Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Colonel Thomas O. Townley

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription436

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [190-?] (date of original), copied 1979

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.2 x 20.1 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Colonel Thomas O. Townley in dress uniform, taken in a photographic studio. He is leaning against a leather chair on which a helmet with a crest is resting. He is holding a staff with his left hand, and wearing leather gloves. Colonel Townley was a member of the the Duke of Connaught'…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.2 x 20.1 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Colonel Thomas O. Townley in dress uniform, taken in a photographic studio. He is leaning against a leather chair on which a helmet with a crest is resting. He is holding a staff with his left hand, and wearing leather gloves. Colonel Townley was a member of the the Duke of Connaught's own Rifles, and became the mayor of Vancouver in 1901. In 1912, he built the Deerholme house designed by his architect son, Fred Laughton Townley.

Subjects: Officials - Mayors and Reeves; Clothing - Military Uniforms; Occupations - Military Personnel

Names: Townley, Thomas O

Accession Code: HV979.33.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [190-?] (date of original), copied 1979

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-09-12

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Colonel Thomas O. Townley, [190-?] (date of original), copied 1979 thumbnail

Girl in sailor suit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1521

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1900 and 1915]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 10 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified girl in a sailor suit and a cap (appears to be a uniform). She is holding a handkerchief in her right hand, and the painted backdrop is of a beach scenery. This photograph was taken in a photographic studio.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 10 cm

Material Details: The photograph is mounted on a card cut into an oval shape.; embossed on the card mount, recto, [partially cut out] l.l. "…pbell", l.r. "300 MA…/ WINNI…"

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified girl in a sailor suit and a cap (appears to be a uniform). She is holding a handkerchief in her right hand, and the painted backdrop is of a beach scenery. This photograph was taken in a photographic studio.

Subjects: Clothing - Uniforms

Accession Code: BV985.5896.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1900 and 1915]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-02-27

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Girl in sailor suit, [between 1900 and 1915] thumbnail

James Smith

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35453

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1907] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of James Smith, chief engineer on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Empress of Japan. James was the husband of Agnes Smith (nee Taylor). The Smiths lived in one of the first houses built on Royal Oak Road.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1907] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-311

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of James Smith, chief engineer on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Empress of Japan. James was the husband of Agnes Smith (nee Taylor). The Smiths lived in one of the first houses built on Royal Oak Road.

Subjects: Clothing - Uniforms

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company; Smith, James

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

James Smith, [1907] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Robert Blackstock

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38545

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [190-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 13.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a young man wearing a uniform. The man is identified by a note on the back of the picture as Robert Harold Blackstock

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [190-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: New Westminster Public Library subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 13.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 459-005

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2003-19

Scope and Content: Photograph of a young man wearing a uniform. The man is identified by a note on the back of the picture as Robert Harold Blackstock

Subjects: Clothing - Uniforms

Names: Blackstock, Robert H.

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Partoon, C.F.

Notes: Title based on caption; Inscription on front of photo reads: "C.F. Partoon, Dundee"; Note on verso reads: "property of Mrs. Robert H. Blackstock, Ulster Avenue, Burnaby."

Images

William George Alcock

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1779

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [before 1922]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph William George Alcock in his British Columbia Electric Railway uniform with his hand in his breast pocket. He was an interurban tram conductor before 1922.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph William George Alcock in his British Columbia Electric Railway uniform with his hand in his breast pocket. He was an interurban tram conductor before 1922.

Subjects: Clothing - Uniforms

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Accession Code: BV004.90.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: [before 1922]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 09-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Notes on verso of photograph read: "Wm. G. Alcock", "15" and "15A"

Images

William George Alcock, [before 1922] thumbnail

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20285

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser M…

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: 1 sound recordings (wav) (121min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (121 min., 13 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewees: Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy Location of Interview: Residence of Harry Toy Interview Date: September 25, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 02:01:13 Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong on September 25, 2023. The interview is divided into four sections: early life of Harry Toy, the Canada Way Food Market, the Fraser Merchants’ Association and Harry's daughters, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy's memories of growing up in Burnaby. 00:00:00 – 00:23:53 Harry Toy shares biographical information about himself and his ancestors. Harry provides information about his migration to Canada and his life in Manitoba, attending school, working at the family restaurant and teaching high school. 00:23:53 – 00:41:16 Harry talks about moving his family to Burnaby and his experiences owning and operating the Canada Way Food Market. 00:41:17 – 00:54:19 Harry talks about his involvement with the Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) and provides some history about the organization. 00:54:20 – 1:22:44 Harry talks about running the Canada Way Food Market and the alterations that he made to the store over the years. Harry and his daughters comment as they look through photographs of Harry and his store and the Fraser Merchants Association. 1:22:45 – 2:01:14 Beverley and Christina talk about their early childhood in Manitoba and growing up in Burnaby. They recall what it was like growing up and working in the family owned store.

History: Interviewee biography: Harry Wee Koon Toy was born in February 9, 1936 in Taikong, Toisan county, Guangdong, China. Harry's father William Toy came to Canada in the early 1920s when he was ten years old. Harry arrived in Vancouver, Canada on September 9, 1950. After staying in Vancouver for one night, he joined his father in Neepawa, Manitoba where the family operated a cafe business (Royal Cafe). Harry grew up in Neepawa and graduated from the University of Manitoba and teacher's college. He became a high school teacher and worked at schools in Minnedosa and Gladstone, Manitoba teaching various subjects including, science, business, geography, history and physical education. Harry and his wife, had three daughters, Melinda, Beverley and Christina who were all born in Neepawa. When the family decided to move to the west coast, Harry was introduced to the grocery store business through an uncle who was a store operator. Around 1970, Harry purchased a grocery store at 4694 Canada Way in Burnaby which he named "Canada Way Food Market" and Harry and his daughters made their home at the back of the store. Harry owned and operated the store for approximately 40 years between 1970 and 2010. Around 1986, Harry purchased the butcher shop next door (4692 Canada Way) which was no longer in operation, expanding his store and adding a second storey to use a residence. Harry's children helped him operate the store throughout their childhood. In the early 1970s, corner stores were threatened by the spread of small chain-operated convenience stories from Eastern Canada to Vancouver. Formed in April 1972, the Fraser Merchants’ Association was established to protect the rights of corner store operators. With no paid legal help, the association was incorporated in Victoria, BC for the cost of 56 cents. The benefits of being a member of the association included warehouse and group purchasing, common advertising and other advantages of being part of an association. Founded by Gary Lee Ling and five others, Fraser Merchants’ Association’s first member was Graham Grocery. By 1978, the association represented over 200 corner stores in the Lower Mainland (Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Coquitlam, and New Westminster) and Fraser Valley. The association remained active into the 1980s and 1990s. Harry has served as President of the Fraser Merchants' Association from 1992 to present. 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: Education; Migration; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Grocers; Organizations; Organizations - Business Associations; Persons - Chinese Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores

Names: Toy, Christina; Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"; Babey, Beverley; Canada Way Food Market; Fraser Merchants' Association

Responsibility: Fong, Denise

Geographic Access: Canada Way

Street Address: 4694 Canada Way

Accession Code: BV023.16.19

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Related Material: See also: BV023.25 - Harry Toy fonds

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available

Documents

2023_0016_0019_003

Audio Tracks

Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy, [1905-2023] (interview content), interviewed 25 Sep. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0019_002.mp3

Gathering at Martha and Mary's Orphans Home

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3075

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [190-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w glass negative

Scope and Content: Photograph of a large gathering at Martha and Mary's Orphans Home in Poulsbo, Washington. There is a brass band present, and many finely dressed men, women and children.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w glass negative

Material Details: inscribed in the negative, printed on the photograph, l.l. "C. M. Shelby./ SEATTLE, WASH./ 410 WASH. BLDG,"

Scope and Content: Photograph of a large gathering at Martha and Mary's Orphans Home in Poulsbo, Washington. There is a brass band present, and many finely dressed men, women and children.

History: Martha & Mary’s Orphans Home in Poulsbo, Washington was opened on May 30,1891 with eight children.

Subjects: Organizations - Bands; Buildings - Residential

Accession Code: HV973.110.6

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [190-]

Media Type: Photograph

Related Material: for another photograph of an orphanage by C. M. Shelby, see HV973.110.2 and .2a

Scan Resolution: 300

Scan Date: 16/8/2006

Scale: 100

Photographer: Shelby, C. M.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; b&w contact print accompanying negative

Images

Gathering at Martha and Mary's Orphans Home, [190-] thumbnail

Normanna Band, Seattle

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3070

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [190-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w glass negative

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Normanna Band, Seattle posed inside what appears to be a café. There is an advertisement sign for coffee on a door, and two flags, one american, and the other unidentifiable, hanging in draped form from the back wall. The band is comprised of two percussionists, two trombones, two…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w glass negative

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Normanna Band, Seattle posed inside what appears to be a café. There is an advertisement sign for coffee on a door, and two flags, one american, and the other unidentifiable, hanging in draped form from the back wall. The band is comprised of two percussionists, two trombones, two tubas, two baritones, five trumpets and two clarinets. There is one woman trumpet player and the rest are men.

Subjects: Organizations - Bands; Musical Instruments; Occupations - Musicians

Names: Normanna Band

Accession Code: HV973.110.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [190-]

Media Type: Photograph

Related Material: For another photograph of Normanna Band, Seattle, see photograph HV973.110.7 and .7a

Scan Resolution: 300

Scan Date: 16/8/2006

Scale: 100

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

Images

Normanna Band, Seattle

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3076

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [190-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w glass negative

Scope and Content: Normanna Band, Seattle depicted in photograph HV973.110.1 poses inside what appears to be a café. There is an advertisement sign for coffee put up on a door, and two flags, one american, and the other unidentifiable, hangs in draped form from the back wall. The band is comprised of two percussioni…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w glass negative

Scope and Content: Normanna Band, Seattle depicted in photograph HV973.110.1 poses inside what appears to be a café. There is an advertisement sign for coffee put up on a door, and two flags, one american, and the other unidentifiable, hangs in draped form from the back wall. The band is comprised of two percussionists, two trombones, two tubas, two baritones, five trumpets and two clarinets. There is one woman trumpet player and the rest are men.

Subjects: Organizations - Bands; Musical Instruments; Occupations - Musicians

Names: Normanna Band

Accession Code: HV973.110.7

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [190-]

Media Type: Photograph

Related Material: For another photograph of Normanna Band, Seattle, see photograph HV973.110.1 and .1a

Scan Resolution: 300

Scan Date: 16/8/2006

Scale: 100

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

Images

Costumed people

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription417

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1900 and 1905]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.42 x 23.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a large gathering of people who are in costumes varying from a clown to a swedish maid to a beggar to a drunk. They are gathered to take a photograph in a room with high ceiling, hardwood floors, and electric lamps. The woman seated fourth from the left on the second row from the fron…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.42 x 23.5 cm

Material Details: Photograph is mounted on a card; the photograph itself and the card mount are both torn along the top edge

Scope and Content: Photograph of a large gathering of people who are in costumes varying from a clown to a swedish maid to a beggar to a drunk. They are gathered to take a photograph in a room with high ceiling, hardwood floors, and electric lamps. The woman seated fourth from the left on the second row from the front resembles the woman depicted in other photographs in this accession identified as Gloriana Bird, or Birdie.

Subjects: Clothing - Costumes; Events - Parties

Accession Code: HV983.42.157

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1900 and 1905]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-12-05

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Costumed people, [between 1900 and 1905] thumbnail

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

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

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

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

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

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

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

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

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

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

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

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

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

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

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

Accession Code: BV022.29.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

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

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

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

Documents

2022_0029_0005_004

Audio Tracks

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

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

Jean Dyson and Birdie in Lake Winnipeg

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription299

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1905 and 1907]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia postcard ; 7.5 x 8.6 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two women in bathing suits, standing in a large body of water at a point where the water is up to their knees. Their bathing suits appear like sailor shirts with skirts and stockings, with caps over their heads. The inscription identifies the girl on the left as Jean Dyson, and the g…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia postcard ; 7.5 x 8.6 cm

Material Details: inscribed in pencil, verso, t. "

Scope and Content: Photograph of two women in bathing suits, standing in a large body of water at a point where the water is up to their knees. Their bathing suits appear like sailor shirts with skirts and stockings, with caps over their heads. The inscription identifies the girl on the left as Jean Dyson, and the girl on the right is identified as Gloriana Bird (or Birdie). They are at a beach in Winnipeg. The inscription dates the photograph circa 1906 or 1907. However, other prints of the same image are dated circa 1905. Annotations on the back of the postcard read: "Taken 1906 or 1907 [erased and corrected dates. Previously written 1905 or 1906]" and "Jean & Birdie / in Lake Wpeg."

Subjects: Clothing; Sports - Swimming; Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds; Documentary Artifacts - Postcards

Names: Bird, Gloriana "Birdie"; Drynan, Jean Dyson

Accession Code: HV983.42.39

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1905 and 1907]

Media Type: Photograph

Related Material: For other prints of this image, see HV983.42.38 - .41

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-09-26

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Jean Dyson and Birdie in Lake Winnipeg, [between 1905 and 1907] thumbnail

Thomas Farrington

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35233

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1907 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Thomas Farrington repairing shoes in a Vancouver Fairview district shop, later operated by Bert Price.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1907 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-090

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Thomas Farrington repairing shoes in a Vancouver Fairview district shop, later operated by Bert Price.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Stores; Clothing

Names: Farrington, Thomas

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Thomas Farrington, 1907 (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Woman with a bicycle

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription979

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [190-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 14.0x 9.8 cm mounted on cardboard 18.3 x 13.0 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph studio portrait of an unidentified woman with a bicycle. She is wearing a straw hat with a ribbon around the crown and a flat brim perched on top of her head. Her dress is of a dark color and embroidered. The woman is posed inside a photography studio with a painted backdrop of floral …

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 14.0x 9.8 cm mounted on cardboard 18.3 x 13.0 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph studio portrait of an unidentified woman with a bicycle. She is wearing a straw hat with a ribbon around the crown and a flat brim perched on top of her head. Her dress is of a dark color and embroidered. The woman is posed inside a photography studio with a painted backdrop of floral arrangements.

Subjects: Transportation - Bicycles; Clothing

Accession Code: HV974.130.54

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [190-]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-05-09

Scale: 100

Photographer: Welford

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Printed on the bottom front of the card: "Welford, successor to / Martel & Welford / Photo. / Winnipeg."

Images

Women in bathing suits

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription301

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1905]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.7 x 10.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two young women in bathing suits, standing in a large body of water at a point where the water is up to their knees. Their bathing suits appear like sailor shirts with skirts and stockings, with caps over their heads. They are at a beach at Lake Winnipeg.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.7 x 10.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two young women in bathing suits, standing in a large body of water at a point where the water is up to their knees. Their bathing suits appear like sailor shirts with skirts and stockings, with caps over their heads. They are at a beach at Lake Winnipeg.

Subjects: Clothing; Sports - Swimming; Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds

Names: Bird, Gloriana "Birdie"; Drynan, Jean Dyson

Accession Code: HV983.42.41

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1905]

Media Type: Photograph

Related Material: For other prints of this image, see HV983.42.38 - .41

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-09-26

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; The photograph is a reversed image of photographs HV983.42.38 - .40

Images

Women in bathing suits

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription975

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [190-]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.0 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of five women dressed in wet bathing suits. They have their arms over each others' shoulders and have a leg raised as in a chorus line. An older lady, in a long dark skirt and light coloured waist with leg-o-mutton sleeves holding a dark coloured parasol is standing on the right side of…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.0 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of five women dressed in wet bathing suits. They have their arms over each others' shoulders and have a leg raised as in a chorus line. An older lady, in a long dark skirt and light coloured waist with leg-o-mutton sleeves holding a dark coloured parasol is standing on the right side of the photograph. According to a 1974 catalogue record, the small girl who is on the left side of the chorus line with her leg raised is Catherine Rees. The girl is wearing a ribbon in her hair, and dress-like bathing suit, and has bare feet. The women are all wearing dark coloured stockings and have on what look like loose-fitting dresses which fasten down the front and come to just below the knee. Four of them are wearing bandanas on their heads. The Sears, Roebuck 1908 catalogue p. 1112 shows bathing suits and bathing or dust caps similar to those worn by the women in the photograph. The location of the photograph is unidentified.

Subjects: Clothing; Sports - Swimming

Names: Rees, Catherine "Cathy"

Accession Code: HV974.93.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [190-]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-05-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Women in bathing suits, [190-] thumbnail

Young woman with horse

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1045

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1900 and 1910]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified young woman in riding apparel and accroutement, including gloves and a hat is standing beside a horse.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified young woman in riding apparel and accroutement, including gloves and a hat is standing beside a horse.

Subjects: Animals - Horses; Clothing

Accession Code: HV973.110.59

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1900 and 1910]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 800

Scan Date: 2023-05-30

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

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