Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Duncan & Margaret McGregor Estate 'Glen-Lyon' Mansion

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark518

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Description: Overlooking the rich farmland of the Fraser River floodplain, 'Glen-Lyon' is an Edwardian era rural estate, with a tall, two and one-half storey plus basement wood-frame mansion, set in a pastoral and formal landscape with an associated barn and early log pond, located near a ravine and forested ar…

Associated Dates: 1902

Formal Recognition: Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Geographic Access: Marine Drive

Associated Dates: 1902

Formal Recognition: Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register

Enactment Type: Bylaw No. 12183

Enactment Date: 11/12/2006

Description: Overlooking the rich farmland of the Fraser River floodplain, 'Glen-Lyon' is an Edwardian era rural estate, with a tall, two and one-half storey plus basement wood-frame mansion, set in a pastoral and formal landscape with an associated barn and early log pond, located near a ravine and forested area adjacent to Marine Drive in South Burnaby.

Heritage Value: ‘Glen-Lyon’ is valued as an excellent example of a privately-owned Edwardian era country estate built at the turn of the nineteenth century. The property retains significant heritage features including the Edwardian era mansion with rustic Arts and Crafts features, and elements of a working agricultural landscape. The property was originally the Royal City Mills logging camp, and in 1900 was purchased by Duncan Campbell McGregor (1853-1929) and Margaret Jane McGregor (1875-1960), who named their estate ‘Glen-Lyon’ after Duncan McGregor’s birthplace in Perthshire, Scotland. The McGregors were active in municipal affairs and social activities, and played a significant role in the early development of Burnaby. Duncan McGregor served as a city councillor from 1909 to 1912 and was elected reeve of Burnaby in 1913. Margaret McGregor was instrumental in the formation and fundraising activities of the Victoria Order of Nurses in Burnaby. Additionally, the site is historically significant for its association with early social welfare and correctional reform. The estate was sold in 1926 to an inter-denominational religious organization called the Home of the Friendless, which used it as their B.C. headquarters. The organization was charged with several cases of abuse and neglect in 1937, after which a Royal Commission was formed that led to new legislation to regulate and license all private welfare institutions. 'Glen-Lyon' was sold to the provincial government, and was dedicated in 1939 by the Lt.-Gov. E.W. Hamber for use as the New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders (later renamed the New Haven Correction Centre). The Borstal movement originated in England in the late nineteenth century, as an alternative to sending young offenders and runaways to prisons by providing reformatories that focused on discipline and vocational skill. This site’s role as the first North American institution devoted to the Borstal School philosophy was historic, and influenced corrections programs across Canada. The site retains significant features from its development in 1939 as the Borstal School, including a large gambrel-roofed barn designed by Chief Provincial Architect Henry Whittaker of the Department of Public Works that is the only remaining structure of its kind in Burnaby. Between 1941 and 1945 the mansion housed the Provincial School for the Deaf and Blind when the Borstal School was closed temporarily as a war measure during the Second World War.

Defining Elements: Key elements that define the heritage character of 'Glen-Lyon' Mansion include its: - location on a sloping site with expansive southern exposure, adjacent to Marine Drive - residential form, scale and massing of the house as exemplified by its two and one-half storey height, above-ground basement and rectangular plan - Arts and Crafts elements of the house such as its stone foundation, multi-gabled roof line with steep central hipped roof, symmetrical cross-gables, side shed dormers, bellcast upper walls sheathed in cedar shingles and lower walls sheathed in narrow clapboard - original exterior features of the house such as the full width front verandah with square columns, central staircase on the southern elevation, original doors and stained glass windows; and the irregular fenestration such as double-hung 1-over-1 wooden-sash windows, bay windows, and projecting windows in the gable ends - original interior features of the house such as the U-shaped main stair designed around two symmetrically placed Ionic columns, and interior trim on the main floor including boxed beams and fireplaces - gambrel-roofed barn with roof vent with finial, sliding hay loft and access doors, small multi-pane windows, and lapped wooden siding - associated landscape features such as the original garden plantings with some exotic and many native specimen trees; the original log pond and its concrete Marine Drive causeway and culvert; rockeries and a rose garden

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Organization: Home of the Friendless; Borstal School; New Haven Correction Centre

Architect: Henry Whittaker

Function: Primary Historic--Estate

Community: Burnaby

Cadastral Identifier: 003-004-661

Boundaries: 'Glen-Lyon' is comprised of a single residential lot located at 4250 Marine Drive, Burnaby.

Area: 230873.18

Contributing Resource: Building

Ownership: Private

Names: McGregor, Duncan C. (1853-1929); Whittaker, Henry; Home of the Friendless; Borstal School; New Haven Correction Centre

Subjects: Buildings - Heritage; Buildings - Residential - Houses; Buildings - Public - Detention Facilities; Buildings - Residential

Street Address: 4250 Marine Drive

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

Images

Exterior view of 'Glen-Lyon' Mansion, 2013.. Oblique view from the southeast. thumbnail

Duncan & Margaret McGregor Estate 'Glen-Lyon' New Haven Barn

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark852

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Description: Designed in a vernacular architectural style, the New Haven Barn is a large gambrel-roofed barn located on the Edwardian era McGregor Estate 'Glen-Lyon,' overlooking the rich farmland of the Fraser River floodplain and near a ravine and forested area adjacent to Marine Drive in South Burnaby.

Associated Dates: 1939

Formal Recognition: Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register

Other Names: Home of the Friendless, New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders, New Haven Correction Centre

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Other Names: Home of the Friendless, New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders, New Haven Correction Centre

Geographic Access: Marine Drive

Associated Dates: 1939

Formal Recognition: Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register

Enactment Type: Bylaw No. 12183

Enactment Date: 11/12/2006

Description: Designed in a vernacular architectural style, the New Haven Barn is a large gambrel-roofed barn located on the Edwardian era McGregor Estate 'Glen-Lyon,' overlooking the rich farmland of the Fraser River floodplain and near a ravine and forested area adjacent to Marine Drive in South Burnaby.

Heritage Value: The site is historically significant for its association with early social welfare and correctional reform. The estate was sold in 1926 to an inter-denominational religious organization called the Home of the Friendless, which used it as their B.C. headquarters. The organization was charged with several cases of abuse and neglect in 1937, after which a Royal Commission was formed that led to new legislation to regulate and license all private welfare institutions. 'Glen-Lyon' was sold to the provincial government, and was dedicated in 1939 by the Lt.-Gov. E.W. Hamber for use as the New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders (later renamed the New Haven Correction Centre). The Borstal movement originated in England in the late nineteenth century, as an alternative to sending young offenders and runaways to prisons by providing reformatories that focused on discipline and vocational skill. This site’s role as the first North American institution devoted to the Borstal School philosophy was historic, and influenced corrections programs across Canada. The New Haven Barn is a significant feature from its development in 1939 as the Borstal School, designed by Chief Provincial Architect Henry Whittaker of the Department of Public Works, and is the only remaining structure of its kind in Burnaby.

Defining Elements: Key elements that define the heritage character of the New Haven Barn include its: - gambrel-roofed barn with roof vent with finial, sliding hay loft and access doors, small multi-pane windows, and lapped wooden siding

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Organization: Home of the Friendless; Borstal School; New Haven Correction Centre

Architect: Henry Whittaker

Function: Primary Historic--Estate

Community: Burnaby

Cadastral Identifier: 003-004-661

Boundaries: 'Glen-Lyon' is comprised of a single residential lot located at 4250 Marine Drive, Burnaby.

Area: 230873.18

Contributing Resource: Building

Ownership: Private

Names: Whittaker, George; New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders; New Haven Correction Centre; Borstal School

Subjects: Buildings - Heritage; Buildings - Public - Detention Facilities; Buildings - Agricultural

Street Address: 4250 Marine Drive

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

Images

Exterior view of the New Haven Barn, 2013.. Oblique view. thumbnail

Exterior view of the New Haven Barn, 1985 (View from the north. Exterior Photo). Copyright: Windows to Burnaby's Past, Burnaby Historical Society. thumbnail

Deyan Jankovic

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97659

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Deyan Jankovic, a volunteer, posing in front of the Burnaby RCMP Community Police Office in the Edmonds area (now the Donald N. Brown Community Police Office).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2955

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Deyan Jankovic, a volunteer, posing in front of the Burnaby RCMP Community Police Office in the Edmonds area (now the Donald N. Brown Community Police Office).

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Public Services - Policing

Names: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a November 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Deyan Jankovic volunteers 20 to 30 hours a week at the Edmonds Community Police Office. He's originally from Serbia, immigrating to Canada when he was 16."

Geographic Access: Arcola Street

Street Address: 7191 Arcola Way

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Richmond Park Area

Images

Hugh Robertson

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97653

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Hugh Robertson, a member of the Burnaby RCMP's Volunteer Bike Patrol, posing on a bicycle in a parking lot by Lougheed Mall.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2949

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Hugh Robertson, a member of the Burnaby RCMP's Volunteer Bike Patrol, posing on a bicycle in a parking lot by Lougheed Mall.

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Public Services - Policing

Names: Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Lougheed Town Centre

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a November 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Hugh Robertson is 70 years old and still going strong as a member of the Burnaby RCMP's Volunteer Bike Patrol, keeping an eye out for trouble and stolen vehicles in the area around Lougheed Mall."

Geographic Access: Lougheed Highway; Austin Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Cameron Area

Images

Metrotown bike patrol

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96828

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Janice Power and Linda Barrett, volunteer bike patrollers in the Metrotown area, posing with their bikes and uniforms in front of a Metrotown tower.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2000]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2386

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Janice Power and Linda Barrett, volunteer bike patrollers in the Metrotown area, posing with their bikes and uniforms in front of a Metrotown tower.

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Public Services - Policing

Names: Metrotown

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in an April 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Janice Power and Linda Barrett are two of the volunteer bike patrol members who will be riding the streets and parks around Metrotown."

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

North Burnaby Speedwatch volunteers

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97648

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Jennifer Marchuk and Jim Campbell, volunteer co-ordinators for the Speedwatch program in North Burnaby, practicing using a radar gun in front of Carleton Plaza on Hastings Street.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2944

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Jennifer Marchuk and Jim Campbell, volunteer co-ordinators for the Speedwatch program in North Burnaby, practicing using a radar gun in front of Carleton Plaza on Hastings Street.

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Public Services - Policing

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a November 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Jennifer Marchuk and Jim Campbell, volunteer co-ordinators for the Speedwatch program in North Burnaby, get in some practice time with the radar gun."

Geographic Access: Hastings Street; Carleton Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Images

Speed Watch

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription96955

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Chris Hildred, a CrimeWatch volunteer, leaning against a large placard that reads: "You Have Just Been Clocked On Radar By Burnaby Speed Watch." Constable Graham Cook of the Burnaby RCMP stands next to Hildred with a police vehicle.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2001]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2510

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Chris Hildred, a CrimeWatch volunteer, leaning against a large placard that reads: "You Have Just Been Clocked On Radar By Burnaby Speed Watch." Constable Graham Cook of the Burnaby RCMP stands next to Hildred with a police vehicle.

Subjects: Public Services - Policing; Persons - Volunteers; Occupations - Police Officers

Names: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in a June 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Chris Hildred, a CrimeWatch volunteer, and Constable Graham Cook of the Burnaby RCMP, get ready for the revival of the Speed Watch program on city streets."

Images

Speed Watch at Wesburn Park

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97386

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2002]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: Photograph of Yvonne Petrachuk, a volunteer with the RCMP's Speed Watch program, recording notes on a clipboard on the side of a road near Wesburn Park and wearing a fluorescent safety vest. A car displaying a digital reading of the passing car's speed, set up in the back of a parked vehicle, and a…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [2002]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-2761

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of Yvonne Petrachuk, a volunteer with the RCMP's Speed Watch program, recording notes on a clipboard on the side of a road near Wesburn Park and wearing a fluorescent safety vest. A car displaying a digital reading of the passing car's speed, set up in the back of a parked vehicle, and another volunteer are visible in the background.

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Public Services - Policing

Names: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in an August 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata: "Yvonne Petrachuk, a Speed Watch volunteer, records vehicles at a speed zone near Wesburn Park in Burnaby. With schools reopening on Tuesday, Speed Watch and the RCMP are teaming up to to raise awareness about speeding with their "Two Strikes You're Out" program. At Strike One, the speed reader board displays a vehicle's speed, giving drivers the chance to slow down to the posted limit. If they don't, they risk Strike Two, a speeding ticket from a waiting police officer."

Geographic Access: Wesburn Park; Parkwood Avenue

Street Address: 4781 Parkwood Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Garden Village Area

Images

Speed Watch at Wesburn Park, [2002] thumbnail

Interview with Kay Zimmerman by Rod Fowler [February] 1990 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory531

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1967-1990

Length: 00:04:42

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Kay Zimmerman’s discussion about the pros and cons of volunteer organizations operating public services for the municipality, in particular the Parks and Recreation Commission taking control of Heritage Village, a volunteer initiated Centennial Project

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Kay Zimmerman’s discussion about the pros and cons of volunteer organizations operating public services for the municipality, in particular the Parks and Recreation Commission taking control of Heritage Village, a volunteer initiated Centennial Project

Date Range: 1967-1990

Photo Info: Kay Zimmerman, [1973]. Item no. 231-021

Length: 00:04:42

Subjects: Public Services - Municipal Services; Organizations - Historical Societies; Persons - Volunteers

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: [February] 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Kay Zimmerman, conducted by Rod Fowler. Kay Zimmerman was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about Kay Zimmerman’s political activities in Burnaby and her description of her Lochdale neighbourhood in the 1960s. She provides an excellent overview of the municipal political groups and important political issues in Burnaby from 1960 to 1980. She tells the story about an early and successful political action that convinced her that an individual can make a difference. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Kathleen “Kay” Zimmerman, her husband Gordon and their young son Rick moved to Burnaby from Vancouver in 1960 to a house on Curtis Avenue near Duthie Street (a second son Bruce was born in Burnaby). Kay Zimmerman worked 12 years at Royal Columbian Hospital in the admitting office, then 4 years (1974-1979) as special assistant to Senator Ray Perrault, followed by work as a judge on the Citizenship Court before retiring. Gordon Zimmerman worked at the Shell Refinery. A member of the Liberal Party and political activist before arriving in Burnaby, Kay Zimmerman continued her involvement in national and local politics. She campaigned for Ray Perrault during the Trudeau years, and was a founder and active member of the Burnaby Voters Association (BVA). Her political activities encompassed 30 years that saw major changes in Burnaby, including the building of SFU, creation of Heritage Village, an awakening environmental sensibility, and a dramatic increase in population and development in Burnaby.

Total Tracks: 10

Total Length: 01:04:36

Interviewee Name: Zimmerman, Kay

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Images

Kay Zimmerman, [1973]. Item no. 231-021 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track five of interview with Kay Zimmerman

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-018/MSS187-018_Track_5.mp3

Interview with Merrill M. Gordon by Rod Fowler March 19, 1990 - Track 8

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory479

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1956-1990

Length: 00:10:17

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s founding and operation of the youth soccer exchange with Washington State, and the importance of soccer to the community. He discusses the problem of isolation between north and south Burnaby, planned development in Burnaby, and the contributi…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Merrill Gordon’s founding and operation of the youth soccer exchange with Washington State, and the importance of soccer to the community. He discusses the problem of isolation between north and south Burnaby, planned development in Burnaby, and the contributions of Ratepayer groups and volunteers

Date Range: 1956-1990

Photo Info: Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263

Length: 00:10:17

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Sports - Soccer; Public Services - Municipal Services; Planning

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: March 19, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Merrill Gordon, conducted by Rod Fowler.Gordon Merrill was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is about Merrill Gordon’s childhood in the Depression, including his story about the family’s difficult trek to Burnaby from Alberta; his education, teachers and first volunteer activities at Grandview High School; his career at Fleck Brothers and the start of his own company Blaze Industries and later work in India; and his many volunteer activities in Burnaby. He describes how he started the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, the soccer club's subsequent growth and development, some of the people involved, and the founding of the youth soccer exchange. He also describes his work on the Parks Board and in the arts community, including the 1987 arts centre referendum, and involvement with the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society (1988- ), and mentions his work for other groups including the New Vista Society, library board, and Burnaby Mental Health Committee. He also talks about his political career with the Better Burnaby Committee and Burnaby Voters Association, resulting in his 1972 election to Burnaby’s 1973 council. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Merrill M. Gordon was born in Saskatchewan in 1929 to parents farming north of North Battleford. After a fifth year of crop failure the family of four left the farm in 1934 to join relatives living near the corner of Union and Sperling in Burnaby. With little resources the family adapted as well as possible in the Depression years, moving often in the East Vancouver/North Burnaby area in an attempt to better their situation. Merrill’s father obtained work at sawmills including Kapoor’s Sawmill at Barnet, walking to work over Burnaby Mountain. After attending numerous public schools, Merrill Gordon eventually spent three years at Templeton School and then completed his education at Grandview High School of Commerce, majoring in accounting and commercial law. He worked a few years at Canadian Industries Ltd., then joined Fleck Brothers. In 1965 Merrill Gordon and his wife started their own company Blaze Industries of Canada that manufactured wood burning fireplaces, selling the company to AB Electrolux in 1980. After a short retirement, Merrill Gordon went back to work in 1981 for a company manufacturing solar panels, one project taking him and his wife intermittently to India over a four year period. Merrill Gordon helped found the political group Better Burnaby Committee, later the Burnaby Voters Association, with Alan Emmott and Bill Lewarne, ran for Burnaby Municipal Council and served one year as councillor in 1973. Merrill Gordon is well known for his over 40 years of volunteer work in Burnaby, particularly as founder in 1956 and director of the Cliff Avenue United Football Club, one of the largest soccer clubs in BC. He was also the founder of Burnaby Youth Soccer and the first youth soccer exchange with Washington State. His other volunteer work includes library trustee, Parks Commissioner (1987-1992), Director of New Vista Home for Seniors, Chair of campaign raising funds for building Shadbolt Arts Centre, and Chair of the Burnaby Mental Health Committee. In 1988 Merrill Gordon, Betty Gordon, Dean Lamont and several others formed the Burnaby Mountain Preservation Society, which advocated for the return of unused land to Burnaby from SFU and the subsequent creation of Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Merrill Gordon and Elizabeth Balfour (nee Leitch) (1926-2012) married in 1953 and had two children.

Total Tracks: 11

Total Length: 1:31:44

Interviewee Name: Gordon, Merrill

Interview Location: unknown

Interviewer Bio: Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.

Images

Burnaby Alderman Merrill Gordon (second from right) following a candidates' meeting, 1973. Item no. 480-263 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track eight of interview with Merrill Gordon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-020/MSS187-020_Track_8.mp3

badge; insignia

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact48167

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV005.2.28

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV005.2.28

Description: Badge, insignia; gold, black; two embroidered pistols with gun barrels crossed over each other; sharpshooter with pistol appointment badge

Object History: R.C.M.P., pistol proficiency badge.

Reference: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/unif/badge-insigne-eng.htm#rankofficers

Subjects: Public Services; Public Services - Policing; Personal Symbols; Personal Symbols - Badges

Names: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Images

badge; insignia

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact48169

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV005.2.30

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV005.2.30

Description: Badge, insignia; gold, black; two embroidered rifles with gun barrels crossed over each other; sharpshooter with rifle appointment badge

Object History: R.C.M.P., rifle proficiency badge.

Reference: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/unif/badge-insigne-eng.htm#rankofficers

Subjects: Public Services; Public Services - Policing; Personal Symbols; Personal Symbols - Badges

Names: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Images

button

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact3559

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.6

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.6

Description: Brass button; with image of crown

Subjects: Public Services; Public Services - Policing; Personal Symbols

Images

button

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact3560

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.7

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.7

Description: Brass button; with image of crown

Subjects: Public Services; Public Services - Policing; Personal Symbols

Images

button

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact3561

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.8

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.8

Description: Brass button; with image of crown

Subjects: Public Services; Public Services - Policing; Personal Symbols

Images

button

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact3562

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.9

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.9

Description: Button; silver colour.

Marks/Labels: "POLICE FORCE", embossed on front of button "J. R. GAUNT & SON Ltd. / MONTREAL", stamped on back of button

Subjects: Public Services; Public Services - Policing; Personal Symbols

Images

button

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact3563

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.10

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV988.11.10

Description: Button; silver colour

Marks/Labels: "POLICE", embossed on front of button "W. SOULLY LTD / MONTREAL", stamped on back of button

Subjects: Public Services; Public Services - Policing; Personal Symbols

Images

handcuffs

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact209

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: HV971.5.47

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: HV971.5.47

Description: Burnaby Municipal Police issue handcuffs. The cuffs are secured by three links of chain. There is no key.

Object History: These handcuffs were used by Constable George Jeffery. George Jeffery served as a Constable on the Burnaby Police Force from 1912 - 1935. His patrolled the large Central Park District by foot, stretching from Boundary to Royal Oak and Marine Drive to Moscrop. Over the coarse of his duties, Constable Jeffery saw the need for recreational activities in the area. He founded the Burnaby Athletic Association which featured a competitive boxing ring and gym. In 1935, when the Burnaby Police became the British Columbia Provincial Police, rather than leave the community he chose to leave the force. George Jeffery than worked at the nearby Oakalla Prison Farm until retiring in 1945.