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Interview with Sev Morin by Rod Fowler April 4, 1990 - Track 7

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory543

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1930-1990

Length: 00:07:36

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s involvement in the federal Liberal Party and in municipal politics with Alan Emmott; his mother Anne Marie Morin’s CCF work in Alberta and his brother Rudy Morin’s union activities and affiliation with Harvey Murphy; the political events held at “S…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s involvement in the federal Liberal Party and in municipal politics with Alan Emmott; his mother Anne Marie Morin’s CCF work in Alberta and his brother Rudy Morin’s union activities and affiliation with Harvey Murphy; the political events held at “Severin’s”; and Sev Morin’s centrist political views

Date Range: 1930-1990

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: 00:07:36

Names: Liberal Party; Emmott, Alan H

Subjects: Organizations - Unions; Elections; Political Theories

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 seven of interview with Sev Morin

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-021/MSS187-021_Track%207.mp3

Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19604

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 6 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 7 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 - 00:13:30 Interview opens with introductions. Samuel (Sam) and Angela Nalliah provide biographical details including their p…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (68 min., 6 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (68 min., 7 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: James Binks Interviewees: Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah Location of Interview: Nalliah family home Interview Date: May 29, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 68 min., 6 sec. Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto two separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby Photograph information: Ruth (Angela) Nalliah with husband Samuel Nalliah WARNING: Some of the content discussed in this interview (00:40:58 – 00:57:31) regarding the Tamil genocide may be upsetting to some people.

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, James Binks. 00:00:00 - 00:13:30 Interview opens with introductions. Samuel (Sam) and Angela Nalliah provide biographical details including their parentage, place of birth (Sri Lanka), spoken language and education. Sam Nalliah shares details on his education while living in Sri Lanka, his later education in Wales where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and his migration to Halifax in 1978 after obtaining a job at Dalhousie University as a systems analyst. Sam conveys how he decided to relocate from Halifax to Vancouver in 1986 and started his employment with BC Tel. Angela Nalliah shares details on her education and employment after immigrating to Canada from Sri Lanka in 1986. Angela conveys how she first lived in Ottawa, moved to Toronto in 1989 where she began working for TD bank and moved to Vancouver in 1999. 00:13:31 – 00:20:03 Sam Nalliah talks about how he and his wife Angela first met and married in 1999 and moved to Vancouver. Sam shares information on where his other family members immigrated to and why he decided to immigrate to Canada. Angela shares information on other members of her family who immigrated to Canada before her and how her uncle sponsored them all to come. 00:20:04 – 00:29:30 Sam provides further details regarding his family make up including; his first wife, his daughters (born in 1983 and 1985), his step daughter (born in 1991) and his youngest daughter (born in 2000). Sam tells how he worked as a Systems and Operations Manager at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at BC Hydro. Sam provides locations of homes that they lived in Burnaby and Vancouver. Sam and Angela describe what they liked about living in Burnaby, where their daughter attended school and where they did their shopping. 00:29:31 – 00:32:11 Angela talks about working for Prospera Credit Union from 2003 after TD bank downsized. Sam describes how they rented out their house in Vancouver and lived in a rental home in Burnaby that was owned by the City of Burnaby. Sam and Angela recollect the time period that they lived in Burnaby and Vancouver before deciding to move to Surrey in 2015. 00:32:12 – 00:35:59 Sam and Angela provide details regarding their daughter’s post-secondary education and careers. Angela talks about her social activities, volunteer work and involvement with the Thamil Cultural Society of British Columbia, the Women’s Network as well as the Westminster Bible Chapel Church in Burnaby and the Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church in Surrey. 00:36:00 – 00:40:57 Sam recalls hearing Prime Minster Pierre Elliott Trudeau speak about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms at Dalhousie University and the effect that his speech made on him. Sam talks about joining the National Democratic Party when Peter Julian was elected as a Member of Parliament for Burnaby. 00:40:58 – 00:57:31 (WARNING: Some of the content discussed in this portion of the interview may be upsetting to some people) Sam and Angela speak about their involvement with the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC). Angela describes the brutal violence that she witnessed while living in Sri Lanka during the Anti-Tamil state sponsored genocide in the 1980’s. Sam and Angela recollect and discuss their views and actions pertaining to the MV Sun Sea incident where a Thai cargo ship carrying Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to British Columbia were identified as terrorists by the Canadian Government and held in detention facilities. 00:57:32 – 01:08:07 Sam reflects on what he likes about Burnaby. Angela and Sam talk about Hindu temples attended by many Tamil and Sri Lankan people living in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Angela talks about the many cultural events and celebrations that are celebrated within the Tamil and Sri Lankan community including the Pongal Festival. Angela and Sam reflect on how grateful they are to be residents of Canada.

History: Interviewees biographies: Samuel (Sam) Nalliah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1949. Sam immigrated to Halifax in 1977 after obtaining a position as a systems analyst at Dalhousie University. In 1986, Sam sponsored his parents to come to Canada. In 1986, after being introduced to the milder weather in Victoria, Sam decided to move to British Columbia. He moved to Burnaby in 1990 and began working for BC Tel in Burnaby. Following his job at BC Tel, Sam worked as a Systems and Operations Manager at Shaughnessy Hospital and later at BC Hydro. Ruth (Angela) Nalliah was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1964 and immigrated to Canada in 1986. As a Tamil living in Sri Lanka in the 1980’s Angela witnessed first hand the brutal violence during the Anti-Tamil state sponsored genocide. In 1986 Angela was relieved to be able to immigrate to Canada after being sponsored by her uncle. Angela first lived and worked in Ottawa and Toronto before marrying Samuel Nalliah in Ottawa in 1999 and the couple moved to Burnaby. Angela worked for TD bank in both Toronto and Vancouver until it downsized in 2003 and she began working for Prospero Credit Union. While living in Burnaby, Angela attended the Westminster Bible Chapel and after moving to Surrey she became a member of the Green Timbers Evangelical Covenant Church. Sam and Angela Nalliah have four daughters and since moving to British Columbia they’ve lived in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. Both Sam and Angela are involved with the Tamil Cultural Association of British Columbia and the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) as well as participates in Sri Lankan and Tamil community cultural events. Interviewer biography: James Binks has lived in the Lower Mainland since 2009 after relocating from Ontario. James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, where he conducted researched on heritage, environment, and globalization in India, Nepal, and Italy. At Burnaby Village Museum, James contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Education; Events - Festivals; Government; Government - Federal Government; Migration; Occupations; Organizations - Political Parties; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Religions; Religions - Christianity; Religions - Hinduism; Rights; Rights - Human Rights; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism; Social Issues - Discrimination

Names: Nalliah, Ruth "Angela"; Nalliah, Samuel "Sam"; Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC); Westminster Bible Chapel; Thamil Cultural Society of British Columbia (TCSBC)

Responsibility: Binks, James

Accession Code: BV023.16.8

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum

Images

Audio Tracks

Interview with Samuel Nalliah and Ruth (Angela) Nalliah, 1949-2023 (interview content), interviewed 29 May 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0008_003.mp3

Canadian Tire Store

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription59023

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 14.5 x 25 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of a Canadian Tire, in a plaza with other businesses, and a parking lot.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: ca.1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 14.5 x 25 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1429

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of a Canadian Tire, in a plaza with other businesses, and a parking lot.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Automobile Parking Lots; Buildings - Commercial - Stores

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's stamp on verso

Images

Interview with Roy Brainerd by Eric Damer October 23, 2012 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory305

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1951-1983

Length: 0:08:58

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Roy Brainerd's working life during the early years of his marriage. He discusses the automobile industry in Burnaby, the importance of the interurban tram and concludes with a story of a "stolen" bus.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Roy Brainerd's working life during the early years of his marriage. He discusses the automobile industry in Burnaby, the importance of the interurban tram and concludes with a story of a "stolen" bus.

Date Range: 1951-1983

Photo Info: Roy Brainerd walking along Granville Street in Vancouver, [1945 or 1946]. Item no. 549-016

Length: 0:08:58

Subjects: Industries - Automobile

Interviewer: Damer, Eric

Interview Date: October 23, 2012

Scope and Content: Recording is an interview with Roy Brainerd conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 23, 2012. Major theme discussed: growing up in Burnaby with particular focus on school days and the automobile industry.

Biographical Notes: Roy Brainerd’s parents, Lawrence and Violet Brainerd came to Vancouver in 1925 or 1926 and purchased a small house on Harwood Street in North Burnaby. There were two older children in the family already when Roy was born in 1928 at Royal Columbian hospital. His sister Patricia Brainerd (later White) was born in 1931, also at Royal Columbian Hospital. Roy’s father Lawrence rebuilt and renovated the house to fit his growing family, planting abundant vegetable gardens and building a chicken coop. Roy started at Douglas Road School in 1934 and then attended Hugh M. Fraser High School. Roy left his high school at fifteen to work for Snap-On Tools, working his way up from pushing a broom to becoming a branch manager. He retired in 1983 after forty-one years of service. Together with his wife Carol, Roy raised three daughters.

Total Tracks: 4

Total Length: 0:36:56

Interviewee Name: Brainerd, Roy

Interview Location: Burnaby Village Museum

Interviewer Bio: Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burna-Boom Oral History Project series

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Images

Roy Brainerd walking along Granville Street in Vancouver, [1945 or 1946]. Item no. 549-016 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track four of recording of interview with Roy Brainerd

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-004/MSS171-004_Track_4.mp3

Paul Dupont - Windsurfing with a skateboard on the PNE parking lot

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription58994

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 18.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man, identified as Paul Dupont, windsurfing with a sail attached to a skateboard in the parking lot of the PNE in Vancouver, BC.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1983

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 18.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1404

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2009-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man, identified as Paul Dupont, windsurfing with a sail attached to a skateboard in the parking lot of the PNE in Vancouver, BC.

Subjects: Recreational Activities; Geographic Features - Automobile Parking Lots

Names: Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Battistoni, Peter

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto reads: "Paul Dupont, Bby"; Photographer's stamp on verso; Note on verso reads: "PMT 120% / page 9 / Burnaby Today"; Newspaper clipping attached to verso reads: "SAILING AWAY ... it's drier, but harder landing, than doing on the ocean, as Paul Dupont of Burnaby borrowed a friend's rig to try his hand at windsurfing with a skateboard on the PNE parking lot."

Images

Paul Dupont - Windsurfing with a skateboard on the PNE parking lot, 1983 thumbnail

Roof Collapse at Metrotown Save-on-Foods

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1166

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: April 1988

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. 19.5 x 24.5 cm

Scope and Content: Aerial photograph of the aftermath of the Save-on-Foods roof collapse at Metrotown on April 23, 1988. The rooftop parking lot has caved into the store along with the cars parked in that section. Workmen and police officers in uniforms are at the parking lot.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : col. 19.5 x 24.5 cm

Scope and Content: Aerial photograph of the aftermath of the Save-on-Foods roof collapse at Metrotown on April 23, 1988. The rooftop parking lot has caved into the store along with the cars parked in that section. Workmen and police officers in uniforms are at the parking lot.

Subjects: Accidents; Geographic Features - Automobile Parking Lots

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Street Address: 4800 Kingsway

Accession Code: BV992.51.1

Access Restriction: Restricted access

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: April 1988

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 01-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Photographer: Hodge, Craig

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Roof Collapse at Metrotown Save-on-Foods, April 1988 thumbnail

Interview with "The Bollywood Boyz", Harvinder Sihra and Gurvinder Sihra

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19608

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1970-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Jul. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (84 min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (62 min., 3 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with "The Bollywood Boyz", Harvinder Sihra and Gurvinder Sihra conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. 00:00:00 – 00:05:26 Gurvinder “Gurv” Sihra and brother Harvinder “Harv’ Sihra introduce themselves, providing details on …

1 image 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 2 sound recordings (wav) (84 min., 14 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (62 min., 3 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Rajdeep Interviewees: "The Bollywood Boyz", Harvinder Sihra and Gurvinder Sihra Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: July 8, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:02:03 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 Photograph credit: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with "The Bollywood Boyz", Harvinder Sihra and Gurvinder Sihra conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Rajdeep. 00:00:00 – 00:05:26 Gurvinder “Gurv” Sihra and brother Harvinder “Harv’ Sihra introduce themselves, providing details on where they were born and grew up (in Burnaby), names of their parents and provide details on their family history. They describe how their grandparents and other relatives continued to live in Punjab after their father and mother immigrated to Canada in the 1970’s, recall the reasons their parents decided to immigrate and details of their lives before and after arriving in Canada. 00:05:27 – 00:06:46 Gurvinder and Harvinder describe some of their experiences travelling through Vancouver airport and compare their experiences with their mother’s own experiences. Gurvinder and Harvinder describe the layout of the airport and how customs and immigration has changed over time. 00:06:47 – 00:09:21 Gurvinder and Harvinder provide details about their mother, Parveen Sihra. They share information regarding her education in India and how she was unable to get work related to her degree in biology after immigrating to Canada. They convey how she worked in the Burnaby City Hall cafeteria in the 1990’s and how she worked part time in order to take care of her children. They share how their parents were proud Canadians participating in events inside and outside the South Asian community and were both fluent in English but often spoke Punjabi at home. 00:09:22 – 00:16:06 Gurvinder and Harvinder recall their childhood experiences growing up in Burnaby. They talk about the sports that they were involved with including hockey and Taekwondo, family vacations spent travelling to India and their experiences attending Marlborough Elementary School and Moscrop Secondary School.They describe how they first became interested in watching wrestling and trying it out on their own in their family home. Gurvinder and Harvinder recall their own experiences of discrimination while growing up and playing sports. 00:16:07 – 00:27:37 Gurvinder and Harvinder reflect and recall events that lead them to their dream of becoming professional wrestlers. They talk about pivotal events including attending their first live wresting event at GM Place with their father in 1996, beginning their training in Calgary in 2004, travelling across the country to participate in minor wrestling events, wrestling in Rogers Arena in 2017 and 2020 and getting their first call to join WWE. They talk about the support that they’ve had along the way to getting them where they are today and comment on why they want to be wrestlers in the WWE. 00:27:38 – 00:29:25 Gurvinder and Harvinder provide background information on their various wrestling personas and names in the world of professional wrestling including the Singh Brothers and the Bollywood Boyz. 00:29:26 – 00:38:43 Gurvinder and Harvinder talk about their experiences wrestling in India and the support and expectations of family members in becoming successful. Gurvinder and Harvinder recall and reflect on the experience of being fired from the WWE when cutbacks were made during the COVID pandemic. 00:38:44 – 00:42:53 Gurvinder and Harvinder describe what a day in their lives looks like now. They talk about how they’re still very passionate and focused on their wrestling careers and describe their experiences of having support and enthusiasm from fans and their parents. They talk about travelling across the country to particpate in different wrestling events. 00:42:54 – 00:47:18 Gurvinder and Harvinder talk about their training regimen including exercise and diet and describe areas in Burnaby where they like to train in gyms and the outdoors. 00:47:19 – 00:49:49 Gurvinder and Harvinder talk about neighbourhoods in Burnaby including Metrotown and Deer Lake and how they’ve seen them change over the years. 00:49:50 – 00:54:27 Gurvinder and Harvinder talk about their highest and lowest points in their wrestling careers, highlighting specific events. They talk about the physical stamina it takes for wrestling and compare their sport with the sport of Kabaddi (a contact team sport between two teams originating in India). 00:54:28 – 00:59:01 Gurvinder and Harvinder reflect on what toughness means to them, and what keeps them motivated to do what they do. 00:59:02 – 01:01:31 Gurvinder and Harvinder impart their words of wisdom to younger kids in chasing their passions and dreams and talk about their favourite Bollywood films and actors.

History: Interviewees' biographies: The Bollywood Boyz are a Canadian professional wrestling tag team composed of brothers Gurvinder "Gurv" Sihra (born in 1984) and Harvinder "Harv" Sihra (born in 1987). The pair are best known for their time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where Gurvinder and Harvinder performed under the ring names Sunil Singh and Samir Singh. They were both born and raised in Burnaby by their parents Harjeet and Parveen Sihra and attended Moscrop Secondary School. Gurvinder graduated from Douglas College where he studied criminology and has worked in loss prevention and has a third degree black belt in Taekwondo. Harvinder attended Douglas College with studies in history and has worked as a model and an actor. Both Gurvinder and Harvinder Sihra are Sikhs. Interviewer biography: 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: Education; Migration; Pandemics - COVID-19; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Religions - Sikhism; Social Issues; Social Issues - Discrimination; Social Issues - Racism; Sports; Sports - Martial Arts; Sports - Wrestling; Sports - Ice Hockey; Travel

Names: The Bollywood Boyz; Sihra, Guvinder "Gurv"; Sihra, Harvinder "Harv"; Sihra, Harjeet; Sihra, Parveen; World Wrestling Entertainment "WWE"; Moscrop Secondary School; Marlborough Elementary School; Metrotown

Responsibility: Rajdeep

Geographic Access: Deer Lake Park

Accession Code: BV023.16.12

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1970-2023] (interview content), interviewed 8 Jul. 2023

Media Type: Sound Recording

Photographer: World Wrestling Entertainment "WWE"

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum

Images

Audio Tracks

Interview with

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0012_003.mp3

Alberni versus Burnaby

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45600

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1979 and 1981]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 24 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a men's soccer game between Alberni and Burnaby.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1979 and 1981]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 24 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-494

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of a men's soccer game between Alberni and Burnaby.

Subjects: Sports - Soccer; Sports - Team Sports; Clothing - Uniforms

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Alberni versus Burnaby, [between 1979 and 1981] thumbnail

Alfonso Napolentano

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45319

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1982

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Alfonso Napolentano when he was a member of the Simon Fraser University soccer team.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1982

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-214

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Alfonso Napolentano when he was a member of the Simon Fraser University soccer team.

Subjects: Sports - Soccer; Sports - Team Sports

Names: Napolentano, Alfonso

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Thompson, John M.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Alpha's first goal of the game

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45581

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1979 and 1981]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 14.5 x 24 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Carson Graham goalie Brookman failing to make the save, giving Alpha their first goal during a game of men's high school soccer.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1979 and 1981]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 14.5 x 24 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-475

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Carson Graham goalie Brookman failing to make the save, giving Alpha their first goal during a game of men's high school soccer.

Subjects: Sports - Soccer; Sports - Team Sports; Clothing - Uniforms

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto of photograph reads: "CG goalie BROCKMAN beat for ALPHA's 1st goal"

Images

Alpha's first goal of the game, [between 1979 and 1981] thumbnail

Alpha versus Carson Graham

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45584

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1979 and 1981]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 24 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an Alpha player beating Carson Graham's Doug McLean, and going on to score Alpha's second goal during a game of men's high school soccer.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1979 and 1981]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 24 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-478

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of an Alpha player beating Carson Graham's Doug McLean, and going on to score Alpha's second goal during a game of men's high school soccer.

Subjects: Sports - Soccer; Sports - Team Sports; Clothing - Uniforms

Names: McLean, Doug

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: King, Basil

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto of photograph reads: "ALPHA's GNATU (illegible..) beats C.G's McLean on way to ALPHA's 2nd goal"; Note on verso of photograph reads: "Doug McLean"

Images

Alpha versus Carson Graham, [between 1979 and 1981] thumbnail

Argyle versus Burnaby Central

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45594

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 20, 1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of Argyle goalie Ed Kirk diving for the ball during a game of men's high school soccer. Argyle's Dave MacIntosh is behind him, and Burnaby Central's Bert Sandie is in front. Bert Sandie went on to play for the Simon Fraser University men's soccer team.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: October 20, 1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-488

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Argyle goalie Ed Kirk diving for the ball during a game of men's high school soccer. Argyle's Dave MacIntosh is behind him, and Burnaby Central's Bert Sandie is in front. Bert Sandie went on to play for the Simon Fraser University men's soccer team.

Subjects: Sports - Soccer; Sports - Team Sports; Clothing - Uniforms

Names: Kirk, Ed; MacIntosh, Dave; Sandie, Bert

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Battistoni, Peter

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note on recto of photograph reads: "DAVE MacINTOSH. # 1 - ED KIRK - ARG. KEEPER BERT SANDIE - BC"

Images

Argyle versus Burnaby Central, October 20, 1980 thumbnail

Assistant coach Al Chapple

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45513

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1980]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 9 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Simon Fraser University men's basketball assistant coach Al Chapple.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1980]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 9 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-408

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Simon Fraser University men's basketball assistant coach Al Chapple.

Subjects: Sports - Basketball; Sports - Team Sports

Names: Simon Fraser University; Chapple, Al

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Assistant coach Al Chapple, [1980] thumbnail

Assistant coach Lars Hanson

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45512

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1980]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 9 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Simon Fraser University men's basketball assistant coach Lars Hanson.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1980]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 9 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-407

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Simon Fraser University men's basketball assistant coach Lars Hanson.

Subjects: Sports - Basketball; Sports - Team Sports

Names: Simon Fraser University; Hanson, Lars

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Assistant coach Lars Hanson, [1980] thumbnail

Assistant coach Rich Burns

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45514

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1980]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 9 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Simon Fraser University men's basketball assistant coach Rich Burns.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1980]

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 9 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-409

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Simon Fraser University men's basketball assistant coach Rich Burns.

Subjects: Sports - Basketball; Sports - Team Sports

Names: Simon Fraser University; Burns, Rich

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Assistant coach Rich Burns, [1980] thumbnail

Barry Johnson

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45311

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1982

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Barry Johnson when he was a member of the Simon Fraser University soccer team.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1982

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-206

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Barry Johnson when he was a member of the Simon Fraser University soccer team.

Subjects: Sports - Soccer; Sports - Team Sports

Names: Johnson, Barry

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Thompson, John M.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Bert Sandie

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45316

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1982

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bert Sandie when he was a member of the Simon Fraser University soccer team.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1982

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 11.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-211

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bert Sandie when he was a member of the Simon Fraser University soccer team.

Subjects: Sports - Soccer; Sports - Team Sports

Names: Sandie, Bert

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Thompson, John M.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Bobby Rosenlund

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription45595

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 9 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bobby Roselund, the "Sun Soccer Boy" in 1980, when he played for Grandview Legion, Division 2. The award is presented to the top young prospect in Vancouver each year.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1980

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 9 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-489

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bobby Roselund, the "Sun Soccer Boy" in 1980, when he played for Grandview Legion, Division 2. The award is presented to the top young prospect in Vancouver each year.

Subjects: Sports - Soccer; Sports - Team Sports; Clothing - Uniforms

Names: Roselund, Bobby

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Label on veros of photograph reads: "1980 Sun Soccer Boy / BOBBY ROSELUND / Grandview Legion, Div. 2"