Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Bert Porter on a steamroller

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34830

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1919] (date of original), copied 1985

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.5 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bert Porter with a municipal steamroller on Douglas Road. He worked many years operating a steam roller for the municipality, flattening out gravel streets after grading, and was the husband of Lillie Lewis Porter.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1919] (date of original), copied 1985

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Lewis family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.5 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 140-011

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1985-10

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bert Porter with a municipal steamroller on Douglas Road. He worked many years operating a steam roller for the municipality, flattening out gravel streets after grading, and was the husband of Lillie Lewis Porter.

Subjects: Construction Tools and Equipment; Occupations - Labourers; Occupations - Civic Workers; Construction - Road Construction

Names: Porter, Bert

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Douglas Road

Images

Bert Porter on a steamroller, [1919] (date of original), copied 1985 thumbnail

Box

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumartifact89918

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV019.6.1

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV019.6.1

Description: box; to ship and sell mandarin oranges; rectangular, corrugated cardboard box; single piece of cardboard, folded to form box; locking tab lid; oval cut outs in sides and lid for air circulation and for carrying; interior is plain brown cardboard; exterior has white, orange, and green text and illustrations beneath a wax coating. Colourful illustrations of mandarin oranges on sides and lid of box; text on front, back, and lid reads: "CHINESE / MANDARIN / ORANGES"; text on one side in French and other side in English reads: "THE ORIGINAL CHINESE / MANDARIN / CHINA NATIONAL CEREALS, OILS & FOODSTUFFS IMPORT & EXPORT CORPORATION / PRODUCT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA / [text in Chinese] / MINIMUM 31 PCS. PER BOX"."

Object History: As a produce buyer for Kelly Douglas, Cecil Lee worked closely with local farmers along Marine Drive and in the Fraser Valley. The Burnaby company was one of the largest food distributors in Canada. In the mid-1970s, Lee was asked to oversee the import of Chinese mandarin oranges into Canada. Until that time, mandarin oranges had come from Japan and were sold in the winter, especially at Christmas. When the Japanese market could no longer keep up with demand, Kelly Douglas looked to China. The company relied on Lee’s cultural knowledge to build this very profitable part of their business. Lee designed the cardboard Chinese mandarin orange box to replace wooden containers. The iconic design required no glue or staples, making it possible for farmers to assemble and pack the boxes as they picked the oranges.

Reference: For other records in this collection see: Business records series of Julie Lee and Cecil Lee family fonds

Category: 04.Tools & Equipment for Materials

Classification: Food Processing & Preparation T&E - - Food Storage Equipment

Object Term: Box, Food Storage

Subjects: Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Container - Box; Occupations - Agricultural Labourers; Occupations - Grocers

Names: Lee, Julie Cho Chan

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Burnaby Sports Day

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85204

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1936 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 film clip (8 min., 37 sec.) : digital, col., si.

Scope and Content: Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of the annual Sports Day events held at Burnaby Central Park. The film opens with an unidentified dedication ceremony and tree planting in an unknown location and switches to students marching into Central Park. Hundreds of child…

1 image 1 video

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1936 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Physical Description: 1 film clip (8 min., 37 sec.) : digital, col., si.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 562-002-3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Accession Number: 2012-15

Scope and Content: Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of the annual Sports Day events held at Burnaby Central Park. The film opens with an unidentified dedication ceremony and tree planting in an unknown location and switches to students marching into Central Park. Hundreds of children and Youth are showcased in sporting field events and competitions such as track and field sports, acrobatics, gymnastics, dancing, leap frog, skipping, rugby.

Subjects: Events - Parades; Occupations; Occupations - Labourers; Organizations - Mens' Societies and Clubs; Organizations - Womens' Societies and Clubs

Media Type: Moving Images

Photographer: Digney, Andy

Creator: Digney, Andy

Notes: Title based on contents of film; Film clip originates from digitized version of original 16 mm film footage (item 562-002). This segment was part of digitized portion titled 'May Day Events'

Geographic Access: Kingsway; Central Park

Street Address: 3883 Imperial Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Sussex-Nelson Area

Images

Video

Burnaby Sports Day, [between 1936 and 1939]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-002-3.m4v

Ernie Winch

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35648

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [194-] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Ernie Winch (left) and an unidentified helper working as stone masons building a brick chimney.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [194-] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-506

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Ernie Winch (left) and an unidentified helper working as stone masons building a brick chimney.

Subjects: Construction; Occupations - Entrepreneurs; Occupations - Labourers

Names: Winch, Ernest "Ernie"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Ernie Winch, [194-] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Farmer Boy

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9678

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 2016

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Film and Video collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (6 min., 6 sec.) : digital, 25 fps, col., sd., stereo

Scope and Content: This film is created by Lester Gierarch. Part of the Gierach heritage his father instilled in him was the work ethic of “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” This film shares Lester’s happy memories of working on the Y.Y. Sim farm, in Cloverdale, B.C., when he was 1…

1 image 1 video

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Film and Video collection

Series: Elders Digital Storytelling project series

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 video recording (mp4) (6 min., 6 sec.) : digital, 25 fps, col., sd., stereo

Scope and Content: This film is created by Lester Gierarch. Part of the Gierach heritage his father instilled in him was the work ethic of “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” This film shares Lester’s happy memories of working on the Y.Y. Sim farm, in Cloverdale, B.C., when he was 15 years old. He worked hard alongside Chinese men and women who were new immigrants to Canada as he helped to harvest lettuce and celery for 80 cents an hour. Through this experience Lester grew comfortable working with people of another culture who also knew the importance of working hard.

History: Lester Gierach has lived in Burnaby for the past 22 years.

Creator: Gierach, Lester

Other Title Information: title supplied by film maker

Subjects: Persons - Chinese Canadians; Occupations - Agricultural Labourers; Occupations - Farmers

Names: Gierach, Lester

Accession Code: BV016.37.9

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 2016

Media Type: Moving Images

Notes: Transcribed title; The film was produced in 2016 as part of the Elders Digital Storytelling project. Digital storytelling is a form of narrative that creates short movies using relatively simple media technology. The project began in 2014 funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada (SSHRC) and AGE-WELL NCE grants. In partnership with the City of Burnaby, digital storytelling workshops were offered in Burnaby. The workshops helped older adults create short autobiographical films that tell a special story in their lives, complete with music, photos and narration. This film was produced at one of those workshops.

Images

Video

Farmer Boy, 2016

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2016_0037_0009_001.mp4

Frank Salt at work

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1305

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1900 and 1919] (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 24.5 x 19 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of George Salt working with an unidentified fellow labourer. George Salt is wearing overalls and holding a wood planer in his hands. The other man is wearing a striped shirt with suspenders and is resting his right hand on an axe handle.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 24.5 x 19 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of George Salt working with an unidentified fellow labourer. George Salt is wearing overalls and holding a wood planer in his hands. The other man is wearing a striped shirt with suspenders and is resting his right hand on an axe handle.

Subjects: Occupations - Woodworkers; Occupations - Labourers

Names: Salt, George

Accession Code: BV998.66.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: [between 1900 and 1919] (date of original)

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 02-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Frank Salt at work, [between 1900 and 1919] (date of original) thumbnail

Interview with Surjeet Kaur Parmar

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

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

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

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

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

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

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

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

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

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

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

Creator: Burnaby Village Museum

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

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

Accession Code: BV022.29.5

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

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

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

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

Documents

2022_0029_0005_004

Audio Tracks

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

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

Labour parade

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85205

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1936 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 film clip (4 min, 23 sec.) : digital, col., si.

Scope and Content: Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of a May Day labour parade for International Worker's Day. Men, women and children are seen marching with banners held high interspersed with a marching band with bagpipes. Some of the banners are identified as; The Communist Pa…

1 image 1 video

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1936 and 1939]

Collection/Fonds: Digney Family fonds

Physical Description: 1 film clip (4 min, 23 sec.) : digital, col., si.

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 562-002-4

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Accession Number: 2012-15

Scope and Content: Item is a digitized copy of a silent colour film segment with footage of a May Day labour parade for International Worker's Day. Men, women and children are seen marching with banners held high interspersed with a marching band with bagpipes. Some of the banners are identified as; The Communist Party of Canada, the Scandinavian Worker's Club, Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, Ex-Servicemen's League, Canadian League Against War and Fascism, Fishermen's Legislative Program, Sailor's Union, B.C. Maritime Workers, Amalgamated Building Workers Union, Bakery and Confectionary Workers International Union of America and The Women's Labour League. Some of the banners in the parade read as follows; 'Support the White Lunch Strike', 'Abolish Deferred Pay', 'Builders of British Columbia- Bill Bennett', 'Communist Party of Canada', 'Free Grange and Molland'.

Subjects: Events - Parades; Occupations; Occupations - Labourers; Organizations - Mens' Societies and Clubs; Organizations - Womens' Societies and Clubs

Media Type: Moving Images

Photographer: Digney, Andy

Creator: Digney, Andy

Notes: Title based on contents of film; Film clip originates from digitized version of original 16 mm film footage (item 562-002). This segment was part of digitized portion titled 'Labour Parade'

Geographic Access: Kingsway

Images

Video

Labour parade, [between 1936 and 1939]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-002-4.m4v

Lewis family

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35698

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1903 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of (left to right) Lillie Lewis (sister - later Lillie Porter), William Lewis (father), Evelyn Lewis (sister), and Ernest Lewis (brother) picking strawberries at the side of their house. Note the apple trees all around. The other people in the picture are unidentified hired help.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1903 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-556

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of (left to right) Lillie Lewis (sister - later Lillie Porter), William Lewis (father), Evelyn Lewis (sister), and Ernest Lewis (brother) picking strawberries at the side of their house. Note the apple trees all around. The other people in the picture are unidentified hired help.

Subjects: Occupations - Agricultural Labourers; Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Occupations - Farmers; Buildings - Residential - Houses

Names: Lewis, Ernest; Lewis, Evelyn; Lewis, William; Porter, Lillie Lewis

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Cooksley, William Thomas

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: 4th Street; 18th Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Second Street Area

Images

Lewis family, 1903 (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Rock crusher engine

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34522

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1910

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.1 x 17.1 cm mounted on 20.2 x 25.3 cm cardboard

Scope and Content: Photograph of a rock crusher engine and crew at Edmonds. Identified: foreman Pete Watt (3rd from left) and Jack McMurray (fourth from left). Annotations on back of photograph reads: "engineer George Harden [or Harder] at the wheel with Harry [or Harvey] Harrison beside him" and "others are Bob Ell…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1910

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.1 x 17.1 cm mounted on 20.2 x 25.3 cm cardboard

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 035-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of a rock crusher engine and crew at Edmonds. Identified: foreman Pete Watt (3rd from left) and Jack McMurray (fourth from left). Annotations on back of photograph reads: "engineer George Harden [or Harder] at the wheel with Harry [or Harvey] Harrison beside him" and "others are Bob Ellis, Sandy Scott, and Billy Waller [or Walter?]."

Subjects: Occupations - Labourers; Occupations - Engineers; Construction Tools and Equipment

Names: Ellis, Robert "Bob"; Harder, George; Harrison, Harry; McMurray, Jack; Scott, Sandy; Waller, Billy; Watt, Pete

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Moore, W.J.

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Stamp on back reads, "W.J. Moore, Photographer, Vancouver, B.C. / Walden Block or 25 & Main"

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Images

6742 Walker Avenue construction

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37859

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1987 (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 4.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.4 x 26.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the construction of a house at 6742 Walker Avenue. Roofing is being done in the summer of 1987. Two men are standing on the roof.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1987 (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 4.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.4 x 26.7 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-447

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of the construction of a house at 6742 Walker Avenue. Roofing is being done in the summer of 1987. Two men are standing on the roof.

Subjects: Construction; Buildings - Residential - Houses; Occupations - Labourers

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Negative has a pink cast; Copied from col. photograph

Geographic Access: Walker Avenue

Street Address: 6742 Walker Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Richmond Park Area

Images

6742 Walker Avenue construction, 1987 (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

A Good Size Log, Barnet B.C

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38346

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1907]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8.7 x 13.8 cm

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of a labourer grappling with a large log on the log chute at the Barnet mill. The caption to the card reads: "A Good Size Log / Barnet B.C." The Barnet Mill was called the North Pacific Lumber Company from 1889 to 1914.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1907]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Charles Lee subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8.7 x 13.8 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 411-005

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2000-13

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of a labourer grappling with a large log on the log chute at the Barnet mill. The caption to the card reads: "A Good Size Log / Barnet B.C." The Barnet Mill was called the North Pacific Lumber Company from 1889 to 1914.

Subjects: Occupations - Labourers; Woodworking Tools and Equipment - Logging Machinery; Buildings - Industrial - Mills; Documentary Artifacts - Postcards

Names: Barnet Mill

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title taken from caption

Geographic Access: Barnet Village; Texaco Drive

Street Address: 8059 Texaco Drive

Historic Neighbourhood: Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Images

A Good Size Log, Barnet B.C, [1907] thumbnail

The Ancient and Honorable Anvil Brigade

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64484

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 24, 1906 (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 13 x 18 cm mounted on board 22 x 27 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of "the Ancient + Honourable Anvil Brigade" standing outside a General Blacksmith and Machinist shop.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: May 24, 1906 (date of original)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Bailey family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 13 x 18 cm mounted on board 22 x 27 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 508-012

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1992-55

Scope and Content: Photograph of "the Ancient + Honourable Anvil Brigade" standing outside a General Blacksmith and Machinist shop.

Subjects: Persons - Crowds; Occupations - Labourers

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Cooksley, William Thomas

Notes: Photographer's mark on lower right corner of image reads: "W.T. Cooksley, Photo., / New Westminster, B.C."

Images

The Ancient and Honorable Anvil Brigade, May 24, 1906 (date of original) thumbnail

Anderson and Phillips Builders

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription57728

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1910 and 1914]

Collection/Fonds: J.W. Phillips fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a newly constructed house with land clearing debris and labourers working in the yard. A sign on the house reads; "Anderson and Phillips Builders", although the location and the specific individuals are unidentified (items no. 487-022 and 487-032 depict this house completed).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [between 1910 and 1914]

Collection/Fonds: J.W. Phillips fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm

Material Details: Emulsion measures 11 x 15.5 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 12 x 16 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 487-029

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2008-18

Scope and Content: Photograph of a newly constructed house with land clearing debris and labourers working in the yard. A sign on the house reads; "Anderson and Phillips Builders", although the location and the specific individuals are unidentified (items no. 487-022 and 487-032 depict this house completed).

Subjects: Buildings - Residential - Houses; Construction; Land Clearing; Occupations - Labourers

Names: Anderson and Phillips Builders

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Phillips, James William "Jim"

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Anderson and Phillips Builders, [between 1910 and 1914] thumbnail

Artificial turf at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription98222

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: File

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of Pierre Alarie, the crew chief for Field Turf International, checking and installing artificial turf at the a new field at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1999]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 2 photographs (tiff) : col.

Description Level: File

Record No.: 535-3300

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2018-12

Scope and Content: File contains photographs of Pierre Alarie, the crew chief for Field Turf International, checking and installing artificial turf at the a new field at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Athletic Fields; Occupations - Labourers

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bartel, Mario

Notes: Title based on caption; Collected by editorial for use in an August 1999 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader; Caption from metadata for 535-3300-1: "Pierre Alarie, the crew chief for Field Turf International, checks the artificial turf his company is installing at the new field complex off Kensington."

Geographic Access: Kensington Avenue; Burnaby Lake Sports Complex

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Ardingley-Sprott Area

Images

Artificial turf at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex, [1999] thumbnail

At a work camp

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34484

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.9 x 12 cm on page 17.5 x 26.4 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of six men at a work camp at Avola, BC. The men are identified as: standing (l to r) Bill B., Ted B., "Cook," and Shorty and sitting (l to r) Bill S. and Frank H. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the c…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1927

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.9 x 12 cm on page 17.5 x 26.4 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-191

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of six men at a work camp at Avola, BC. The men are identified as: standing (l to r) Bill B., Ted B., "Cook," and Shorty and sitting (l to r) Bill S. and Frank H. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway during the later 1920s.

Subjects: Occupations - Labourers

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Peers, Arthur Francis "Mike"

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

A worker clearing leaves

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription78685

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: November, 1995

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 23 x 15.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified man clearing leaves with a leaf blower.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: November, 1995

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 23 x 15.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 535-0046

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No reproduction permitted

Accession Number: 2012-11

Scope and Content: Photograph of an unidentified man clearing leaves with a leaf blower.

Subjects: Occupations - Labourers

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Ponne, Simone

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in black and blue ink on recto of photograph reads: "82% pg 7 POCO NL / 3085 Bby Simone"; Trim marks and/or reproduction instructions on recto (scan is cropped)

Images

A worker clearing leaves, November, 1995 thumbnail

Bellinger family home

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37460

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1936 or 1937] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.8 x 4.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Bellinger family home at 2827 Earl Avenue (later 6296 Pearl Avenue), during alteration of the front porch. The workers are unidentified.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1936 or 1937] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.8 x 4.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-048

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Bellinger family home at 2827 Earl Avenue (later 6296 Pearl Avenue), during alteration of the front porch. The workers are unidentified.

Subjects: Construction; Occupations - Labourers; Buildings - Residential - Houses

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Bellinger, Bernard

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying; Photos 370-047 and 370-049 show house before and after renovations

Geographic Access: Pearl Avenue

Street Address: 6296 Pearl Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Windsor Area

Images

Bellinger family home, [1936 or 1937] (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

Bill Speirs

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35318

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1929 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Speirs operating a steam shovel for the municipality of Burnaby. Here he is working on the roads around Gilley Avenue and Imperial Street (formerly Windsor Street).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1929 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-175

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Bill Speirs operating a steam shovel for the municipality of Burnaby. Here he is working on the roads around Gilley Avenue and Imperial Street (formerly Windsor Street).