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Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's essay entitled Stump Rangers, a listing of early settlers that includes addresses and short descriptions, essays on Confederation Park, land clearing and on Burnaby's first Council meeting.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's essay entitled Stump Rangers, a listing of early settlers that includes addresses and short descriptions, essays on Confederation Park, land clearing and on Burnaby's first Council meeting.

Date Range: 1865-1919

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

Length: 0:10:18

Subjects: Geographic Features - Parks; Officials - Aldermen and Councillors; Land Clearing

Scope and Content: Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op 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 Aungus 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: 12

Total Length: 1:38:06

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories

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 one of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-2/100-13-20-2_Track_1.mp3

Interview with Tony Fabian by Kathy Bossort October 29, 2015 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory599

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1860-1995

Length: 0:15:57

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Tony Fabian’s description of the history of setting aside parkland on Burnaby Mountain, the creation of the Pavilion area in 1957, the history of proposals for how Burnaby Mountain could be used, the land transfer to SFU in 1963, and difficulty accessing the m…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Tony Fabian’s description of the history of setting aside parkland on Burnaby Mountain, the creation of the Pavilion area in 1957, the history of proposals for how Burnaby Mountain could be used, the land transfer to SFU in 1963, and difficulty accessing the mountain for recreation prior to 1965. He also talks about the dispute between SFU and the City of Burnaby over land ownership and control.

Date Range: 1860-1995

Length: 0:15:57

Names: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area; Burnaby Mountain Centennial Park; Simon Fraser University

Subjects: Geographic Features - Parks; Recreational Activities

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Bossort, Kathy

Interview Date: October 29, 2015

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Tony Fabian conducted by Kathy Bossort. Tony Fabian was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about Tony Fabian’s part in park creation and protection of natural areas in Burnaby, particularly as a member of the Park and Recreation Commission in the 1970s; his childhood and how that contributed to his land ethic; and the history of the uses made of and setting aside parkland on Burnaby Mountain.

Biographical Notes: Tony S. Fabian was born in 1934 in north Saskatchewan. At less than a year old Tony, along with his siblings, was removed from his family home and eventually placed with an immigrant farm family. As a child he worked on the farm and witnessed what he considered abusive treatment of the land and farm animals. When he was about 12 years old his adoptive family moved to the BC coast where he went on his own, working for a variety of farmers in Richmond and Delta. At 19 he contracted polio, quit farm work, and found work with the telephone company. In 1956 Tony married, and in 1957 he and his wife moved to a home on Hardwick Street in Burnaby where he still lives. Tony entered civic politics in the 1960s when he objected to development on Hardwick Park and became concerned about the destruction of Burnaby’s natural landscapes. He became a life long advocate for preserving natural areas and helped to create large parks in Burnaby on the foreshore of the Fraser River and on Burrard Inlet. He served as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission 1970-1975, is a long time volunteer with the Burnaby Lake Park Association, and continues to stay current on local and regional environmental issues. In 2008 Tony was presented with the City of Burnaby Environment Award for Community Stewardship.

Total Tracks: 7

Total Length: 1:43:22

Interviewee Name: Fabian, Tony S.

Interview Location: Tony Fabian's home in Burnaby

Interviewer Bio: Kathy Bossort is a retired archivist living in Ladner, BC. She worked at the Delta Museum and Archives after graduating from SLAIS (UBC) in 2001 with Masters degrees in library science and archival studies. Kathy grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and, prior to this career change, she lived in the West Kootenays, earning her living as a cook for BC tourist lodges and work camps. She continues to be interested in oral histories as a way to fill the gaps in the written record and bring richer meaning to history.

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Track four of interview with Tony Fabian

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-007/MSS196-007_Track_4.mp3

In the park

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription407

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1890 and 1910]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph of seven young men and sixteen young women, sitting and standing in three rows at a park.There are trees and walkways in the background. Most men are in suits and have hats. The two seated men in the front have their hats resting on their feet. A man standing to the extreme left of the …

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w

Material Details: Photograph is mounted on a card board, and the card board is torn around the edges; Photograph printed with high contrast

Scope and Content: Photograph of seven young men and sixteen young women, sitting and standing in three rows at a park.There are trees and walkways in the background. Most men are in suits and have hats. The two seated men in the front have their hats resting on their feet. A man standing to the extreme left of the photograph is holding a racket in his hand. Most women are in light coloured blouses with long dark skirts.The woman standing third from the right in the back row resembles the woman depicted in other photographs in this accession identified as Gloriana Bird, or Birdie.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Parks

Accession Code: HV983.42.147

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [between 1890 and 1910]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-11-28

Images

In the park, [between 1890 and 1910] thumbnail

Burnaby Lake

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1677

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [between 1890 and 1909]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 5 x 7.5 cm, mounted on card 10 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby Lake.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 5 x 7.5 cm, mounted on card 10 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby Lake.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds

Geographic Access: Burnaby Lake

Accession Code: BV003.61.3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Date: [between 1890 and 1909]

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Lake Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 09-Jun-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Note in pencil on verso of photograph reads: "Near Burnaby Lake/ Burnaby, B.C."

Images

Burnaby Lake, [between 1890 and 1909] thumbnail

Clearing Deer Lake frontage

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39523

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1891]

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9.5 x 14.3 cm on page 21.5 x 8 cm (pasted in album)

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man and his dog sitting on a large felled tree along the shore of Deer Lake. The man is most likely Claude Hill, and early resident of the Deer Lake area.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1891]

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Series: Kitty Hill Peers family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9.5 x 14.3 cm on page 21.5 x 8 cm (pasted in album)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 477-842

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man and his dog sitting on a large felled tree along the shore of Deer Lake. The man is most likely Claude Hill, and early resident of the Deer Lake area.

Subjects: Animals - Dogs; Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds; Land Clearing

Names: Hill, Louis Claude "Claude"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Geographic Access: Deer Lake

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Images

Clearing Deer Lake frontage, [1891] thumbnail

Deer Lake Near Outflow

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39421

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1897

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 12.6 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of three unidentified people sitting on the bank of Deer Lake. Cleared land and felled trees can be seen in the background.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1897

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Series: Kitty Hill Peers family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 12.6 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 477-740

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of three unidentified people sitting on the bank of Deer Lake. Cleared land and felled trees can be seen in the background.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Geographic Access: Deer Lake

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Images

Douglas Road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35897

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1895 (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 Douglas Road at Haszard Hill.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1895 (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.: 204-756

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Douglas Road at Haszard Hill.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Roads

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Type note under photograph reads, "Douglas Road, 1895. Deviation from old road, seen on right at, then, Haszard Hill, now Rayside Ave, looking eastward up the hill."

Geographic Access: Douglas Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Morley-Buckingham Area

Images

Douglas Road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription447

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1897] (date of original), copied 1978

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 25.2 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Douglas Road (later renamed in part Canada Way), near Stanley Street. To the right is the Sprott family property, where a few wooden buildings are visible in the cleared area. Charles Sprott, head of the Sprott family, was an important Burnaby politician who was continuously elected t…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.2 x 25.2 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of Douglas Road (later renamed in part Canada Way), near Stanley Street. To the right is the Sprott family property, where a few wooden buildings are visible in the cleared area. Charles Sprott, head of the Sprott family, was an important Burnaby politician who was continuously elected to serve in the municiality as councillor from 1895 to 1903 and as Reeve from 1904 to 1905.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Roads; Land Clearing

Geographic Access: Douglas Road; Canada Way; Stanley Street

Accession Code: HV978.1.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [1897] (date of original), copied 1978

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Lakeview-Mayfield Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-07-25

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Douglas Road, [1897] (date of original), copied 1978 thumbnail

Family at Beach

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3048

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [189-?] (date of original), copied 1976

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.3 x 25.2 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man and a woman, and four young girls. The couple and the youngest child are posed in front of a large rock at a beach. The three other girls wearing dresses, boots and hats are sitting on the rock. The couple appears to be Mr. and Mrs. S. Shepherd Samuel depicted in photograph HV…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.3 x 25.2 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man and a woman, and four young girls. The couple and the youngest child are posed in front of a large rock at a beach. The three other girls wearing dresses, boots and hats are sitting on the rock. The couple appears to be Mr. and Mrs. S. Shepherd Samuel depicted in photograph HV976.153.2.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Beaches

Names: Samuel Family

Accession Code: HV976.153.3

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: [189-?] (date of original), copied 1976

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-06-27

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Annotation on verso of photograph reads: "Yale?"

Images

Family at Beach, [189-?] (date of original), copied 1976 thumbnail

Looking from Woodlunds towards Burnaby Lake in 1899

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription992

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1899

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia photogravure ; 9.8 x 13.9 cm, mounted on cardboard 14.5 x 19.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph taken from "Woodlunds." Annotations in ink on the back of the card read, "Mr & Mrs G. Every-Clayton/ with Mr Haszard's/ wishes for a very/ Happy Xmas/ 1899" and "Looking from Woodlands / towards Burnaby Lake in 1899." Later annotation in blue ballpoint pen read, "Woodlunds the residence…

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia photogravure ; 9.8 x 13.9 cm, mounted on cardboard 14.5 x 19.7 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph taken from "Woodlunds." Annotations in ink on the back of the card read, "Mr & Mrs G. Every-Clayton/ with Mr Haszard's/ wishes for a very/ Happy Xmas/ 1899" and "Looking from Woodlands / towards Burnaby Lake in 1899." Later annotation in blue ballpoint pen read, "Woodlunds the residence of Mr. Geo. Every-Clayton stood on the site of the present Centennial Pavilion, which when originally built was the residence of Mr. and Mrs. H.T. Ceperley. The proceeds from its sale was used to prepare the Ceperley playground in Stanley Park. The house in the left centre was that of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard R. Hill demolished to make way for entrance to Expressway."

Subjects: Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds

Names: Every-Clayton, George

Geographic Access: Burnaby Lake

Accession Code: HV973.40.6

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: 1899

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-05-09

Scale: 100

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Looking from Woodlunds towards Burnaby Lake in 1899, 1899 thumbnail

Looking north across the Fraser River

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription39584

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1890]

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 24 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)

Scope and Content: Photograph of New Westminster, taken from Surrey's Brownsville dock area on the south side of the Fraser River, with the span of the city's downtown and residential area in a panorama from the foot of 8th Street on the left as far east as Elliot Street on the extreme right. The peeled and chamfered…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1890]

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Series: Kitty Hill Peers family photograph series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 16.5 x 24 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 477-903

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of New Westminster, taken from Surrey's Brownsville dock area on the south side of the Fraser River, with the span of the city's downtown and residential area in a panorama from the foot of 8th Street on the left as far east as Elliot Street on the extreme right. The peeled and chamfered logs on the riverbank were transported by skid road and river and are typical of how Burnaby logs would have been stored prior to milling by the sawmill companies located in the city. The large white church building on the right is St. Peters Catholic Church built in 1886 at Blackwood and Columbia streets. Note that the large building at the center on the waterfront is the New Westminster City Market building (It has the central gable and arched opening). It was located on Front Street at Lytton Square and served as the primary place for Burnaby's market gardeners to sell their produce. To the right of the City Market is the city's original Chinatown located on the east end of Front Street.

Subjects: Geographic Features - Rivers; Maunfactured Products - Logs

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

Looking north across the Fraser River, [1890] thumbnail

Pat Byrne's Threshing Machine

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38542

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1892] (date of original) copied 1980

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.2 x 14.2 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of five men standing on a flat-bottom vessel on the Fraser River. A label accompanying the photograph reads: "1st threshing outfit in Burnaby, about 1892. Owned by Pat Byrne, brother of Peter. Sold to Peter when Pat returned to Ireland to live. On Fraser River. L. to R.: Pat Byrne, C…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1892] (date of original) copied 1980

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: New Westminster Public Library subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.2 x 14.2 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 459-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2003-19

Scope and Content: Photograph of five men standing on a flat-bottom vessel on the Fraser River. A label accompanying the photograph reads: "1st threshing outfit in Burnaby, about 1892. Owned by Pat Byrne, brother of Peter. Sold to Peter when Pat returned to Ireland to live. On Fraser River. L. to R.: Pat Byrne, Capt. Stewart of "Alice", Peter Byrne and another (unknown)." Peter Byrne was a member of Burnaby's municipal council from 1894-1895, 1898-1906 and served as Reeve from 1906-1910. The threshing machine (visible behind the side paddle of the scow) was loaded onto this scow for transport from New Westminster to the Byrne farm in Burnaby.

Subjects: Agricultural Tools and Equipment; Transportation - Boats; Officials - Mayors and Reeves; Geographic Features - Rivers

Names: Byrne, Pat; Byrne, Peter

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption

Images

Pat Byrne's Threshing Machine, [1892] (date of original) copied 1980 thumbnail

Interview with Norman Dowad

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19638

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1890-2023] (interview content), interviewed 14 Aug. 2023

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (wav) (61 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (61 min., 37 sec.)

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Norman Dowad conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on August 14, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:14:38 Norm shares biographical information about himself and background information on the Dowad family. Norm conveys information …

1 document 1 audio

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum Oral Histories series

Subseries: Many Voices Project Interviews subseries

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 sound recording (wav) (61 min., 37 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (61 min., 37 sec.)

Material Details: Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Norman Dowad Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: August 14, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:14:37 Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Norman Dowad conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar, Eric Damer on August 14, 2023. 00:00:00 – 00:14:38 Norm shares biographical information about himself and background information on the Dowad family. Norm conveys information about his grandfather Samuel Dowad's immigration to Canada and his father Wilfred Dowad's military service and successes as a property developer. 00:14:39 – 00:17:26 Norm provides background information on his mother’s side of the family. 00:17:27 – 00:31:36 Norm talks about his childhood, growing up in the Deer Lake neighbourhood, his early education in Burnaby and sports that he played. 00:31:37 – 00:39:59 Norm talks about his educational experiences attending Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and Osgoode Hall law school and information regarding his law career. 00:40:00 – 00:45:03 Norm reflects on his childhood growing up in Burnaby and on his experiences and relationships as a student and in his career as a lawyer. 00:45:04 – 01:01:37 Norm talks about his siblings and shares information about family property development projects as well as career and business successes. In closing he talks about research that he’s done through Archives Canada on his grandfather Sam Dowad and father Wilfred Dowad.

History: Interviewee biography: Norm Dowad was born in Burnaby, December 1948 to parents Wilfred “Wilf” (1925-2011) and Cherry Dowad. His father, Wilfred (1925-2011) was born in Winnipeg to parents Samuel “Sam” (Salim in Arabic) Esper Dowad (1895-1969) and Martha (Shaheen) Dowad (1894-1955). Sam and Martha Dowad were both born in a province of the Ottoman Empire which is now present day Lebanon. In 1912, while trying to immigrate to Canada, several of Sam’s relatives including his mother died tragically as steerage passengers on the ill fated Titanic. In 1913, at the age of 18 years, Sam immigrated to Canada to join other family members who'd already arrived here safely. As a new immigrant in Canada, Sam worked with other Labanese immigrants in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the United States. In December 1921, Sam's wife, Martha immigrated to Canada arriving by ship in St. John, New Brunswick. Sam and Martha established their home in Winnipeg where they began to start a family. Their first two children died in infancy and son Wilfred was born in 1925 and daughter Kathleen was born in 1926. While living in Winnipeg, Sam worked as a grocer and in the 1930’s he got work as a farmer in a nearby town. In 1943, Wilf joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCVNR) and served as a gunner on merchant ships during World War II. In 1945, while Wilf was away serving, his parents, Sam and Martha moved to Burnaby. After discharge in 1945, Wilf joined his parents in Burnaby, began working at Fraser Mills and commenced his studies in construction and drafting. In 1949, with his father’s help Wilf acquired a lot next door to his parents’ home and built his first apartment block. After Martha died in 1954, Sam moved to Kelowna where he bought an orchard. Sam remarried in 1957 to Naomi “Mamie” (David) Dowad (1899-1978) who was also from a Lebanese family. Sam and Mamie lived in Kelowna until the mid 1960s when they moved to White Rock. While living in Burnaby, Wilf met and married Cherry Piggott and the couple had six children; Norm, Bruce, Michael, Kathie, Phil and Tom. In 1955, Wilfred Dowad established "W. Dowad Ltd." and over the years he was successful in developing and subdividing land to build housing and commercial developments in Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver. Wilf was the first president of the Burnaby Winter club and was an active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce holding office at the local, provincial and national level. In 1970, Wilf purchased 238 acres of land bordering the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh River and relocated there the following year. While living in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Wilf became actively engaged in local business and community affairs. Wilf was later remarried to Grethe Dowad and he died in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh in 2011.Wilf's six children are the sole owners of "W.Dowad Ltd." and his daughter, Kathie Smillie is the president and CEO. While growing up in Burnaby, Norm Dowad attended Schou Street School, Douglas Road School, Kensington School and graduated from Burnaby Central Secondary School. Following graduation from high school, Norm attended Simon Fraser University for one year, travelled in Europe, attended University of British Columbia and obtained his law degree from Osgoode Hall at York University. Norman has been practicing law for 49 years and has his own law practice that he operates out of Vancouver. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.