between working in the film industry in the United States and British Columbia. 1:26:37 - 1:32:46 Jimmy and Donna recollect how they first met, buying a house in Burnaby, getting married and starting a family. The two share memories of their wedding in White Rock and Jimmy talks about the Chinese hair cutting ceremony in recognition of their first born child that took place in Chinatown in Vancouver. Jimmy tells of how his parents had hopes of him marrying a Chinese woman and his mother began introducing him to a few young Chinese women from the time he was 16 years old. Jimmy mentions that his parents rarely used Western Medicine and relied on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Donna and Jimmy talk about Jimmy's parents, when they died and how happy his parents were to have grandchildren. 1:32:47 - 1:40:13 Jimmy and Donna talk about their house on Victory Street which they purchased in 1976. They share information on the history of the house, how it was built in 1939 by Norm Clark, how they fell in love with the design of the house and the neighbourhood. 1:40:14 - 1:58:31 Jimmy and Donna share information on their family life in Burnaby, their neighbourhood and favourite places in Burnaby. Donna lists the schools that their three children attended including; Nelson Avenue School, Burnaby South High School and Burnaby Central High School. Both Donna and Jimmy convey that all of their children played soccer and the benefits that the sport provided them. Donna and Jimmy talk about how the neighbourhood has changed over the years, the benefits of where they live, their fondness for built heritage and the many parks and trees in Burnaby. 1:58:32 - 2:02:50 Jimmy begins to share information on his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow's employment history. Jimmy recalls that his father, Robin worked in a variety of jobs over the years and as a young child, Jimmy was uncertain of what his father's job was but thought that he worked in accounting. He mentions that his father stopped working at 45 years of age due to a problem with his Achilles tendon. Jimmy describes his father as an intellectual who worked at gambling houses in Vancouver's Chinatown where people played mah-jong and fan-tan. Jimmy recollects that these were large clubs with lots of employees. His father never gambled but he was good with money so he worked on the management side. Jimmy mentions that while working in the film industry, his father took him and some of his film colleagues into some of the gambling houses in Chinatown to assist them with a production that they were working on. 2:02:51 - 2:06:58 Donna shares her own family history regarding gambling. She mentions that her uncle worked as a high end "bookie" in Vancouver and how in 1968, her uncle was arrested but got let go with just a small fine. Jimmy describes what gambling was like in those days with various sweepstakes, not under the jurisdiction of the government like it is today. Both Donna and Jimmy recollect the popularity of supper clubs their memories of Vie's Chicken and Steak House that was located in Hogan's Alley. Jimmy laments the destruction of Hogan's Alley and the other proposals that were brought forward that would change Chinatown and Strathcona.

History: Interviewees biography: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow was born in Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China in 1948. In 1950, Jimmy Chow immigrated to Vancouver from China with his mother, Gim Gee Chow to join his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow who'd immigrated to Canada at 14 years of age in 1921. For the first four years after immigrating, Jimmy and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec before returning to Vancouver around 1954. Jimmy and his family then lived and worked in Vancouver eventually settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant. In the early 1970s, Jimmy met his future wife Donna Polos and they married in 1981. Donna Polos was born in 1949 to Donald James Polos and Mayme "May" Helen Tilikana Polos and grew up in Vancouver. Between the age of 5 and 21 years, Donna lived in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station. In 1976, Jimmy and Donna purchased and moved into a house on Victory Street in Burnaby where they still live today. While living on Victory Street, they've raised their three children. Donna received her teaching degree and taught in elementary schools for many years. In 1991, after a near death experience, Donna developed an interest in drawing and painting and began experimenting with water colour painting on fabric. Donna has since exhibited her work widely, participated as an Artist in Residence in Burnaby schools and is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Jimmy entered the film industry in 1973, gaining experience and recognition as a property master and has worked on many films over a 45 year career. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants; Buildings - Residential; Buildings - Residential - Houses; Education; Geographic Features - Parks; Geographic Features - Neighbourhoods; Government - Local Government; Industries - Film; Migration; Occupations; Occupations - Artists; Occupations - Grocers; Occupations - Entrepreneurs; Occupations - Teachers; Persons - Chinese Canadians; Social Issues - Racism; Sports - Soccer

Names: Bridge Studios; Chow, Gim Gee Dang; Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"; Chow, Robin Chung Dip; Polos, Donna; Polos, James "Jimmy", 1898-1962; Polos, Donald James; Polos, Mayme "May" Helen Tilikana

Geographic Access: Victory Street

Accession Code: BV022.21.1

Date: 29 Jun. 2022

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of recording; Hipman "Jimmy" Chow's name in Cantonese is Chow Hipman and in Mandarin is Zhou Xiamin.

Images

Audio Tracks

Oral history interview with Hipman

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0021_0001_004.mp3

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…

1 image 1 document 1 audio

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

Documents

2023_0016_0006_004

Audio Tracks

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

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

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

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

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

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

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

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

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

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

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

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

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

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

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

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

Accession Code: BV022.29.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

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

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

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

Documents

2022_0029_0005_004

Audio Tracks

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

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

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19349

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant…

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Honourable Raj Chouhan Location of Interview: Residence of Honourable Raj Chouhan Interview Date: December 2, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (00:49:21) Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant and the organizations that he became involved with. Honourable Raj Chouhan recalls how he arrived in Burnaby with his family in 1973 and that his family worked in farming. Chouhan imparts his first hand experiences as a new immigrant working as a labourer in the farming industry and describes the unsafe and unfair working conditions that he and migrant workers faced. Chouhan conveys how this experience lead him to become an activist for better working conditions for migrant workers. This lead Chouhan and others to form the Canadian Farm Workers Union in 1980. Chouhan recollects his experiences flying from India to Canada with his wife, his first impressions after arriving in Vancouver and driving to Burnaby and what he brought with him. Chouhan explains his connections to Burnaby. Members of Chouhan's wife's family immgrated to Canada in 1957 and his wife and her three brothers joined them in 1970. Chouhan's father in law, Hardial Singh Grewal immigrated in 1957 and became president of the Sikh temple in New Westminster. Hardial Singh Grewal worked in a lumber mill in Vancouver and eventually bought a house in Burnaby. Chouhan married to his wife at the Sikh temple in New Westminster and lived in Burnaby for a period before moving to New Westminster where they could find more affordable housing. Chouhan shares that he first worked as a farm labourer in Abbotsford and then found a job in the sawmill which paid more. Chouhan describes the extreme racism and discrimination that he and other immigrants faced which lead to the formation of the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma. Chouhan describes this organization that he was a part of and the Canadian Farm Workers Union that were both formed in Burnaby. Chouhan shares that he moved to Victoria in 1988 to serve on the Hospital Employee's Union and moved back to the mainland in 1993 and returned to Burnaby in 2001. Chouhan reflects on the history of South Asian immigration in Canada, how many of the migrants settled in the lower mainland including Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver establishing temples in Vancouver and New Westminster which became the centre for the South Asian community. He conveys how earlier occupations were limited to farming and millwork and how over time employment opportunities and education have broadened but there is still work to do. He imparts how second generation Canadians’ experiences differ from first generations providing examples of his own daughters’ and the occupations that they are working in. Chouhan provides his insights into the South Asian Canadian experience imparting “We make history every day and that history needs to be recorded and learned from.."... “People from different communities, different backgrounds who lived in Burnaby have contributed so much and South Asians are just like another community and participated in all aspects of social life, cultural, religious, economy. I'm so proud of our community, our forefathers who had that vision to fight for our rights. I'm inspired by people who struggled so much to gain basic rights, like the right to vote". Chouhan refers to these first immigrants as “Gadri Babbas” “revolutionary old people” who were also the main motivation that lead to India becoming a free country in 1947 and for fighting for basic rights here in Canada and how they made their contributions for future generations. Chouhan expresses what he imparts to students “Do not forget your past... if you remember your past then you are much more knowledgeable. Then we know what we need for the future. If we don't know the past, we don't know what the future is going to be like. To make a better future, you have to learn from the past and improve".

History: Interviewee biography: Honourable Raj Chouhan was born in the city of Ludhiana in the Province of Punjab in India and immigrated to Canada in 1973. After arriving in Canada, Raj's family settled in Burnaby. Raj grew up in Burnaby and attended schoool. Honourable Raj Chouhan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020. He was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on December 7, 2020. Honourable Chouhan is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism and has served as a director of the Hospital Employees' Union, the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. Honourable Chouhan has also served as the Vice President of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003 and has taught courses in Human Rights, the B.C. Labour Code and Collective Bargaining since 1987. Interviewer biography: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013.

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

2022_0029_0004_003

Audio Tracks

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

Central Park testing station

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95101

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 9, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Photographic Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 testing station located in the Central Park parking lot off Boundary Road. A sign in the foreground reads "Covid-19 Care Site by Referral Only / Walk in Access". In the background, the white tents of the testing station are visible.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 9, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Photographic Society fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 623-019

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2020-10

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 testing station located in the Central Park parking lot off Boundary Road. A sign in the foreground reads "Covid-19 Care Site by Referral Only / Walk in Access". In the background, the white tents of the testing station are visible.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Parks; Geographic Features - Automobile Parking Lots; Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Structures - Tents

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Damer, Eric

Notes: Transcribed title

Geographic Access: Boundary Road; Central Park

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Central Park testing station, May 9, 2020 thumbnail

Deer Lake parking lot off limits

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95113

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: June 26, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Photographic Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Deer Lake Park parking lot at the Royal Oak entrance. The entrance to the lot is blocked off with two orange traffic barriers. In the distance, a sign detailing a temporary one-way walking route for the park and a man walking into the park are visible.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: June 26, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Photographic Society fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 623-031

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2020-10

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Deer Lake Park parking lot at the Royal Oak entrance. The entrance to the lot is blocked off with two orange traffic barriers. In the distance, a sign detailing a temporary one-way walking route for the park and a man walking into the park are visible.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Parks; Geographic Features - Automobile Parking Lots

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Snowdon, Nick

Notes: Transcribed title; Photographer's caption: "Deer Lake parking lots are blocked off for a few months"

Geographic Access: Deer Lake Park

Planning Study Area: Windsor Area

Images

Deer Lake parking lot off limits, June 26, 2020 thumbnail

Friends Distancing, Including Their Dogs

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95115

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: June 8, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Photographic Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Scope and Content: Photograph of a group of women standing on Morley Drive, near the corner of Buckingham Drive. The women are chatting at a distance from one another, and two have small dogs on leashes.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: June 8, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Photographic Society fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 623-033

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2020-10

Scope and Content: Photograph of a group of women standing on Morley Drive, near the corner of Buckingham Drive. The women are chatting at a distance from one another, and two have small dogs on leashes.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Neighbourhoods; Geographic Features - Sidewalks

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Peterman, Randall

Notes: Transcribed title

Geographic Access: Buckingham Drive; Morley Street

Planning Study Area: Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Friends Distancing, Including Their Dogs, June 8, 2020 thumbnail

The Legend of Deer Lake and Indigenous histories of Burnaby

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15666

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 4 May 2021

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (62 min., 28 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps

Scope and Content: Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Adrian Avendaño, Stewardship Program Manager with Still Moon Arts Society. The webinar is presented in partnership with the Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby Public Library and Still Moon Arts Society. The webinar is titled "The Lege…

1 image 1 video

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Burnaby Neighbourhood Speaker Series series

Subseries: Neighbourhood Speaker Series - Spring 2021 subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (62 min., 28 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps

Material Details: Presenter: John Preissl; Host: Adrian Avendano (Still Moon Arts Society); Date of Presentation: Tuesday, May 4, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm; Total Number of tracks: 1; Total Length of all tracks: 62 min., 28 sec.; Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform; Recording Note: Film was edited from it's original recorded version (77 min., 48 sec.) to edited version (62 min., 28 sec.) for public viewing on Heritage Burnaby.

Scope and Content: Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Adrian Avendaño, Stewardship Program Manager with Still Moon Arts Society. The webinar is presented in partnership with the Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby Public Library and Still Moon Arts Society. The webinar is titled "The Legend of Deer Lake and Indigenous histories of Burnaby" and is presented by John Preissl, Freelance Photographer of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Leq’á:mel Nation ancestry. The Zoom webinar is the third in a series of six "Neighbourhood Speaker series" webinars exploring a range of topics shared by Indigenous speakers and knowledge keepers that were presented and made available to the public between April 27 and May 12, 2021. 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. This webinar was made available in In partnership with Still Moon Arts Society. In this webinar, John Preissl shares his family’s long history from the first Chief Capilano in the late 1700's to the present day. Looking through the lens of his camera, John weaves together stories of the Legend of Deer Lake, resource gathering in the Burnaby Lake Watershed, and protection of the sacred salmon and eagle habitat on the shared homelands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples. The presentation is supported with photographs that John has taken over the years documenting the diverse environment and wildlife habitats in Burnaby, the lower mainland and west coast including waterways and the fight to protect it. Following the presentation, John Preissl takes questions from the audience that are moderated by the host, Adrian Avendaño.

History: John Preissl is a Burnaby-based environmental, adventure, wildlife and Indigenous freelance photographer. He is a media expert with over two decades of media experience and consulting. John is of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Leq’á:mel Nation ancestry. His Great times-two Grandfather was the Great Chief Joe Capilano. John leads many First Nations Tours in Burnaby from Deer Lake, Burnaby Lake, Burnaby Mountain and pretty well all over Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Tsleil-Waututh Nations Lands.

Subjects: Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Social life and customs; Animals - Birds; Animals - Fish; Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds; Geographic Features - Ravines

Names: Preissl, John; Tsleil-Waututh Nation; Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation; Avendaño, Adrian; Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV021.17.3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 4 May 2021

Media Type: Moving Images

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Lake Area

Notes: Title based on content of video recording The following links were shared at the end of the presentation:; The Legend of Deer Lake: https://www.legendsofvancouver.net/deer-lake-burnaby-vancouver; Saving the Salmon: the Brunette River Story, a short film about the preservation of Brunette River: https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/permalink/museumvideo4486; Saving Burnaby Lake, a short film about the preservation of Burnaby Lake: https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/permalink/museumvideo4485; Still Creek Streamkeepers: https://stillmoonarts.ca/stewardship/streamkeepers/; John Preissl’s photography website: https://johnpreisslphotography.ca/

Images

Video

The Legend of Deer Lake and Indigenous histories of Burnaby, 4 May 2021

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0017_0003_002.mp4

Burnaby hospital closes main entrance

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription95094

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: April 6, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Photographic Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Scope and Content: Photograph of a rerouting sign posted to a sandwich board outside the Burnaby Hospital emergency lot. The sign states that the hospital entrance is closed and requests visitors use the Main Entrance of the hospital.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: April 6, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Photographic Society fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 623-013

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2020-10

Scope and Content: Photograph of a rerouting sign posted to a sandwich board outside the Burnaby Hospital emergency lot. The sign states that the hospital entrance is closed and requests visitors use the Main Entrance of the hospital.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - Hospitals; Geographic Features - Automobile Parking Lots; Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Damer, Eric

Notes: Transcribed title

Geographic Access: Kincaid Street

Street Address: 3935 Kincaid Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Cascade-Schou Area

Images

Burnaby hospital closes main entrance, April 6, 2020 thumbnail

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15374

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts and wayfinding signs are set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts and wayfinding signs are set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.39

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15375

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.40

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15376

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.41

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15377

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.42

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15378

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.43

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15379

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs, white tents and white buildings converted from shipping containers are set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs, white tents and white buildings converted from shipping containers are set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.44

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15380

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.45

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15381

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.46

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15382

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. White shipping container buildings have been set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. White shipping container buildings have been set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.47

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15383

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. White shipping container buildings have been set up in the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. White shipping container buildings have been set up in the parking lot.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.48

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 5 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15391

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 27 Apr. 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (17 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., si.

Scope and Content: Film clip (no sound) of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot and staff are wearing protective face masks.

1 image 1 video

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (17 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., si.

Scope and Content: Film clip (no sound) of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot and staff are wearing protective face masks.

Subjects: Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards; Geographic Features - Parks; Public Services - Health Services; Pandemics - COVID-19

Geographic Access: Central Park; Imperial Street

Accession Code: BV021.2.8

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 27 Apr. 2020

Media Type: Moving Images

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Video

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site, 27 Apr. 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2021_0002_0008_001.mp4

Research

More like 'Lane behind the 4400 block of Venables Street'

Narrow Results By

Oral history interview with Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos

Images

Audio Tracks

Interview with Ellen and Bill Schwartz

Images

Documents

Audio Tracks

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

Documents

Audio Tracks

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan

Documents

Audio Tracks

Central Park testing station

Images

Deer Lake parking lot off limits

Images

Friends Distancing, Including Their Dogs

Images

The Legend of Deer Lake and Indigenous histories of Burnaby

Images

Video

Burnaby hospital closes main entrance

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site

Images

Video