Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Scope and Content: Photograph of a team of oxen being used to clear land and haul logs on skid road. Five unidentified lumberjacks can be seen standing alongside the animals.

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 : sepia ; 15.6 x 23.8 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 477-843

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-12

Scope and Content: Photograph of a team of oxen being used to clear land and haul logs on skid road. Five unidentified lumberjacks can be seen standing alongside the animals.

Subjects: Woodworking Tools and Equipment - Logging Machinery; Industries - Forestry; Animals - Oxen; Occupations - Lumberjacks; Land Clearing; Industries - Logging/lumber

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Clearing land with a team of oxen, 1890 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

Open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner July / August 1973 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory78

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1890-1919

Length: 0:09:30

Summary: This portion of the meeting pertains to William Pritchards' speech and his experiences at the trial for the Winnipeg General Strike as well as his stories of his early childhood and his father's socialist leanings.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the meeting pertains to William Pritchards' speech and his experiences at the trial for the Winnipeg General Strike as well as his stories of his early childhood and his father's socialist leanings.

Date Range: 1890-1919

Photo Info: William A. Pritchard, Burnaby Reeve 1930-1932 and council member 1928-1930. Item no. 459-016

Length: 0:09:30

Subjects: Protests and Demonstrations - Strikes

Interview Date: July / August 1973

Scope and Content: Recording is of a open meeting with William Pritchard and writer Norman Penner. Norman Penner is the editor of the book "Winnipeg 1919" about the strike from the striker's perspective. William Pritchard wrote the speech that was included in the book. Audience members were invited to ask Pritchard questions. Major theme discussed is: The Winnipeg General Strike. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: William "Bill" Arthur Pritchard was born on April 3, 1888 in Salford, England, the son of a miner and factory worker. In May 1911, Bill moved to British Columbia and within a week of arriving became an active member of the Socialist Party of Canada. From 1914 to 1917, he served as editor of the Western Clarion – the SPC newspaper. He became such a well-known socialist figure that when he travelled to Winnipeg to participate in the General Strike in 1919, he was one of only seven people arrested and imprisoned for his participation in the event despite the fact that he was in no way directly involved in its planning nor development. In 1922, Bill and his family settled in North Burnaby in the Capitol Hill District. Almost immediately after his arrival, Bill began to advocate for change and a planned development scheme for the municipality. Pritchard ran successfully for the position of Reeve and held the post until the end of 1932. One of Reeve Pritchard’s highest priorities while in office was to attempt to provide work for as many unemployed as possible all the while trying to elicit more support from the provincial and federal governments. Bill was a strong advocate of the belief that relief work should be focused on projects that would see a comprehensive development scheme for Burnaby – including planned sewers, roads and water supply. Despite Bill's best efforts, however, Burnaby was forced into receivership and at the end of 1932, a Provincial Commission stepped in to take over the governance of the city. Reeve Pritchard, having done all he could as a champion of the unemployed, stepped down as Reeve but left behind an undeniable legacy of courage and determination. He was rewarded for his enormous contributions to the city in 1975 when he was chosen to be made a Freeman of Burnaby. William Pritchard died on October 23, 1981. Norman Penner was born in Winnipeg in 1921 to Rose and Jacob Penner and brother to Roland, Ruth and Walter. Their father Jacob was a leading member of the Communist Party and popular Winnipeg Alderman. Norman graduated from high school in 1937 but did not begin university until much later, preferring to begin his adult life from 1938 to 1941 as a full-time officer of the Winnipeg branch of the Communist Party of Canada. From 1941 to 1946 he served with the Canadian Army which included two-and-a-half years of overseas combat duty. On his return to Canada in 1947 he again returned to his duties as a full-time officer with the communist Labour-Progressive Party (formed in 1941 after the Canadian Communist Party was officially banned). After the abortive Hungarian revolution in 1956, Norman Penner resigned from the party and instead worked as a self-employed manufacturer’s sales representative until 1971. In 1964 he decided to go back to school part time and graduated with a BA from the University of Toronto in 1969. He took an MA in 1971 and a PhD in 1975 from the same institution. Penner was hired as a lecturer at York University's Glendon College in 1972 and soon became a professor, continuing to teach until 1995. He wrote extensively on the Canadian left. Penner edited and introduced "Winnipeg 1919: The Strikers' Own History of the Winnipeg General Strike" in 1973, published "The Canadian Left: A Critical Analysis" in 1977 and contributed three chapters to as well as editing "Keeping Canada Together Means Changing Our Thinking" in 1978. He published "Canadian Communism: The Stalin Years and Beyond" in 1988 and "From Protest to Power: Social Democracy in Canada 1900 to Present" in 1992 as well as numerous articles, reviews and book chapters. Norman Penner was married to Norma Lipes for sixty-seven years. The couple had four children: Steve (Mary Ellen Marus); Joyce (Herman Parsons); Gary (Marlene Kadar); and Bob (Shaena Lambert). Norman Penner died April 16, 2009 at the age of eighty-eight.

Total Tracks: 7

Total Length: 1:03:00

Interviewee Name: Pritchard, William A.; Penner, Norman

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

Images

William A. Pritchard, Burnaby Reeve 1930-1932 and council member 1928-1930. Item no. 459-016 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track one of open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-02-2/100-13-02-2_Track_1.mp3

R. Spurrell

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66303

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1891

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a man identified as R. Spurrell.

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

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 477-1013

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-12

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a man identified as R. Spurrell.

Names: Spurrell, R.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

J. Keating

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66423

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1891

Collection/Fonds: Peers Family and Hill Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a young man. On the back of the photograph is written "Yours very truly, J. Keating 9/3/1891."

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

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 477-1037

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-12

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of a young man. On the back of the photograph is written "Yours very truly, J. Keating 9/3/1891."

Names: Keating, J.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

Hill brothers and Nicolai Schou

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36081

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: June 1891

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of three Burnaby Lake district pioneers: Louis C. Hill, Nicolai Schou and Bernard Hill taken in a photographic studio.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: June 1891

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Columbian Newspaper subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 15 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 222-004

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1989-19

Scope and Content: Photograph of three Burnaby Lake district pioneers: Louis C. Hill, Nicolai Schou and Bernard Hill taken in a photographic studio.

Subjects: Documentary Artifacts - Portraits

Names: Schou, Nicolai; Hill, Louis Claude "Claude"; Hill, Bernard R.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Hill brothers and Nicolai Schou, June 1891 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

Pioneer Days interviews September 22, 1971 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory266

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1891-1955

Length: 0:05:35

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Lillian May (Davies) Jones's memories of her family life during the early days of Burnaby, mentioning her family home as well as the home of Reeve Shaw. Lillian is being interviewed in front of an audience at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum).

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Lillian May (Davies) Jones's memories of her family life during the early days of Burnaby, mentioning her family home as well as the home of Reeve Shaw. Lillian is being interviewed in front of an audience at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum).

Date Range: 1891-1955

Length: 0:05:35

Historic Neighbourhood: East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Second Street Area

Interview Date: September 22, 1971

Scope and Content: Recording is of interviews with Lillian May (Davies) Jones, Ada Evelyn (Lewis) Groves, Lillian Frederica (Lewis) Porter, and Elsie Wilson during the Pioneer Days celebration at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) on September 22, 1971. Major themes discussed are: personal memories and occupations of interviewees family members.

Biographical Notes: Lillian May Davies was born June 28, 1891 to George and Rachel (Mills) Davies. She was one of four children. George Davies married Rachel Mills September 12, 1888 in Winnipeg and headed west to make their home. George’s brother Richard Davies had already bought property at the corner of 16th Street and 3rd Avenue (now 12th Avenue) when Rachel and George moved in and built a house next door. George Davies went to work for Gilley Bros. Logging Co. in Burnaby. Lillian May Davies married John Henry Jones on July 29, 1909 at the Methodist Church in Burnaby which had opened only a few weeks before (the Joneses were the first couple to be married there). Their reception was held in the Davies’ family garden. On June 3, 1910, Lillian and John’s first child, Arnold Jones was born. In 1919 they adopted their second child, John Sheldon Jones whose birth parents had died of influenza. John and Lillian built a home on the lot next to Lillian’s parents and lived there for forty-eight years. After her husband’s death in 1956, Lillian moved one lot over and remained living there for over twenty years. Lillian May (Davies) Jones died in Surrey on June 24, 1981 at the age of eighty-nine for over twenty years. Lillian May (Davies) Jones died in Surrey on June 24, 1981 at the age of eighty-nine. Ada Evelyn Lewis was born on September 11, 1899. She was one of nine Lewis children. Ada's father came to Victoria BC from San Francisco. He met his wife in Victoria and moved to New Westminster where he was a typesetter on the first edition of the Columbian newspaper. He continued to work for the Columbian until his retirement. Her family owned the East Burnaby Fruit Farm at 17th Avenue between 2nd and 4th Street where they harvested apples, plums and pears. Ada attended East Burnaby School in 1905 and remembers being a pupil of Miss Draper. Ada E. Lewis married and became Mrs. Ada Evelyn Groves. Lillian Frederica “Lillie” Lewis was born in 1896 to William Henry and Emma (Smith) Lewis at the family farm at 4th Street and 18th Avenue. The family grew to nine, eldest to youngest; Albert, Lizzie, Minnie, Walter, Ernest, Lillie and Evelyn. Lillie’s mother, Emma (Smith) had the distinction of being the first girl of European descent to be born at Fort Victoria. Lillie’s father, William Henry Lewis helped to print the very first edition of the Vancouver Province in 1898. Lillie attended Douglas Road School and remembers being a pupil of Ellen Lister. Lillian Frederica “Lillie” Lewis married Bertie Blaine Porter at Lulu Island on November 7, 1918. They lived in Vancouver for a short time before returning to Burnaby to raise their four children. For most of his working life Bert operated a steam roller for the municipality. Lillian Frederica (Lewis) Porter died May 18, 1988 at the age of ninety-two. Elsie Wilson was born August 16, 1898 to Annie and her second husband William Wilson. Annie’s first husband Samuel W Walmsley died December 20, 1895 at the age of thirty-five, leaving Annie a widow at twenty-seven with two young children Annie age four and Samuel age six. Annie Walmsley married her second husband William Wilson on April 17, 1897. Elsie attended West Burnaby public school (later Kingsway West elementary) and remembers picking raspberries at various Burnaby farms for seven seasons.

Total Tracks: 4

Total Length: 0:24:19

Interviewee Name: Jones, Lillian May Davies; Wilson, Elsie; Porter, Lillie Lewis; Groves, Ada Evelyn Lewis

Interview Location: Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

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

Audio Tracks

Track one of recording of Pioneer Days interviews

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS137-020/MSS137-020_Track_1.mp3

1892 Regular Council Minutes

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/councilminutes80885

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Meeting Date: 1892

Format: Council - Regular Council Minutes

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

1 document

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Meeting Date: 1892

Format: Council - Regular Council Minutes

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Documents

1892 Meeting Minutes

Burnaby Centennial Anthology subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription25

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and photographs

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of articles, stories, and photographs submitted for inclusion in the "Burnaby Centennial Anthology: Stories of Early Burnaby". Photographs are predominantly copy prints and proofs used for the publication of the anthology.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Centennial Anthology subseries

Physical Description: Textual records and photographs

Description Level: Subseries

Access Restriction: Open access

Accession Number: BHS1994-04; BHS2003-16

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of articles, stories, and photographs submitted for inclusion in the "Burnaby Centennial Anthology: Stories of Early Burnaby". Photographs are predominantly copy prints and proofs used for the publication of the anthology.

History: In 1992, the City of Burnaby celebrated its 100th birthday. To mark the anniversary, a Centennial Committee was struck by the Mayor and Council to coordinate activities and oversee the year-long celebrations. The History and Heritage sub-committee was formed with the goal of collecting and preserving historic materials detailing the development of Burnaby. In November of 1992, the committee advertised for the submission of personal stories, photos and other memorabilia and received material from over 150 early Burnaby residents in response. Although the Centennial Committee disbanded at the end of 1992, the work that had been begun by the History and Heritage Sub-Committee continued under the direction of the Burnaby Heritage Advisory Committee (later named the Community Heritage Commission) and proceeded under its authority until the project was completed. The stories that were captured to accompany this material and the memories of some of Burnaby’s earliest residents were brought together in the form of book, published in 1994: "Burnaby Centennial Anthology: Stories of Early Burnaby".

Formats: All photographs are scanned

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph

Creator: Community Heritage Commission

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries; MSS108, PC315

City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription29

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2021

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 130m of textual records and other material

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records generated in the course of municipal business by City Council and the Office of the City Clerk.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2021

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Physical Description: 130m of textual records and other material

Description Level: Fonds

Access Restriction: Subject to FOIPPA

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of records generated in the course of municipal business by City Council and the Office of the City Clerk.

History: The City of Burnaby covers an area of approximately 98 square kilometers between the cities of Vancouver to the west, and Coquitlam and New Westminster to the east, Burrard Inlet to the north, and the Fraser River to the south. The municipality derived its name from Robert Burnaby, a prominent businessman and advisor to Sir James Douglas, the first Governor of the Crown Colony of British Columbia. Burnaby’s early development was closely tied to the development of the City of New Westminster. New Westminster became British Columbia’s capital in 1859, the year after the British Government proclaimed the establishment of British Columbia. Shortly thereafter, the Royal Engineers began exploring Burnaby to establish military defenses and secure natural resources. This involved the construction of a road linking New Westminster to Burrard Inlet for military purposes, which is present-day North Road. At this time, individuals and families began settling in Burnaby and were largely involved in agricultural and logging activities. Burnaby developed slowly until 1887, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was extended into Vancouver from the Port Moody terminal, causing a dramatic increase in traffic between New Westminster and Vancouver. To meet the new transportation demands, a tramline was built in 1891 connecting the two urban centers along what is now Kingsway. The creation and location of the tramline induced property owners to begin subdividing and selling their lands as early as October 1891. The property taxes the roughly 200 residents paid at this time went directly to the provincial government in Victoria. No local services were provided in turn, which prompted the formation of a committee to petition the provincial government for a municipal charter. As a result, the Corporation of the District of Burnaby was incorporated by letters patent on September 22, 1892. Burnaby’s first Council was elected by acclamation on October 15, 1892 and consisted of Reeve Charles R. Shaw and councillors William Brenchley, Arthur De Windt Hazard, L. Claude Hill, William McDermott, and John Woolard.* The first formal Council election was conducted three months later. Nicolai Shou became the first elected reeve of Burnaby by ballot. Council met at various locations, including the tramline’s power house, private homes, and offices until the first municipal hall was built at Kingsway and Edmonds in 1899. Council is ultimately responsible for the government of the City of Burnaby. The Mayor (formally called “Reeve” prior to 1968) and Council are elected by the residents of Burnaby to represent them in decisions with respect to the provision of public services and facilities. Additionally, the Mayor represents the citizens of Burnaby at various public functions and events. Burnaby was without Council representation during most of the Great Depression and part of the Second World War. Council was disbanded on December 31, 1932 as a result of financial difficulties. The Provincial Government appointed a Commissioner to take over the duties of Reeve and Council beginning in 1933. This system of government was retained until January 1943, when Burnaby residents could once again elect their local government officials. The following individuals have served as Mayor (or Reeve) of Burnaby: Charles R. Shaw 1892 Nicolai C. Schou 1893-1903 Charles F. Sprott 1904-1905 Peter Byrne 1906-1910 John W. Weart 1911-1912 Duncan C. McGregor 1913 Hugh M. Fraser 1914-1918 Thomas Sanderson 1919-1920 Alexander K. McLean 1921-1926; 1928-1929 Charles C. Bell 1927 William L. Burdick 1929 William A. Pritchard 1930-1932 William Tate Wilson 1943-1944 George A. Morrison 1945-1949 William R. Beamish 1950-1953 Charles W. MacSorley 1954-1957 Alan H. Emmott 1958-1968 Robert W. Prittie 1969-1973 Thomas W. Constable 1973-1979 David M. Mercier 1979-1981 William A. Lewarne 1981-1987 William J. Copeland 1987-1996 Douglas P. Drummond 1996-2002 Derek R. Corrigan 2002-2018 Mike Hurley 2018-present The following individuals have served as provincially appointed Commissioners for the Corporation of the District of Burnaby: John Bennett 1933 John Mahony 1933-1934 Hugh M. Fraser 1934-1940* R.S. Gilchrist 1941-1942* B.C. Bracewell 1942* *Richard Bolton was Acting Commissioner for most of 1940-1942. He refused to be a full-fledged Commissioner. Closely associated with the functions of Council is the City Clerk. The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for the statutory duties of the municipal clerk including the preparation and preservation of all minutes books and records of Council business, custody of City bylaws, administrative support to Council and its Committees, preparation of Council and Committee agendas and the conduct of local government elections. The Clerk’s Office is the communications link between Council and other City Departments and the general public, and provides assistance and advice to citizens with respect to Council and Council Committee processes, reporting procedures and decisions. At the time of Burnaby’s incorporation in 1892, the municipal Clerk had the responsibility to attend all meetings of Council, keep all records of Council, prepare and alter voters’ lists, conduct Council elections, collect revenue, as well as having the responsibility to prepare balance sheets and audits. An advertisement in a local newspaper for the appointment of the Clerk dated February 1, 1905 states the “united offices of clerk, collector and assessor” receive a salary of $65.00 per month. Originally the treasurer, assessor and records manager for the corporation, the Clerk eventually became the municipal Council liaison. The primary functions of the City Clerk over time have been the keeping of minutes for the meetings of City Council and related bodies; keeping the records of the City of Burnaby as required by the Local Government Act (formally Municipal Act); keeping all records related to City Council decision making; carrying out correspondence on behalf of Council; assembling voters’ lists and carrying out elections; providing communication, information, and public relations services, including responsibility for civic ceremonies/events, and the municipal archives. The following individuals have served as City Clerk: Alexander Philip 1892–1894 Alfred Smither 1894–1899 F.J.H. Shirley 1899–1901 Arthur De Windt Haszard 1901–1902 Walter J. Walker 1902–1905 Benjamin George Walker 1905–1908 Charles Thomas Saunders 1908–1911 W.M. Griffiths 1911–1912 Arthur G. Moore 1912–1933 Charles Boyer Brown 1933–1959 John H. Shaw 1959–1973* James Hudson 1974–1984 Charles A. Turpin 1984–1995 Debbie R. Comis 1995–2011 Anne Skipsey (Acting) 2011-2012 Maryann Manuel (Acting) 2012-2014 Dennis Back 2014-2018 Kate O'Connell 2018-2020 Blanka Zeinabova 2020-2022 *Deputy City Clerk T. Ward took over many of the Clerk’s duties from 1972 to 1973 due to Shaw’s ill health during these years.

Formats: Microforms exist for some records. See series descriptions.

Media Type: Textual Record

Creator: City of Burnaby

Notes: Title based on creators of fonds

Bylaws series

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription136

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2010

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Series

Scope and Content: Series consists of all bylaws passed, signed and sealed by the municipal Council of Burnaby, as well as drafts of bylaws that did not receive final adoption or a final reading. Bylaws pertain to all aspects of municipal government, including, but not limited to, public works, land and building reg…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2010

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Bylaws series

Description Level: Series

Scope and Content: Series consists of all bylaws passed, signed and sealed by the municipal Council of Burnaby, as well as drafts of bylaws that did not receive final adoption or a final reading. Bylaws pertain to all aspects of municipal government, including, but not limited to, public works, land and building regulation, taxation, finance, licensing, public health and safety, and recreation and culture. Series also includes files of correspondence and other documents related to the development of individual bylaws and municipal bylaw elections, as well as appendices to bylaws, including maps, plans, and engineering related comprehensive development drawings (CD plans). Included also are bylaw record books, which list all bylaws and related information, such as dates of reading and final adoption dates. Bylaws are numbered sequentially and are arranged according to bylaw number.

Formats: Microfiche copies are available in the Clerk’s Department vault for bylaws number 1 to 10584.

Media Type: Textual Record

Clerk's Department record series

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription137

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2018

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Series

Scope and Content: Series consists of files relating to the various functions of the Office of the City Clerk, more commonly referred to as the Clerk’s Department or Clerk’s Office. In addition to records created, received, and set aside by the Clerk’s Department, this series also includes records and copies of reco…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2018

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Clerk's Department record series

Description Level: Series

File Class: 1500 20 (add. 2020); 1650 10 (add. 2020)

Scope and Content: Series consists of files relating to the various functions of the Office of the City Clerk, more commonly referred to as the Clerk’s Department or Clerk’s Office. In addition to records created, received, and set aside by the Clerk’s Department, this series also includes records and copies of records created and received by other City departments which are the Clerk’s responsibility to keep. As a result, files reflect the changing record keeping responsibilities of the City Clerk over the years. For instance, the series includes the City’s early financial records, including Auditor’s reports, cash books, and records related to bond sales, mortgages, taxes, and tax sales, which were the Clerk’s responsibility to keep until a municipal accountant was appointed in 1912. Series also includes records relating to the Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel (previously Court of Revision) and administration of the Clerk’s Office.

Formats: Many files ca. 1940 to 1979 exist only on microfilm located in the Clerk’s Department vault.

Media Type: Textual Record

Council minutes and agendas series

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription140

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2018

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Description Level: Series

Scope and Content: Series consists of minutes and agendas of the meetings of Burnaby City Council. Minutes of open Council meetings reflect Council discussions and decisions regarding issues of municipal concern, including, but not limited to, public works, taxation, bylaw enforcement, land development, public healt…

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2018

Collection/Fonds: City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds

Series: Council minutes and agendas series

Description Level: Series

File Class: 2430 09 (add. 2020)

Scope and Content: Series consists of minutes and agendas of the meetings of Burnaby City Council. Minutes of open Council meetings reflect Council discussions and decisions regarding issues of municipal concern, including, but not limited to, public works, taxation, bylaw enforcement, land development, public health, and administrative decisions. Series includes minutes of “in camera,” or closed, Council meetings in which confidential issues are discussed. Some of the early minute books contain minutes of Court of Revision proceedings as well.

Media Type: Textual Record

Notes: Access to in camera minutes is restricted in accordance with Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act legislation. Contact the City Archives for details.

Chas R. Shaw

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34727

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892 (date of original), copied [1995]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 12.0 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph (mounted and titled) of Charles R. Shaw, who served as the first Reeve of Burnaby in 1892.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892 (date of original), copied [1995]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 12.0 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 126-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph (mounted and titled) of Charles R. Shaw, who served as the first Reeve of Burnaby in 1892.

Subjects: Officials - Mayors and Reeves

Names: Shaw, Charles R. "Chas"

Media Type: Photograph

Images

Chas R. Shaw, 1892 (date of original), copied [1995] thumbnail

Mary Isabel Buxton (nee Nattriss) taken in Caversham

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64644

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1892]

Collection/Fonds: Buxton Family collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Scope and Content: Photograph is believed to be a portrait of Mary Isabel Buxton (nee Nattriss), taken around the time of her wedding in 1892. Mary was the wife of George Buxton who was born in England and was a carpenter by trade. They moved to Canada between 1911 and 1913 and had five children: Clara Violet (1910…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1892]

Collection/Fonds: Buxton Family collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 513-016

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2010-05

Scope and Content: Photograph is believed to be a portrait of Mary Isabel Buxton (nee Nattriss), taken around the time of her wedding in 1892. Mary was the wife of George Buxton who was born in England and was a carpenter by trade. They moved to Canada between 1911 and 1913 and had five children: Clara Violet (1910-1913), Mary (1900-?), Alice Clarissa (Clissie) (1902-?), Bernard (1897-1972) and Leopold (1893-1951). The Buxton house remains a heritage landmark in Burnaby to this day.

Subjects: Documentary Artifacts - Portraits

Names: Buxton, Mary Isabel Nattriss

Media Type: Photograph

Images

Mary Isabel Buxton (nee Nattriss) taken in Caversham, [1892] thumbnail

Burnaby Historical Society fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97124

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2018

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: ca. 130 linear feet of textual records 30 linear feet of graphic and other material

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of the Burnaby Historical Society's administrative records and community archives collection.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2018

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Physical Description: ca. 130 linear feet of textual records 30 linear feet of graphic and other material

Description Level: Fonds

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of the Burnaby Historical Society's administrative records and community archives collection.

History: The Burnaby Historical Society was founded in 1957. The Historical Society developed a community archives by collecting, compiling and preserving various materials with historical value to the City of Burnaby. It gathered miscellaneous documents, photographs and other items while also soliciting and acquiring entire collections or groups of archival records. In 1991, the Historical Society was provided a permanent space to house their growing collection at the Burnaby Village Museum and they continued to collect and expand their holdings. After the creation of the City of Burnaby Archives in 2001, the Burnaby Historical Society and the City of Burnaby began discussing the possibility of uniting the two collections. In February 2007, an agreement was signed between the two institutions which resulted in the merger of the Society's Community Archives with the City Archives. All records and photographs that had been collected by the Historical Society were transferred into the custody of the City and were moved from the Burnaby Village Museum to the City Archives in the McGill Branch of the Burnaby Public Library. The Burnaby Historical Society disbanded in 2018.

Names: Burnaby Historical Society

Media Type: Textual Record; Photograph; Sound Recording

Creator: Burnaby Historical Society

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds

New Westminster Public Library subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97452

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1892]-[1982] (date of originals)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Photographs

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of photographs collected by the New Westminster Public Library depicting early Burnaby reeves and prominent Burnaby pioneers.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1892]-[1982] (date of originals)

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: New Westminster Public Library subseries

Physical Description: Photographs

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS2002-08; BHS2003-19

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of photographs collected by the New Westminster Public Library depicting early Burnaby reeves and prominent Burnaby pioneers.

Media Type: Photograph

Creator: New Westminster Public Library

Notes: Title based on creator of subseries; Burnaby mayors were formally called "Reeve" until 1968

Photographs subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription97458

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2002

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Subseries

Physical Description: Photographs

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of photographs collected or purchased by the Burnaby Historical Society for inclusion in their Community Archives.

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1892-2002

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: Photographs

Description Level: Subseries

Accession Number: BHS1985-24; BHS1986-08; BHS1986-13; BHS1986-15; BHS1986-29; BHS1987-10; BHS1988-10; BHS1989-07; BHS1989-26; BHS1990-03; BHS1990-04; BHS1991-01; BHS191-13; BHS1991-14; BHS1991-21; BHS1991-23; BHS1991-34; BHS1992-22; BHS1992-23; BHS1992-28; BHS1992-35; BHS1992-37; BHS1992-41; BHS1992-43; BHS1992-48; BHS1993-05; BHS1993-07; BHS1993-11; BHS1994-06; BHS1995-05; BHS1995-11; BHS1995-12; BHS1995-18; BHS1996-10; BHS1996-14; BHS1996-24; BHS1997-08; BHS1999-12; BHS2000-05; BHS2001-10; BHS2001-07; BHS2002-13; BHS2002-07; BHS2005-07; BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Subseries consists of photographs collected or purchased by the Burnaby Historical Society for inclusion in their Community Archives.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of subseries

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Mary Isabel Buxton (nee Nattriss) taken in Caversham

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New Westminster Public Library subseries

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