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Mary Forsyth fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription87823

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1893] (date of original) -2004

Collection/Fonds: Mary Forsyth fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: Textual records, graphic material and cartographic material

Scope and Content: Records consist of material created and collected by Mary Forsyth. Records include correspondence, photographs, a map, presentation notes, and reviews along with research for historical and biographical essays pertaining to pioneering families, organizations, and the geographical area of South Burn…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1893] (date of original) -2004

Collection/Fonds: Mary Forsyth fonds

Physical Description: Textual records, graphic material and cartographic material

Description Level: Fonds

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Accession Number: 2014-27

Scope and Content: Records consist of material created and collected by Mary Forsyth. Records include correspondence, photographs, a map, presentation notes, and reviews along with research for historical and biographical essays pertaining to pioneering families, organizations, and the geographical area of South Burnaby. One of her major research projects consists of "A Walking Environment for South Burnaby," which also became a proposal to The Corporation of the District of Burnaby. Historical information and photographs pertaining to South Burnaby pioneer families and organizations were compiled from interviews with the intention of publishing a book.

History: Mary Gertrude (Bolton) Forsyth was born at her parents' home in Burnaby on March 5, 1923, and was the daughter of Richard Bolton and Gertrude (nee Hern). Mary's father, Richard, immigrated to Canada from Sunderland, England, in 1911. He lived with his brother George in New Westminster prior to purchasing property in South Burnaby in 1916 and built a bungalow located at 859 Marine Drive. Richard Bolton was employed as the municipal treasurer for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby and, in 1919, he returned to Sunderland with three months leave of absence to marry Mary Gertrude Hern, daughter of Captain and Mrs. John Hern. Mary grew up with her parents and sister Nancy in the house that her father built on Marine Drive. She married Lloyd Forsyth in 1946 and they had two children, Diane and Robert. Mary and her husband raised their family in Burnaby and built a house at 855 Marine Drive, on the lot originally purchased by her father, and moved later to a house located at 6457 Marine Drive. In 1964, after her children were grown, Mary completed her teaching degree at Simon Fraser University and went on to teach kindergarten at Nelson Elementary School. While a teacher within the Burnaby School District, Mary was instrumental in adopting ballet as part of the school curriculum. Mary was an active member of the Burnaby Historical Society, participating and leading local events and seminars. She was inspired by the idea of the 'Housewives Holiday', originally initiated by the Vancouver "Y’ S". In February 1960, she was integral in forming a committee in South Burnaby, working alongside Ruth Turner, Faye Treagh, and Dorothy Turnbull. The "Housewives Holiday" committee (a branch of the Clinton-Glenwood Recreation Association) planned several events at Bonsor Hall for Burnaby housewives from October 6 to December 8, 1960. After her retirement from teaching, Mary returned to Simon Fraser University to do further studies and, in 1983, she wrote an essay for an Environmental Education course, titled "A Walking Environment for South Burnaby". The essay was conducted as a feasibility study to provide a walking environment in her community and included a formal essay, a media book, a map, and a slide presentation which was presented to a variety of local community groups. In 1984, Mary was the recipient of the North Fraser Harbour Commission Award to further her work on this project. In October 1986, her essay was adapted as a proposal to The Corporation of the District of Burnaby for a walking and cycling trail system for South Burnaby. Her proposal was taken into consideration by council and was later adopted by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mary was very much interested in the history of South Burnaby and spent time between 1990 to 2004 conducting research through the Burnaby Historical Society, The City of Burnaby Archives, and several pioneering families who agreed to share their family records and be interviewed. Mary compiled her research into short historical and biographical essays by geographical area, family name, and organization. Mary (Bolton) Forsyth lived her whole life in South Burnaby and was an active and committed member of her community. She died on November 10, 2010.

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph; Cartographic Material

Creator: Forsyth, Mary

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds; Photo catalogue 572, MSS185

Ephemera subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97408

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1893 (date of original)-2004

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and cartographic records

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of newspapers, printed material, publications, artworks, maps and other ephemera items collected or purchased by the Burnaby Historical Society for inclusion in their Community Archives.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1893 (date of original)-2004

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Ephemera subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and cartographic records

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS1985-22; BHS1986-01; BHS1986-16; BHS1986-43; BHS1988-02; BHS1988-12; BHS1988-14; BHS1989-09; BHS1989-11; BHS1989-14; BHS1989-16; BHS1991-26; BHS1991-35; BHS1991-40; BHS1992-01; BHS1994-09; BHS1995-13; BHS1995-17; BHS1996-10; BHS1997-06; BHS1997-10; BHS1999-04; BHS1999-08; BHS2000-12; BHS2004-09; BHS2004-11; BHS2005-04; BHS2005-05; BHS2007-03; BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of newspapers, printed material, publications, artworks, maps and other ephemera items collected or purchased by the Burnaby Historical Society for inclusion in their Community Archives.

Media Type: Textual Record; Cartographic Material

Notes: Title based on content of subseries; PC212, PC219, PC472, PC598, MSS005, MSS010, MSS034, MSS038, MSS046, MSS076, MSS081, MSS090, MSS111, MSS114, MSS119, MSS195

Engineering Department fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription43

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1912-2014

Collection/Fonds: Engineering Department fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 1m of textual records, approximately 2000 cartographic and architecural drawings

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records created by the Engineering department including environmental service files, physical plant plans, and administrative records.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1912-2014

Collection/Fonds: Engineering Department fonds

Physical Description: 1m of textual records, approximately 2000 cartographic and architecural drawings

Description Level: Fonds

Access Restriction: Subject to FOIPPA

Reproduction Restriction: Reproductions subject to FOIPPA

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records created by the Engineering department including environmental service files, physical plant plans, and administrative records.

History: In 2020, responsibility for environmental management transferred to Climate Action and Energy, with Engineering retaining responsibility for geotechnical investigations and graffiti management. In 2022, Engineering became responsible for a consolidated Transportation group that aligns transportation planning and implementation functions. Green Fleet and Equipment also moved from Climate Action and Energy to the Public Works division of the Engineering Department. In 2022, Facilities Management was transferred from Engineering to the newly-created Lands and Facilities Department. James Lota served as General Manager, Engineering from 2021-2022. Jozsef Dioszeghy has served in the role since April 2022.

Media Type: Textual Record; Cartographic Material; Architectural Drawing

Creator: City of Burnaby

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds.

Fire Department fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription47

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920-2019

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direct…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920-2019

Collection/Fonds: Fire Department fonds

Physical Description: 1 m of textual records, graphic material, and cartographic material

Description Level: Fonds

Access Restriction: Subject to FOIPPA

Reproduction Restriction: Reproductions subject to FOIPPA

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of news clippings; notes correspondence; and layout and research materials used in the development and creation of the Burnaby Fire Department history entitled “Follow that Fire.” Also consists of administrative records created by the Fire Department related to its management, direction, coordination, training services, and planning, including daily record books, emergency preparedness pamphlets, a departmental practice manual, procedural directives, scrapbooks, and an orthophoto map (in 63 pieces) of the City of Burnaby.

History: Serving the City since 1911, the Burnaby Fire Department is committed to providing timely, professional, and effective fire-related emergency services to save lives, property and the environment. Their dedicated staff serves the City via seven fire stations located strategically across Burnaby. Each of our stations is equipped with up-to-date vehicles and equipment. Their highly skilled and trained team of men and women provide many services, including fire suppression and prevention, investigation, inspection, training, medical, vehicle extrication, technical and other speciality rescues, hazardous materials response and public education services. The following information pertains to the publication "Follow That Fire": Communities have always lived with the threat of fire. Early Burnaby residents banded together to extinguish out-of-control brush fires. In the 1920s, the Municipal Police were responsible for fire-related matters, earning three dollars for attending a fire. Donations to the Vancouver and New Westminster Fire Departments' Benevolent Funds brought the first fire engines to Burnaby's rescue. As the population increased, by-laws were enacted to develop a full-time fire service. Several members saw the value in jotting down recollections of their experiences as Burnaby firemen, which sparked an interest in completing the History of the Burnaby Fire Department. While researching this project, the author was fortunate in being able to draw from the resources of retired chiefs Fred Blake and Lewis Auvache, who were original members of the Department. The Department's progression includes heated and sometimes humorous debates regarding who should be responsible for fire protection, deciding if there was a need for a fire services, and how taxes would be levied to support the service. Photographs throughout the text represent stages of development which include a pictorial record of Burnaby fire trucks from 1923 to the present platform ladder trucks. From its humble beginning as two separate fire departments operating from a converted police horse stable and a water pumping station, the Burnaby Fire Department has developed into a professional organization serving its citizens from six fire stations.