194 records – page 1 of 10.

Fleck bros. limited industrial supplies : catalog no. 57

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary3347
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
1959
Call Number
381 FLE
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV991.45.148
Call Number
381 FLE
Place of Publication
Vancouver
Publisher
Fleck Bros. Ltd.
Publication Date
1959
Physical Description
1 vol. ; ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm.
Inscription
"Foreman of Works" [handwritten on first divider in pencil]
Library Subject (LOC)
Industrial equipment
Catalogs
Names
Oakalla Prison Farm
Object History
Salvaged from Oakalla Prison site in October 1991
Less detail

Vademecum International: pharmaceutical specialties and biologicals; V-I Canada, English ed.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5920
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Edition
6th English ed.
Publication Date
1959
Call Number
615 MAE
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV985.3703.1
Call Number
615 MAE
Edition
6th English ed.
Contributor
Maehler, Richard R.
Place of Publication
Montreal
Publisher
J. Morgan Jones Publications
Publication Date
1959
Printer
Ronalds-Federated
Physical Description
v. ; 23 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Pharmaceutical industry
Pharmaceutical preparations
Catalogs
Periodicals
Notes
Issued also in French.
Four sections: Section I (White): Monographs of Professional Products Section II (Yellow): Classified Index -- Therapeutic and Pharmacologic Section III (Pink): Alphabetical Index -- Firms and Products Section IV (Green): General Professional Information
Contributor: Maehler, Richard R., editor
Less detail

Burnaby South Secondary School yearbook : 1958-1959

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6576
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
1959
Call Number
373.71 BUR 1959
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV005.79.25
Call Number
373.71 BUR 1959
Place of Publication
Burnaby, B.C.
Publisher
Burnaby South Secondary School
Publication Date
1959
Physical Description
112 p. : ill. ; 28 cm
Library Subject (LOC)
School yearbooks--1950-1959
Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby
School yearbooks
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Windsor Area
Geographic Access
Rumble Street
Street Address
5455 Rumble Street
Names
Burnaby South High School
Notes
High school annual for Burnaby South
Less detail

Brownie games

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6827
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Knight, A.M.
Edition
Fifth ed.
Publication Date
1959
Call Number
369.4 KNI
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV015.35.20
Call Number
369.4 KNI
Edition
Fifth ed.
Author
Knight, A.M.
Place of Publication
s.l.
Publisher
Girl Guides Association
Publication Date
1959
Printer
Surrey Fine Art Press
Physical Description
80 p. ; 19 cm.
Inscription
"40th Burnaby Pack" [written in black ink on cover]
Library Subject (LOC)
Girls--Societies and clubs
Games
Subjects
Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs
Names
Girl Guides Association
Girl Guides of Canada
Notes
"compiled by A.M. Night"
Author's full name: Knight, Alice Marjory
Less detail

Edmonds Niner 1958-1959

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7505
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
1959
Call Number
373.71 EDM 1959
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV020.15.1
Call Number
373.71 EDM 1959
Contributor
Edmonds Junior Secondary School
Place of Publication
Burnaby
Publisher
Edmonds Junior Secondary School
Publication Date
1959
Physical Description
ill : 28 cm
Library Subject (LOC)
Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby
School yearbooks
Historic Neighbourhood
Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Edmonds Area
Names
Edmonds Community School
Notes
Yearbook for Grade 9 students.
Less detail

Canadian democracy in action

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1569
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Brown, George Williams, 1894-1963
Edition
New ed.
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
342.7102 BRO
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV985.3868.1
Call Number
342.7102 BRO
Edition
New ed.
Author
Brown, George Williams, 1894-1963
Place of Publication
Vancouver
Publisher
J. M. Dent & Sons Limited
Publication Date
1958
Printer
Evergreen Press Limited.
Physical Description
viii, 148 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.
Inscription
"Pat Goessaert Inc. / Experts at Horse Play" -- handwritten in pencil on endpaper (front). "Brian Webster Div.29" -- handwritten in pen on endpaper (front).
Library Subject (LOC)
Political science
Canada
Notes
Includes index.
Less detail

Jenkins valves : catalogue 58.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary2281
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Jenkins Bros.
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
621.8 JEN 1958
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
HV977.29.73
Call Number
621.8 JEN 1958
Author
Jenkins Bros.
Place of Publication
New York, NY
Publisher
Jenkins Bros.
Publication Date
1958
Physical Description
ix, 291 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Industrial equipment
Valves
Catalogs
Notes
Includes index.
Less detail

The true blue : the life and adventures of Colonel Fred Burnaby, 1842-85

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary3812
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Alexander, Michael, 1920-2004
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
923.541 ALE
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV003.19.1
Call Number
923.541 ALE
Author
Alexander, Michael, 1920-2004
Place of Publication
New York
Publisher
St. Martin's Press
Publication Date
1958
Printer
Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co.
Physical Description
215 p., [12] p. of plates : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.
Notes
Includes bibliographic references (p. 213-215).
Less detail

British Columbia : a centennial anthology

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5198
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Watters, Reginald Eyre
Edition
1st ed.
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
971.11 WAT
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV002.90.4
Call Number
971.11 WAT
Edition
1st ed.
Author
Watters, Reginald Eyre
Place of Publication
Toronto
Publisher
McClelland and Stewart
Publication Date
1958
Printer
Evergreen Press
Physical Description
xvi, 576 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 24 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Canadian literature
Notes
Includes a map of part of the coast, and many photographs.
Less detail

Burnaby South Secondary School yearbook : 1957-1958

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5350
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
373.71 BUR 1958 Copy 1
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV005.79.24
Call Number
373.71 BUR 1958 Copy 1
Place of Publication
Burnaby, B.C.
Publisher
Burnaby South Secondary School
Publication Date
1958
Physical Description
112 p. : ill., ports. ; 28 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
School yearbooks--1950-1959
Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby
School yearbooks
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Windsor Area
Geographic Access
Rumble Street
Street Address
5455 Rumble Street
Names
Burnaby South High School
Notes
High school annual for Burnaby South
Less detail

Fundamentals for Brown Owls and Tawny Owls

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6862
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Girl Guides of Canada
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
369.4 GIR
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV015.35.69
Call Number
369.4 GIR
Author
Girl Guides of Canada
Place of Publication
Toronto
Publisher
Girl Guides of Canada
Publication Date
1958
Physical Description
130 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Inscription
"Louise Esplen" [handwritten on cover in black ink]
Library Subject (LOC)
Girls--Societies and clubs
Subjects
Organizations - Girls' Societies and Clubs
Names
Girl Guides of Canada
Notes
Includes index
Less detail

British Columbia centenary, 1858-1958

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary6893
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Edition
1st ed.
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
917.11 INT
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV017.17.4
Call Number
917.11 INT
Edition
1st ed.
Place of Publication
Vancouver
Publisher
International
Publication Date
1958
Printer
Ward & Phillips
Physical Description
352 p. : ill. ; 27 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
British Columbia--Description and travel
British Columbia--History
British Columbia--Centennial celebrations, etc.
Less detail

Burnaby North Secondary School yearbook : 1957-1958

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7418
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
373.71 BUR 1958
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV006.30.1
Call Number
373.71 BUR 1958
Place of Publication
Burnaby, B.C.
Publisher
Burnaby North Secondary School
Publication Date
1958
Physical Description
80 p. : ill., ports. ;29 cm
Library Subject (LOC)
School yearbooks--1950-1959
Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby
School yearbooks
Names
Burnaby North High School
Object History
Annual belonged to Steven Norman, a friend of the donor's. Steven came from a long-time Burnaby family.
Notes
High school annual for North Burnaby High School
Less detail

Edmonds Niner 1858-1958

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7504
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
1958
Call Number
373.71 EDM 1959
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV020.15.2
Call Number
373.71 EDM 1959
Contributor
Edmonds Junior Secondary School
Place of Publication
Burnaby
Publisher
Edmonds Junior Secondary
Publication Date
1958
Physical Description
ill : 28 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby
School yearbooks
Historic Neighbourhood
Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Edmonds Area
Names
Edmonds Community School
Notes
Special yearbook for Grade 9 students. This issue in 1958 was also commemorating 100 years of the school.
Less detail

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19347
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share the…
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
1 sound recording (m4a) (118 min., 39 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (115 min., 20 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewers: Anushay Malik, Rajdeep Interviewees: Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill Location of Interview: Gill family residence on Warwick Avenue in Burnaby Interview Date: November 11, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (1:58:39) Digital master recording (m4a) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill and their daughter, Prem Kaur Gill conducted by interviewers, Anushay Malik and Rajdeep. The interview is conducted in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. The three members of the Gill family share their ancestral background, their personal experiences immigrating to Canada, living in Burnaby and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants. 00:00 – 27:34 Santokh “Gurmail” Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill share their migration stories and experiences living and working in British Columbia as South Asian immigrants and their eldest child, Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences as a child of South Asian immigrants and growing up in British Columbia as a South Asian Canadian. Gurmail Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar and Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in Hoshiapur of the Indian state of Punjab. Gurmail describes how he moved from India to England with his family in 1957, immigrated to Canada from England in 1966, married his wife Mohinder in England in 1968 and brought his family (parents and two siblings) to Canada from England in 1970 and other relatives including his wife’s family in the 1970s and 1980s. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill recollect their arranged marriage in England in 1968, their immigration process and explain how they arrived in Burnaby residing with a cousin at 4649 Georgia Street until they were able to purchase their own home after a few years. Gurmail shares names and connections to the relatives that came to British Columbia before him. Gurmail and Mohinder tell how they lived in the basement of the house and rented out the upper floor to save money. The couple recall what they brought with them when they immigrated to Canada and Mohinder Kaur Gill tells of how before leaving India, she and her mother made a special rajai for her to take with her. Mohinder describes the process of making a rajai (a quilted blanket that was made by hand). Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about the challenges that they’ve experienced as new immigrants including not being fluent in English, the cold weather and not having very many family or friends nearby to provide support. They attended the Gurdwara on Ross Street or Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara on Skeena in Vancouver. They explain how there was limited access to grocery stores that supplied Punjabi and Indian spices and other cooking supplies. They talk about how they used a food mill and mortar and pestle to grind their own spices and flour and how Mohinder often made traditional sweets like barfi and laddo and pakoras using pea flour when they couldn’t get Besan flour. 27:35 – 36:11 Gurmail provides more details on his family’s immigration story, including names of relatives, how his six siblings and parents all immigrated to British Columbia in 1970 and how in the early 1970s and mid 1980’s Gurmail and his family sponsored approximately 70 friends and relations from India (including Mohinder’s family) to immigrate to Canada. When Mohinder’s family arrived they lived with them in their house until they were able to purchase property next door and build their own home. Children in the families all attended elementary and high school in Burnaby which now amounts to three generations. 36:12 – 59:28 Gurmail and Mohinder Gill talk about their experiences of racial discrimination. Gurmail recalls members of the South Asian community, Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma, Harinder Mahil and Charan Gill starting the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism. Gurmail tells of how he got involved contributing some of his union dues as a member of CAIMAW (Canadian Association of Industrial Mechanical and Allied Workers Union- Local 15) and as a friend of Charan Gill and Raj Chouhan of the Canadian Farm Workers Union. Gurmail Gill explains how he was a founding member of CAIMAW and treasurer until the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union (in 1991). Mohinder and Gurmail tell of how people from the South Asian community were discouraged from wearing Punjabi dresses or head coverings for fear of being yelled at with racial slurs and how it was often scary to go outside. Many from their community often avoided attending the Akali Singh Gurdwara since a head covering was required and people were afraid of being a target. Gurmail provides details about his work with A1 Steel, how different unions were formed pertaining to various skillsets and jobs per company and how he became a member of CAIMAW Local 15 (foundry workers). Mohinder recollects her experiences as a mother, the daily tasks involved and friends that she made who’d also emigrated from Punjab. Mohinder describes how she designed and sewed many Punjabi dresses using her electric sewing machine and how she learned English by attending adult classes at a church on Commercial Drive. Mohinder and her mother attended the classes for two hours per day for six years at a cost of twelve dollars for ten weeks. Once Mohinder could speak a little English, she started working and was able to practice more. 59:29 – 1:06:08 Mohinder, Gurmail and Prem talk about some of their favourite traditional foods including corn roti and spinach curry and how they grow many of their own vegetables including peppers, eggplant, saag (spinach), onions, garlic, cilantro, zucchini, squash and fenugreek. Mohinder reflects on how access to Punjabi clothing and fabric stores in Vancouver has changed and that ready made food is now more available. Traditional foods were previously made from scratch with women gathering together and cooking for hours and now it’s gotten easier but more expensive and less of a community feel. 1:06:09- 1:55:20 Mohinder and Gurmail Gill discuss and share their perspectives and experiences on raising a family in the past versus today. Gurmail imparts that all of his siblings became educated and secured professional careers while he continued to work in the trades. Prem Kaur Gill shares her own experiences growing up and attending school in Burnaby. Gurmail and Mohinder Gill recall the type of suitcase that they brought with them when they immigrated and how they recently they got rid of it. Gurmail and the group reflect and discuss the confusion with racial identity terms that have been used in this country. They comment that South Asians were referred to as “Hindu” and “East Indian” and Indigenous peoples were referred to as “Indian” and the controversy and racism behind some of these terms. The group discusses the impact of the caste system and other discriminatory experiences and compare their experiences of living in England to living in Canada. Prem comments on how it’s just recently that South Asian customs, celebrations and practices have been recognized and celebrated here in Canada, like Diwali and yoga. They comment on how much of the language, culture and customs have been retained in Surrey where many can still communicate in Punjabi and don’t need to be fluent in English. The group discusses how many South Asians immigrants first lived and worked in Vancouver but with rising property prices many moved to Surrey expanding and establishing a much larger South Asian community with resources. The group discusses and compares the differing travel routes that many of them and their relatives took when immigrating and travelling between India and Canada. The group talks about Rajdeep’s ancestral village in India which is near the Gill village of Firozpur. Gurmail explains the origins and details behind his family name that was changed from “Shergill” to “Gill” and the name “Santokh” from his maternal side.
History
Interviewees' biographies: Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill was born in the District of Jalandhar in Punjab, India. Gurmail moved to England with his family in 1957 and immigrated to British Columbia in 1966. Gurmail married his wife, Mohinder Kaur Gill in England in 1968 and she immigrated to British Columbia from England soon after. Gurmail first lived with a cousin in Burnaby before purchasing a home of his own in Burnaby where he raised his family. Gurmail worked in the steel industry and was a member and treasurer of the CAIMAW before the union merged with the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Mohinder Kaur Gill was born in the Hoshiapur in Punjab, India. She married her husband Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill in England in 1968 and immigrated to Burnaby, British Columbia to join her husband. Mohinder and Gurmail Gill have four children, all born in Burnaby. Prem Kaur Gill was born in Burnaby in 1969 and is the eldest child of Santokh "Gurmail" Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill. Prem grew up and attended school in Burnaby. Interviewers' biographies: 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”. Rajdeep was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and is of Punjabi (South Asian) descent. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is a student in the Restoration of Natural Systems program at the University of Victoria. Rajdeep works at Simon Fraser University as a Program Assistant and as a researcher with the City of Burnaby. At Burnaby Village Museum, Rajdeep contributed to the exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Clothing
Foods
Indigenous peoples
Buildings - Religious - Temples
Food Processing Tools and Equipment
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Migration
Occupations
Organizations - Unions
Names
Gill, Prem Kaur
Gill, Mohinder Kaur
Gill, Santokh "Gurmail" Singh
Responsibility
Rajdeep
Malik, Anushay
Accession Code
BV022.29.2
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcript available upon request - contact Burnaby Village Museum
Indian Family System Reference notes: Baba = informal way to say grandfather; old man Bibi = informal way to say grandmother; old woman Dada= paternal grandfather Dadi= paternal grandmother Dadke= paternal family members; paternal side (Various spellings might exist for the following terms) Thaiyya= father’s elder brother (uncle) Thaiyyi= father’s elder brother’s wife (aunt) Chacha= father’s younger brother (uncle) Chachi= father’s younger brother’s wife (aunt) Bua= father’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Phuphar= father’s sister’s husband (uncle) Nana= maternal grandfather Nani= maternal grandmother Nanke/nanka= maternal family members; maternal side Mama= mom’s brother (older or younger) (uncle) Mami= mom’s brother’s wife (aunt) Maasi= mom’s sister (older or younger) (aunt) Maasard= mom’s sister’s husband (uncle)
Audio Tracks

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

Interview with Prem Kaur Gill, Santokh Singh Gill and Mohinder Kaur Gill, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 11 Nov. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0002_002.mp3
Less detail

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19349
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant…
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
1 sound recording (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (49 min., 21 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Kate Petrusa Interviewee: Honourable Raj Chouhan Location of Interview: Residence of Honourable Raj Chouhan Interview Date: December 2, 2022 Total Number of tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: (00:49:21) Digital master recording (wav) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of an oral history interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. Raj Chouhan shares his ancestral background and personal experiences immigrating to Canada from India in 1973 and living and working in Canada as an immigrant and the organizations that he became involved with. Honourable Raj Chouhan recalls how he arrived in Burnaby with his family in 1973 and that his family worked in farming. Chouhan imparts his first hand experiences as a new immigrant working as a labourer in the farming industry and describes the unsafe and unfair working conditions that he and migrant workers faced. Chouhan conveys how this experience lead him to become an activist for better working conditions for migrant workers. This lead Chouhan and others to form the Canadian Farm Workers Union in 1980. Chouhan recollects his experiences flying from India to Canada with his wife, his first impressions after arriving in Vancouver and driving to Burnaby and what he brought with him. Chouhan explains his connections to Burnaby. Members of Chouhan's wife's family immgrated to Canada in 1957 and his wife and her three brothers joined them in 1970. Chouhan's father in law, Hardial Singh Grewal immigrated in 1957 and became president of the Sikh temple in New Westminster. Hardial Singh Grewal worked in a lumber mill in Vancouver and eventually bought a house in Burnaby. Chouhan married to his wife at the Sikh temple in New Westminster and lived in Burnaby for a period before moving to New Westminster where they could find more affordable housing. Chouhan shares that he first worked as a farm labourer in Abbotsford and then found a job in the sawmill which paid more. Chouhan describes the extreme racism and discrimination that he and other immigrants faced which lead to the formation of the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism under the leadership of Dr. Hari Prakash Sharma. Chouhan describes this organization that he was a part of and the Canadian Farm Workers Union that were both formed in Burnaby. Chouhan shares that he moved to Victoria in 1988 to serve on the Hospital Employee's Union and moved back to the mainland in 1993 and returned to Burnaby in 2001. Chouhan reflects on the history of South Asian immigration in Canada, how many of the migrants settled in the lower mainland including Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver establishing temples in Vancouver and New Westminster which became the centre for the South Asian community. He conveys how earlier occupations were limited to farming and millwork and how over time employment opportunities and education have broadened but there is still work to do. He imparts how second generation Canadians’ experiences differ from first generations providing examples of his own daughters’ and the occupations that they are working in. Chouhan provides his insights into the South Asian Canadian experience imparting “We make history every day and that history needs to be recorded and learned from.."... “People from different communities, different backgrounds who lived in Burnaby have contributed so much and South Asians are just like another community and participated in all aspects of social life, cultural, religious, economy. I'm so proud of our community, our forefathers who had that vision to fight for our rights. I'm inspired by people who struggled so much to gain basic rights, like the right to vote". Chouhan refers to these first immigrants as “Gadri Babbas” “revolutionary old people” who were also the main motivation that lead to India becoming a free country in 1947 and for fighting for basic rights here in Canada and how they made their contributions for future generations. Chouhan expresses what he imparts to students “Do not forget your past... if you remember your past then you are much more knowledgeable. Then we know what we need for the future. If we don't know the past, we don't know what the future is going to be like. To make a better future, you have to learn from the past and improve".
History
Interviewee biography: Honourable Raj Chouhan was born in the city of Ludhiana in the Province of Punjab in India and immigrated to Canada in 1973. After arriving in Canada, Raj's family settled in Burnaby. Raj grew up in Burnaby and attended schoool. Honourable Raj Chouhan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020. He was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on December 7, 2020. Honourable Chouhan is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and the British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism and has served as a director of the Hospital Employees' Union, the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. Honourable Chouhan has also served as the Vice President of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003 and has taught courses in Human Rights, the B.C. Labour Code and Collective Bargaining since 1987. Interviewer biography: Kate Petrusa is the Assistant Curator at the Burnaby Village Museum. In her role, she manages all aspects of the collection – including caring for physical artifacts and making their digital counterpart accessible. Before coming to Burnaby Village Museum in 2019, Kate has worked at several Museums around the Lower Mainland as a Curator and contractor since 2013.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Occupations - Agricultural Labourers
Migration
Organizations - Unions
Rights
Rights - Human Rights
Agriculture
Agriculture - Farms
Government - Provincial Government
Government
Names
Chouhan, Raj
British Columbia Organization to Fight Racism
Sharma, Dr. Hari Prakash
Grewal, Hardial Singh
Canadian Farmworkers Union
Hospital Employees Union
Khalsa Diwan Society
Responsibility
Petrusa, Kate
Accession Code
BV022.29.4
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcription available on Heritage Burnaby
Documents
Audio Tracks

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

Interview with Honourable Raj Chouhan, [1957-2022] (interview content), interviewed 2 Dec. 2022

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2022_0029_0004_002.mp3
Less detail

Official history of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, volume 1, six years of war : the army in Canada, Britain and the Pacific

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary1349
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Stacey, C. P. (Charles Perry), 1906-1989
Publication Date
1957
Call Number
940.537 STA
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Reference Collection
Material Type
Book
Call Number
940.537 STA
Author
Stacey, C. P. (Charles Perry), 1906-1989
Place of Publication
Ottawa
Publisher
E. Cloutier, Queen's Printer
Publication Date
1957
Physical Description
3 v. : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Canada. Canadian Army--History
World War, 1939-1945--Canada
Notes
Contents: v. 1. Six years of war : the Army in Canada, Britain and the Pacific, by C.P. Stacey.--v. 2. The Canadians in Italy, 1943-1945, by G.W.L. Nicholson.--v. 3. The Victory Campaign : the operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945, C.P. Stacey.
Volumes 1 and 2 held.
Less detail

The Canadian Oxford school atlas

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary3827
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Pleva, E. G. (Edward G.)
Publication Date
1957
Call Number
912 PLE
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV004.20.6
Call Number
912 PLE
Author
Pleva, E. G. (Edward G.)
Contributor
Inch, R. Spencer, 1923-
Oxford University Press. Cartographic Department
Place of Publication
Toronto
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publication Date
1957
Printer
McCorquodale and Blades (Printers) Limited
Physical Description
iv, 136 p. : maps ; 26 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Atlases--Canadian
Canada--Maps--Historical texts
Canada--Statistics--Historical texts
Notes
"Advisory Editor E.G. Pleva, assisted by Spencer Inch"--front cover
"The atlas has been prepared by the Cartographic Department of the Oxford University Press"--paste down
"Authorized for use in the Schools of Alberta"--paste down
"Approved for use in the Schools of Ontario"--paste down
"Authorized for use in the Protestant Schools of Quebec"--paste down
"Authorized for use in the Schools of Prince Edward Island"--paste down
"Recommended for use in the Schools of Saskatchewan & Manitoba"--paste down
"Prescribed for the Senior High Schools of British Columbia"--paste down
Editor's given name and dates: Pleva, E. G. (Edward G.), 1912-2008
Assistant's given name and dates: Inch, R. Spencer (Robert Spencer), 1923-
Less detail

Burnaby South Secondary School yearbook : 1956-1957

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5348
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Publication Date
1957
Call Number
373.71 BUR 1957
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Special Collection
Material Type
Book
Accession Code
BV005.79.22
Call Number
373.71 BUR 1957
Place of Publication
Burnaby, B.C.
Publisher
Burnaby South Secondary School
Publication Date
1957
Printer
J. W. Bow & Co.
Physical Description
1 v. (unpaged) : ill., ports. ; 28 cm.
Inscription
"Student Council" [handwritten on top right corner of front cover]
Library Subject (LOC)
School yearbooks--1950-1959
Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby
School yearbooks
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Windsor Area
Geographic Access
Rumble Street
Street Address
5455 Rumble Street
Names
Burnaby South High School
Notes
High school annual for Burnaby South
Less detail

Official history of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, volume 2, the Canadians in Italy, 1943-1945

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary5440
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Author
Nicholson, G. W. L. (Gerald William Lingen), 1902-1980
Publication Date
1957
Call Number
940.537 STA
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection
Reference Collection
Material Type
Book
Call Number
940.537 STA
Author
Nicholson, G. W. L. (Gerald William Lingen), 1902-1980
Contributor
Bond, Courtney C. J.
Place of Publication
Ottawa
Publisher
E. Cloutier, Queen's Printer
Publication Date
1957
Physical Description
3 v. : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm.
Library Subject (LOC)
Canada. Canadian Army--History
World War, 1939-1945--Canada
Notes
Contents: v. 1. Six years of war : the Army in Canada, Britain and the Pacific, by C.P. Stacey.--v. 2. The Canadians in Italy, 1943-1945, by G.W.L. Nicholson.--v. 3. The Victory Campaign : the operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945, C.P. Stacey.
Volumes 1 and 2 held.
Less detail

194 records – page 1 of 10.