Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19346

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1600-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Oct. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (111 min., 51 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (111 min., 51 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar discusses and provides in…

1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (111 min., 51 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (111 min., 51 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Nadeem Parmar Location of Interview: Residence of Nadeem Parmar in Burnaby Interview Date: October 7, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:51:51 min Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar discusses and provides information on; his ancestral background, his education, his employment background, his experiences of racial discrimmination as a South Asian immigrant, saw mills established by South Asian relations in Paldi (Vancouver Island), in North Vancouver and Burnaby, family relations in the South Asian Canadian community and in regions in Punjab, the caste system, his literary works, locations of family homes in Burnaby, the architectural design of his house, personal stories and anecdotal information as a South Asian Canadian living and working in Canada. 00:00 – 01:45 The framework and purpose of the interview is explained to interviewee Nadeem Parmar by interviewers Rajdeep and Anushay Malik. The interviewers explain how the information from this interview can be drawn on for Burnaby Village Museum’s future exhibits and also how researchers will learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby through residents’ stories. Interview begins with Nadeem providing his full name "Kulwant Singh Parmar". He clarifies that his name was given to him by his grandfather who was a civil engineer and that his father also worked as a civil engineer. Nadeem expresses that he was born with a “silver spoon in his mouth” as a descendent of his maternal grandfather who was a successful landlord. Nadeem explains that when the Partition of India came into effect, (1947) he was 11 years old. He and his family left the partitioned side, his native village was located in Punjab and his forefathers were located in Rajasthan. 3:20 – 4:57 Nadeem explains further about his forefathers who came from Rajasthan. He shares information about his ancestor on his father’s side, named Vijay Singh who was friends with Emperor Jahangir. When fighting began against Jahangir he left the area to head to the middle of central India, then to the Punjab area with small states. As a clan, as a Parmar, he conveys there were about eleven or twelve villages with the same name. Interviewer, Anushay helps Nadeem to clarify the time period of this information. Nadeem refers to the time period being similar to the epic historical film “Moghal-e-Azam” and Anushay confirms the time period being the 1600s when they left Rajasthan. 4:58 – 10:59 Interviewer Anushay asks Nadeem to about his migration to Canada. Nadeem conveys that his first ancestor on his in-laws side of the family migrated around 1889. Further discussion ensues about reading Punjabi and how interviewer Rajdeep can read Punjabi and that she comes from the village of "Lakhpur" in Punjab. Rajdeep notes that “Lakhpur” is near "Phagwara". Nadeem clarifies that his village is "Panchat" and this family used to live in "Phagwara". and Nadeem and Rajdeep compare their familiarity and memories of the area. Nadeem conveys some of his comments in Punjabi and then changes to English. Nadeem recollects when the Japanese bombarded Shillong, he was around seven years old and attended missionary school. The only languages that were taught were English and Persian. Nadeem conveys that his mother had hopes of Nadeem becoming an army officer and moving up the ranks but Nadeem wasn’t interested. Nadeem attended college, graduated with a Bachelor of Science, BSC with Physics and Chemistry, followed by another Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and finally a degree in his favourite subject in the language of Urdu. He completed these degrees in Punjab in Doaba College, Jalandher. Nadeem recollects how he started teaching but wasn’t getting paid very well. When he was at college, with encouragement from his professor, Veer Pankalia [sic] he began writing poetry and short plays. His professor also introduced him to a famous poet of Punjab, Mila Ram Offa [sic] and he gave him the name of Nadeem. Nadeem explains the meaning of the name “Nadeem” “…the one who know about it, inside out…” even though we generally think of the meaning being “friend” it’s not just about friend. 11:00 -24:48 Nadeem provides background information on how he ended up marrying his future wife who was born in India and immigrated to Canada with her family. Nadeem explains how the marriage was arranged through family relations that were already established in Punjab over a century ago. One of his wife’s ancestors, head of the family called “baniye” (traders) immigrated to Canada in [1899]. This relation returned to Punjab where he had nephews, the youngest of the nephews was Nadeem’s father (Lashman Singh Manhas) in law’s father (Sher Singh Manhas). He expresses that his wife’s ancestor couldn’t bring Nadeem’s father in law’s father since he was only 12 or 13 years old but he brought three of the nephews back to Canada with him. The nephews were named, Pola Singh, Ginaya Singh and Doman Singh (also named Dolmans). He describes how the group left India but it took them two to three years before they arrived in Canada. The group travelled to Burma, Indonesia and Hong Kong before landing in San Francisco. From San Francisco they walked and worked on the rail line before entering Canada and arriving in Grand Forks. The men got work on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and eventually made their way to the lower mainland. Nadeem conveys that the younger brother of Ginaya Singh, Maya Singh joined the others in Canada taking the same route, arriving in Bridal Falls where they were working at a saw mill and in CP rail construction. He describes Maya Singh as business minded and since he was too young to work in the mill, he began working as a cook and then began growing potatoes on land that he leased from a Dutch land owner. The local mill at Bridal Falls was facing bankruptcy and Maya Singh arranged to lease the mill, eventually buying it. From there the group moved their business to Strawberry Hill in Surrey and when the sale of logs declined, they moved over to Vancouver Island and established a sawmill with Doman Singh in the community of Paldi (originally known as Mayo Lumber) near Duncan. He explains further how the South Asian community helped each other like they did back home. He clarifies that his father in law’s father is the youngest cousin of Ginaya and Doman Singh and when he died, his father in law’s younger brother started Kashmir Lumber. Eventually his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) and the rest of the whole family including cousins and nephews were sponsored by their relations and immigrated to Canada. Nadeem explains how in 1959, his brother in law returned home to Punjab to get married, bringing his family with him. He tells of how during this time period, a marriage was arranged by his parents for him to marry his future wife. Nadeem recollects how this came to be. Nadeem and his wife Surjeet married in Punjab in December 1960, Nadeem was 24 years old and his wife was 18 years old. 24:49 – 39:42 Nadeem describes how he obtained his teaching degree from Ramgarhia College in Phagwara (located in the Kapurhtala district of Punjab) and after a disagreement with a teacher at home, he decided to go to England. He explains how he joined his brother who had moved to England and was working as a labourer. Nadeem tells of the difficulties he faced applying for a teaching job in England and how he had to go back to school to help with his English pronunciation. Nadeem explains that after taking this course, he got work teaching Grade two students which he felt was below his qualifications (he mentions that while living in Punjab, he was a Secondary School teacher) and the pay was very low. He discovered that his brother was making more money working as a labourer so Nadeem became discouraged and quit. When Nadeem couldn’t find work as a labourer, his brother advised him to shave off his beard. Nadeem conveys how difficult it was for him to shave off his beard and how once he was clean shaven he got work as a sweeper in a factory. He shares his experience of working in the factory and of how with his former education he got himself promoted to a more technical position. With encouragement from his employer, Nadeem enrolled in technical courses which lead to him obtaining an HNC Engineering Degree. He completed the course work in two years, obtaining skills in microwave communication becoming the senior test engineer at the factory. While working in this position, Nadeem shares how he suffered discrimination when he was passed over for a senior chief engineer position at the factory by a less educated and experienced employee. 39:43 – 53:38 Nadeem recollects how things changed for him in the 1970s. It began with his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) passing away in 1970 while he and his family were living on 18th Street in Burnaby. His father in law had been working at the saw mill, Kashmir Lumber Company in North Vancouver that was owned by his father in law’s younger brother (Kashmir Singh Manhas). The mill had burnt down and many of the workers lost everything. Nadeem confides that during this time, his wife was suffering from depression and wanted to be with her mother back in Canada now that her father had passed away. Nadeem emphasizes how his wife’s family (over 300 relatives) in Canada often get together every year on July 1st in Paldi near Duncan. In 1972, Nadeem arrived in Canada on his own to find work but was unsuccessful so he and his wife made plans to move to Uganda where he was offered a job. In 1973, when his visa didn’t come through for Uganda, Nadeem, his wife and two children decided to come to Canada. Nadeem describes that after several unsuccessful experiences to find skilled work in Canada, he eventually found work at Canadian National Telecommunications. During this time, Nadeem and his family lived with his father in law’s family at 5216 Pandora Street in Burnaby and in 1974, Nadeem purchased a house at 131 Fell Avenue in Burnaby. Nadeem provides further details of when the families lived at these different addresses and how in 1983 he had a house built on Woodsworth Street where he is still living now. He conveys some of the history of the lot where his current house resides including details on the lot subdivision, lot ownership and the cost of building his new house. Nadeem tells of how he designed his home with help from his son who was working as an apprentice with architect Arthur Erikson at the time. He describes the architectural interior as an open concept design, in an “L” shape in honour of his father “Lakhmir Singh”. Nadeem shares information on his mother’s name which was Jamna (prior to her marriage) and became Davinder Kaur after she was married. (Note: Jamna was her name before marriage. Traditionally after a woman is married, her husband’s family changes her first name because she is now considered a part of a new family). 53:39 – 58:56 Nadeem provides information on his career working as CNCP technician working with CPIC systems and how he was promoted to a new position. Nadeem inserts a quote from a Punjabi poem which he translates to English as “Somebody asked the blind people. What do you need? He said, do you need two eyes?, he said, what else do I need?”. Nadeem conveys how in 1986 his mother passed away so he went back home to the village of Lakhpur where his father and younger brother were living. His father and younger brother were on their own and in 1986 they decided to demolish the family home. He explains that there’s a college there now and that a library was built at this location in the name of his grandfather. 58:57 – 1:04:38 Nadeem shares how he suffered a heart attack in 1990 during the marriage ceremony of his son in Williams Lake. Nadeem talks about the complicated relations of the South Asian families and the saw mill owners in Paldi and comments on the problems with the caste system that provokes discrimination within the South Asian community. Nadeem refers to disputes that arose amongst mill owners and investors that included Kapoor Singh Siddoo, Mayo Singh, Gurdial Singh Teja and Ginaya Singh which caused problems amongst his family and also lead to Kapoor Singh selling his portion of the mill. Nadeem spells “Ginaya” Singh’s name and explains that this name is the nickname for “Krishna”. Nadeem provides his insight into the joint ownership of the saw mills located in Paldi and how the the joint ownership was dissolved in 1952. Nadeem clarifies that Ginaya Singh also left Paldi and that Ginaya Singh’s wife is his mother in law’s aunt and that he also moved to Burnaby. Nadeem explains the proper name spelling of mill owner “Mayo Singh” and that the correct spelling is actually “Mayan Singh” but he changed it to “Mayo” when it was mis-pronounced. Nadeem also comments on the problems that he encountered in 1970 on the pronunciation of his own name while living in England and at one point his employer referred to him as “Paul”. 1:04:39 – 1:18:50 Nadeem relays that when he emigrated from India and to Canada that he carried his personal possessions in a small suitcase made from cardboard since the weight limit on the airplane was just three pounds. He conveys that many of his relations have all suffered from heart problems including Ginaya Singh and his children. Nadeem shares that Ginaya Singh’s three sons all lived in Burnaby. Nadeem conveys that many South Asians lived in Burnaby and many worked at saw mills in North Vancouver and in the L&K sawmill near Pemberton. Nadeem explains further about the how the disagreements came to be between Mayo Singh and Kapoor Singh. He describes how each had a different business strategy in harvesting lumber and that there were feuds amongst the families. Nadeem provides further details on the root of the family feuds. Nadeem provides definitions for certain Punjabi terms that he’s using including “Mehta”(meaning lowest class of farmers, foreigner as well head as a title given to people of a clan living in the area) and ‘Panchat”, the name of his family village that was built and founded by five brothers and one nephew (Panj- meaning five and the sound “cht” meaning six). Nadeem explains that these terms were given to people from his own clan living in the area because it was small. Nadeem explains further about status that is based on money and the Punjabi terms “Parsu”, “Parsa” and “Pasaram” that are often used to describe a person. When you are poor the term “Parsu” is used and when you become rich the term “Pasaram” is used. Nadeem refers to Mayo Singh as a Pasaram as the second most successful millner in British Columbia, second to Frederick John Hart. Nadeem mentions that Ginaya Singh, elder brother to Mayo Singh helped provide the finances to start the mill and when there was a disagreement, Ginaya Singh left the mill business, moved his family to Burnaby and began working in insurance. Nadeem shares the sad story of Ginaya Singh’s sudden death (in 1953). Nadeem states that many of the people who left the mills at Paldi went to work at the Kapoor Mill in Burnaby and some relocated to the Interior of British Columbia. Nadeem mentions that his father in law (Lashman Singh Manhas) was able to purchase a house on 18th Street in along with other residences that he bought with his hard earned money working in the farms and mills, 16 hours per day, seven days a week. 1:18:51 – 1:32:04 Nadeem explains why he thinks that most South Asian people worked in the mills in the earlier days. Nadeem conveys that since Sikh men wore beards and turbans they encountered discrimination and were unable to get work in the business community. Nadeem shares his own personal experiences of wearing a turban and the discrimination he’s encountered while living in Scotland and Canada. Nadeem mentions that a defense committee was formed to protect the Gurdwaras and people’s homes from being vandalized due to racial discrimination. Nadeem describes some of the troubles that he’s encountered in his own neighbourhood when he had to call the police. Nadeem shares a personal experience just after 9/11 where he was the target of racial discrimination in the parking lot of Burnaby Lake. Nadeem emphasizes that he has experienced many incidents of racial discrimination, especially in the workplace and that this was not unusual for him. 1:32:05 – 1:36:19 Nadeem talks about his interest in writing and his many literary works including 12 novels that he’s written in Punjabi. Nadeem highlights a few books that he’s written including a book titled “Rape” and another one titled “Sponsorship” which conveys the complex nature of people immigrating to Canada. Nadeem mentions a particular book about AIDS, titled “Wide Net” that he’s been trying to get published. Nadeem speaks to the challenges and high costs of trying to get his works published. Nadeem provides a brief synopsis of his book “Wide Net”. Nadeem relays that this is a personal account of a gay couple that he knew where one of the partners died of AIDS and that the couple gave Nadeem permission to tell their tragic story. 1:36:20 – 1:51:51 Nadeem talks about his children and compares their experiences to his own as a South Asian immigrant. Nadeems talks about the accomplishments of his son, his daughter and grandchildren including their education and careers. Nadeem says that his children are well educated and well established in their careers. Nadeem’s children attended Capitol Hill Elementary School and North Burnaby High School in Burnaby. Nadeem shares specifics of his son’s career history. Nadeem expresses that he still considers Canada to be the best country for opportunities and that he prefers to live in Burnaby rather than Surrey and shares some personal anecdotes. Nadeem lists some local places that he’s shopped for South Asian groceries and spices rather than travelling to Surrey. He mentions shopping at Kelly Douglas, stores in Chinatown, small grocers on Capitol Hill, Patel’s on Commercial Drive and Main Street. As an aside Nadeem mentions that he worked as a security guard and the wages that he earned. Nadeem comments that he has been awarded various certificates and certifications from his education and career over the years, including a Bachelor of Science. The interviewers further express their interest in seeing the cardboard case that Nadeem brought with him when immigrating to Canada. In closing Nadeem states that his favourite food from back home was kheer (rice pudding).

History: Interviewee biography: Kalwant Singh "Nadeem" Parmar was born June 9, 1936, Chuck 138 in Lyalpur (India before 1947) to parents Lakhmir Singh Parmar and Davinder Kaur Jamana Parmar. Nadeem grew up in the village of Panchat in the northern region of Punjab, India. Nadeem married his wife Surjeet in Punjab in 1960. After marrying the couple immigrated to England where Nadeem was already working. While living in England, Nadeem and Surjeet had two children. After Surjeet's father died in Canada in 1972, Nadeem, Surjeet and their two children immgrated to Canada, joining Surjeet's family who were living in Burnaby. After Nadeem immigrated to Burnaby in 1973 he worked various jobs before working with CN/CP Telecommunications. Nadeem holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Teaching from Punjab University and a diploma from the London Board of Education (L.B.E.) and a P.Eng. from Lancaster. He has seven books published in Punjabi, three in Urdu and is published in eight anthologies. He is fluent in Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi. 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: Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores; Buildings - Industrial - Saw Mills; Buildings - Industrial - Factories; Education; Employment; Industries - Logging/lumber; Migration; Occupations - Engineers; Occupations - Millworkers; Occupations - Teachers; Occupations - Writers; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism

Names: Parmar, Kalwant Singh "Nadeem"; Kapoor Sawmills Limited; Siddoo, Kapoor Singh; Teja, Gurdial Singh; Parmar, Surjeet Kaur; Manhas, Ghania Singh; Singh, Mayo; Manhas, Kashmir Singh; Manhas, Sher Singh; Manhas, Budhan Kaur; Manhas, Lashman Singh

Responsibility: Malik, Anushay; Rajdeep

Geographic Access: Woodsworth Street

Accession Code: BV022.29.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1600-2022] (interview content), interviewed 7 Oct. 2022

Media Type: Sound Recording

Historic Neighbourhood: Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area; Capitol Hill Area

Related Material: See also BV022.29.5 - Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Spelling of "Ginaya Singh" found as "Ghania Singh Manhas" in obituary and death certificate; Interview is conducted in English with various segments of discussion in Punjabi; Transcript of interview available upon request

Audio Tracks

Interview with Kalwant Singh

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0001_003.mp3

Burnaby mill fire

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45458

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1979

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 24 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a Burnaby planner and chipper mill that caught on fire. Two firemen are visible in the foreground, silhouetted against the flames.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1979

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 24 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-353

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of a Burnaby planner and chipper mill that caught on fire. Two firemen are visible in the foreground, silhouetted against the flames.

Subjects: Occupations - Fire Fighters; Natural Phenomena - Fires; Buildings - Industrial - Mills

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "BURNABY MILL BURNS ... Burnaby firefighters are silhouetted by flames ripping through a planer and chipper mill early this morning at 5744 Byrne Road. The fire was contained in the main building of the $500,000 mill. Damage has been estimated at $200,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation."

Geographic Access: Byrne Road

Street Address: 5744 Byrne Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Images

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

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

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

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

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

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

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

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

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

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

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

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

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

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

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

Accession Code: BV022.29.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

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

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

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

Documents

2022_0029_0005_004

Audio Tracks

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

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

Tony Schmand with Mayor Tom Constable

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45992

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 1973

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 14 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of British Columbia Association for the Mentally Retarded president Tony Schmand with Mayor Tom Constable performing the sod turning ceremony for the site of a facility to accomodate the developmentally challenged in Burnaby.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 1973

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 14 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-887

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of British Columbia Association for the Mentally Retarded president Tony Schmand with Mayor Tom Constable performing the sod turning ceremony for the site of a facility to accomodate the developmentally challenged in Burnaby.

Subjects: Land Clearing; Ceremonies

Names: Schmand, Tony; Constable, Thomas W. "Tom"

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Battistoni, Peter

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Banff Avenue

Images

Tony Schmand with Mayor Tom Constable, October 1973 thumbnail

Widening of Scott Road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription56677

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: March 1976, published March 24, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 14 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the process of widening Scott Road in Surrey BC. The process was undertaken by the provincial government. Citizens were upset as this process included cutting down century-old trees (stumps of these former trees are visible in this photograph).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: March 1976, published March 24, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 14 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-531

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of the process of widening Scott Road in Surrey BC. The process was undertaken by the provincial government. Citizens were upset as this process included cutting down century-old trees (stumps of these former trees are visible in this photograph).

Subjects: Geographic Features - Roads; Construction - Road Construction; Land Clearing

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "Road-widening on Scott Rd. in Surrey has taken its toll of old trees."

Images

Widening of Scott Road, March 1976, published March 24, 1976 thumbnail

Chevron Oil Refinery

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription79435

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: September 5, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard

Scope and Content: Photograph shows an aerial view of the Chevron Oil Refinery at the north end of Willingdon Avenue with the North Shore in the background. The photo was taken from the top of Penzance Drive.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: September 5, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 556-287

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2013-13

Scope and Content: Photograph shows an aerial view of the Chevron Oil Refinery at the north end of Willingdon Avenue with the North Shore in the background. The photo was taken from the top of Penzance Drive.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial; Buildings - Industrial - Refineries

Names: Chevron Corporation

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Scope note taken directly from BPL photograph description.; 1 b&w copy negative : 10 x 12.5 cm accompanying; Photographers identified by surnames only: Carr and Vardeman

Geographic Access: Eton Street

Street Address: 4403 Eton Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Images

Chevron Oil Refinery

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription79436

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: September 12, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard

Scope and Content: Photograph shows the entrance gate to the Chevron Oil Refinery at the north end of Willingdon Avenue, with a view of the North Shore in the background.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: September 12, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 556-288

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2013-13

Scope and Content: Photograph shows the entrance gate to the Chevron Oil Refinery at the north end of Willingdon Avenue, with a view of the North Shore in the background.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial; Buildings - Industrial - Refineries

Names: Chevron Corporation

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Scope note taken directly from BPL photograph description.; 1 b&w copy negative : 10 x 12.5 cm accompanying; Photographers identified by surnames only: Carr and Vardeman

Geographic Access: Eton Street

Street Address: 4403 Eton Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Images

Chevron Oil Refinery, September 12, 1976 thumbnail

Gulf Oil Refinery

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription79437

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: September 12, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard

Scope and Content: Photograph shows a truck coming out of the Gulf Oil Refinery on Barnet Road near the boundary of Burnaby and Coquitlam.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: September 12, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 556-289

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2013-13

Scope and Content: Photograph shows a truck coming out of the Gulf Oil Refinery on Barnet Road near the boundary of Burnaby and Coquitlam.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial; Buildings - Industrial - Refineries; Transportation - Trucks

Names: Gulf Oil

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Scope note taken directly from BPL photograph description.; 1 b&w copy negative : 10 x 12.5 cm accompanying; Photographers identified by surnames only: Carr and Vardeman

Geographic Access: Barnet Road

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Images

Gulf Oil Refinery, September 12, 1976 thumbnail

Surveying for the construction of a log cabin

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13696

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1976]

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. slide ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a group of men surveying for the construction of a log cabin. The man in the centre of the photogaph is using a level. In the summer of 1976, Heritage Village Museum offered a two day log cabin building course under the expert instruction of Earl Carter.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Series: Century Park Museum Association photograph collection series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. slide ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a group of men surveying for the construction of a log cabin. The man in the centre of the photogaph is using a level. In the summer of 1976, Heritage Village Museum offered a two day log cabin building course under the expert instruction of Earl Carter.

Subjects: Buildings - Residential - Cabins; Land - Land Surveying

Names: Burnaby Village Museum; Carter, Earl

Accession Code: BV020.5.888

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1976]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 2400

Scan Date: September 1, 2020

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; See also BV020.5.709 for documentary film titled "Cabin" directed and produced by James (Jim) Bizzochi - documenting the construction of the log cabin in Heritage Village

Images

Surveying for the construction of a log cabin, [1976] thumbnail

Interview with Sev Morin by Rod Fowler April 4, 1990 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory538

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1950-1990

Length: 00:06:16

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s description of Burnaby’s growth and business development along Kingsway and Hastings, the Lake City Industrial Park, and the purchase of property in 1958 for the Heritage Park and Art Gallery.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s description of Burnaby’s growth and business development along Kingsway and Hastings, the Lake City Industrial Park, and the purchase of property in 1958 for the Heritage Park and Art Gallery.

Date Range: 1950-1990

Photo Info: Sev Morin (left) of Severin's in Burnaby (formerly the Gai Paree) hosting a gala New Year's celebration, 1979. Item no. 480-712

Length: 00:06:16

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial; Buildings - Civic; Buildings - Industrial; Buildings - Schools - Universities and Colleges

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood); Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood); Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood); Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area; Lake City Area; Burnaby Mountain Area; Kingsway-Beresford Area; Douglas-Gilpin Area

Interviewer: Fowler, Rod

Interview Date: April 4, 1990

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Severin "Sev" Morin, conducted by Rod Fowler. Sev Morin was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about Sev Morin’s banquet hall, restaurant and night club business on Kingsway, originally named the “Gai Paree Supper Club” (1947-1976) and later “Severin’s” (1976-1985) and “Diego’s” (1985-1994), its function as a Burnaby landmark, and the entertainment and political people he met through his business. He also describes his many volunteer activities in Burnaby, including member of the SFU Senate, Rotary Club, Variety Club and Telethon, fund raising for Burnaby Hospital, and tourism related groups, and his political work for the federal Liberal party. He talks about his parents’ origins, the lives of his brothers Rudy and Rene, and the family’s involvement in establishing the “Gai Paree”. He also shares his views about the business and cultural development of Burnaby. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.

Biographical Notes: Severin “Sev” Rene Morin was born September 21, 1927, in Bonneville, Alberta, to Rene Pierre Morin (1878-1963) and Anne Marie (nee Lachiver) Morin (1886-1956). Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Morin and their son Rene Francois (1905-1954) immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, from France in 1913, where Rene Pierre Morin worked for the C.N.R. and a second son Adolphe “Rudy” Ferdinand (1922-1969) was born, followed by their third son Severin. In 1943, after R.P. Morin retired, the family moved to Burnaby to a house on Sperling Avenue. Sometime earlier the two older Morin brothers found work in Trail at the smelter and developed musical careers. In 1946/47 the Morin family purchased property on Kingsway and built a banquet hall, the “Gai Paree Supper Club”. Sev and Rudy Morin managed the club and Rene F. Morin moved to Burnaby to join them with his band. The supper club, with its live music and dance floor, became a popular meeting place and wedding venue, eventually expanding into a restaurant and nightclub in the 1970s. The “Gai Paree” was renamed “Severin’s” in 1976 and “Diego’s” in 1985, closing finally in 1994. Sev Morin’s business life included three record stores which he owned with his friend Jack Cullen. Through these businesses Sev Morin was well known in the entertainment and hospitality industry. He and his restaurant also hosted political and social events that made the restaurant a community landmark. Sev Morin contributed many volunteer hours to community and charitable organizations, including an appointment to the SFU Senate, fundraising for the Burnaby Hospital, Director of the Variety Club and Rotary Club, and consultant for a variety of tourism related ventures. He also was active in the federal Liberal Party. Sev Morin and his wife Pauline married in 1950 and had three children. Sev Morin died at age 86 on March 28, 2014.

Total Tracks: 10

Total Length: 00:56:44

Interviewee Name: Morin, Severin "Sev"

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

Collection/Fonds: SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds

Series: Centennial Oral History project series

Transcript Available: Transcript available

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

Images

Sev Morin (left) of Severin's in Burnaby (formerly the Gai Paree) hosting a gala New Year's celebration, 1979. Item no. 480-712 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track two of interview with Sev Morin

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-021/MSS187-021_Track%202.mp3

Warehouses - Burnaby Lake

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription93627

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 22, 1977

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of commercial and industrial buildings by Burnaby Lake on Winston Street. The photograph is taken from a high point, facing south. The photograph shows the Furniture Fair warehouse and parking lot in the foreground and the Continental Can Company plant and its water tower are in the back…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 22, 1977

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 556-584

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2017-57

Scope and Content: Photograph of commercial and industrial buildings by Burnaby Lake on Winston Street. The photograph is taken from a high point, facing south. The photograph shows the Furniture Fair warehouse and parking lot in the foreground and the Continental Can Company plant and its water tower are in the background.

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial - Stores; Buildings - Industrial - Factories; Structures - Water Tanks and Towers

Names: Continental Can Co.

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Surridge, Jack

Notes: Title taken from project information form; Accompanied by a project information form and 1 photograph (b&w negative ; 9.5 x 12.5 cm); BPL no. 33

Geographic Access: Winston Street; Burnaby Lake

Historic Neighbourhood: Lozells (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Government Road Area

Images

Warehouses - Burnaby Lake, October 22, 1977 thumbnail

Burnaby property tax assessment ledger no date - pre 1898

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1118

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: J.D.B.

Publication Date: 1977

Call Number: 971.1 BUR

1 image 1 document

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection

Material Type: Textual Record

Call Number: 971.1 BUR

Author: J.D.B.

Place of Publication: Burnaby

Publication Date: 1977

Physical Description: 96 p. (typewritten) + title page

Library Subject (LOC): Land titles

Subjects: Land - Land Surveying; Taxes

Object History: Compiled July-August 1977, Heritage Village Archives

Notes: Unpublished research document: "Burnaby Property Tax Assessment Ledger / No Date --- Pre 1898 / Compiled July-August 1977 / Heritage Village Archives / Original Document No. / Copy #1 / J.D.B./77" -- title page

Images

Documents

971.1BUR_001

Real Estate - Surveyor's office building

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14680

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1977]

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. slide ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Real Estate Office and Surveyor's building being moved and installed on the southeast end of Hill Street inside of Heritage Village. The building is elevated on wood cribbing piles prior to being lowered over he foundation area. The Royal Bank building is visible to the right.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Series: Heritage Village Museum exhibits and artifacts series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. slide ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Real Estate Office and Surveyor's building being moved and installed on the southeast end of Hill Street inside of Heritage Village. The building is elevated on wood cribbing piles prior to being lowered over he foundation area. The Royal Bank building is visible to the right.

History: The building was originally located at 3043 (pre-1958) / 6108 Patterson Avenue, Lot 22, Block 33, District Lot 151, Plan 2002. It was built ca. 1929, possibly by Mr. Cuthbert Pratt. Over the years it was used as a confectionary store, grocery store, home, and small boarding house. By 1977, it was operating as the Magee Grocery Store. The building was moved to BVM in May 1977 and then adapted to look like the original Dow, Fraser & Co. Ltd. real estate building.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - Museums; Businesses - Real Estate Agencies; Occupations - Land Surveyors

Names: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV020.5.1509

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1977]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 2400

Scan Date: 17-Nov-2020

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Real Estate - Surveyor's office building

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14684

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1977]

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. slide ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Real Estate Office and Surveyor's building on the southeast end of Hill Street inside of Heritage Village. Exterior signage above the door and window reads: "BRANCH / DOW, FRASER & CO LIMITED / (A TRUST COMPANY) / REAL ESTATE_LOANS_FIRE INSURANCE" ; "REAL ESTATE".

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Series: Heritage Village Museum exhibits and artifacts series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. slide ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Real Estate Office and Surveyor's building on the southeast end of Hill Street inside of Heritage Village. Exterior signage above the door and window reads: "BRANCH / DOW, FRASER & CO LIMITED / (A TRUST COMPANY) / REAL ESTATE_LOANS_FIRE INSURANCE" ; "REAL ESTATE".

History: The building was originally located at 3043 (pre-1958) / 6108 Patterson Avenue, Lot 22, Block 33, District Lot 151, Plan 2002. It was built ca. 1929, possibly by Mr. Cuthbert Pratt. Over the years it was used as a confectionary store, grocery store, home, and small boarding house. By 1977, it was operating as the Magee Grocery Store. The building was moved to BVM in May 1977 and then adapted to look like the original Dow, Fraser & Co. Ltd. real estate building.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - Museums; Businesses - Real Estate Agencies; Occupations - Land Surveyors

Names: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV020.5.1512

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1977]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 2400

Scan Date: 17-Nov-2020

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Real Estate - Surveyor's office building

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14687

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1977]

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. slide ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the south side of Real Estate Office and Surveyor's building newly installed at the southeast corner of Hill Street inside of Heritage Village. Two large picture windows and entrance door to the Hill & Burnett Surveyor's office have been installed.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Century Park Museum Association fonds

Series: Heritage Village Museum exhibits and artifacts series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. slide ; 35 mm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the south side of Real Estate Office and Surveyor's building newly installed at the southeast corner of Hill Street inside of Heritage Village. Two large picture windows and entrance door to the Hill & Burnett Surveyor's office have been installed.

History: The building was originally located at 3043 (pre-1958) / 6108 Patterson Avenue, Lot 22, Block 33, District Lot 151, Plan 2002. It was built ca. 1929, possibly by Mr. Cuthbert Pratt. Over the years it was used as a confectionary store, grocery store, home, and small boarding house. By 1977, it was operating as the Magee Grocery Store. The building was moved to BVM in May 1977 and then adapted to look like the original Dow, Fraser & Co. Ltd. real estate building.

Subjects: Buildings - Civic - Museums; Businesses - Real Estate Agencies; Occupations - Land Surveyors

Names: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV020.5.1515

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1977]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 2400

Scan Date: 17-Nov-2020

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Bay Western Distribution Centre

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription79420

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 23, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard

Scope and Content: Photograph shows the Bay Western Distribution Centre at 3100 Production Way in the Lake City Industrial Park. The Centre was built in 1965.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 23, 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 556-285

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2013-13

Scope and Content: Photograph shows the Bay Western Distribution Centre at 3100 Production Way in the Lake City Industrial Park. The Centre was built in 1965.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial

Names: Hudson's Bay Company

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Campbell, Peg

Notes: Scope note taken directly from BPL photograph description.; 1 b&w copy negative : 10 x 12.5 cm accompanying

Geographic Access: Production Way

Street Address: 3100 Production Way

Planning Study Area: Lake City Area

Images

Bay Western Distribution Centre, October 23, 1976 thumbnail

Blacksmith shops

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1947

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [194-?] (date of originals), copied [1971]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w composite ; 26 x 30.5 cm, mounted on cardboard 32 x 39 cm

Scope and Content: Composite photograph of various aspects of unidentified blacksmith shops including interiors, equipment and exteriors.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w composite ; 26 x 30.5 cm, mounted on cardboard 32 x 39 cm

Material Details: Composite is comprised of ten photographs

Scope and Content: Composite photograph of various aspects of unidentified blacksmith shops including interiors, equipment and exteriors.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial; Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Blacksmiths

Names: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV000.18.8

Access Restriction: Restricted access

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [194-?] (date of originals), copied [1971]

Media Type: Photograph

Arrangement: Record appears to be a part of the Burnaby Centennial Committee or the Century Park Museum Associaton. Jon Newby was a board member of either of these committees.

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 1/8/2010

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Blacksmith shops, [194-?] (date of originals), copied [1971] thumbnail

Burnaby Mountain Park

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription93645

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: November 19, 1977

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the view from Burnaby Mountain of the Burrard Inlet, the oil refinery, and the mountains. The photograph is taken from Burnaby Mountain Park, facing north.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: November 19, 1977

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Public Library Contemporary Visual Archive Project

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 556-602

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2017-57

Scope and Content: Photograph of the view from Burnaby Mountain of the Burrard Inlet, the oil refinery, and the mountains. The photograph is taken from Burnaby Mountain Park, facing north.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Inlets; Geographic Features - Parks; Geographic Features - Mountains; Buildings - Industrial - Refineries

Names: Burnaby Mountain Park

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: van Mannen, Mark

Notes: Title taken from project information form; Accompanied by a project information form and 1 photograph (b&w negative ; 9.5 x 12.5 cm); BPL no. 52