Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified person wearing a white hard hat and holding up two bottles of water of different quality. The dredging equipment at Burnaby Lake is visible behind the person.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : col.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-3334

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified person wearing a white hard hat and holding up two bottles of water of different quality. The dredging equipment at Burnaby Lake is visible behind the person.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds; Environmental Issues; Science and Technology Tools and Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on original file name; Collected by editorial for use in a September 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader

Geographic Access: Burnaby Lake

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Lake Area

Images

Dredging in Burnaby Lake, [1999] thumbnail

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19347

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share the…

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 (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Interviewees: Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill Location of Interview: Gill family residence on Warwick Avenue in Burnaby Interview Date: November 11, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:58:39) Digital master recording (m4a) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share their ancestral background, their personal experiences immigrating to Canada, living in Burnaby and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants. 00:00 – 27:34 Santokh “Gurmail” Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill share their migration stories and experiences living and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants and their eldest child, Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences as a child of South Asian immigrants and growing up in British Columbia as a South Asian Canadian. Gurmail Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar and Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in Hoshiapur of the Indian state of Punjab. Gurmail describes how he moved from India to England with his family in 1957, immigrated to Canada from England in 1966, married his wife Mohinder in England in 1968 and brought his family (parents and two siblings) to Canada from England in 1970 and other relatives including his wife’s family in the 1970s and 1980s. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill recollect their arranged marriage in England in 1968, their immigration process and explain how they arrived in Burnaby residing with a cousin at 4649 Georgia Street until they were able to purchase their own home after a few years. Gurmail shares names and connections to the relatives that came to British Columbia before him. Gurmail and Mohinder tell how they lived in the basement of the house and rented out the upper floor to save money. The couple recall what they brought with them when they immigrated to Canada and Mohinder Kaur Gill tells of how before leaving India, she and her mother made a special rajai for her to take with her. Mohinder describes the process of making a rajai (a quilted blanket that was made by hand). Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about the challenges that they’ve experienced as new immigrants including not being fluent in English, the cold weather and not having very many family or friends nearby to provide support. They attended the Gurdwara on Ross Street or Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara on Skeena in Vancouver. They explain how there was limited access to grocery stores that supplied Punjabi and Indian spices and other cooking supplies. They talk about how they used a food mill and mortar and pestle to grind their own spices and flour and how Mohinder often made traditional sweets like barfi and laddo and pakoras using pea flour when they couldn’t get Besan flour. 27:35 – 36:11 Gurmail provides more details on his family’s immigration story, including names of relatives, how his six siblings and parents all immigrated to British Columbia in 1970 and how in the early 1970s and mid 1980’s Gurmail and his family sponsored approximately 70 friends and relations from India (including Mohinder’s family) to immigrate to Canada. When Mohinder’s family arrived they lived with them in their house until they were able to purchase property next door and build their own home. Children in the families all attended elementary and high school in Burnaby which now amounts to three generations. 36:12 – 59:28 Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about their experiences of racial discrimination. Gurmail recalls members of the South Asian community, Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma, Harinder Mahil and Charan Gill starting the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism. Gurmail tells of how he got involved contributing some of his union dues as a member of CAIMAW (Canadian Association of Industrial Mechanical and Allied Workers Union- Local 15) and as a friend of Charan Gill and Raj Chouhan of the Canadian Farm Workers Union. Gurmail Gill explains how he was a founding member of CAIMAW and treasurer until the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (in 1991). Mohinder and Gurmail tell of how people from the South Asian community were discouraged from wearing Punjabi dresses or head coverings for fear of being yelled at with racial slurs and how it was often scary to go outside. Many from their community often avoided attending the Akali Singh Gurdwara since a head covering was required and people were afraid of being a target. Gurmail provides details about his work with A1 Steel, how different unions were formed pertaining to various skillsets and jobs per company and how he became a member of CAIMAW Local 15 (foundry workers). Mohinder recollects her experiences as a mother, the daily tasks involved and friends that she made who’d also emigrated from Punjab. Mohinder describes how she designed and sewed many Punjabi dresses using her electric sewing machine and how she learned English by attending adult classes at a church on Commercial Drive. Mohinder and her mother attended the classes for two hours per day for six years at a cost of twelve dollars for ten weeks. Once Mohinder could speak a little English, she started working and was able to practice more. 59:29 – 1:06:08 Mohinder, Gurmail and Prem talk about some of their favourite traditional foods including corn roti and spinach curry and how they grow many of their own vegetables including peppers, eggplant, saag (spinach), onions, garlic, cilantro, zucchini, squash and fenugreek. Mohinder reflects on how access to Punjabi clothing and fabric stores in Vancouver has changed and that ready made food is now more available. Traditional foods were previously made from scratch with women gathering together and cooking for hours and now it’s gotten easier but more expensive and less of a community feel. 1:06:09- 1:55:20 Mohinder and Gurmail Gill discuss and share their perspectives and experiences on raising a family in the past versus today. Gurmail imparts that all of his siblings became educated and secured professional careers while he continued to work in the trades. Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences growing up and attending school in Burnaby. Gurmail and Mohinder Gill recall the type of suitcase that they brought with them when they immigrated and how they recently they got rid of it. Gurmail and the group reflect and discuss the confusion with racial identity terms that have been used in this country. They comment that South Asians were referred to as “Hindu” and “East Indian” and Indigenous peoples were referred to as “Indian” and the controversy and racism behind some of these terms. The group discusses the impact of the caste system and other discriminatory experiences and compare their experiences of living in England to living in Canada. Prem comments on how it’s just recently that South Asian customs, celebrations and practices have been recognized and celebrated here in Canada, like Diwali and yoga. They comment on how much of the language, culture and customs have been retained in Surrey where many can still communicate in Punjabi and don’t need to be fluent in English. The group discusses how many South Asians immigrants first lived and worked in Vancouver but with rising property prices many moved to Surrey expanding and establishing a much larger South Asian community with resources. The group discusses and compares the differing travel routes that many of them and their relatives took when immigrating and travelling between India and Canada. The group talks about Rajdeep’s ancestral village in India which is near the Gill village of Firozpur. Gurmail explains the origins and details behind his family name that was changed from “Shergill” to “Gill” and the name “Santokh” from his maternal side.

History: Interviewees' biographies: Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar in Punjab, India. Gurmail moved to England with his family in 1957 and immigrated to British Columbia in 1966. Gurmail married his wife, Mohinder Kaur Gill in England in 1968 and she immigrated to British Columbia from England soon after. Gurmail first lived with a cousin in Burnaby before purchasing a home of his own in Burnaby where he raised his family. Gurmail worked in the steel industry and was a member and treasurer of the CAIMAW before the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in the Hoshiapur in Punjab, India. She married her husband Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill in England in 1968 and immigrated to Burnaby, British Columbia to join her husband. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill have four children, all born in Burnaby. Prem Kaur Gill was born in Burnaby in 1969 and is the eldest child of Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill. Prem grew up and attended school in Burnaby. Interviewers' biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Clothing; Foods; Indigenous peoples; Buildings - Religious - Temples; Food Processing Tools and Equipment; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Migration; Occupations; Organizations - Unions

Names: Gill, Prem Kaur; Gill, Mohinder Kaur; Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh

Responsibility: Rajdeep; Malik, Anushay

Accession Code: BV022.29.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcript available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum; Indian Family System Reference notes: Baba = informal way to say grandfather; old man Bibi = informal way to say grandmother; old woman Dada= paternal grandfather Dadi= paternal grandmother Dadke= paternal family members; paternal side (Various spellings might exist for the following terms) Thaiyya= father’s elder brother (uncle) Thaiyyi= father’s elder brother’s wife (aunt) Chacha= father’s younger brother (uncle) Chachi= father’s younger brother’s wife (aunt) Bua= father’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Phuphar= father’s sister’s husband (uncle) Nana= maternal grandfather Nani= maternal grandmother Nanke/nanka= maternal family members; maternal side Mama= mom’s brother (older or younger) (uncle) Mami= mom’s brother’s wife (aunt) Maasi= mom’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Maasard= mom’s sister’s husband (uncle)

Audio Tracks

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0002_002.mp3

Fraser Merchants Association annual dinner

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20347

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [199-]

Collection/Fonds: Harry Toy fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) annual dinner at Pink Pearl Restaurant in Vancouver. Members of the assocation standing in front of sign are identified from left to right: FMA Directors Bing Wong, Henry Lau, Michael Chow (secretary), Benny Kwok (owner of Cariboo Hill Grocery in Bur…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Harry Toy fonds

Series: Harry Toy photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) annual dinner at Pink Pearl Restaurant in Vancouver. Members of the assocation standing in front of sign are identified from left to right: FMA Directors Bing Wong, Henry Lau, Michael Chow (secretary), Benny Kwok (owner of Cariboo Hill Grocery in Burnaby), Howard Lam, Keith Chu, Jim Howe (treasurer), Harry Toy (president). Sign hanging from ceiling reads "HAPPY NEW YEAR" and red sign with gold lettering on wall in background reads "FRASER MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION BANQUET [Chinese characters beneath]. Harry Toy is speaking from a podium with the sign "PINK PEARL".

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Organizations; Organizations - Business Associations; Events; Events - Parties; Holidays - Chinese New Year

Names: Fraser Merchants' Association; Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"; Wong, Bing; Lau, Henry; Chow, Michael; Kwok, Benny; Lam, Howard; Chu, Keith; Howe, Jim

Accession Code: BV023.25.10

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [199-]

Media Type: Photograph

Related Material: See also BV023.16.19 - Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy; For associated artifacts from Canada Way Food Market see Accession BV023.17

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-12-01

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Fraser Merchants Association annual dinner, [199-] thumbnail

Interview with Ken Yip May 9, 2005 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4533

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:07 min)

Scope and Content: Track 3: This portion of the recording continues with Ken’s band activities, and then pertains to the games Ken played with his brother and friends. Ken discusses how the school band’s repertoire and performances were designed to complement the school’s events throughout the year. He describes the …

1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Growing Up in Burnaby subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:07 min)

Material Details: Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Ken Yip Date of interview: May 9, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 5 Total length of all Tracks: 0:62:00

Scope and Content: Track 3: This portion of the recording continues with Ken’s band activities, and then pertains to the games Ken played with his brother and friends. Ken discusses how the school band’s repertoire and performances were designed to complement the school’s events throughout the year. He describes the concert the band was invited to play on the lawn of Ceperley House on their return from Expo 67. Ken recalls the games he and his brother played, and the two neighbor boys they played with. He describes playing on the North American Peat property adjacent to theirs, in the peat trenches and in the bush. He talks of roaming as far as New Westminster and the Fraser River.

History: Recording of an interview with Ken Yip recording by Tom Gooden on May 9, 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1950s and 60s.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Persons - Children; Education; Organizations - Bands

Names: Yip, Ken

Accession Code: BV017.45.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Interview with Ken Yip May 9, 2005 - Track 3, 1950s & 1960s (interview content), interviewed May 9, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0005_003.mp3

Jimmy Chow with his son and daughter in Hawaii

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19227

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1990]

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

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Jimmy Chow with his son, Ryan Chow and daughter, Marja Chow in Honolulu, Hawaii after Jimmy finished working in Tahiti on the film "And the Sea Will Tell". Jimmy is holding his daughter, Marja in his arms while she's asleep and Ryan is standing in front. Marja is wearing a flower in …

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

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

Series: Property master photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Jimmy Chow with his son, Ryan Chow and daughter, Marja Chow in Honolulu, Hawaii after Jimmy finished working in Tahiti on the film "And the Sea Will Tell". Jimmy is holding his daughter, Marja in his arms while she's asleep and Ryan is standing in front. Marja is wearing a flower in her hair and a lei around her neck. The film was directed by Tommy Lee Wallace and released in 1991.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Persons - Chinese Canadians

Names: Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"

Accession Code: BV022.21.72

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [1990]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-03-07

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Hipman "Jimmy" Chow also used the name "James H. Chow" as a propety master in the film industry and was often credited by this name

Images

Jimmy Chow with his son and daughter in Hawaii, [1990] thumbnail

Lee family studio portrait

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4052

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1931]

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : b&w ; 800 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of the eight Lee children posing in ascending order at a portait studio. From left to right: Cecil (Chue Kan) (seated), Dick (Chue Duck), Ken (Chue Kwong), Rose (Chue Moi), Pearl (Chue Jan), Charlie (Chue Quon), Walter (Chue Fay), Gladys (Chue Ngan).

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Series: Lee family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : b&w ; 800 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of the eight Lee children posing in ascending order at a portait studio. From left to right: Cecil (Chue Kan) (seated), Dick (Chue Duck), Ken (Chue Kwong), Rose (Chue Moi), Pearl (Chue Jan), Charlie (Chue Quon), Walter (Chue Fay), Gladys (Chue Ngan).

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Persons - Children

Names: Lee, Chue Duck "Dick"; Lee, Chue Jan "Pearl"; Lee, Chue Kan "Cecil"; Lee, Chue Kwong "Ken"; Lee, Chue Moi "Rose"; Lee, Chue Ngan "Gladys"; Lee, Chue Quon "Charlie"

Accession Code: BV017.24.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1931]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 800

Scan Date: 01-Oct-2017

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Lee family studio portrait, [1931] thumbnail

Parade float

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1255

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1930 and 1945]

Collection/Fonds: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.15 x 24.13 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a parade float at night. The float is decorated with vines and streamers and is two tiered at the front. Girls in dresses are riding on the float (some have fans in their hands). All are unidentified and the location is not known.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds

Series: Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.15 x 24.13 cm

Material Details: .

Scope and Content: Photograph of a parade float at night. The float is decorated with vines and streamers and is two tiered at the front. Girls in dresses are riding on the float (some have fans in their hands). All are unidentified and the location is not known.

Subjects: Transportation - Parade Floats; Events - Parades; Persons - Children; Persons - Chinese Canadians

Accession Code: BV985.5331.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1930 and 1945]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-01-23

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on verso of photograph reads: "Night picture."

Images

Parade float, [between 1930 and 1945] thumbnail

Youth TV broadcasting workshop

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98188

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : b&w and col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of unidentified teenagers using TV cameras and film editing equipment during a television broadcasting workshop at BCIT.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : b&w and col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-3266

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of unidentified teenagers using TV cameras and film editing equipment during a television broadcasting workshop at BCIT.

Subjects: Persons - Adolescents; Telecommunication Tools and Equipment; Telecommunication Tools and Equipment - Televisions

Names: British Columbia Institute of Technology

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of file; Collected by editorial for use in a July 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader

Geographic Access: Willingdon Avenue

Street Address: 3700 Willingdon Avenue

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Youth TV broadcasting workshop, [1999] thumbnail

Certificate of Canadian Citizenship issued to Quon Lip Lee

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16718

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 6 Oct. 1966

Collection/Fonds: Quon Lip Lee fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship issued to Quon Lip Lee on October 6, 1966. The back of the certificate includes vitial information including date of birth, marital status and date of issue.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Quon Lip Lee fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship issued to Quon Lip Lee on October 6, 1966. The back of the certificate includes vitial information including date of birth, marital status and date of issue.

Creator: Government of Canada

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Documentary Artifacts - Certificates

Names: Lee, Quon Lip

Accession Code: BV021.18.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 6 Oct. 1966

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: April 8, 2021

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of item

Images

Certificate of Canadian Citizenship issued to Quon Lip Lee, 6 Oct. 1966 thumbnail

Exterior view of the Dragon Inn Restaurant during grand-opening

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4269

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1990 and 1995] (date of original), copied [2017]

Collection/Fonds: Larry Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the Dragon Inn Restaurant during their grand-opening at the Hastings location at 4524 Hastings Street, Burnaby. Restaurant has large red windows. Crowd of people entering at doors. Esso gas station evident in background.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Larry Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the Dragon Inn Restaurant during their grand-opening at the Hastings location at 4524 Hastings Street, Burnaby. Restaurant has large red windows. Crowd of people entering at doors. Esso gas station evident in background.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants; Persons - Chinese Canadians

Names: Dragon Inn

Geographic Access: Hastings Street

Street Address: 4524 Hastings Street

Accession Code: BV017.37.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [between 1990 and 1995] (date of original), copied [2017]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 300

Scan Date: 10/29/2017

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Exterior view of the Dragon Inn Restaurant during grand-opening, [between 1990 and 1995] (date of original), copied [2017] thumbnail

Fraser Merchants Association annual dinner

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription20346

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [199-]

Collection/Fonds: Harry Toy fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) annual dinner at Pink Pearl Restaurant in Vancouver. Members of the assocation are identified from left to right: FMA Directors Bing Wong, Henry Lau, Michael Chow (secretary), Benny Kwok (owner of Cariboo Hill Grocery in Burnaby), Howard Lam, Keith C…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Harry Toy fonds

Series: Harry Toy photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Fraser Merchants Association (FMA) annual dinner at Pink Pearl Restaurant in Vancouver. Members of the assocation are identified from left to right: FMA Directors Bing Wong, Henry Lau, Michael Chow (secretary), Benny Kwok (owner of Cariboo Hill Grocery in Burnaby), Howard Lam, Keith Chu, Jim Howe (treasurer), Harry Toy (president). Red sign hanging behind group reads "FRASER MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION BANQUET [Chinese characters beneath]. Harry Toy is speaking from a podium with the sign "PINK PEARL".

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Organizations; Organizations - Business Associations; Events; Events - Parties

Names: Fraser Merchants' Association; Toy, Harry Wee Koon "Harry"; Wong, Bing; Lau, Henry; Chow, Michael; Kwok, Benny; Lam, Howard; Chu, Keith; Howe, Jim

Accession Code: BV023.25.9

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [199-]

Media Type: Photograph

Related Material: See also BV023.16.19 - Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy; For associated artifacts from Canada Way Food Market see Accession BV023.17

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-12-01

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Gordon and Harry Jung with Philip Mah

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16728

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1935 and 1945]

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of Suey Yook "Gordon" Jung and Suey Cheung "Harry" Jung standing with young, Philip Mah on the boardwalk outside the Jung family home located on the family farm at 5460 Douglas Road (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958) in Burnaby. Philip Mah is the son of Lil Mah.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Series: Lee family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of Suey Yook "Gordon" Jung and Suey Cheung "Harry" Jung standing with young, Philip Mah on the boardwalk outside the Jung family home located on the family farm at 5460 Douglas Road (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958) in Burnaby. Philip Mah is the son of Lil Mah.

Subjects: Agriculture - Farms; Persons - Chinese Canadians

Names: Jung, Suey Cheung "Harry"; Jung, Suey Yook "Gordon"; Mah, Philip

Geographic Access: Vancouver

Street Address: 5286 Douglas Road

Accession Code: BV021.19.3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1935 and 1945]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Scan Resolution: 96

Scan Date: April 13, 2021

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Gordon and Harry Jung with Philip Mah, [between 1935 and 1945] thumbnail

Gordon Jung and Gee Shee Jung

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16726

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1935 and 1945]

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of Suey Yook "Gordon" Jung standing with his mother, Gee Shee Jung on the family farm located at 5460 Douglas Road in Burnaby (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958).

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Series: Lee family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of Suey Yook "Gordon" Jung standing with his mother, Gee Shee Jung on the family farm located at 5460 Douglas Road in Burnaby (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958).

Subjects: Agriculture - Farms; Persons - Chinese Canadians

Names: Jung, Gee Shee; Jung, Suey Yook "Gordon"

Geographic Access: Vancouver

Street Address: 5286 Douglas Road

Accession Code: BV021.19.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1935 and 1945]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Scan Resolution: 96

Scan Date: April 13, 2021

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Gordon Jung and Gee Shee Jung, [between 1935 and 1945] thumbnail

Gordon Jung and Herbert Yep

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16730

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1935 and 1945]

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of Suey Yook "Gordon" Jung and Herbert Yep standing together on the boardwalk outside the Jung family home located on the family farm at 5460 Douglas Road (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958) in Burnaby.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Series: Lee family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of Suey Yook "Gordon" Jung and Herbert Yep standing together on the boardwalk outside the Jung family home located on the family farm at 5460 Douglas Road (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958) in Burnaby.

Subjects: Agriculture - Farms; Persons - Chinese Canadians

Names: Jung, Suey Yook "Gordon"; Yep, Herbert

Geographic Access: Vancouver

Street Address: 5286 Douglas Road

Accession Code: BV021.19.4

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1935 and 1945]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Scan Resolution: 96

Scan Date: April 13, 2021

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Gordon Jung and Herbert Yep, [between 1935 and 1945] thumbnail

Gordon Jung on family farm

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16727

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1935 and 1945]

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of Gordon Jung leaning against a tree on the family farm located at 5460 Douglas Road in Burnaby (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958). Buildings along Douglas Road are visible in the background.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Series: Lee family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpg)

Scope and Content: Photograph of Gordon Jung leaning against a tree on the family farm located at 5460 Douglas Road in Burnaby (address was changed to 5286 Douglas Road in 1958). Buildings along Douglas Road are visible in the background.

Subjects: Agriculture - Farms; Persons - Chinese Canadians

Names: Jung, Suey Yook "Gordon"

Geographic Access: Vancouver

Street Address: 5286 Douglas Road

Accession Code: BV021.19.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1935 and 1945]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Scan Resolution: 96

Scan Date: April 13, 2021

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Gordon Jung on family farm, [between 1935 and 1945] thumbnail

Head tax certificate issued to Dung Way How

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15546

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1922-1934 (date of original), copied 2021

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Document collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 certificate (tiff) : col. ; 600 dpi

Scope and Content: Item consists of a head tax certificate issued by the Dominion of Canada - Immigration Branch - Department of the Interior to Dung Way How (Dong Howe). The certificate was first issued on March 18, 1922 and includes certification stamps on the front along with a photograph of Dung Way How. Certifi…

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Document collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 certificate (tiff) : col. ; 600 dpi

Scope and Content: Item consists of a head tax certificate issued by the Dominion of Canada - Immigration Branch - Department of the Interior to Dung Way How (Dong Howe). The certificate was first issued on March 18, 1922 and includes certification stamps on the front along with a photograph of Dung Way How. Certification stamps on the verso of the certificate were issued by Chinese Immigration authorities between 1922 and 1934. Information on the front of the certificate reads "...This Certifies That / Dung Way How whose photograph is attached / hereto arrived or landed at Vancouver B.C. / on the 23rd day of January 1922 / ex "Empress of Asia" / and upon representations made has been / admitted as exempt from head tax under the / provisions of the Chinese Immigration Act. / The above mentioned party claims / to be a native of Bark Choon Jong in the District of Pon Yue of the age of 20 years. The declaration in this case is C.I.4. No. 3715 Date at Vancouver on March 18, 1922" signed by "Controller of Chinese Immigration". Printed text on verso of certificate reads "IMPORTANT / IT IS NECESSARY THAT THIS / CERTIFICATE BE CAREFULLY / PRESERVED AS IT IS OF VALUE / AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION".

History: Dung Way How (Dong Howe) arrived from Bak Chun (North Village), Guangdong in 1922 as a paper son. He had two sons during his first marriage, but the sons remained in China and one died at a young age. He married his second wife Chow Goon Pang through an arranged marriage. She was married twice previously and had a son from each marriage, but neither of them survived. Chow was from Nam Chun (South Village) and arrived in Canada as a paper daughter around the late 1930s or early 1940s. Both Dong and Chow spoke a Poon Yue dialect. The couple raised one daughter Vivian Dong (Dong Jing Yu) in Canada. The Dong family leased and operated the New Fountain hotel in Vancouver located at Abbott Street and Cordova Street. The family later went on to purchase farmland in Burnaby in 1957. The Dong family moved to Burnaby and operated a three acre market garden located at 6220 14th Avenue until 1972. They grew European staples including celery, radishes, green onions, beets, lettuces, endives, as well as Chinese vegetables such as gai lan (Chinese broccoli). There were two Chinese families in the area, including the Wong family who operated the Wong Chew market gardens 6325 14th Avenue. Dong Howe passed away in 1978. Chow Goon Pang passed away in 2000. Their daughter Vivian grew up in Burnaby and attended Riverside Elementary, McPherson Junior High School and Burnaby South Secondary School.

Creator: Government of Canada

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Documentary Artifacts - Certificates; Migration

Names: Howe, Dong

Accession Code: BV021.13.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1922-1934 (date of original), copied 2021

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: March 25, 2021

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Head tax certificate issued to Dung Way How, 1922-1934 (date of original), copied 2021 thumbnail

Head tax certificate issued to Lee Quon Lep [Quan Lip Lee]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16717

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1921-1949 (date of original), copied 2021

Collection/Fonds: Quon Lip Lee fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a head tax certificate issued by the Dominion of Canada - Immigration Branch - Department of the (Interior) issued to Lee Quon Lep [sic] [Quon Lip Lee]. The certificate was first issued on December 12, 1921 and includes certification stamps on the front along with a photograph of Q…

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Quon Lip Lee fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a head tax certificate issued by the Dominion of Canada - Immigration Branch - Department of the (Interior) issued to Lee Quon Lep [sic] [Quon Lip Lee]. The certificate was first issued on December 12, 1921 and includes certification stamps on the front along with a photograph of Quan Lip Lee. Certification stamps on the verso of the certificate were issued by Canadian and Chinese Immigration authorities between 1924 and 1949. Information on the front of the certificate reads "DOMINION OF CANADA / IMMIGRATION BRANCH - DEPARTMENT.../ RECEIVED FRO.../ Lee Quon Lep whose photograph is attached / hereto on the date and at the place hereunder mentioned the sum / of five Hundred Dollars being the head tax due under the / provisions of the Chinese Immigration Act. / The above mentioned party claims / to be a native of Gong Doey Lee / in the district of Sun Way / of the age of 12 years arrived or landed / at Vancouver on the 28th day of / November 1921 ex Empress [sic] of Asia / The declaration in this case is C.I.4 No. 3716 / Dated at Vancouver on Dec 12, 1921_19_/ (signature) / CONTROLLER OF CHINESE IMMIGRATION". Printed text on verso of certificate reads "IMPORTANT / IT IS NECESSARY THAT THIS / CERTIFICATE BE CAREFULLY / PRESERVED AS IT IS OF VALUE / AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION" along with Chinese language characters printed vertically below.

Creator: Government of Canada

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Documentary Artifacts - Certificates; Migration

Names: Lee, Quon Lip

Accession Code: BV021.18.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1921-1949 (date of original), copied 2021

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: April 8, 2021

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of item

Images

Head tax certificate issued to Lee Quon Lep [Quan Lip Lee], 1921-1949 (date of original), copied 2021 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

Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12337

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)

Scope and Content: Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. …

1 image 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewee: Josephine Chow Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: February 7, 2020 Total Number of Tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 00:43:19

Scope and Content: Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. The farm is situated in the Big Bend area along Marine Drive and is still in operation today. 0:00-08:45 Josephine Chow provides some historical background on the history of “Hop On Farm” and her family in British Columbia. She tells of how her grandfather Gay Tim Hong and three partners pooled money together to purchase twelve acres on Marine Drive in 1951. Prior to this, most of them farmed on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation Reserve for 20-30 years. It all began when her great grandfather Sui Wing Hong, first came to Canada from China and slowly brought over her grandfather, father and other members of the family. Her grandfather, Gay Tim Hong went back and forth between Canada and China at least four times since he and her grandmother had four children including her father, who was born in 1931. Her father came to Canada at 10 years of age to live with his father. Josephine’s great grandfather came to Vancouver from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). 8:46- 14:20 Josephine provides the names of her siblings from the eldest to the youngest; Pauline, Josephine (herself), Catherine, Noreen, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. She describes what life was like on the farm with her parents working from sunrise to sunset. The family farmed vegetable produce taking orders from local stores in the lower mainland. Often the children helped their parents with the orders starting at eight or nine years of age. Other workers on the farm travelled by bus from Vancouver’s Chinatown. She also tells of how her father was an animal lover and raised chickens, pigeons, geese, koy, goldfish and dogs. 14: 21 – 16:56 Josephine describes what Burnaby was like during the time that she grew up in the late 1950s. She explains that Burnaby was very quiet with nothing being open on Sundays. On the farm, she and her siblings would entertain themselves by playing games like soccer, baseball and kick ball or also by catching frogs, snails, caterpillars and ladybugs. There were neighbours living on Marine Drive and almost every house had someone who we went to the same elementary school. The neighbourhood children would often come to play with them on their farm. 16:56- 26:47 Josephine describes how when they were young there were farms all around them and how on Sunday drives with her father, they would go to feed horses or look at the cows. Josephine shares that her elder sister Pauline was the only one born in China and how when she first arrived that she lived on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations Reserve with their parents before they moved to Burnaby. Josephine recollects that most of her friends were farmer’s kids from the neighbourhood but while in school, she had more Caucasian friends. Josephine and her siblings attended Glenwood Elementary on Marine Drive and later Junior Secondary at McPherson Park (grades 8-10) and Burnaby South Senior Secondary (grades 11-12. ). She shares some of her experiences while attending school. She said that there were about a dozen Asians in school with her, mostly from farming families in the “Flats”. 26:48- 30:45 Josephine describes what life was like for her and her siblings after school. They often helped on the farm when they got home, usually taking care of orders for green onions. Her mother made dinner and did all of the cooking for family and workers on the farm as well as working in the fields. Her father did all of the grocery shopping in Vancouver’s Chinatown two or three times per week where he purchased meat and fish. She says that her grandfather, often travelled by bus every Saturday or Sunday to meet up with friends in Chinatown. Extracurricular activities for her and her siblings included volley ball and soccer as long as it didn’t interfere with their work schedule on the farm. 30:46- 37:03 Josephine describes what occurred while living at home, the food they ate, shopping and attending Chinese school. Her mother cooked only Chinese food, she didn’t know how to cook “Western food”. For school lunches, the kids made their own sandwiches. She tells of a Chinese language school arranged by Mrs. Joe [sic] who lived on Gilley Road and was Canadian born Chinese. Mrs. Joe [sic] also arranged an English class for farmer’s wives on Tuesday nights in which her mother attended. Josephine recollects learning Mandarin from Mrs. Joe [sic] a few days a week after her regular school. Chinese school took place at Riverway School on Meadow Avenue in Burnaby. Mrs. Joe also taught them a lot about Chinese culture including Kung Fu, Chinese Dance and Chinese brush painting. 37:04- 39:39 Josephine describes Medical Care for her and her family in the 1950s and 1960s. She tells of a female Chinese doctor in Vancouver, Dr. Madeline Chung. Dr. Chung was responsible for delivering a lot of Chinese babies including Josephine. The family also visited herbalists in Vancouver Chinatown. They would often buy herbs for colds etc. Josephine also tells of how her parents stayed in touch with family in China by writing letters. Her mother’s family, including her parents and siblings were still in China while most of her father’s family were here in Canada. 39:40- 43:19 – In closing, Josephine shares how life is much busier now and of how she misses the quietness of her days growing up. She briefly describes her life on the family farm now and how different it is from when her parents worked the farm. She explains how farming methods have changed and how they don’t have to work as hard as her parents did.

History: Interviewee biography: Josephine Chow (nee Hong) is the second eldest child of Chan Kow Hong and Sui Ha Hong. In 1925, Josephine's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong immigrated to Canada from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). In 1952, her father, Chan Kow Hong joined his father, Gay Tim Hong and by 1953, he established "Hop On Farms" in the Big Bend area of Burnaby near Marine Drive. Josephine grew up on the farm with her parents and six siblings; Pauline, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. In 1969, Josephine's elder sister Pauline and her husband Jack Chan took over the family farm and in 1972 their father and grandfather moved to Kamloops to open a restaurant. As an adult, Josephine worked in several different areas including owning and running her own Aesthetics business. Josephine eventually retired and returned to the farm to assist her siblings. The farm is still in operation. 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: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Agriculture - Farms; Education; Buildings - Schools; First Nations reserves - British Columbia

Names: Chow, Josephine; Glenwood Elementary School; McPherson Park Junior Secondary School; ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)

Responsibility: Fong, Denise

Geographic Access: Byrne Road

Accession Code: BV020.6.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

Media Type: Sound Recording

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Related Material: See also BV017.36*

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 12/3/2017

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of interview; Photograph info: Gary Hong and Chan Kow Hong harvesting celery at Hop-On Farms [1969]. BV017.36.4

Images

Audio Tracks

Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2020_0006_0001_001.mp3

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