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Scope and Content: Photograph shows three children wading in a body of water and one standing on the beach. The children wading in the water are identified from left to right as Lesley Hill, David Hill and Van Loomis. The other child is unidentified.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1931

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 x 11 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-222

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph shows three children wading in a body of water and one standing on the beach. The children wading in the water are identified from left to right as Lesley Hill, David Hill and Van Loomis. The other child is unidentified.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Geographic Features - Channels; Geographic Features - Beaches

Names: Durban, Lesley C. Hill; Hill, David O. E. "Dave"; Loomis, Herbert Van Wyck "Van"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "Lesley, David, Van / 1931"

Images

David and Lesley Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82670

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1931]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 x 11 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a boy and a girl, identified as David and Lesley Hill, sitting on a rock.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1931]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 x 11 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-223

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a boy and a girl, identified as David and Lesley Hill, sitting on a rock.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Durban, Lesley C. Hill; Hill, David O. E. "Dave"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "David & Lesey [sic]"; Note in blue pen on verso reads: "Dave & Lesley"

Images

Gerry and Lesley Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82671

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1931

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 x 11 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a boy and a girl, identified as Gerry and Lesley Hill, respectively.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1931

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 x 11 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-224

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a boy and a girl, identified as Gerry and Lesley Hill, respectively.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Durban, Lesley C. Hill; Hill, Gerald B. "Gerry"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on page photograph is mounted to reads: "Gerry and Lesley / Yellowpoint [sic] 1931"

Images

Looking east from north side of 5118 Douglas Road - The Roberts House

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription91823

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1931]

Collection/Fonds: Small family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 cm x 8.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Roberts' children: Lauretta, John A., Edward, and Roland. The children are posed with a bicycle in the Roberts' yard, which is in the process of being landscaped. The house at 3090 Douglas Road (left) and the Adams' family house at 3011 Godwin (right) are visible in the backgrou…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1931]

Collection/Fonds: Small family fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8.5 cm x 8.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 620-004

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Roberts' children: Lauretta, John A., Edward, and Roland. The children are posed with a bicycle in the Roberts' yard, which is in the process of being landscaped. The house at 3090 Douglas Road (left) and the Adams' family house at 3011 Godwin (right) are visible in the background. The photograph was taken from the north side of the Roberts' property at 5118 Douglas Road.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Buildings - Residential - Houses

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from donor's notes; 5118 Douglas Road renumbered to 3131 Douglas Road in 1958 and to 5538 Dominion Street in 1970 or 1971; 3011 Godwin is a new address. Previous address was on the 5100 block of Douglas Road (house number unknown).; Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "1930? or '31 / Roberts children / Lauretta John A. Edward / Roland"; Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "P5"; See landscape plan for 5118 Douglas Road

Street Address: 3131 Douglas Road; 5118 Douglas Road; 5538 Dominion Street; 3090 Douglas Road; 3011 Godwin Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Ardingley-Sprott Area

Images

Looking east from north side of 5118 Douglas Road - The Roberts House, [1931] thumbnail

Close up of front of Robert's house 5118 Douglas Road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription91837

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1931 and 1932]

Collection/Fonds: Small family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 cm x 9.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Roberts children: John A., Edward (Ted) and Roland in front of the Roberts' house at 5118 Douglas Road. Ted and Roland sit in a toboggan while John stands behind them, holding the toboggan's strings. In the background, a large swing frame is attached to the cedar tree. The grou…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1931 and 1932]

Collection/Fonds: Small family fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 cm x 9.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 620-018

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2017-01

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Roberts children: John A., Edward (Ted) and Roland in front of the Roberts' house at 5118 Douglas Road. Ted and Roland sit in a toboggan while John stands behind them, holding the toboggan's strings. In the background, a large swing frame is attached to the cedar tree. The ground is lightly covered with snow.

Subjects: Buildings - Residential - Houses; Recreational Activities; Natural Phenomena - Snow; Persons - Children

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Transcribed title; Title transcribed from donor's notes; Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "John, Ted (Edward), and Roland Roberts / (winter 1931-32?)"; Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "Maybe x 1932?"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "331"; Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "P.18"; 5118 Douglas Road renumbered to 3131 Douglas Road in 1958 and to 5538 Dominion Street in 1970 or 1971

Street Address: 3131 Douglas Road; 5118 Douglas Road; 5538 Dominion Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Ardingley-Sprott Area

Images

Close up of front of Robert's house 5118 Douglas Road, [between 1931 and 1932] thumbnail

Interview with Jack Davy and Thomas James Sanderson 22-Jul-75 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory87

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1931-1940

Length: 0:09:36

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Jack Davy and Tommy Sanderson's memories of the apprentice system offered as an alternative to high school as well as the Depression's effect on the schools.

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Jack Davy and Tommy Sanderson's memories of the apprentice system offered as an alternative to high school as well as the Depression's effect on the schools.

Date Range: 1931-1940

Length: 0:09:36

Subjects: Education

Interviewer: McLeod, Ross S.

Interview Date: 22-Jul-75

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with two school principals who were working during the depression; John "Jack" Davy and Thomas James "Tommy" Sanderson by Ross S. McLeod. Major themes discussed are: the Depression and scholastic studies. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: John “Jack” Davy was raised in New Westminster and his family and the Eagles' family were close friends, with the grandparents and parents getting together regularly to play cards. As a child, Jack delivered the Columbian newspaper. Jack Davy worked for Burnaby schools for over fifty years; twenty-five of those years as principal at Edmonds Street School. During the depression, he worked as a principal of Kitchener Street School. Thomas James “Tommy” Sanderson was born to Ellen Jane Garvin and Thomas F. Sanderson. The couple married on January 14, 1903 at Mount Pleasant and lived first at English Bay. Tommy had an older brother, Gordon John and a sister, Flora Jane (later Rawden). The three children were raised in the Sanderson family home at 3812 Inman Avenue, one block north of Central Park. From 1919 to 1920, their father, Thomas F. Sanderson served as Reeve of Burnaby. Tommy Sanderson attended Inman Avenue School, then Kingsway West before graduating from Burnaby South High School in 1926. In 1931, he began his teaching career back at Burnaby South High School. From 1938, Tommy was principal at Sperling Avenue School. During the course of his career, he also worked as vice-principal of Edmonds Street School, principal at Capitol Hill School, Kingsway West School, McPhearson Junior High and Burnaby North High School. Tommy married Dorothy Alberta Reid of Chilliwack July 12, 1932 and had two children Robert “Bobby” and Margaret. The family first lived at 1921 Gilley Avenue, New Westminster then 2073 Waverley Avenue, Burnaby while Bobby and Margaret attended Nelson Avenue School, then Burnaby South High School.

Total Tracks: 5

Total Length: 0:43:20

Interviewee Name: Davy, Jack; Sanderson, Thomas "Tommy" James

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Audio Tracks

Track two of interview with Jack Davy and Thomas James Sanderson

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-24/100-13-24_Track_2.mp3

Lee family studio portrait

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

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1931]

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Description Level: Item

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

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

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Series: Lee family photographs series

Description Level: Item

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

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

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Persons - Children

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

Accession Code: BV017.24.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1931]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 800

Scan Date: 01-Oct-2017

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Lee family studio portrait, [1931] thumbnail

Burnaby North High School grade 9 class

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13691

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1931

Collection/Fonds: Westerman family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the grade nine class of Burnaby North High School arranged in rows and standing in front of the entrance to the school. Walter "Wally" Westerman is identified on the far left, standing in the fourth row from the bottom.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Westerman family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 12.5 x 17.5 cm

Material Details: `

Scope and Content: Photograph of the grade nine class of Burnaby North High School arranged in rows and standing in front of the entrance to the school. Walter "Wally" Westerman is identified on the far left, standing in the fourth row from the bottom.

Subjects: Persons - Students; Buildings - Schools

Names: Westerman, Walter "Wally"; Burnaby North High School

Geographic Access: Pandora Street

Street Address: 4375 Pandora Street

Accession Code: BV020.17.15

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1931

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Heights Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 22-Sep-2020

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Handwritten note in pencil on verso of photograph reads: "Walter age 14/1931 1st year high"

Images

Burnaby North High School grade 9 class, 1931 thumbnail

Barnet School class

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15228

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1931 and 1932] (date of original), copied 2004

Collection/Fonds: In the Shadow by the Sea collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph students at Barnet School. Students are gathered together on wooden bleechers on the school grounds and are identified from left to right; back row: Jack Hood; Fred Proteau, Bob Johnston, John Stelioff, Billy Warner and Neil Carey; third row from bottom: Lloyd Lendgren, Joan Rutherford,…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: In the Shadow by the Sea collection

Series: Irwin family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph students at Barnet School. Students are gathered together on wooden bleechers on the school grounds and are identified from left to right; back row: Jack Hood; Fred Proteau, Bob Johnston, John Stelioff, Billy Warner and Neil Carey; third row from bottom: Lloyd Lendgren, Joan Rutherford, Kathleen Cole, Patricia Longley, Annie Strelioff, Marie Galbraith and Billy Rutherford; second row from bottom: Jean Wallace, Eva Grace Hood, Kerthq's cousin, Kerthq, Maureen Johnston, Marie Swanson, Eleanor Irwin; front row at bottom: John Taranoff, John Jacobsen, Lewis La Favor, Jack Rutherford, Andrew Strelioff and Sheldon Rowell.

Subjects: Buildings - Schools; Persons - Children; Persons - Students

Names: Barnet School; Yasui, Harding; Hood, Jack; Proteau, Frederick "Freddy"; Stride Avenue School; Johnston, Bob; Strelioff, John; Strelioff, Annie; Warner, William "Billy"; Carey, Neil; Lendgren, Lloyd; Rutherford, Joan; Cole, Kathleen; Longley, Patricia; Galbraith, Marie; Rutherford, William "Billy"; Wallace, Jean; Hood, Grace; Kerthq; Johnston, Maureen; Swanson, Marie; Nelson, Eleanor Irwin; Taranoff, John; Jacobsen, John; La Favor, Lewis; Rutherford, Jack S.; Strelioff, Andrew; Sheldon, Rowell

Geographic Access: Burrard Inlet

Accession Code: BV019.32.48

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1931 and 1932] (date of original), copied 2004

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Names of students taken from verso of photograph -see photograph BV019.32.47; see page 234, Chapter Three in the book "In the Shadow by the Sea - Recollections of Burnaby's Barnet Village". Caption with photograph reads: "Barnet School / Class 1931-1932 / BACK ROW: Harding Yasui, Jack Hood, Fred Proteau, Bob Johnston, John Strelioff, Billy Warner, Neil Carey / THIRD ROW: ..."

Images

Barnet School class, [between 1931 and 1932] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail

Johnstons with Henry Irwin in yard

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15254

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1931] (date of original), copied 2004

Collection/Fonds: In the Shadow by the Sea collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of (left to right) Robert Johnston and Mrs. Johnston, Maureen Johnston, Henry Stanley Irwin and Bobby Johnston. The group are standing in front of a picket feince in the yard of the Irwin family home at the Barnet Lumber Mill. The mill site and the north shore of Burrard Inlet are visibl…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: In the Shadow by the Sea collection

Series: Irwin family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of (left to right) Robert Johnston and Mrs. Johnston, Maureen Johnston, Henry Stanley Irwin and Bobby Johnston. The group are standing in front of a picket feince in the yard of the Irwin family home at the Barnet Lumber Mill. The mill site and the north shore of Burrard Inlet are visible in the distance.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Barnet Mill; Barnet Lumber Company; Johnston, Maureen; Irwin, Henry Stanley; Johnston, Robert

Geographic Access: Burrard Inlet

Accession Code: BV019.32.73

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1931] (date of original), copied 2004

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Johnstons with Henry Irwin in yard, [1931] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail

Eleanor and Louise Irwin with cousins

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15267

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1931] (date of original), copied 2004

Collection/Fonds: In the Shadow by the Sea collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of Eleanor and Louise Irwin with their cousins Bill and Bert and an unidentified girl. Eleanor (Nelson) Irwin is second from the left and Louise Irwin is holding a doll. The group is standing in the yard of the Irwin family home at the Barnet Lumber Mill. The screened in porch and flower…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: In the Shadow by the Sea collection

Series: Irwin family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of Eleanor and Louise Irwin with their cousins Bill and Bert and an unidentified girl. Eleanor (Nelson) Irwin is second from the left and Louise Irwin is holding a doll. The group is standing in the yard of the Irwin family home at the Barnet Lumber Mill. The screened in porch and flower bed are visible behind them.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Barnet Mill; Barnet Lumber Company; Irwin, Louise; Nelson, Eleanor Irwin

Geographic Access: Burrard Inlet

Accession Code: BV019.32.85

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1931] (date of original), copied 2004

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Date of photograph based on birth dates for Eleanor and Louise Irwin

Images

Eleanor and Louise Irwin with cousins, [1931] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail

Mrs. Irwin with Eleanor and Louise

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15282

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1931] (date of original), copied 2004

Collection/Fonds: In the Shadow by the Sea collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of Elsie May Irwin standing with her daughters Eleanor (left) and Louise Irwin (right) in the yard of the Irwin family home on the site of the Barnet Lumber Mill. The north shore of Burrard Inlet is visible in the distance.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: In the Shadow by the Sea collection

Series: Irwin family photographs series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (tiff) : 300 dpi

Scope and Content: Photograph of Elsie May Irwin standing with her daughters Eleanor (left) and Louise Irwin (right) in the yard of the Irwin family home on the site of the Barnet Lumber Mill. The north shore of Burrard Inlet is visible in the distance.

Subjects: Persons - Children

Names: Barnet Mill; Barnet Lumber Company; Irwin, Louise; Irwin, Elsie May Taylor; Nelson, Eleanor Irwin

Geographic Access: Burrard Inlet

Accession Code: BV019.32.99

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1931] (date of original), copied 2004

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Mrs. Irwin with Eleanor and Louise, [1931] (date of original), copied 2004 thumbnail

Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19348

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future …

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: 3 sound recordings (wav) (75 min., 56 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (75 min., 57 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Anushay Malik Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Dr. Sadhu Binning Location of Interview: Love farmhouse at Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: November 25, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 3 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:15:57) Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto three separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of an oral history interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning conducted by Anushay Malik with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. The interview opens with introductions and how the content of the interview can be drawn on by Burnaby Village Museum for future exhibits and for researchers to learn more about the history of the South Asian community in Burnaby. During the interview, Dr. Binning shares his ancestral background along with his relatives' and his own personal experiences as a South Asian immigrant living and working in British Columbia and Burnaby. Dr. Binning conveys that he’s a Burnaby resident who’s lived in Burnaby since 1973 and that his children were born here. Binning shares his ancestral heritage beginning with his uncle Dhana Singh who emigrated from Punjab to British Columbia in 1931 and began working in the forest industry. He explains how Dhana Singh and another partner owned, operated and worked in small sawmills in the vicinity of Kamloops, Williams Lake and also on Vancouver Island. Binning conveys that in the beginning Dhana Singh and many other South Asian immigrants were not legal residents until 1938. In 1938, about 350 South Asian immigrants (mainly Punjabi) gathered resources to hire a lawyer to obtain permanent residency. Binning mentions that one of the notable South Asians in the group who was also a close friend of his uncle, was Darshan Singh Sangha, a trade unionist who was a founding member of the International Woodworkers of America (IWA) union and an active member of the Communist Party of Canada. Binning conveys how Darshan Singh Sangha returned to India in 1947 to be a part of the revolution, how he was very active in the communist movement in India. While in India, Darshan Singh Sangha, was known as Canadian and thereby adopted “Canadian” as his surname, becoming “Darshan Singh Canadian”. Binning further explains that his uncle Dhana Singh Sangha returned to India in 1951, married and came back to B.C. in 1957 bringing with him, his wife and children. In 1960, with the support of his uncle, Binning’s father, Jit Singh Binning immigrated to British Columbia and began working in sawmills in the lower mainland, Kamloops, Quesnel and on Vancouver Island. Binning clarifies that his uncle, Dhana Singh was able to immigrate to Canada with the support of his cousins from the Tarker Singh Bains family. Binning further describes Darshan Singh Sangha’s involvement with the Communist party and the IWA and how the majority of the members were from the forest industry. As an active and prominent member of the labour movement, Darshan Singh Sangha fought for the rights of South Asians and Chinese who working in the industry and facing racism, unfair wages and discriminatory practices. Binning describes how Darshan Singh Sangha wrote a book in English in 1943, titled “Rise of the New Asia”. Binning conveys how immigrants of Chinese and South Asian decent didn’t have the right to vote in British Columbia and how Darshan Singh Sangha was instrumental in obtaining the right to vote in British Columbia, although he was never given the credit. Binning describes his uncle Dhana Singh as a likeable guy with many friends, first living in Kamloops before moving to Vancouver. Binning imparts how the sport of wrestling is a popular Punjabi sport along with Punjabi kabaddi. He conveys that his uncle became involved in wrestling while working in sawmills. South Asian immigrants had to do physical labour working in sawmills, the work could be tough and could often lead to physical fights. A number of South Asian immigrants working in the mills already had experience as wrestlers from back home. Dhana Singh later left the lumber industry to work in the agriculture sector. Binning explains how immigration rules changed in the 1960s which lead to larger numbers of South Asians immigrating to Canada. Many of these new immigrants were educated and politically conscious. All of these new immigrants faced racism but being politically conscious from an independent India and with the ability to speak English they organized themselves to fight for their rights. Binning imagines the items that his uncle and his father may have brought with them in their suitcase when immigrating to Canada. Binning describes three items, including a rajai (a blanket with cotton inside that is sewn together), a bistra (small attaché case or trunk) and a piece of cloth to lie on. Binning further describes the roles in Indian society as caste divisions and that it was usually women’s work in making the rajais. Binning recollects the locations that his father and his family lived after coming to Vancouver. Binning explains that a few years after living together in Vancouver, he and his family moved to Burnaby in 1973 to be closer to his Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish Binning’s family. Dr. Binning and family lived in a house in Burnaby located on Irmin Street near Royal Oak between 1973 and 1987. While living at this house their children attended McPherson Park Junior High School and later Burnaby South Secondary School. Binning reflects on some of the racism that he and his family have faced while living in Burnaby which led him to write a poem that he published in 1994 titled “No More Watno Dur”. Binning explains the meaning of the title “Watan” meaning “country and everybody” “a country far way from the motherland”. Binning explains the origins of the magazine “Watan” that was started by a friend in 1973. The magazine got its roots in Vancouver in 1973 from an organization called the “Punjabi Literary Association”. Binning became the editor of the magazine in 1976 and his friend joined him as assistant editor in 1978. Binning continued to work as editor until 1983 or 1984 when he returned to school to complete his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. Binning describes the origins of the “Vancouver Sath” that was formed by a small group of South Asians around 1982. Binning was a founding member of the organization and held meetings and rehearsals at his house in Burnaby. Vancouver Sath first started out as an informal discussion forum by a group of politically conscious Punjabi writers and activists. Binning talks about issues and problems that Vancouver Sath addressed including; racism as well as domestic violence in the South Asian community. Binning explains how he and Sukhwant Hundal wrote articles on these issues and others that were happening in the South Asian community in Canada. Binning talks about how in 1983, the group was inspired to begin performing theatrical works after consulting with Gursharan Singh who was from a well known theatrical group from Punjab who were performing in Vancouver. In the beginning the Vancouver Sath’s plays were focused on the problems in Punjab but they soon decided to address social issues in their own South Asian community here in Canada. Binning summarizes and draws attention to, some of the plays that Vancouver Sath has written and performed including; “Picket Line”, about Punjabi women farmworkers’ rights; “Lattan de Bhoot”, about domestic abuse; “A Crop of Poison”; “Kihda Viah” (English translation- “Whose Marriage”) about arranged marriage and others about social issues in the South Asian community. The plays were performed in public schools and community centres in Vancouver and Richmond, Simon Fraser University and some were also performed in Toronto, Calgary and Williams Lake. Binning mentions some of the traditional foods that he likes to eat and where he and his family have shopped to find ingredients. He recalls how his mother, Gurmaje Kaur Binning did all of the cooking and was often cooking all day long. In the sixties, the Binning family address on 13th Avenue in Vancouver was also used as a postal address for many friends and family who’d recently immigrated. When these friends dropped by to pick up their mail, his mother often provided them with tea and food. After Binning and his wife, Jagdish moved to their own home in 1973, he shared in some of the shopping and cooking but his wife did the majority of the work due to his busy schedule. The interview closes with Binning providing an explanation of how “Watno Dur” magazine changed it’s name to “Watan” magazine. Binning reflects on how this came to be, when he made the decision to get an education in Canada and to stay here, not just as a “Canadian” but as a “Punjabi Canadian.

History: Interviewee biography: Dr. Sadhu Binning was born on May 10, 1947 to mother Gurmej Kaur and father Jeet Singh Binning. Due to lack of proper records management in India at the time of his birth, it is believed that he was actually born sometime in December of 1947. He grew up alongside two brothers and one sister in a village located in Kapurthala, Punjab. Dr. Binning attended secondary school in the nearby city of Phagwara, Punjab although he did not complete his education here. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed reading both Punjabi and Hindi novels and learned how to read Urdu as well. Dr. Binning’s uncle, Dhana Singh immigrated to Canada in 1933 and returned to India in 1953. When Dhana Singh returned to Canada in 1957, he sponsored Dr. Binning’s father, Jeet Singh Binning to immigrate. Dhana Singh co-owned a few saw mills in British Columbia and also worked in the truck driving industry. Dr. Binning remembers that some people who had lived in Canada would visit their village and that they appeared to be strong and healthy and looked happy. He also noticed that they would eat meat, so whenever they would visit there would be meat available. In 1967, when he was nineteen and a half years old, Dr. Binning immigrated Canada to join his father. He recalls his father and uncle and a friend arriving at the airport to pick him up. During his first few days, Dr. Binning made the decision to remove his turban and beard upon receiving advice from his uncle. Dr. Binning first obtained work on a farm in Abbotsford, working alongside his mother. While working, Dr. Binning also attended English classes in Vancouver. Dr. Binning’s Uncle Dhana Singh worked in a Vancouver saw mill and tried to help find work for his nephew but was unsuccessful. Dr. Binning soon found work at a saw mill in Avola and worked there until the end of the summer until a friend helped find him work in a saw mill in North Vancouver. During his free time, he enjoyed camping with friends. In 1970, Dr. Binning left the saw mill after obtaining a job at the post office. The post office offered lower wages than working at the mill but Dr. Binning believed that he would become more educated working here. While working as a postman, Dr. Binning recalls facing a lot of discrimination and racism and was often referred to as a ‘Paki’ multiple times a day. In 1973, Dr. Binning married Jagish Sihota. Sadhu and Jagdish originated from nearby villages in India and met each other in Canada. Dr. Binning’s wife, Jagdish worked at the Royal Bank of Canada for thirty years until her retirement. While working, she also looked after the household and their son and daughter. Jagdish also handwrote a magazine, “Watno Dur’ (English translation: ‘away from homeland’) which was distributed in the community. In 1976, Dr. Binning became the editor of the magazine and the name was later changed to “Watan’ as they had accepted their new homeland of Canada. While working at the post office, Dr. Binning also attended night school starting in eighth grade. After receiving his high school diploma, he was accepted to Simon Fraser University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Anthropology and Sociology and in 1986 he obtained a Masters degree from Simon Fraser University. While attending university, Dr. Binning was very active within the community and wanted to work to improve society. He first thought that he would return to India to contribute and improve rights in his homeland but upon seeing the prevalence of the movements in Canada, he realized that work needed to be done here too. In 1983, Dr. Binning became a founding member and contributor to a theatrical collective known as “Vancouver Sath”. The theatrical group produced plays that represented societal issues and were invited to perform at multiple conferences throughout British Columbia and Canada. The group focused and acknowledged the many issues in Punjab and in Canada. One of the plays that the group produced focused on the exploitation of Punjabi women who worked on farms in Canada. Dr. Binning continued to be involved as an integral member of Vancouver Sath until 1995. Over the years, Dr. Binning has strongly lobbied for Punjabi language education and between 1988 and 2008 he worked as Punjabi instructor at the University of British Columbia. He first worked as a teaching assistant at UBC under Dr. Harjot Oberoi and due to low wages, he simultaneously worked at the Post Office. In 2019, Dr. Binning received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from UBC in recognition of his work. Since 1973, Dr. Binning has lived in Burnaby and has resided in the same home that he and his wife Jagdish purchased in 1987. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, watercolour painting, travelling abroad and going on road trips. Interviewer biography: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

Subjects: Industries - Logging/lumber; Industries - Forestry; Foods; Migration; Organizations - Societies and Clubs; Organizations - Unions; Persons - South Asian Canadians; Performances; Performances - Dramatic Performances; Social Issues; Social Issues - Racism

Names: Binning, Dr. Sadhu; Binning, Gurmaje Kaur; Binning, Jit Singh; Binning, Jagdish; Sangha, Darshan Singh; Canadian Farmworkers Union; Hundal, Sukhwant; Sangra, Harjinder; Singh, Dhana; Vancouver Sath

Responsibility: Petrusa, Kate; Malik, Anushay

Accession Code: BV022.29.3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022

Media Type: Sound Recording

Notes: Title based on contents of item; Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby

Documents

2022_0029_0003_005

Audio Tracks

Interview with Dr. Sadhu Binning, [1931-2022] (interview content), interviewed 25 Nov. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0003_004.mp3

Gerry Hill, Mrs. Biart, and Bim

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82673

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1932

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph shows a boy, a woman, and a girl near a body of water. Identified from left to right are Gerry Hill, Mrs. Biart, and Bim.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1932

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 11.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-226

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph shows a boy, a woman, and a girl near a body of water. Identified from left to right are Gerry Hill, Mrs. Biart, and Bim.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Beaches; Persons - Children

Names: Hill, Gerald B. "Gerry"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "Gerry / Mrs. Biart, Bim 1932"; Note in blue pen on verso reads: "Gerry / Mrs Biart / Bim"; Note in pencil on verso reads: "1932?"

Images

Gerry Hill, Mrs. Biart, and Bim, 1932 thumbnail

Lesley, Gerry, and David Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82675

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1932

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a girl and two boys, identified from left to right as Lesley, Gerry, and David Hill, dressed in costumes.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1932

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 12.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-228

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a girl and two boys, identified from left to right as Lesley, Gerry, and David Hill, dressed in costumes.

Subjects: Clothing - Costumes; Persons - Children

Names: Hill, Gerald B. "Gerry"; Hill, David O. E. "Dave"; Durban, Lesley C. Hill

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in pencil on album page reads: "Lesley Gerry David 1932"; Note in blue pen on verso reads: "Dave Gerry / Lesley"; Note in pencil on verso reads: "1932"

Images

Lesley, Gerry, and David Hill, 1932 thumbnail

Lesley Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82683

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1932]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 8.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a girl, identified as Lesley Hill, standing on a beach.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1932]

Collection/Fonds: Hill family and Vidal family fonds

Series: Hill family and Vidal family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 8 x 8.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 550-235

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-03

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a girl, identified as Lesley Hill, standing on a beach.

Subjects: Persons - Children; Geographic Features - Beaches

Names: Durban, Lesley C. Hill

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on note accompanying photograph; Note in blue pen on verso reads: "Lesley"

Images

Interview with W.H. O'Brien July / August 1975 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory22

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1932

Length: 0:06:39

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's thoughts on the practices and philosophies of Army of the Common Good.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's thoughts on the practices and philosophies of Army of the Common Good.

Date Range: 1932

Photo Info: Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005

Length: 0:06:39

Subjects: Organizations; Persons - Volunteers

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: July / August 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with W.H. "Harry" O'Brien by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury. Major themes discussed are: the Army of the Common Good, the Union of the Unemployed and the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union). To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: W.H. “Harry” O’Brien was born in the coal mining town of Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 20, 1914. He came to Burnaby with his parents and five siblings in 1927. Harry’s mother, a school teacher, wanted her children to live closer to school in order to obtain a better education, so the O’Brien family settled at Inman Avenue, Burnaby. Harry's mother, Mary Anne Crossan, was Gilmore Avenue School's first teacher. Harry left school in June of 1929. Harry’s father worked as the caretaker at Central Park around this time and Harry helped him to clear brush, plant trees and enforce the land clearing and wood cutting permit regulations held by men who were on script. Although too young to vote by just over a week, Harry O'Brien worked as a scrutineer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) during the 1935 Federal Election. On October 12, 1940 Harry O'Brien married Gertrude Sutherland at St. John the Divine in Burnaby. The Sutherland family came to Burnaby from Winnipeg in 1933 and settled at Nelson Avenue. Harry began his involvement with the Unemployment Organization in Burnaby by participating in an organised protest against the municipality for homeowner evictions brought on by unpaid taxes. The South Burnaby Union of the Unemployed organised in order to protest rules around receiving Relief. Harry became involved, eventually becoming one of the spearheads of the organization, taking over as secretary by 1936. Harry was an original member of the Army of the Common Good, helping to produce over one hundred and twenty-five tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed Burnaby citizens suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The members of the Army of the Common Good who cut wood for consumption or worked in the gardens were given credit for their work through LU (Labour Units) which they could then use to buy groceries and that at the Army's Cooperative stores, one of which was at McKay Avenue, where Harry began working as Manager of Groceries in 1937. The Credit Union movement of British Columbia was also organized by Harry O'Brien and his fellow Army of the Common Good members. W.H. "Harry" O'Brien died July 1, 1992.

Total Tracks: 9

Total Length: 1:17:56

Interviewee Name: O'Brien, Harry

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track five of interview with W.H.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-25/100-13-25_Track_5.mp3

Interview with W.H. O'Brien July / August 1975 - Track 6

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory23

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1932-1938

Length: 0:09:14

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's involvement with the Army of the Common Good Cooperative stores and their beginnings. Harry mentions the Credit Union.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's involvement with the Army of the Common Good Cooperative stores and their beginnings. Harry mentions the Credit Union.

Date Range: 1932-1938

Photo Info: Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005

Length: 0:09:14

Subjects: Organizations; Persons - Volunteers

Geographic Access: McKay Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: July / August 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with W.H. "Harry" O'Brien by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury. Major themes discussed are: the Army of the Common Good, the Union of the Unemployed and the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union). To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: W.H. “Harry” O’Brien was born in the coal mining town of Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 20, 1914. He came to Burnaby with his parents and five siblings in 1927. Harry’s mother, a school teacher, wanted her children to live closer to school in order to obtain a better education, so the O’Brien family settled at Inman Avenue, Burnaby. Harry's mother, Mary Anne Crossan, was Gilmore Avenue School's first teacher. Harry left school in June of 1929. Harry’s father worked as the caretaker at Central Park around this time and Harry helped him to clear brush, plant trees and enforce the land clearing and wood cutting permit regulations held by men who were on script. Although too young to vote by just over a week, Harry O'Brien worked as a scrutineer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) during the 1935 Federal Election. On October 12, 1940 Harry O'Brien married Gertrude Sutherland at St. John the Divine in Burnaby. The Sutherland family came to Burnaby from Winnipeg in 1933 and settled at Nelson Avenue. Harry began his involvement with the Unemployment Organization in Burnaby by participating in an organised protest against the municipality for homeowner evictions brought on by unpaid taxes. The South Burnaby Union of the Unemployed organised in order to protest rules around receiving Relief. Harry became involved, eventually becoming one of the spearheads of the organization, taking over as secretary by 1936. Harry was an original member of the Army of the Common Good, helping to produce over one hundred and twenty-five tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed Burnaby citizens suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The members of the Army of the Common Good who cut wood for consumption or worked in the gardens were given credit for their work through LU (Labour Units) which they could then use to buy groceries and that at the Army's Cooperative stores, one of which was at McKay Avenue, where Harry began working as Manager of Groceries in 1937. The Credit Union movement of British Columbia was also organized by Harry O'Brien and his fellow Army of the Common Good members. W.H. "Harry" O'Brien died July 1, 1992.

Total Tracks: 9

Total Length: 1:17:56

Interviewee Name: O'Brien, Harry

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track six of interview with W.H.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-25/100-13-25_Track_6.mp3

Interview with Alfred Bingham June 10, 1975 - Track 9

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory66

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1932

Length: 0:09:43

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's memories of his involvement with the Army of the Common Good, including asserting influence on the Communist Party and the opening of the first Common Good store.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's memories of his involvement with the Army of the Common Good, including asserting influence on the Communist Party and the opening of the first Common Good store.

Date Range: 1932

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:09:43

Subjects: Persons - Volunteers; Organizations; Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: June 10, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is a taped interview with Alfred Bingham by SFU graduate student Bettina Bradbury June 10, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression, Pioneers, and the Co-operative Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Angus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 14

Total Length: 1:57:27

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track nine of interview with Alfred Bingham

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-1/100-13-20-1_Track_9.mp3

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