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Jimmy Chow with colleague on set of "Seven Years in Tibet"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19231
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1996]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow working with colleague on set of the film "Seven Years in Tibet". Jimmy and colleague are working at a wooden table next to a truck. Jimmy Chow was the property master on this film which was directed by director Jean-Jacques Annaud, filmed on location in Arg…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow working with colleague on set of the film "Seven Years in Tibet". Jimmy and colleague are working at a wooden table next to a truck. Jimmy Chow was the property master on this film which was directed by director Jean-Jacques Annaud, filmed on location in Argentina and Mount Waddington, British Columbia and released in 1997.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.76
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1996]
- 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 colleague on set of "The Shipping News"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19223
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1999
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 13 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with colleague on the set of "The Shipping News". Jimmy is sitting next to his colleague on the back of his prop truck. The film was based on Annie Proulx's book and directed by Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström. The film was released in 2001 and was filmed in No…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 13 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with colleague on the set of "The Shipping News". Jimmy is sitting next to his colleague on the back of his prop truck. The film was based on Annie Proulx's book and directed by Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström. The film was released in 2001 and was filmed in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.68
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1999
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-06
- 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 film crew, [199-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2022/2022_0021_0044_001.jpg?width=280)
Jimmy Chow with film crew
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19199
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [199-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Jimmy Chow standing outside with film crew and camera operators, on location during the filming of a production. Jimmy is wearing a baseball cap with embroidered logo "PRIME EXPLOSIVES".
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Jimmy Chow standing outside with film crew and camera operators, on location during the filming of a production. Jimmy is wearing a baseball cap with embroidered logo "PRIME EXPLOSIVES".
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.44
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [199-]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-03
- 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 film crew, [199-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2022/2022_0021_0044_001.jpg)
Jimmy Chow with film director Lasse Hallström
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19219
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1999
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow standing with film director Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland while working on the film "The Shipping News". The pair are standing on a rocky shore with a view of the ocean behind them. The film was based on Annie Proulx's book and di…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow standing with film director Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland while working on the film "The Shipping News". The pair are standing on a rocky shore with a view of the ocean behind them. The film was based on Annie Proulx's book and directed by Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström. The film was released in 2001 and was filmed in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.64
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1999
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-06
- 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 Gordon Pinsent on set of "The Shipping News"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19221
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1999
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 18 x 12.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow standing together with actor Gordon Pinsent on location in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland during the filmin of "The Shipping News". Jimmy Chow and Gordon Pinsent are standing together on the shore with the rocky shoreline and ocean visible behind them. The film …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 18 x 12.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow standing together with actor Gordon Pinsent on location in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland during the filmin of "The Shipping News". Jimmy Chow and Gordon Pinsent are standing together on the shore with the rocky shoreline and ocean visible behind them. The film was based on Annie Proulx's book and directed by Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström. The film was released in 2001 and was filmed in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.66
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1999
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-06
- 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 on set of "Shanghai Noon"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19243
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1999]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with his son on the set of the film "Shanghai Noon". The film was directed by Tom Dey, filmed on location in Alberta and released in 2000.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with his son on the set of the film "Shanghai Noon". The film was directed by Tom Dey, filmed on location in Alberta and released in 2000.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.88
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1999]
- 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 Judy Dench on set of "The Shipping News"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19220
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1999
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 12.5 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow standing together with actor Judy Dench on the set of "The Shipping News". The film was based on Annie Proulx's book and directed by Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström. The film was released in 2001 and was filmed in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 12.5 x 18 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow standing together with actor Judy Dench on the set of "The Shipping News". The film was based on Annie Proulx's book and directed by Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström. The film was released in 2001 and was filmed in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.65
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1999
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-06
- 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 Judy Dench on the set of "The Shipping News"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19211
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1999
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with actor, Judy Dench on the set of the film "The Shipping News" . Jimmy Chow is kneeling on the ground next to a camp stove with pots and dishes and Judy Dench is dressed in a kimono and standing next to him. This scene was filmed in Trinity Bay, Newfoundl…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with actor, Judy Dench on the set of the film "The Shipping News" . Jimmy Chow is kneeling on the ground next to a camp stove with pots and dishes and Judy Dench is dressed in a kimono and standing next to him. This scene was filmed in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland with a view of the rocky coastline and ocean beyond. The film was based on Annie Proulx's book and directed by Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström. Location The film was released in 2001 and was filmed in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
- Subjects
- Industries - Film
- Occupations - Actors
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Geographic Features - Rock Formations
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.55
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1999
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-06
- 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 Katharine Hepburn on the set of "The Man Upstairs"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19210
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1991]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with Katharine Hepburn on the set of "The Man Upstairs" . Katharine Hepbun is seated at a table while Jimmy Chow is arranging some of the items on the table. The film was directed by George Schaefer and released in 1992.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with Katharine Hepburn on the set of "The Man Upstairs" . Katharine Hepbun is seated at a table while Jimmy Chow is arranging some of the items on the table. The film was directed by George Schaefer and released in 1992.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.54
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1991]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-06
- Photographer
- Lederer, Joseph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Stamp on verso of photograh reads: "JOSEPH LEDERER c. [copyright]"
- 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 saloon girl on the set of "Shanghai Noon"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19245
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1999]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 15 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with Jay Cheng dressed as a saloon girl (Actor Jackie Chan's dresser and long time friend) on the set of the film "Shanghai Noon". Saloon costume was designed by Joseph Porro. The film was directed by Tom Dey, filmed on location in Alberta and released in 20…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 15 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with Jay Cheng dressed as a saloon girl (Actor Jackie Chan's dresser and long time friend) on the set of the film "Shanghai Noon". Saloon costume was designed by Joseph Porro. The film was directed by Tom Dey, filmed on location in Alberta and released in 2000.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.90
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1999]
- 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 Sean Connery, [1989] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2022/2022_0021_0056_001.jpg?width=280)
Jimmy Chow with Sean Connery
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19212
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1989]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with actor, Sean Connery during the filming of "The Russia House". Jimmy and Sean Connery are standing outside amongst large trees on Bowen Island with a view of Howe Sound behind them. The film was directed by Fed Schepisi and released in 1990.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow with actor, Sean Connery during the filming of "The Russia House". Jimmy and Sean Connery are standing outside amongst large trees on Bowen Island with a view of Howe Sound behind them. The film was directed by Fed Schepisi and released in 1990.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.56
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1989]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-06
- 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 Sean Connery, [1989] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2022/2022_0021_0056_001.jpg)
Jimmy Chow working on "Rainbow War"
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19206
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1985]
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 15 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow working with set decorator, Jim Ericson (left) and director, Bob Rogers (seated) on the short film "Rainbow War". The film was created for Expo 86.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 15 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of property master Jimmy Chow working with set decorator, Jim Ericson (left) and director, Bob Rogers (seated) on the short film "Rainbow War". The film was created for Expo 86.
- Names
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.50
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1985]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-03-06
- 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
Kate Petrusa and Jimmy Chow inside truck
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19173
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator Kate Petrusa standing with Jimmy Chow inside his property master truck. Jimmy is holding a colour layout of a prop that that he created for the film "BFG". Jimmy refurbished the truck so that he could take it on location and have everything t…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator Kate Petrusa standing with Jimmy Chow inside his property master truck. Jimmy is holding a colour layout of a prop that that he created for the film "BFG". Jimmy refurbished the truck so that he could take it on location and have everything that he needed while working on a film.
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.19
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 2022
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Fong, Denise
- 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
Oral history interview with Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19146
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 29 Jun. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (02:06:53 min) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (02:06:53 min)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an audio recording of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos conducted by Denise Fong with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview, Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos discuss; their ancestral background, childhood, pla…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (02:06:53 min) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (02:06:53 min)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Denise Fong Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewees: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos Location of Interview: Home of Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos on Victory Street, Burnaby Date of interview: June 29, 2022 Total Number of Tracks: 3 Total length of all Tracks: 02:06:53 min Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto 3 separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an audio recording of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos conducted by Denise Fong with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview, Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos discuss; their ancestral background, childhood, places of residence, education, career history, how they met, Jimmy's experience working in the film industry, their home in Burnaby and their neighbourhood, their political activism in Burnaby, Robin Chung Dip's work in Vancouver’s' Chinatown, the gambling scene in Vancouver prior to legalized forms of gambling and their memories of supper clubs in Vancouver. 00:00 - 5:57 Opening introductions where Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos provide information on their full names, their birth places and their ancestral background. Jimmy clarifies that his birth name is Hipman Chow but that he was given the English name “Jimmy” by his father when he came to Canada. Jimmy shares that he was born in 1948, in the Village of Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China and immigrated to British Columbia with his mother, Gim Gee Chow in 1950 to escape the Communist Regime and to join his father who had already immigrated to Canada. Jimmy imparts that many Chinese immigrated to British Columbia in search of a better life, referring to it as “Gold Mountain” and that even though they faced extreme racial discrimination that many stayed since they felt that it was better than returning. Donna Polos shares ancestral information on both her maternal and paternal sides of the family. Donna’s mother’s family came from Helsinki, Finland. Donna’s paternal grandmother emigrated from Ukraine to Argentina and then to Winnipeg. Donna’s paternal grandfather, James Kostopolus (renamed Polos) emigrated as a 12 year old orphan from Sparta, Greece to the United States but was denied entry so ended up going to Halifax and eventually made his way to Vancouver. Once in Vancouver, he became a restaurant proprietor and over the years, he owned and operated three restaurants in Vancouver, including; “Jimmy’s Café” (next door the Astoria Hotel); “Home Apple Pie Café” (Princess Avenue & Hastings Street) and a restaurant that was located on Alma Street. 05:58 - 13:28 Jimmy recollects in further detail, the many places that his family lived over the years. Jimmy’s father Robin Chung Dip Chow immigrated to Vancouver at the age of 14 years and worked and lived in Victoria and Vancouver. In 1950, Jimmy and his mother fled China, first to Hong Kong and then to Vancouver to join his father. Soon after arriving in Vancouver, for the next four years, he and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec City where his father, Robin had work in restaurants and hotels. Jimmy attended school while the family lived in these different places and began to learn English. After four years, the family returned to Vancouver, first living in areas of Chinatown and Strathcona before settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant. Jimmy shares his memories of growing up in Strathcona and the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, schools that he attended and the friendships that he made. Jimmy recollects details about the old Bethlehem Lutheran Church that he attended and describes the demands of the education required to become a Lutheran minister. 13:29 - 15:47 Jimmy tells of how his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow had to pay the Chinese Head Tax of $500 when he arrived in Vancouver at 14 years of age (1921) and how his father had to work hard pay off the head tax over the years. Denise Fong and Jimmy Chow, talk about the origin of a photograph portrait of Jimmy Chow that was taken around 1954 and speculate whether it might have been taken by well known portrait photographer, Yucho Chow. 15:48 - 19:33 Donna Polos recollects the many locations that her family lived while she was growing up in Vancouver. First residing at various locations in the downtown east side of Vancouver before moving to a home near Joyce Station where she lived until 21 years old. After 21 years of age, Donna moved in with roommates in Vancouver before moving in with Jimmy in North Burnaby in 1972. In 1976 Donna and Jimmy purchased their home on Victory Street. Both Donna and Jimmy talk about their careers after high school. Jimmy talks about how he worked at the Supervalu grocery store near his house. Jimmy planned to use his savings from his job to travel but instead he used his savings for a down payment on a house with Donna. Donna imparts that after obtaining her teaching degree she began working in Burnaby schools, eventually teaching at Burnaby South. 19:34 - 32:08 Both Jimmy and Donna share their educational background and experiences growing up. Jimmy first attended Florence Nightingale elementary in Strathcona, then Mount Pleasant Elementary and later high school at 24th Avenue and Main Street. Donna lists the schools that she attended including; elementary school in Strathcona, Carlton Elementary School at Kingsway and Joyce, Windermere High School, Vancouver City College (Langara) and the University of British Columbia. Donna and Jimmy reflect on public transportation that was available during the time they were growing up. Donna recollects her childhood growing up in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station, the freedom that she experienced playing outside in nature and what inspired her to become a teacher. Jimmy reflects on some of his mentors and about his first experience seeing movies as a young child at a cinema in Asquith, Saskatchewan. Donna communicates her own experiences of sexism throughout her high school, college and university education (1968-1972). 32:09 - 36:18 Donna talks about her career history and some of her major turning points. Donna recollects starting out as a Chemistry lab assistant, marking math papers before working as a teacher on call and eventually being hired as a teacher at Clinton Elementary School where she taught for nine years. Donna shares a memory of her first experience working as a teacher on call at Gilmore Elementary School and the fire that occurred there. After starting a family (Jimmy and Donna had three children) Donna worked part time teaching while Jimmy worked full time in film. Donna, shares that in 1991, after a near death experience, she became interested in fine art and took drawing and watercolour painting classes. With this experience, Donna experimented with different painting techniques on paper and fabric. Donna tells of how she retired from teaching in 2008 but continued to participate in the schools as an Artist in Residence. 36:19 - 58:18 Jimmy talks about his work and career history. He shares memories of his experiences as a young boy delivering newspapers, working at a local pharmacy, stocking shelves at the local supermarket, and his experience working with troubled youth and of how he thought that he might like to become a social worker. Jimmy tells of how he was uncertain of what to do until he got a job with the CBC in 1973 which eventually launched his career as a property master in the film industry, becoming a member of IATSE and a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures. Jimmy describes in detail what it means to be a property master and the work that is entailed in the film industry. 58:19 - 1:07:45 Donna Polos describes her art practice and her connection to Burnaby. Donna recollects how she first started working with textiles and fabrics from a young age and how this later inspired her to develop her own watercolour techniques of painting on paper, canvas and fabrics. Donna describes how she first got started by taking art classes in Burnaby and now has over 31 years of experience working in watercolour. Donna has worked as an Artist in Residence in Burnaby schools, been a member of the Burnaby Arts Council, had her first show in 1997 and has been involved in many art projects over the years. Donna describes the style of her work, first starting with more figurative work, social commentary and still life and that now most of her work is landscape based. Donna coveys that as a political activist in Burnaby, she was an active participant in the development of a tree bylaw, has petitioned to protect renters from demo-evictions and the impacts of future development on the local environment. 1:07:46 - 1:07:59 Background discussion between Denise Fong and Kate Petrusa re interviews. 1:08:00 - 1:26:36 Jimmy provides information on his connection to the local film industry and the changes that have occurred over the years. Jimmy describes the first studios on the North Shore and the eventual establishment of Bridge Studios on Boundary Road. Jimmy shares that in 1988, he and some of his colleagues in the film industry put a proposal together to buy the Bridge Studios but it didn't go through. Since the Bridge Studios and other film studios have been established in Burnaby and Vancouver, the industry has grown exponentially. Jimmy became the 54th member of the local IATSE union. Jimmy describes some of his experiences working on various productions including "Seven Years in Tibet", provides a description of what a film studio is, how it is used and the differences between working in the film industry in the United States and British Columbia. 1:26:37 - 1:32:46 Jimmy and Donna recollect how they first met, buying a house in Burnaby, getting married and starting a family. The two share memories of their wedding in White Rock and Jimmy talks about the Chinese hair cutting ceremony in recognition of their first born child that took place in Chinatown in Vancouver. Jimmy tells of how his parents had hopes of him marrying a Chinese woman and his mother began introducing him to a few young Chinese women from the time he was 16 years old. Jimmy mentions that his parents rarely used Western Medicine and relied on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Donna and Jimmy talk about Jimmy's parents, when they died and how happy his parents were to have grandchildren. 1:32:47 - 1:40:13 Jimmy and Donna talk about their house on Victory Street which they purchased in 1976. They share information on the history of the house, how it was built in 1939 by Norm Clark, how they fell in love with the design of the house and the neighbourhood. 1:40:14 - 1:58:31 Jimmy and Donna share information on their family life in Burnaby, their neighbourhood and favourite places in Burnaby. Donna lists the schools that their three children attended including; Nelson Avenue School, Burnaby South High School and Burnaby Central High School. Both Donna and Jimmy convey that all of their children played soccer and the benefits that the sport provided them. Donna and Jimmy talk about how the neighbourhood has changed over the years, the benefits of where they live, their fondness for built heritage and the many parks and trees in Burnaby. 1:58:32 - 2:02:50 Jimmy begins to share information on his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow's employment history. Jimmy recalls that his father, Robin worked in a variety of jobs over the years and as a young child, Jimmy was uncertain of what his father's job was but thought that he worked in accounting. He mentions that his father stopped working at 45 years of age due to a problem with his Achilles tendon. Jimmy describes his father as an intellectual who worked at gambling houses in Vancouver's Chinatown where people played mah-jong and fan-tan. Jimmy recollects that these were large clubs with lots of employees. His father never gambled but he was good with money so he worked on the management side. Jimmy mentions that while working in the film industry, his father took him and some of his film colleagues into some of the gambling houses in Chinatown to assist them with a production that they were working on. 2:02:51 - 2:06:58 Donna shares her own family history regarding gambling. She mentions that her uncle worked as a high end "bookie" in Vancouver and how in 1968, her uncle was arrested but got let go with just a small fine. Jimmy describes what gambling was like in those days with various sweepstakes, not under the jurisdiction of the government like it is today. Both Donna and Jimmy recollect the popularity of supper clubs their memories of Vie's Chicken and Steak House that was located in Hogan's Alley. Jimmy laments the destruction of Hogan's Alley and the other proposals that were brought forward that would change Chinatown and Strathcona.
- History
- Interviewees biography: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow was born in Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China in 1948. In 1950, Jimmy Chow immigrated to Vancouver from China with his mother, Gim Gee Chow to join his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow who'd immigrated to Canada at 14 years of age in 1921. For the first four years after immigrating, Jimmy and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec before returning to Vancouver around 1954. Jimmy and his family then lived and worked in Vancouver eventually settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant. In the early 1970s, Jimmy met his future wife Donna Polos and they married in 1981. Donna Polos was born in 1949 to Donald James Polos and Mayme "May" Helen Tilikana Polos and grew up in Vancouver. Between the age of 5 and 21 years, Donna lived in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station. In 1976, Jimmy and Donna purchased and moved into a house on Victory Street in Burnaby where they still live today. While living on Victory Street, they've raised their three children. Donna received her teaching degree and taught in elementary schools for many years. In 1991, after a near death experience, Donna developed an interest in drawing and painting and began experimenting with water colour painting on fabric. Donna has since exhibited her work widely, participated as an Artist in Residence in Burnaby schools and is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Jimmy entered the film industry in 1973, gaining experience and recognition as a property master and has worked on many films over a 45 year career. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
- Buildings - Residential
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Education
- Geographic Features - Parks
- Geographic Features - Neighbourhoods
- Government - Local Government
- Industries - Film
- Migration
- Occupations
- Occupations - Artists
- Occupations - Grocers
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Occupations - Teachers
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Social Issues - Racism
- Sports - Soccer
- Names
- Bridge Studios
- Chow, Gim Gee Dang
- Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"
- Chow, Robin Chung Dip
- Polos, Donna
- Polos, James "Jimmy", 1898-1962
- Polos, Donald James
- Polos, Mayme "May" Helen Tilikana
- Geographic Access
- Victory Street
- Accession Code
- BV022.21.1
- Date
- 29 Jun. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of recording
- Hipman "Jimmy" Chow's name in Cantonese is Chow Hipman and in Mandarin is Zhou Xiamin.
Images
Audio Tracks
Oral history interview with Hipman
Oral history interview with Hipman
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0021_0001_004.mp3![Working on the green chain, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0014_001.jpg?width=280)
Working on the green chain
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15193
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two unidentified Chinese Canadian men working on the green chain of Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Burrard Inlet and the north shore mountains are visible in the distance.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- In the Shadow by the Sea collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two unidentified Chinese Canadian men working on the green chain of Kapoor Sawmills Limited. Burrard Inlet and the north shore mountains are visible in the distance.
- Subjects
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Occupations - Millworkers
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Names
- Kapoor Sawmills Limited
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Barnet Marine Park
- Accession Code
- BV019.32.14
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [194-] (date of original), copied 2004
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
![Working on the green chain, [194-] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2019/2019_0032_0014_001.jpg)
North Burnaby High School Graduates 1954
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription163
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1954
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 36.5 x 58.5 cm mounted on board 76 x 101.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of graduates of North Burnaby High School in 1954 with all names of graduates scripted on mounting board by E.Skrypec. Row 1: L. Fox, S. Johnson, R. Larson, B. Milaney, J. Watson, D. Spring, G. Calder, J. Forester, A. Nash, J. McGiveron, M. Meikle, T. Brooks, J. Meikle, S. Hill, B. Bil…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 36.5 x 58.5 cm mounted on board 76 x 101.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of graduates of North Burnaby High School in 1954 with all names of graduates scripted on mounting board by E.Skrypec. Row 1: L. Fox, S. Johnson, R. Larson, B. Milaney, J. Watson, D. Spring, G. Calder, J. Forester, A. Nash, J. McGiveron, M. Meikle, T. Brooks, J. Meikle, S. Hill, B. Bilson, F. Stewart, M. Slavin, H. Trayling, B. Bourne, M. Mothe, M. Bazylevich, S. Yorston, E. Underwood, S. Sandberg, A. Craig, A. Holzman, M. Cranston, W. Pendygrasse and L. Holland. Row 2: S. Willimas, S. Anderson, G. Burgess, I. Radill, J. Jopling, J. Wong, K. McNicol, D. Gallie, W. Brigden, I. Frank, J. Elliott, P. Wooldard, D. Drummond, E. Murray, K. Nelson, B. Smith, J. Purser, D. Lister, N. Husband, A. Ryder and G. Olafson. Row 3: B. Beaumont, W. Judyski, B. Chamberland, R. Dyck, H. Lunow, R. Morris, N. Trtan, S. Gill, K. Elliott, D. Demchuk, D. Wilson, H. Philbrook, D. Connorton, D. Panton, G. Monk, G. Kubicek, J. Christian, H. Pendygrasse, D. Norman and H. Peterson. Row 4: C. Allen, J. MacDonald, H. Siddoo, G. Boyd, G. Norgard, P. Iannucci, R. McDonnell, B. Mills, R. Ostby, K. Bennett, F. McAuley, G. Topham, G. Clapp, H. Rink, T. Scuffi, B. Dolman, L. Armstrong, W. Cross, E. Matiash and B. Miles. Row 5: V. Cinnamon, T. Saunders, E. Skrypec, S. Bonettemaker, G. Barr, W. Greba, B. Asleson, B. Launder, F. Punko, J. Maxwell, J. McTaggart, D. Allen, W. Plevy, J. Bailey and R. Zacharias.
- Subjects
- Persons - Students
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Events
- Buildings - Schools
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Geographic Access
- Pandora Street
- Street Address
- 4375 Pandora Street
- Accession Code
- BV985.30.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1954
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Stepping over the barrier: Expanding Diversity at the Burnaby Village Museum
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18877
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 22 Sep. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (91 min., 5 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke with presentations and discussions by Megan Innes, Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra and Denise Fong. The webinar is titled "Stepping over the barrier: Expanding Diversity at the Burnaby Village…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (91 min., 5 sec.) : digital, col., sd., stereo ; 29 fps
- Material Details
- Host: Jane Lemke
- Presenters: Meagan Innes; Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra; Denise Fong
- Date of Presentation: Tuesday, September 22, 2022. 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Total Number of tracks: 1
- Total Length of all tracks: 91 min., 5 sec.
- Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
- Original recording of 91 min., 5 sec.was edited to 79 min., 2 sec. for viewing on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke with presentations and discussions by Megan Innes, Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra and Denise Fong. The webinar is titled "Stepping over the barrier: Expanding Diversity at the Burnaby Village Museum". The webinar is the fourth in a series of six webinars presented in partnership by Burnaby Village Museum and Burnaby Public Library. The live webinar was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. Community members were invited to participate by bringing questions during the interactive online sessions. In this webinar speakers and host discuss what it takes to bring more diverse stories into the Burnaby Village Museum and explore the history of discriminatory practices and museological trends at the Burnaby Village Museum and other museums. Speakers highlight recent projects taking place at Burnaby Village Museum to ensure that other diverse stories of communities are being represented and told. Speakers each provide a ten minute presentation followed by discussions. The first speaker in the webinar is Meagan Innes. When talking about place, Meagan talks about her ancestral ties to certain places including the site where Burnaby Village Museum now stands and what it means to her Indigenous ancestors. Meagan shares stories from her grandfather John Cordocedo of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation and how her grandfather, her great grandfather and ancestors have lived, hunted, gathered and traveled on this land. Meagan talks about the work that she’s been involved with at the Burnaby Village Museum including the development of the Indigenous Learning House, the Matriarch’s Garden, the Indigenous History in Burnaby Resource Guide and development of Indigenous educational programing and projects. Meagan reflects on the collaboration and relationships that have developed during this work with Indigenous artists and Indigenous knowledge keepers. The second speaker in the webinar is Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra “Sharn”. Sharn's presentation is titled “From Orientalism and Colonialism to hope and future possibility”. Sharn speaks of her personal experience visiting the Burnaby Village Museum’s Chinese herbalist exhibit with her son and his school in 2019. Sharn expresses the racist impressions that she witnessed from the young students who visited the exhibit and her reaction re-visiting the exhibit in 2021 after the exhibit was revitalized. Sharn describes the much more positive aspects of the revitalized exhibit which transformed it from “Nostalgic Colonialism” to a place of meaningful belonging for racialized communities that includes faces and personal stories. Sharn looks forward to being a part of Burnaby’s next venture which looks at the history of Burnaby’s South Asian Canadian Community and shares some of her research while working on this project. The third speaker in the webinar is Denise Fong. Denise’s presentation is titled “Chinese Canadian History in Burnaby”. Denise provides some background regarding her work as a researcher working for the City of Burnaby. Denise takes us on a journey of her research in compiling non white experiences in Burnaby as well as uncovering personal stories from Burnaby families living and working in Burnaby. Denise points out discriminatory practices within Burnaby including the Chinese and Japanese Exclusion Bylaw in 1892 and the history of Chinese immigration to Canada including the Chinese Head Tax. Denise reflects on her own work, the work of students from UBC and volunteers from the Chinese Canadian History Advisory committee in building relationships with Chinese Canadian families within Burnaby to obtain stories and family records. Denise points out the various projects that these relationships and research have contributed to including; Heritage interpretive plaques installed at the Riverway Golf Course and in the Big Bend area of Burnaby, an award winning exhibit at Burnaby Village Museum “Across the Pacific”, new Chinese Canadian resources available on “Heritage Burnaby”, the revitalization of the Chinese Herbalist shop exhibit “Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee and Co.” at Burnaby Village Museum, the Chinese Market Garden at Burnaby Village Museum, the creation of a "Burnaby Farm Tour" map highlighting Chinese farms in the Big Bend area and a publication titled "Chinese Canadian History in Burnaby Resource Guide". Following the presentations, host Jane Lemke enters a conversation with Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra and Denise Fong. Jane intiates the conversations with questions regarding further work that is necessary for Burnaby Village Museum and other museums to move forward in readdressing the narratives beyond white colonial settler perspectives to include stories of marginalized and racialized people who are under represented and often forgotten.
- History
- Jane Lemke has worked in various museums in the Lower Mainland and has been the Curator at Burnaby Village Museum since 2019. Her educational background includes a Master of Arts degree in History and a Master of Museum Studies degree. Her research focus has been on trauma and memory and its role in shaping Canadian identity. She loves sharing memories and stories of Burnaby with the public. Jane sits on the Council of the BC Museums Association and is the Chair of the BC Museums Association Professional Development and Education Committee.
- Meagan Innes is from Xwmélts'tstn úxwumixw (Capilano Village). She is a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh First Nation Educator and a multidisciplinary Artist. Meagan completed her Masters of Education around examining connection to place, kinship and to spén´em (plant) s7ek_w’í7tel (siblings) pén´em (plant things). She is an emerging artist who is waking up her Ancestral skills and practicing the ways of her Ancestors. She is exploring reshaping pedagogy to embody traditional ways of knowing and being, more specifically Sḵwx̱wú7mesh traditional ways of learning, knowing and being. She had recently completed the First Nations Language Program at Simon Fraser University to become a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh langauge speaker which is the language of her Ancestors.
- Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra (Sharn) is Coordinator of the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley, co-curator of exhibits at the Sikh Heritage Museum, located in the National Historic Site Gur Sikh Temple in Abbotsford, BC, and a sessional faculty in the Department of History at UFV. Sharn’s PhD looks at the affective experiences of racialized museum visitors through a critical race theory lens. She’s a passionate activist, building bridges between community and academia through museum work. She is a past member of the BC Museums Association, and currently a Director with the Pacific Canada Heritage Centre - Museum of Migration.
- Denise Fong is a historical researcher with the City of Burnaby and Ph.D. candidate at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on Chinese Canadian identity and meaning making in heritage spaces. Since 2009, Denise has coordinated a number of historical research and public history projects, including SFU’s From C to C: Chinese Canadian Stories of Migration and UBC’s Chinese Canadian Stories: Uncommon Histories from a Common Past. She co-curated two award-winning Chinese Canadian exhibitions locally — Burnaby Village Museum’s Across the Pacific exhibition and the Chinese Canadian Museum of BC/Museum of Vancouver’s A Seat at the Table exhibition. She is a UBC Public Scholar and currently serves as the research director for UBC's Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Indigenous peoples
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Food
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - First contact with Europeans
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Social life and customs
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Art
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Languages
- Indigenous peoples - Canada - , Treatment of
- Plants
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Buildings - Civic - Museums
- Social Issues - Racism
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Fong, Denise
- Innes, Meagan
- Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation
- Sandhra, Sharanjit Kaur "Sharn" Dr.
- Responsibility
- Lemke, Jane
- Accession Code
- BV022.27.4
- Date
- 22 Sep. 2022
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
Images
Video
Stepping over the barrier: Expanding Diversity at the Burnaby Village Museum, 22 Sep. 2022
Stepping over the barrier: Expanding Diversity at the Burnaby Village Museum, 22 Sep. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2022_0027_0004_002.mp4Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19348
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Anushay Malik Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Dr. Sadhu Binning Location of Interview: Love farmhouse at Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 25, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 3 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:15:57) Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto three separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future exhibits and for researchers to learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby. During the interview, Dr. Binning shares his ancestral background along with his relatives' and his own personal experiences as a South Asian immigrant living and working in British Columbia and Burnaby. Dr. Binning conveys that he’s a Burnaby resident who’s lived in Burnaby since 1973 and that his children were born here. Binning shares his ancestral heritage beginning with his uncle Dhana Singh who emigrated from Punjab to British Columbia in 1931 and began working in the forest industry. He explains how Dhana Singh and another partner owned, operated and worked in small sawmills in the vicinity of Kamloops, Williams Lake and also on Vancouver Island. Binning conveys that in the beginning Dhana Singh and many other South Asian immigrants were not legal residents until 1938. In 1938, about 350 South Asian immigrants (mainly Punjabi) gathered resources to hire a lawyer to obtain permanent residency. Binning mentions that one of the notable South Asians in the group who was also a close friend of his uncle, was Darshan Singh Sangha, a trade unionist who was a founding member of the International Woodworkers of America (IWA) union and an active member of the Communist Party of Canada. Binning conveys how Darshan Singh Sangha returned to India in 1947 to be a part of the revolution, how he was very active in the communist movement in India. While in India, Darshan Singh Sangha, was known as Canadian and thereby adopted “Canadian” as his surname, becoming “Darshan Singh Canadian”. Binning further explains that his uncle Dhana Singh Sangha returned to India in 1951, married and came back to B.C. in 1957 bringing with him, his wife and children. In 1960, with the support of his uncle, Binning’s father, Jit Singh Binning immigrated to British Columbia and began working in sawmills in the lower mainland, Kamloops, Quesnel and on Vancouver Island. Binning clarifies that his uncle, Dhana Singh was able to immigrate to Canada with the support of his cousins from the Tarker Singh Bains family. Binning further describes Darshan Singh Sangha’s involvement with the Communist party and the IWA and how the majority of the members were from the forest industry. As an active and prominent member of the labour movement, Darshan Singh Sangha fought for the rights of South Asians and Chinese who working in the industry and facing racism, unfair wages and discriminatory practices. Binning describes how Darshan Singh Sangha wrote a book in English in 1943, titled “Rise of the New Asia”. Binning conveys how immigrants of Chinese and South Asian decent didn’t have the right to vote in British Columbia and how Darshan Singh Sangha was instrumental in obtaining the right to vote in British Columbia, although he was never given the credit. Binning describes his uncle Dhana Singh as a likeable guy with many friends, first living in Kamloops before moving to Vancouver. Binning imparts how the sport of wrestling is a popular Punjabi sport along with Punjabi kabaddi. He conveys that his uncle became involved in wrestling while working in sawmills. South Asian immigrants had to do physical labour working in sawmills, the work could be tough and could often lead to physical fights. A number of South Asian immigrants working in the mills already had experience as wrestlers from back home. Dhana Singh later left the lumber industry to work in the agriculture sector. Binning explains how immigration rules changed in the 1960s which lead to larger numbers of South Asians immigrating to Canada. Many of these new immigrants were educated and politically conscious. All of these new immigrants faced racism but being politically conscious from an independent India and with the ability to speak English they organized themselves to fight for their rights. Binning imagines the items that his uncle and his father may have brought with them in their suitcase when immigrating to Canada. Binning describes three items, including a rajai (a blanket with cotton inside that is sewn together), a bistra (small attaché case or trunk) and a piece of cloth to lie on. Binning further describes the roles in Indian society as caste divisions and that it was usually women’s work in making the rajais. Binning recollects the locations that his father and his family lived after coming to Vancouver. Binning explains that a few years after living together in Vancouver, he and his family moved to Burnaby in 1973 to be closer to his Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish Binning’s family. Dr. Binning and family lived in a house in Burnaby located on Irmin Street near Royal Oak between 1973 and 1987. While living at this house their children attended McPherson Park Junior High School and later Burnaby South Secondary School. Binning reflects on some of the racism that he and his family have faced while living in Burnaby which led him to write a poem that he published in 1994 titled “No More Watno Dur”. Binning explains the meaning of the title “Watan” meaning “country and everybody” “a country far way from the motherland”. Binning explains the origins of the magazine “Watan” that was started by a friend in 1973. The magazine got its roots in Vancouver in 1973 from an organization called the “Punjabi Literary Association”. Binning became the editor of the magazine in 1976 and his friend joined him as assistant editor in 1978. Binning continued to work as editor until 1983 or 1984 when he returned to school to complete his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. Binning describes the origins of the “Vancouver Sath” that was formed by a small group of South Asians around 1982. Binning was a founding member of the organization and held meetings and rehearsals at his house in Burnaby. Vancouver Sath first started out as an informal discussion forum by a group of politically conscious Punjabi writers and activists. Binning talks about issues and problems that Vancouver Sath addressed including; racism as well as domestic violence in the South Asian community. Binning explains how he and Sukhwant Hundal wrote articles on these issues and others that were happening in the South Asian community in Canada. Binning talks about how in 1983, the group was inspired to begin performing theatrical works after consulting with Gursharan Singh who was from a well known theatrical group from Punjab who were performing in Vancouver. In the beginning the Vancouver Sath’s plays were focused on the problems in Punjab but they soon decided to address social issues in their own South Asian community here in Canada. Binning summarizes and draws attention to, some of the plays that Vancouver Sath has written and performed including; “Picket Line”, about Punjabi women farmworkers’ rights; “Lattan de Bhoot”, about domestic abuse; “A Crop of Poison”; “Kihda Viah” (English translation- “Whose Marriage”) about arranged marriage and others about social issues in the South Asian community. The plays were performed in public schools and community centres in Vancouver and Richmond, Simon Fraser University and some were also performed in Toronto, Calgary and Williams Lake. Binning mentions some of the traditional foods that he likes to eat and where he and his family have shopped to find ingredients. He recalls how his mother, Gurmaje Kaur Binning did all of the cooking and was often cooking all day long. In the sixties, the Binning family address on 13th Avenue in Vancouver was also used as a postal address for many friends and family who’d recently immigrated. When these friends dropped by to pick up their mail, his mother often provided them with tea and food. After Binning and his wife, Jagdish moved to their own home in 1973, he shared in some of the shopping and cooking but his wife did the majority of the work due to his busy schedule. The interview closes with Binning providing an explanation of how “Watno Dur” magazine changed it’s name to “Watan” magazine. Binning reflects on how this came to be, when he made the decision to get an education in Canada and to stay here, not just as a “Canadian” but as a “Punjabi Canadian.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Dr. Sadhu Binning was born on May 10, 1947 to mother Gurmej Kaur and father Jeet Singh Binning. Due to lack of proper records management in India at the time of his birth, it is believed that he was actually born sometime in December of 1947. He grew up alongside two brothers and one sister in a village located in Kapurthala, Punjab. Dr. Binning attended secondary school in the nearby city of Phagwara, Punjab although he did not complete his education here. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed reading both Punjabi and Hindi novels and learned how to read Urdu as well. Dr. Binning’s uncle, Dhana Singh immigrated to Canada in 1933 and returned to India in 1953. When Dhana Singh returned to Canada in 1957, he sponsored Dr. Binning’s father, Jeet Singh Binning to immigrate. Dhana Singh co-owned a few saw mills in British Columbia and also worked in the truck driving industry. Dr. Binning remembers that some people who had lived in Canada would visit their village and that they appeared to be strong and healthy and looked happy. He also noticed that they would eat meat, so whenever they would visit there would be meat available. In 1967, when he was nineteen and a half years old, Dr. Binning immigrated Canada to join his father. He recalls his father and uncle and a friend arriving at the airport to pick him up. During his first few days, Dr. Binning made the decision to remove his turban and beard upon receiving advice from his uncle. Dr. Binning first obtained work on a farm in Abbotsford, working alongside his mother. While working, Dr. Binning also attended English classes in Vancouver. Dr. Binning’s Uncle Dhana Singh worked in a Vancouver saw mill and tried to help find work for his nephew but was unsuccessful. Dr. Binning soon found work at a saw mill in Avola and worked there until the end of the summer until a friend helped find him work in a saw mill in North Vancouver. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with friends. In 1970, Dr. Binning left the saw mill after obtaining a job at the post office. The post office offered lower wages than working at the mill but Dr. Binning believed that he would become more educated working here. While working as a postman, Dr. Binning recalls facing a lot of discrimination and racism and was often referred to as a ‘Paki’ multiple times a day. In 1973, Dr. Binning married Jagish Sihota. Sadhu and Jagdish originated from nearby villages in India and met each other in Canada. Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish worked at the Royal Bank of Canada for thirty years until her retirement. While working, she also looked after the household and their son and daughter. Jagdish also handwrote a magazine, “Watno Dur’ (English translation: ‘away from homeland’) which was distributed in the community. In 1976, Dr. Binning became the editor of the magazine and the name was later changed to “Watan’ as they had accepted their new homeland of Canada. While working at the post office, Dr. Binning also attended night school starting in eighth grade. After receiving his high school diploma, he was accepted to Simon Fraser University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology and in 1986 he obtained a Masters degree from Simon Fraser University. While attending university, Dr. Binning was very active within the community and wanted to work to improve society. He first thought that he would return to India to contribute and improve rights in his homeland but upon seeing the prevalence of the movements in Canada, he realized that work needed to be done here too. In 1983, Dr. Binning became a founding member and contributor to a theatrical collective known as “Vancouver Sath”. The theatrical group produced plays that represented societal issues and were invited to perform at multiple conferences throughout British Columbia and Canada. The group focused and acknowledged the many issues in Punjab and in Canada. One of the plays that the group produced focused on the exploitation of Punjabi women who worked on farms in Canada. Dr. Binning continued to be involved as an integral member of Vancouver Sath until 1995. Over the years, Dr. Binning has strongly lobbied for Punjabi language education and between 1988 and 2008 he worked as Punjabi instructor at the University of British Columbia. He first worked as a teaching assistant at UBC under Dr. Harjot Oberoi and due to low wages, he simultaneously worked at the Post Office. In 2019, Dr. Binning received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UBC in recognition of his work. Since 1973, Dr. Binning has lived in Burnaby and has resided in the same home that he and his wife Jagdish purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Industries - Logging/lumber
- Industries - Forestry
- Foods
- Migration
- Organizations - Societies and Clubs
- Organizations - Unions
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Performances
- Performances - Dramatic Performances
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Names
- Binning, Dr. Sadhu
- Binning, Gurmaje Kaur
- Binning, Jit Singh
- Binning, Jagdish
- Sangha, Darshan Singh
- Canadian Farmworkers Union
- Hundal, Sukhwant
- Sangra, Harjinder
- Singh, Dhana
- Vancouver Sath
- Responsibility
- Petrusa, Kate
- Malik, Anushay
- Accession Code
- BV022.29.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0003_004.mp3![Fraser Merchants Association annual dinner, [199-] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2023/2023_0025_0010_001.jpg?width=280)
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…
- 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](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2023/2023_0025_0010_001.jpg)
Construction of stage 4 at Bridge Studios
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19268
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- May 1995
- Collection/Fonds
- George Bergson fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. negative ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of construction of new stage 4, looking south at Bridge Studios. Excavated area next to building in preparation for laying of underground pipe. Bridge Studios is located at 2400 Boundary Road Burnaby.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- George Bergson fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. negative ; 35 mm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of construction of new stage 4, looking south at Bridge Studios. Excavated area next to building in preparation for laying of underground pipe. Bridge Studios is located at 2400 Boundary Road Burnaby.
- Names
- Bridge Studios
- Accession Code
- BV022.28.14
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- May 1995
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 3200
- Scan Date
- 2022-03-22
- Scale
- 100
- Photographer
- Bergson, George
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photographer George Bergson negative #: "33098C_1"
Images
